Hiroiki Ariyoshi

Hiroiki Ariyoshi
Born 31 May 1974
Aki District, Hiroshima, Japan
Nationality Japanese
Occupation Comedian, singer

Hiroiki Ariyoshi (有吉 弘行 Ariyoshi Hiroiki, born 31 May 1974) is a Japanese comedian and singer who is represented by Ohta Production.[1]

Saruganseki

Born in Aki District, Hiroshima, Japan, Ariyoshi formed the owarai duo Saruganseki with Kazunari Moriwaki in 1994.[2] The pair became famous through the variety television show Susume! Denpa Shōnen when they were made to hitchhike across Asia, a task that was covered on the show for six months.[2] They were so popular when they returned that when they published a book about their travels, it became a best-seller.[2] When they released a single, Shiroi kumo no yō ni, it reached number three on the Oricon charts, with the album reaching number two.[3] They even received a new artist award at the Japan Record Awards in 1997.[4] While for a time they were earning 20 million yen a month (about $170,000[5] in 1997 US dollars),[6] their fame did not last long, and the duo broke up in 2004.[2]

Solo career

After his career went into decline, Ariyoshi's income reportedly fell to virtually nothing.[6][7] However, he gradually began reappearing on television, now as a solo comedian noted for his poison tongue.[2] His career really began to revive around 2006 when, on shows like Ametalk (hosted by Ameagari Kesshitai), he became known for giving mischievous nicknames to famous personalities.[8] In 2009, public opinion research conducted by Oricon found that those polled considered him to be the number one "comeback" personality of the year.[8] By 2011, he was ranked as the top television tarento in terms of number of appearances.[9] He now hosts several television shows, including Ariyoshi AKB Kyōwakoku with AKB48[10] and Matsuko & Ariyoshi no Ikari Shintō with Matsuko Deluxe,[11] and is a regular guest on variety shows like London Hearts.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Hiroiki Ariyoshi". Nippon Cinema. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Ariyoshi Hiroiki". Tarento Dētabanku. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "Saruganseki". Oricon. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "Nihon Rekōdo Taishō: 1997-nen". Japan Composer's Association. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "U.S.-Japan Annual Average Exchange Rate". International Trade Association, U.S. Department of Commerce. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Gesshū 2-senmanen kara donzoko". 47News. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "Ariyoshi Hiroiki: 'Ii kanezuru sagashite ikinokore'". Daily Sports. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "'Sai-bureiku' shita tarento 1-i wa Ariyoshi Hiroiki". Oricon. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  9. ↑ "2011-nen kotoshi terebi de yoku mita kao wa?". Nihon Monitor. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  10. ↑ "Ariyoshi AKB Kyōwakoku". TBS. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  11. ↑ "Ariyoshi Hiroyuki and Matsuko Deluxe team up on late night television". Tokyo Hive. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "Ariyoshi Hiroiki, Ima motomerareru jishin no yakuwari". Oricon. Retrieved 8 July 2012.

External links