# Yui Aragaki

Yui Aragaki (Japanese: 新垣 結衣, Hepburn: Aragaki Yui, born June 11, 1988) is a Japanese actress, model, singer and occasional radio show host. She has been selected several times as the most desired girlfriend and the most desired female celebrity face in Oricon's yearly survey.

## Early life

She was born on June 11, 1988, in Naha, Okinawa. She is the younger of two siblings. After seeing an audition notice for the junior fashion magazine Nicola (ニコラ, Nikora), she applied for it and won the Grand Prix award for the audition. In 2001, at the age of 13, she began her Nicola modelling career and was very well received as a Nicola model, having set a record for appearing on cover for 15 times. One of her co-models, actress Enomoto Ayako, gave her the nickname 'Gakky' as a take on her surname. She moved to Tokyo at 15 and enrolled at Horikoshi High School famous for being the academic base of many famous celebrities including Seiko Matsuda. She made her acting debut in Shibuya in 2005. She also became quite popular as in the Pocky commercials. She also expanded into voice acting in 2006 as well as movies as of 2007. Other sources report that the abysmal reactions to her vocals lead to stress. She has continued acting for the small and big screen since, however, and released more music. She also became a host for the radio program Girls Locks which lasted between 2010 and 2012.
At the age of 15, Aragaki moved to Tokyo and enrolled in Hinode High School (currently Meguro Nihon University Junior and Senior High School), a private high school known for some Japanese celebrities attending. In 2004, she decided to put her Nicola career on hold and expand her career path into gravure and acting, and she also appeared in variety shows and commercials, with her Pocky commercials being the most popular. A year later, she officially graduated from Nicola. Even so, she still appears in the magazine occasionally.

## Career

In 2005, Aragaki took up a role in the TBS drama, Dragon Zakura, starring alongside Japanese idols like Tomohisa Yamashita and Masami Nagasawa. This marked a breakthrough in her acting career. Since then, she has been cast in many other dramas, like My Boss, My Hero and Gal Circle. She also starred in the 2007 tragic love story movie hit Koizora, for which she won her first award, the Nikkan Sports Film Award for Best Newcomer. Currently, she has 5 newcomer awards.
Aragaki won the Film prize at the 45th Golden Arrow Awards in 2008. Her tremendous number of movie shoots as well as the preparation for her debut album resulted in her suffering from work-related stress in 2007. She was invited as a judge in 58th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Outside acting she also released her first album, Sora, and the single "Heavenly Days", a song from Koizora. "Memories", the theme song for Tokyo Serendipity, was included in her debut album. She also performed at Budokan.
She was also the co-hosts for popular radio program Girls Locks in 2010–2012. She also invited as a host of 54th Japan Record Awards.
In 2012–2013, She acted with Masato Sakai in comedy hit Legal High.
In 2014, she tried the role of mother for her first time in film Twilight Sasarasaya.
In 2016, she acted an ideal wife in The Full-Time Wife Escapist, which raised discussion on traditional views and values on marriage in Japan. She also performed in "koi dance" as ending of the drama, become viral in Japan. She was invited as a judge again in 67th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
In 2017, Aragaki Yui acted as Masako Matsushita in Kizuna : hashire kiseki no kouma also known as Ties: A Miraculous Colt. It was broadcast on NHK, and the story is about she raising the little ponies after the earthquake with her father. During the same year in July, Code Blue Season 3 that she had participated in has finally released after 7 years broadcasting the second season. In October, Aragaaki Yui played as Tamako Tomita in Mixed Doubles directed by Junichi Ishikawa.
Aragaki Yui won the best actress reward at the 60th Blue Ribbon Awards.
In 2018, Aragaki Yui acted as Shinkai Akira in Kemono ni Narenai Watashitachi (We Can Not Become Beasts, Weakest Beast). She also participated in the Code Blue the Movie that is released in July.

