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Shun Oguri (小栗 旬, Oguri Shun, born December 26, 1982 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actor, who gained a rise in popularity by starring in the hit TV drama, Hana Yori Dango, and it...( read more)s sequel. His most recent role in TV drama is in Hanazakari no Kimitachi e as Sano Izumi, the lead role.

Shun made his way into the acting industry not because he knew he had a great talent for it (though, of course, it`s clear he does!) and not because he was pursuing a passion of his, but because he was an avid admirer of Uchida Yuuki, a Japanese actress. He loved her acting and was a very big fan of her`s, and because he wanted to meet her, he joined theater and acting classes. He admits he didn`t really like theater or the acting classes, but somehow, his ambition to meet his idol -- and the pretty girls in his class -- kept on driving him. Now, Shun says acting is his life and wouldn`t want it any other way.

His first debut role was as the bullied and abused child from the drama Great Teacher Onizuka in 1998, when he was about sixteen years old. His acting attracted him great attention and from there, he moved onto bigger roles. His breakthrough role is arguably Rui Hanazawa from Hana Yori Dango, though his first lead role in a drama was as the famous Shinichi Kudo from Detective Conan. Oguri has more than enough talent for lead roles, but he has stated that he actually prefers playing the supporting roles. Besides acting, he is also a DJ. He is hosting a radio show called All Night Nippon. An impressive actor, he stars in roles such as a deaf person in Summer Snow, a desperate virgin in Stand Up!!, Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers) as quiet and cool Rui Hanazawa, and Gokusen as gangster "wannabe" Uchi. Recently, he starred in the drama Hanazakari no Kimitachi e as Sano Izumi.

Oguri`s best friend is Takashi Tsukamoto, an actor, model, and singer. Oguri and Tsukamoto acted together in a drama — Stand Up!!. Tsukamoto was a popular womanizer while Oguri`s character, Kouji, and his friends tried to pick up advice and hints from the super idol so they could get a girlfriend themselves. Oguri and Tsukamoto have also modeled together in a yaoi magazine once.

Oguri`s first widely publicized girlfriend was Mari Yaguchi. On April 10th, 2005, she and Oguri`s relationship was uncovered by the tabloid magazine FRIDAY. Oguri and Yaguchi had been dating for a year already until then. She quit Morning Musume fifteen days after the paparazzi incident (one day before the publish of the magazine), stating that she had "betrayed [her] position as an idol" and that she "want[ed] to move on with [her] career as an adult." Fans speculated that her management, Up-Front Agency, forced her to "quit" since it is fairly understood that members of Morning Musume are not allowed to have boyfriends to uphold their pure "idol" image. Several newspaper accounts note Oguri for being a gentlemen throughout the whole ordeal and realizing how much Yaguchi had to give up to be with him. The two reportedly broke up in April of 2006. The reason they told the public was because they both became too busy to see one another.

As of August 2006, it has been reported that Oguri and Miho Tanaka are going out, although both parties have declined commenting on the matter. But as of April 2007, the same tabloid magazine that uncovered Oguri and Yaguchi`s relationship was also responsible for publishing photos of Oguri and Tanaka on a

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