It has been two years because the tragic dying of Haruma Miura. The favored actor, identified for motion pictures corresponding to The Everlasting Zero and Assault on Titan, was taken far too quickly on at the present time in 2020. A multi-talented particular person, he additionally carried out as a singer, releasing his debut single a yr earlier than his passing. On this month’s Highlight article, we glance again at Miura’s distinguished profession and pick a few of his most memorable roles.
Background
Miura was born on April 5, 1990 in Tsuchiura Metropolis, Ibaraki Prefecture. Inspired by his mother and father, he joined the Tsukuba Actors’ Studio on the age of 4 and made his first tv look three years later within the NHK drama Agri. Throughout his time on the studio, he established the dance group, Brash Brats with two fellow college students. When the studio closed, the three of them signed with Amuse, one of many greatest expertise businesses within the nation.
Miura’s silver display screen debut got here aged 9 in Masato Harada’s political flick My Juba: Spellbound and not too lengthy after, he landed his first film starring position in Masao Kawai’s movie, Mori no Gakko (Forest College). With {the teenager}’s performing profession going from energy to energy, he did not have sufficient time to give attention to Brash Brats so the group went on an indefinite hiatus. After that, Miura’s popularity continued to develop due to standout performances in dramas corresponding to Battle, 14-Sai no Haha (Mom at 14) and Gokusen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrQGELXL6Xs
Teenage Years: Sky of Love and Bloody Monday
The movie that took his stardom to a different degree, although, was Koizora (Sky of Love). Taking part in Hiro, a former delinquent with bleached blond hair, he falls for Mika (Yui Aragaki) after discovering her cellphone within the faculty library. He then pretends to lose curiosity after discovering he has most cancers. Miura and Aragaki each picked up Newcomer of the 12 months awards on the thirty first Japan Academy Prize for his or her performances within the movie.
A yr after KoizoraMiura was chosen for the starring position within the TBS drama, Bloody Monday. Based mostly on a well-liked manga sequence, the story facilities round Miura’s character Fujimaru, a genius highschool scholar and hacker who will get drafted by Third-I (the Japanese equal of the CIA) to assist cease a bunch of terrorists’ intent on hitting Tokyo with a organic weapon. It was one in all Japan’s greatest tv hits of 2008.
Early 20s: From Me to You and The Everlasting Zero
Miura was now very a lot a person in demand, significantly when it got here to productions focusing on younger ladies. He was the pure option to play Shota in Kimi ni Todoke (From Me to You), a romantic drama primarily based on Karuho Shiina’s manga of the identical identify. An outgoing and common highschool scholar, he falls for the category outcast, Sawako (Mikako Tabe). Nevertheless, their relationship is quickly threatened by Ume (Mirei Kiritani), an admirer of Shota. The film was an enormous hit with feminine viewers who outnumbered their male counterparts by a ratio of 22:3.
Proving he was excess of only a heartthrob, Miura gained crucial acclaim, and a Greatest Supporting Actor nomination on the Japan Academy Prize for his efficiency as Kentaro, an aspiring lawyer who discovers his maternal grandfather was a Kamikaze pilot, in Takashi Yamazaki’s controversial conflict movie, Eien no Zero (The Everlasting Zero). Although warmly acquired by audiences in Japan, the film was criticized for its nationalistic message. Hayao Miyazaki felt it was “simply persevering with a phony fantasy,” concerning the conflict.
Mid-20s: 5 Minutes to Tomorrow and Assault on Titan
Increasing his horizons, Miura’s first international language-speaking half got here in Isao Yukisada’s Japanese-Chinese language manufacturing, Mayonaka no Gofun Mae (5 Minutes to Tomorrow). The romantic suspense movie facilities round Miura’s character, a clockmaker named Ryo and his relationship with a pair of mysterious twins, each performed by Cecilia Liu. Miura, who began studying Mandarin a couple of months earlier than filming, was beneficial for his performing and Chinese language accent. In consequence, he garnered a legion of stories followers throughout the ocean.
By way of worldwide enchantment, nevertheless, it was the 2 Shingeki no Kyojin (Assault on Titan) movies that had the most important impression on Miura’s profession. He took on the position of protagonist Eren, who joins the scouting legion in an effort to get revenge on the large humanoids often called titans after they kill everybody in his city. Based mostly on probably the most profitable manga and anime sequence of all-time, the films garnered plenty of consideration across the globe, although acquired combined evaluations from each critics and followers.
Late 20s to Early 30s: Stage and Music Profession
Away from the cameras, Miura additionally impressed audiences along with his stage presence in musicals and performs. He gained the Haruko Sugimura award for his starring position as Lola in Kinky Boots in 2016, an element he reprized in 2019. That very same yr he was solid as Rodion within the theatrical manufacturing of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s basic novel, Crime and Punishment. Arguably the deepest character Miura ever performed, Rodion is a nihilist who justifies the homicide of pawnbroker Alyona (and her disabled sister) on utilitarian grounds, claiming he launched a “louse” from society. Because the story develops, although, an inner battle takes place within the antihero’s soul.
Additionally in 2019, Miura launched his debut single, “Battle for Your Coronary heart.” It featured within the Japanese model of the Korean sequence, Two Weeks, which he additionally starred in. On his thirtieth birthday in April 2020, Miura advised followers about his second launch, “Evening Diver” by way of an Instagram live-feed. The one debuted at quantity two on each the Oricon and Japan Sizzling 100 charts. A part of the proceeds from the tune went to Lao Pals Hospital for Kids. The donation was made by way of Pals With out A Border Japan, a nonprofit group that assists the charity occasion ‘Act In opposition to AIDS,’ which Miura supported yearly.
Miura’s Demise and Legacy
Tragically by the point “Evening Diver” was launched, Miura had handed away. The multi-talented star was discovered hanged in his residence on July 18, 2020. The police concluded that it was dying by suicide. He was simply 30. Some on-line websites, e-books and social media posts known as on authorities to reinvestigate his dying, believing he did not take his personal life. This has been strongly denied by Amuse. The expertise company listed a few of these spreading the unfounded rumors on its web site.
Productions that includes Miura continued to be launched after his dying, together with the second function movie within the Confidence Man JP sequence, Episodes of the Princess. Yuko Takeuchi, who handed away two months after Miura, additionally made an look within the film. In late 2020, the Kinky Boots crew launched a particular 21-minute video devoted to Miura. It begins with a tribute from Cyndi Lauper: “Haruma will without end be an necessary a part of the Kinky Boots household. I provide my heartfelt condolences to his household and family members. He will probably be so missed.” His military of followers little question wholeheartedly concur.