## Personal life

In 2021, Aragaki married singer, songwriter and actor Gen Hoshino, her co-star in the television series The Full-Time Wife Escapist.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2007 | Waruboro | Yamada | |
| 2007 | Tokyo Serendipity | Yui Aoki | Lead role |
| 2007 | Sky of Love | Mika Tahara | Lead role |
| 2008 | Cheer Cheer Cheer! | Momoko Momoyama | Lead role |
| 2009 | Ballad | Princess Ren | |
| 2010 | Hanamizuki | Sae Hirasawa | Lead role |
| 2012 | The Wings of the Kirin | Kaori Nakahara | |
| 2014 | Twilight: Saya in Sasara | Saya | Lead role |
| 2015 | Have a Song on Your Lips | Yuri Kashiwagi | Lead role |
| 2015 | S: The Last Policeman - Recovery of Our Future | Hayashi Iruma | |
| 2017 | Mixed Doubles | Tamako Tomita | Lead role |
| 2018 | Code Blue | Dr. Megumi Shiraishi | |
| 2022 | Yokaipedia | Yōko | |
| 2023 | (Ab)normal Desire | Natsuki Kiryu | |
| 2024 | Worlds Apart | Makio Kōdai | Lead role |

### Television dramas

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2005 | Sh15uya | Ema | |
| 2005 | Dragon Sakura | Yoshino Kosaka | |
| 2005 | Onna no Ichidaiki! | Koshiji Fubuki (child) | |
| 2006 | True Love | Aso Natsumi | Lead role |
| 2006 | Kanojo no Koibumi | Yukari Kawamura | Lead role |
| 2006 | Gal Circle | Nagisa | |
| 2006 | My Boss My Hero | Umemura Hikari | |
| 2007 | Seven Days of a Daddy and a Daughter | Kawahara Kome | Lead role |
| 2008 | Code Blue | Dr. Megumi Shiraishi | |
| 2009 | Code Blue Special Episode | Dr. Megumi Shiraishi | Television film |
| 2009 | Smile | Hana Mishima | |
| 2010 | Angel Bank | Kaoru Kitashiro | Cameo (episode 1) |
| 2010 | Code Blue 2 | Dr. Megumi Shiraishi | |
| 2011 | Full Throttle Girl | Ayukawa Wakaba | Lead role |
| 2011 | Ranma ½ | Akane Tendo | Lead role; television film |
| 2012 | Mou Yuukai Nante Shinai | Hanazono Erika | Television film |
| 2012 | Legal High | Machiko Mayuzumi | |
| 2013 | Public Affairs Office in the Sky | Rika Inaba | Lead role |
| 2013 | Legal High SP | Machiko Mayuzumi | Television film |
| 2013 | Legal High 2 | Machiko Mayuzumi | |
| 2014 | S: The Last Policeman | Iruma Hayashi | |
| 2015 | The Memorandum of Kyoko Okitegami | Kyoko Okitegami | Lead role |
| 2016 | The Full-Time Wife Escapist | Mikuri Moriyama | Lead role |
| 2017 | Ties: A Miraculous Colt | Shoko Matsushita | Miniseries |
| 2017 | Code Blue 3 | Dr. Megumi Shiraishi | |
| 2018 | Weakest Beast | Shinkai Akira | Lead role |
| 2020 | Daddy is My Classmate | Sachiko Obika | |
| 2021 | The Full-Time Wife Escapist: New Year's Special | Mikuri Moriyama | Lead role; television film |
| 2021 | Dragon Sakura season 2 | Yoshino Kosaka | Cameo (the final episode) |
| 2022 | The 13 Lords of the Shogun | Yae | Taiga drama |
| 2023 | Kazama Kimichika: Kyojo Zero | Seiko Hayata | |
| 2023 | Fence | Kaoru Shiroma | Special appearance |

### Voice acting

| Year | Title | Type | Character |
| 2006 | Digimon Data Squad | Anime series | Yoshino Fujieda |
| 2006 | Digimon World Data Squad | Video game | Yoshino Fujieda |
| 2006 | Keroro Gunsō the Super Movie | Anime film | Mirara |
| 2024 | The Colors Within | Anime film | Sister Hiyoshiko |

