Hiroiki Ariyoshi | |
---|---|
Born |
Aki District, Hiroshima, Japan | 31 May 1974
Nationality | Japanese |
Occupation(s) | Comedian, television presenter, singer |
Years active | 1992–present |
Agent | Ohta Production |
Spouse |
Miku Natsume (
m. 2021) |
Notes | |
Hiroiki Ariyoshi (有吉 弘行, Ariyoshi Hiroiki, born 31 May 1974 [2]) is a Japanese comedian and singer who is represented by Ohta Production. [3]
Born in Aki District, Hiroshima, Japan, Ariyoshi formed the owarai duo Saruganseki with Kazunari Moriwaki in 1994. [4] 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. [4] They were so popular when they returned that when they published a book about their travels, it became a best-seller. [4] When they released a single, Shiroi kumo no yō ni, it reached number three on the Oricon charts, with the album reaching number two. [5] They even received a new artist award at the Japan Record Awards in 1997. [6] While for a time they were earning 20 million yen a month (about $170,000 [7] in 1997 US dollars), [8] their fame did not last long, and the duo broke up in 2004. [4]
After his career went into decline, Ariyoshi's income reportedly fell to virtually nothing. [8] [9] However, he gradually began reappearing on television, now as a solo comedian noted for his poison tongue. [4] 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. [10] In 2009, public opinion research conducted by Oricon found that those polled considered him to be the number one "comeback" personality of the year. [10] By 2011, he was ranked as the top television tarento in terms of number of appearances. [11] He now hosts and have hosted several television shows, including Ariyoshi AKB Kyōwakoku with AKB48 [12] and Matsuko & Ariyoshi Karisome Tenkoku with Matsuko Deluxe, [13] and is a regular guest on variety shows like London Hearts. [14]
As of September 2019, Ariyoshi has over 11 ongoing regular television programs in his name and as the MC and several other special programs.
On 2 April 2021, it was announced that Ariyoshi had married the TV announcer Miku Natsume, who was the host on Matsuko & Ariyoshi's Angry New Party. [15]