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Born in Tokyo, Japan, Matsumoto is the youngest child of his parents. He has an older sister whose support of KinKi Kids influenced his decision to join Johnny's Entertainment in 1996. Thinking it might bode good luck, he sent his application to the agency on his elementary school graduation day and received a phone call weeks later from the president himself, Johnny Kitagawa, inviting him to attend a rehearsal. Due to this, Matsumoto is frequently referred to as an elite within the agency because he did not have to audition.

Matsumoto began his career in the entertainment industry as a back-up dancer for other groups like many other Juniors in the agency before he was drafted into a five-member group named Arashi in 1999 at the age of 16. He graduated from Horikoshi Gakuen, a renowned high school known for its many performing arts alumnae, at the age of 18 with other contemporaries Kyoko Fukada and Ai Kato whom he counts as his high school senpai.

Matsumoto was once designated the "Comedy Leader" of Arashi but has more or less lost that image as he grew up. Now known more for his frank nature and sharp tongue, he has been called "DoS" ("extreme sadist") by his bandmates and openly admits to being rather neurotic and methodical. Despite this, all of Arashi have stated that he cares most for the members and the group itself. He is close to his bandmates and has stated that they have never properly fought since they were brought together by the agency, mostly in part to the peaceful nature of the group's leader Satoshi Ohno and band member Masaki Aiba -- a claim supported by bandmate Shō Sakurai. He is also known for his serious work ethic -- often juggling several projects (music, television, film and radio) at the same time.

Matsumoto is a fan of American actors Johnny Depp, Kevin Spacey, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt and enjoys kabuki. He is near-sighted and usually wears contacts on stage and screen but reverts to glasses when he's not working. He has expressed a deep admiration for his label's president, Johnny Kitagawa, describing him as the biggest influence in his life. He also enjoys surfing and drives to the beach alone whenever he has free time.


TV Shows

2009 - Smile as Hayakawa Bito (TBS, 2009)
2008 - Myu no Anyo Papa ni Ageru as Yamaguchi Hayato (NTV, 2008)
2007 - Bambino! as Ban Shogo (NTV, 2007)
2007 - Hana Yori Dango 2 as Domyoji Tsukasa (TBS, 2007)
2006 - Yonimo Kimyona Monogatari Imakiyo-san (Fuji TV, 2006)
2005 - Hana Yori Dango as Domyoji Tsukasa (TBS, 2005)
2004 - Propose (NTV, 2005, ep1)
2003 - Kimi wa Pet as "Momo" Goda Takeshi (TBS, 2003)
2003 - Yoiko no Mikata as Sawada Shin (NTV, 2003, cameo)
2002 - Gokusen as Sawada Shin (NTV, 2002)
2001 - Kindaichi Shonen no Jikenbo 3 as Kindaichi Hajime (NTV, 2001)
1999 - Kowai Nichiyobi (NTV, 1999)
1997 - Bokura no Yuki as Mori (NTV, 1997)


Movies

2008 - Kakushi Toride no San Akunin / The Last Princess
2008 - Hana Yori Dango -Final-
2007 - Kiiroi Namida / Yellow Tear
2007 - Boku wa Imouto ni Koi wo Suru / I Love My Younger Sister
2004 - Tokyo Tower as "Koji"
2003 - Pika*nchi Life is Hard Dakara Happy
2002 - Pika*nchi Life is Hard Dakedo Happy
1998 - Shinjuku Tanteidan Shonen (Shinjuku Boy Detectives)



AU by KDDI
Pepsi Nex (2008)




2009 - 13th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix: Best Actor for Smile
2007 - 53rd Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Actor for Bambino! (2007)
2007 - 10th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Jan-Mar 07): Best Supporting Actor for Hana Yori Dango 2 (2007)
2005 - 47th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Hana Yori Dango (2005)
2005 - 33rd Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Gokusen (2002)



Jpop group: Arashi
Hobbies and interests: Music, DVDs, photography, and reading
Specialty: Baseball