### Documentary

| Year | Title |
| 2008 | News Taiga Special Earth of Life ... Overseas (Australia) Reporter |
| 2008 | Yui Aragaki one step at a time-20 years old now- |
| 2010 | Special News "Air medical services, Yui Aragaki reports the forefront" |
| 2010 | A miracle story seen by the fighting nurse SP "Code Blue” |
| 2010 | JOUNETSU – TAIRIKU – Yui Aragaki |
| 2011 | Athlete's Soul 2nd "I want to cheer up Japan-Aoi Ishikawa 19-year-old oath" |
| 2015 | NHK Special "Life evolution" |

## Discography
### Singles

| Release | Title | Oricon Single charts peak positions and sales | Oricon Single charts peak positions and sales | Oricon Single charts peak positions and sales | Oricon Single charts peak positions and sales | Album |
| Release | Title | Daily | Weekly | Debut | Overall | Album |
| 2008/07/16 | Make My Day | 1 | 2 | 53,471 | 85,341 | Hug |
| 2008/10/15 | Akai Ito | 1 | 3 | 34,236 | 64,461 | Hug |
| 2009/02/25 | Piece | 6 | 7 | 18,204 | 25,283 | Hug |
| 2009/05/27 | Utsushie | 9 | 10 | 15,946 | 22,048 | Hug |
Download Only Single
| Release | Title | Artist | Note |
| 2009/12/9 | Chiisana Koi no Uta | Yui & a school students group | Yui sing the song with more than 3000 high school students |
| 2010/9/22 | Hanamizuki | Yui & SCHOOL OF LOOK! listeners | 12 members selected from listeners of "SCHOOL OF LOCK!" |

### Albums

| Release | Title | Oricon Album charts peak positions and sales | Oricon Album charts peak positions and sales | Oricon Album charts peak positions and sales | Oricon Album charts peak positions and sales |
| Release | Title | Daily | Weekly | Debut | Overall |
| 2007/12/05 | Sora | 2 | 3 | 72,879 | 133,086 |
| 2009/06/17 | Hug | 3 | 5 | 22,540 | 40,704 |
| 2010/09/22 | Niji | 2 | 4 | 19,888 | 29,902 |

### Tie-in

| Year | Title | Tie-in |
| March 2007 | Hi no Kageru Oka | Mitsuya Cider |
| August 18, 2007 | Memory | Tokyo Serendipity |
| November 3, 2007 | heavenly days | Koizora |
| April 15, 2009 | Utsushie | Aishiteru: Kaiyō |
| April 2009 | Heart will drive | Round One Entertainment |
| May 27, 2009 | Hachimitsu | 系春の『花Sacas』 |
| October 2009 | Chiisana Koi no Uta | Sony Walkman S Series |
| July 31, 2010 | WALK | Hutch the Honeybee: Melody of Couraget |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
| 2007 | 20th Nikkan Sports Film Awards | Best Newcomer Award | Waruboro and Koizora | Won |
| 2007 | 4th TVnavi Drama of the Year | Best Supporting Actress | Seven Days of a Daddy and a Daughter | Won |
| 2007 | 17th TV LIFE Annual Drama Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Seven Days of a Daddy and a Daughter | Won |
| 2008 | 32nd Elan d'or Awards | Newcomer of the Year | Herself | Won |
| 2008 | 29th Yokohama Film Festival | Best Newcomer Award | Koisuru Madori, Waruboro, and Koizora | Won |
| 2008 | 50th Blue Ribbon Awards | Best Newcomer Award | Koisuru Madori, Waruboro, and Koizora | Won |
| 2008 | 45th Golden Arrow Awards | Film Prize | Herself | Won |
| 2008 | 31st Japan Academy Film Prize | Newcomer of the Year | Koizora | Won |
| 2008 | 6th Tokyo Girls Collection | Best Girl of 2007 | Herself | Won |
| 2017 | 25th Hashida Awards | Best Actress | The Full-Time Wife Escapist | Won |
| 2017 | 20th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Actress | The Full-Time Wife Escapist | Won |
| 2017 | 10th Tokyo Drama Awards | Best Actress | The Full-Time Wife Escapist | Won |
| 2018 | 60th Blue Ribbon Awards | Best Actress | Mixed Doubles | Won |
| 2018 | 41st Japan Academy Film Prize | Best Actress | Mixed Doubles | Nominated |
| 2024 | 33rd Japanese Movie Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actress | (Ab)normal Desire | Won |

