Gen Hoshino (星野源)

Gen Hoshino (星野源) (born January 28, 1981, in Warabi, Saitama Prefecture) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, musician, actor, and comedian, with a career that spans music and screen work. He began playing guitar and acting as a teenager. In October 2000, he formed the instrumental band Sakerock with former high school classmates, and later became known as the band's leader and guitarist before starting his solo career in 2010. That year, he released his first album, 『ばかのうた』, through Victor Entertainment. It was followed by 『エピソード』 in 2011. Hoshino paused activities in 2012 and again in 2013 after being diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage. He returned with a comeback concert at Nippon Budokan on February 6, 2014. His screen work also gained recognition. His acting in the 2013 films 『箱入り息子の恋』 and 『地獄でなぜ悪い』, together with voice acting and film-music work, brought him newcomer actor awards. In music, Yellow Dancer won the 8th CD Shop Awards in 2016, and "Koi" became one of his best-known songs. In anime, he performed the ending themes "Kigeki (喜劇)" and "Hikari no Ato (光の跡)" for "Spy x Family".