Kazunari Ninomiya

Kazunari Ninomiya (二宮 和也), often called Nino (ニノ), is a Japanese singer, songwriter, actor, voice actor, presenter and radio host.

He is a member of the Japanese idol group Arashi.

His career began in the entertainment industry after joining the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates in 1996 aged 13.

Prior to his debut as a member of Arashi, Ninomiya started an acting career when he was cast as Chris for the stage play Stand by Me, which was based on the film of the same name.

Apart from his group's activities, he starred in numerous television drama, movie and stage production, and has been regarded as the actor of Arashi.

Described as an actor who can act with his mouth and eyes, Ninomiya has won a number of awards and nominations for his roles.

Ninomiya was born in Katsushika, Tokyo as the youngest child of his family, his sister is two years older than he is.

His father and mother were both working as chefs when they met.

When Ninomiya was born, his grandfather immediately came home and named him the heir to the family's windshield wiper factory, since he was his grandfather's only grandson.

However, when Ninomiya was twelve years old, his cousin sent in an application to Johnny & Associates without his knowledge.

After attending and passing the auditions, due to his mother's prodding, he joined the talent agency.

Ninomiya began his acting career in a 1997 stage play based on the American coming of age film Stand by Me with future bandmates Masaki Aiba and Jun Matsumoto.

He did not return to do any major stage productions for nearly seven years after Stand by Me, instead focusing on dramas.

In 1998, he made his television debut as a fifteen-year-old runaway in the TBS television movie Amagi Goe (天城越え).

Just a few months before his debut with Arashi, he was given his first lead role in the drama Abunai Hōkago (あぶない放課後) with Subaru Shibutani acting as his stepbrother.

Ninomiya graduated from high school in March 2002 at the age of 18.

Ninomiya announced he would become independent from the agency on 24 October 2023.

Regarding his participation as member of Arashi, he said they would work together when they resume activities.

On November 7, 2023, he announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he had established a company.

He had announced before that he was making a website along with his sister.

In the post in which he announced the company, he also said that "the website is also progressing."

Husband of former long-distance runner Akemi Masuda, Yuuji Kiwaki, also participates in operating the newly established company Office Nino, inc.

On December 16, 2023, he shared on X (formerly Twitter) his official website.

He posted as a description on his profile that he had completed it.

In 2004, Ninomiya penned and composed "Konseki" (痕跡) for his solo performance during Arashi's Iza, Now!! tour.

Although Arashi's fifth studio album One was the first of their albums to feature solo songs of each member, Ninomiya did not provide lyrics or music for official release until the Time album almost two years later.

However, in 2004, Ninomiya appeared in his first lead role in the stage play Shibuya Kara Tooku Hanarete (シブヤから遠く離れて) directed by Yukio Ninagawa.

From April 3, 2005 to May 4, 2005, he took up Rebel Without a Cause, playing the James Dean character Jim Stark.

In 2007, the group's eighteenth single "Love So Sweet" was released with the limited edition containing the bonus song "Fight Song" (ファイトソング), which was written by Arashi and composed by Ninomiya in 2006 for their variety show G no Arashi.

On July 11, 2007, the Time album was released with the limited edition containing solo song of each member.

Ninomiya wrote the lyrics to his solo song, "Niji" (虹), and played the piano portion of the song throughout Arashi's summer tour.

He later reprised the performance throughout Arashi's second Asia Tour in 2008.

In 2008, Ninomiya composed, co-arranged and penned the lyrics for his solo "Gimmick Game".

From July 18, 2009 to August 11, 2009, Ninomiya appeared in his first stage play in four years.

He starred as the psychopathic murderer Bruno in Mishiranu Jōkyaku (見知らぬ乗客), which was based on the novel of the same name.

In 2010, Ninomiya also composed, co-arranged and penned the lyrics for his solo "1992*4##111".

According to Ninomiya himself, the title is read as "arigatō" (ありがとう).

During Arashi's hiatus, Ninomiya released, in 2022, a solo album with his choice of cover songs, on June 17, in CD (+DVD/BR) for the members of Arashi's Fan Club, and June 20, in digital download and streaming.

With this, he became the second member, after Satoshi Ohno, to release a solo work.

The album, Marumaru to Ninomiya to (〇〇と二宮と), debuted at the top spot on the Oricon download ranking within a week of its release.