YeinJee's Asian Blog

Shun Oguri is one of the most popular actors in Japan. He is popular with his recent dramas like “Hana Yori Dango” and “Hanazakari no Kimitachi e”.

Picture of Shun Oguri

Shun Oguri Profile

Name: Shun Oguri
Japanese name: 小栗 旬
DOB: December 26, 1982
Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
Height: 184cm
Blood type: O
Profession: Actor

(Also known as Oguri Shun)

Shun Oguri Biography

Shun Oguri made his acting debut in 1995, but his first noticeable role only came in 1998 as supporting cast in popular drama “Great Teacher Onizuka”.

Since then he has been starring in supporting role in various dramas, including popular dramas like “Summer Snow”, “Gokusen”, “Kyumei Byoto 24 Ji 3” and “Densha Otoko” etc.

His breakthrough came in 2005 as one of the leading characters in “Hana Yori Dango”. His subsequent dramas like “Detective Conan” and “Hanazakari no Kimitachi e” (also known as “Hana Kimi”) are also well received by fans… making him one of the most sought after Japanese actors at the moment.

Shun Oguri Related Websites

Official Website (Japanese) ll Shun Oguri Forum

Takuya Kimura is arguably the most popular and influential Japanese artist, both in Japan and Asia for the past 10-12 years.

Picture of Takuya Kimura

Takuya Kimura Profile

Name: Takuya Kimura
Japanese name: 木村 拓哉
Nickname: Kimutaku
DOB: November 13, 1972
Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
Height: 176cm
Blood type: O
Profession: Actor and singer

(Also known as Kimura Takuya)

Takuya Kimura Biography

Takuya Kimura was enrolled into Johnny & Associates talent agency which specializes in young male teen idols at the age of 15.

Takuya was first drafted into 12 members unit Skate Boys before forming SMAP in 1988 with the other 5 members (Takuya Kimura + Masahiro Nakai, Goro Inagaki, Katsuyuki Mori, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Shingo Katori – Katsuyuki left the team in mid-90s to pursue other interest).
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Bae Yong-joon is one of the most popular Korean actors, famous for TV dramas like “Hotelier”, “Winter Sonata” and movies like “April Snow” etc.

Picture of Bae Yong-joon

Bae Yong-joon Profile

Name: Bae Yong-joon
Korean name: 배용준
Japanese nickname: Yon-sama (ヨン様)
DOB: August 29, 1972
Birth place: Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea
Height: 180cm
Blood type: O
Profession: Actor and businessman

(Also known as Bae Yong-jun, Bae Yong-june)

Bae Yong-joon Biography

Bae made his debut in TV drama “Salut D’Amour” (also known as “Greetings of Love”) in 1994. He starred in a few more dramas before making his breakthrough in 1997 with “First Love”. First Love was a huge success in Korea, but is relatively unknown in other countries.

Bae become internationally famous after starring in popular drama Hotelier in 2001. His popularity was further boost by the success of another popular drama “Winter Sonata” in 2002.

Winter Sonata, co-starring Choi Ji-woo (also co-star in First Love), is very popular across Asia especially in Japan. The drama made both stars iconic figures in Japan… they are still often rated the most popular Koreans in Japan these days.

Bae then surprised many with in 2003 with movie “Untold Scandal”, with some sensitive plots and sex scene (culture breaking in Asian sense). The movie didn’t perform well but Bae’s performance won acclaims and also landed his some best actor awards.

Bae then starred in movie “April Snow” (co-starring Son Ye-jin) in 2005. The movie was not a huge box office success in Korea, but was doing well across Asia (Japan in particular).

Bae’s latest project is in high budget epic TV drama “The Legend“, which has just started showing in Korea at the time of writing.

Bae Yong-joon Related Websites

Official Website ll Bae Yong-joon Forum

Daniel Wu is an American born Chinese actor that is famous in Hong Kong and Asia.

Picture of Daniel Wu

Daniel Wu Profile

Name: Wu Yanzu, Daniel
Chinese name: 吴彦祖 (吳彥祖)
DOB: September 30, 1974
Birth place: San Francisco, California, USA
Height: 183cm
Profession: Actor, director and model

(Also known as Daniel Ng, Wu Yan Zu, Ng Yin Zou, Ng Yin Jo, Ng Yin Jo, Ng Yin Cho, Ng Yin Chou)

Daniel Wu Biography

Daniel Wu is a Chinese martial art practitioner since his youth; he moved to Hong Kong in 1997 after graduated from University of Oregon (architecture), and started his entertainment career in modelling.

Daniel made his acting debut in 1998 in “Young and Dangerous: The Prequel” as supporting cast. He starred in a few more movies before making his breakthrough as the leading actor for “Purple Storm” in 1999. Purple Storm won some awards in various film festivals, and people started to notice Daniel’s acting besides his look.

Daniel continued to star in dozens of movies, but his next breakthrough came years later in 2004, with his performances in “One Nite in Mongkok” and “New Police Story”. He won the prestigious Golden Horse award (best supporting actor) with the later movie.

