Male idol group Arashi went on hiatus after their final concert “ARASHI LIVE TOUR 2026: We are ARASHI” at Tokyo Dome on May 31, 2026. On social media, fans shared mixed emotions—sadness at the end of an era and gratitude for their years of activity. To help ease that “Arashi loss,” here’s a look back at the many anime voice roles and live-action film appearances the five members have taken on over the years.
Arashi’s Anime Voice Roles
Remarkably, all five members once voiced themselves—as themselves—in the anime Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo (KochiKame). Dressed in suits but with their real faces superimposed on the characters, they made a startling cameo to promote the show’s ending theme, “Nice na Kigokoro.”
Ninomya-san lent his voice to the 2006 theatrical film Tekkon Kinkreet, based on the manga by Matsumoto Taiyo, co-starring actor Aoi Yuu-san. Still beloved after all these years, the film received a revival screening in May 2026. More recently, in 2025’s Sinapusyu THE MOVIE: Pushuhoppe Dancing PARTY, Ninomya-san voiced a cheerful taxi driver named Palti.
Aiba-san has been especially active in anime lately. In the fall 2024 series Tono to Inu ~Mofumofu!~, he played the role of Tono, and in the movie PUI PUI MOLCAR THE MOVIE MOLMAX, he voiced a CEO. Anime! Anime! also conducted a roundtable discussion with Aiba-san, original creator Misato Asahi, and director Mankyu about the film.
Live-Action Adaptations Starring Arashi
The Arashi members have also appeared in numerous live-action dramas and films based on manga. In 2001, Matsumoto-san played the second-generation Kintaro in Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo. The following year he starred as Sawada Shin in the school drama Gokusen, and in 2003 he played a beautiful young man kept as a pet by a career woman in Kimi wa Pet. His turn as the heir to a huge fortune, Domyoji Tsukasa, in Hana Yori Dango was accompanied by hit love theme songs like “WISH,” “Love so sweet,” and “One Love.” Other Matsumoto-san live-action credits include Boku wa Imōto ni Koi o Suru (2007), Bambino! (2007), Shitsuren Chocolatier (2014), 19-banme no Karute (2025), and Chiruran Shinsengumi Chinkonka: Edo Seishun-hen (2026).
Ninomya-san played Kamiki Hikaru in the 2024 live-action film Oshi no Ko -The Final Act- (the anime version also garnered attention). He also gave an intense performance as protagonist Kei Kurono in the 2011 SF adaptation GANTZ, based on the manga by Oku Hiroya, and voiced Koro-sensei in the 2015 live-action Ansatsu Kyōshitsu. His other works include the dramas Minami-kun no Koibito (2004) and Yamada Tarō Monogatari (2007), as well as the film Ōoku (2010).
Sakurai-san also appeared in Yamada Tarō Monogatari, plus Tokujō Kabachi!! (2010) and the films Hachimitsu to Clover (2006) and Yatterman (2009).
Ohno-san starred in Eiga Kaibutsu-kun (2011) and Shinigami-kun (2014). Aiba-san’s filmography includes Ppoi! (1999), My Girl (2009), Bartender (2011), and Boku to Shippo to Kamigakuzaka (2018).