## Commercials

* Daio Paper – Elleair (2003)
* Seika – Meiji (2014 Dec – 2015 Feb)
* Senoby – JT Beverage (2005 Mar – 2006 Feb)
* NTT East (2005 Dec-2013 Dec)
* Pantene – Procter & Gamble (2006–2014)
* Dailies Aqua – Ciba Vision (2006)
* Pocky – Glico (2006–2008)
* Townwork – Recruit (2006–current)
* Japanese Red Cross (2007 January – 2007 December)
* Uniqlo – SKINNY MIX"キャンペーン (2007 February – 2007 April)
* Mitsuya Cider – Asahi Soft Drinks (2007 March -)
* ROHTO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (2008 March – 2010 February 2014 April – Current)
* Green Tea – Asahi Soft Drinks (2009–current)
* Sony Walkman S Series (2009 Oct – 2010 Sep)
* Tokyo Metro – Tokyoheart (2010 Apr – 2011 Mar)
* Haruyama Trading Co., Ltd. – (2010 February – 2012 January)
* Toyota – Ractis (2010 November – 2011 October)
* Meiji – Chocolate Almonds (2011 April – current)
* Meiji – Meltykiss (2011 October – current)
* DeNA – Mobage (2011 November – 2012 October)
* KOSÉ- Sekkisei (2012 July -current)
* DeNA – Final Fantasy (2012 July- 2012 October)
* Canon – EOS (Mirrorless single-lens camera) (2012 July – 2014 July)
* Canon – IXY PowerShot (Compact digital camera) (2013 February- 2014 February)
* Canon – EOS kiss X7 (Single-lens reflex camera) (2013 November- 2014 February)
* KOSÉ- ESPRIQUE (2014 November – 2015 February)
* GMO CLICK Securities, Inc -(2015 January – Current)
* Meiji – Valentine Special (2016 February)
* Uniqlo (2017)
* NIPPON PAPER CRECIA Co., Ltd. – Kleenex (2017 April – current)
* Uniqlo – ドレープコレクション (2017 March – Current)
* Toyota – Noah (2017 July – Current)
* H&M – (2021)
* Nintendo – (2022)

## Official photobooks

* Chura Chura (2006)
* A Happy New Gakky (2006)
* Masshiro (2007)
* Koisuru Madori (2007)
* Gekkan Yui Aragaki Special (2010)
* Hanamizuki Official Photostory Book (2010)

### Calendar

* Aragaki Yui Official 2005 Calendar (Release on December 10, 2004: Triax (Hagoromo))
* Aragaki Yui Official 2006 Calendar (Release on November 7, 2005: Triax (Hagoromo))
* Aragaki Yui Official 2007 Calendar (Release on November 4, 2006: Triax (Hagoromo))
* Aragaki Yui Official 2008 Calendar (Release on October 22, 2007: Triax (Hagoromo))
* Aragaki Yui Official 2009 Calendar (Release on October 27, 2008: Triax (Hagoromo))
* Aragaki Yui Official 2010 Calendar (Release on October 28, 2009: Triax (Hagoromo))
* Aragaki Yui Official 2011 Calendar (Release on October 13, 2010: LesPro)
* Aragaki Yui Official 2012 Calendar (Release on October 26, 2011: LesPro)
* Aragaki Yui Official 2013 Calendar (Release on October 6, 2012: LesPro)
* Aragaki Yui Official 2014 Calendar (Release on November 2, 2013: LesPro)
* Aragaki Yui Official 2015 Calendar (Release on November 8, 2014: LesPro)
* Aragaki Yui Official 2016 Calendar (Release on November 7, 2015: LesPro)
* Aragaki Yui Official 2017 Calendar (Release on November 12, 2016: LesPro)
* Aragaki Yui Official 2018 Calendar (Release on September 1, 2017: LesPro)