With the Golden Horse success, Daniel managed to land more roles in high profile movies, like “The Banquet”, “Protégé” and “Blood Brothers” etc.

Daniel forms a boyband, ‘Alive’ in 2005. His attention however, is not about the music, but to direct a mockumentary about Hong Kong music industry, using Alive as the centre of the plots.

His directing debut, “The Heavenly Kings” was released in April 2006. The movie is not a huge box office success, but Daniel claimed the best new director award the 26th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2007.

Daniel Wu Related Websites

Alivenotdead ll Daniel Wu Forum

Wu Chun is one of the hottest rising star in Asia; famous as a member of boy-band Fahrenheit and for his various TV drama roles, including the popular “Hana Kimi” and “Romantic Princess”.

Picture of Wu Chun

Wu Chun Profile

Name: Wu Chun
Chinese name: 吴尊 (吳尊)
Real name: Goh Kiat Chun (吴吉尊)
DOB: October 10, 1980
Birth place: Brunei
Height: 181cm
Blood type: O
Profession: Actor, model and singer

(Also known as Wu Zun)

Wu Chun Biography

Wu Chun was born in a rich family in Brunei. He graduated from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, and worked as a model and fitness coach before starting his entertainment career in Taiwan in 2005.

Wu Chun made a couple of TV drama’s cameo appearances before being introduced as a member of boy-band Fahrenheit (飛輪海; Fei Lun Hai) in late 2005.

Wu Chun starred in his first leading role in early 2006 in TV drama “Tokyo Juliet”, co-starring actress Ariel Lin. His appearance gained wide notice from drama fans; and alongside with the rising fame of Fahrenheit… Wu Chun was becoming the hottest rising star in Taiwan.

In late 2006, Wu Chun starred in another TV drama “Hana Kimi” with Ella Chen (from popular girls group S.H.E); the drama was a great hit, and Wu Chun becomes one of the most popular artists in Taiwan and other Chinese regions.

Wu Chun’s latest drama is “Romantic Princess”, co-starring pop star Angela Chang, which is quite popular as well.

Wu Chun is currently filming a drama with popular Asian hunks Jerry Yan and Show Luo.

Wu Chun Related Websites

Official Blog (Chinese) ll Wu Chun Forum ll Buy Wu Chun’s dramas ll Buy Fahrenheit’s albums

Wang Lee Hom (often referred simply as LeeHom) is one of the most popular Chinese pop stars worldwide. LeeHom was born in New York, but started his music career in Taiwan in 1995. He also started acting in recent years.

Picture of Wang Lee Hom

Wang Lee Hom Profile

Name: Wang Lee Hom, Alexander
Chinese name: 王力宏
Nickname: Homeboy
DOB: May 17, 1976
Birth place: Rochester, New York, USA
Height: 180cm
Blood type: O
Profession: Singer, songwriter and actor

(Also known as Lee-Hom Wang, Wang Leehom, Wang Lee Hong)

Wang Lee Hom Biography

Wang Lee Hom was born in New York, and started learning music at young age.

He inked a recording deal in 1995 in Taiwan when visiting his grandparents, and released his debut album “Love Rival Beethoven” in late 1995. Love Rival Beethoven was not a huge commercial success, but LeeHom was getting notice with his talent…

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Korean actor Kwon Sang-woo shows why he is often referred as the sexiest man in Korea…

Korean actor Kwon Sang-woo (Image courtesy of Shenyue)

Daniel Henney is popular Korean-American actor and model that made his fame in Korea.

Picture of Daniel Henney

Daniel Henney Profile

Name: Daniel Phillip Henney
Korean name: 다니엘 헤니
DOB: November 28, 1979
Birth place: Carson City, Michigan, USA
Height: 188cm
Profession: Actor and model

Daniel Henney Biography

Daniel’s father is an American of British (some say Irish) descent while her mother an American of Korean descent. He was a basketball player and attended colleges on scholarship; and admitted into University of Illinois at Chicago.

Daniel didn’t graduate from university though; he decided to quit his study and ventured into modelling in 2001 instead. He started modelling in Korea as well as some other Asian and European countries.

Daniel was already an established supermodel before making his acting debut in 2005… first in some cameo roles for “Hello Franceska”, before making his full debut with “My Lovely Sam Soon” the same year.

Sam Soon is the most popular Korean drama in 2005; although Daniel was starring as the supporting actor, his performance (and look) was widely notice.

Daniel then starred in another decent drama “Spring Waltz” in 2006; he also made his movie debut “Seducing Mr Perfect” but the movie didn’t perform very well on box office. His 2nd movie “My Father” (2007) did much better though.

Seducing Mr Perfect however revealed another of Daniel’s talent… singing. He sang the ending theme song together with Alex from boyband Clazziquai. I wouldn’t be surprised if Daniel managed to ink a recording deal and releases his album soon.

Daniel Henney Related Websites

Daniel Henney Forum