Sho Sakurai

Quick Facts: Who was Sho Sakurai?

Subject:

Sho Sakurai

Known for:

Versatile Japanese entertainer, known as a singer, rapper, actor, and news anchor.

Born:

1982-01-25

Century / Era:

1982s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Sho Sakurai (櫻井 翔, Sakurai Shō) (born January 25, 1982) is a Japanese singer, songwriter, rapper, actor, news anchor, host and former radio host, under agent contract with Starto Entertainment. He is a former member of the boy band Arashi, group to which he belonged until the day it ended activities, May 31, 2026. Sakurai began his career in the entertainment industry when he joined the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates in 1995 at the age of 13. About seven years after his debut as a singer with Arashi in 1999, he became a newscaster in 2006, appearing in the news program News Zero every Monday. In 2008, he was appointed the official newscaster for the news coverage of the Olympic Games in Beijing on NTV.

Career & Major Achievements

For his work as an actor, singer and newscaster, Sakurai became one of the recipients of GQ Japan's Men of the Year award in 2009. His father is Shun Sakurai, former vice-minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Sakurai was born in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, and grew up in Minato, Tokyo, the oldest of three children. His father, Shun Sakurai (桜井 俊), is a former government official who served as Vice Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, and Vice President of Dentsu Group. Sakurai has a younger sister, Mai (舞) (b.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

1986), who was a journalist for Nippon TV, and a younger brother, Shu (修) (b. Sakurai attended Keio Yochisha Elementary School, an affiliated elementary school of Keio University. From age three to ten, he did many extracurricular activities, including kendo, swimming, football, oil painting, calligraphy, and scouting. He began music lessons in early childhood, starting with the electric organ at age three and switching to piano in fourth grade. From fourth grade to sixth grade, he played trombone for his school's brass band.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1982 (1982-01-25): Birth of Sho Sakurai — Versatile Japanese entertainer, known as a singer, rapper, actor, and news anchor.
2. 1986: 1986 Milestone — 1986), who was a journalist for Nippon TV, and a younger brother, Shu (修) (b.
3. 1995: 1995 Milestone — Sakurai began his career in the entertainment industry when he joined the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates in 1995 at the age of 13.
4. 1999: 1999 Milestone — About seven years after his debut as a singer with Arashi in 1999, he became a newscaster in 2006, appearing in the news program News Zero every Monday.
5. 2008: 2008 Milestone — In 2008, he was appointed the official newscaster for the news coverage of the Olympic Games in Beijing on NTV.
6. 2009: 2009 Milestone — For his work as an actor, singer and newscaster, Sakurai became one of the recipients of GQ Japan's Men of the Year award in 2009.
7. 2026: 2026 Milestone — He is a former member of the boy band Arashi, group to which he belonged until the day it ended activities, May 31, 2026.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Sho Sakurai

True or False: “Sho Sakurai was the first member of Arashi to graduate from university while maintaining his idol career.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While he was a pioneer among Johnny's artists for graduating from university, the text does not state he was the absolute first.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Sho Sakurai