Hayato Ichihara Draws Large Crowd as One-Day Fire Chief Popular for His Cuteness and Humor

Some people said, “He’s so cute!”

On January 13, actor Hayato Ichihara (37) took on the role of one-day fire chief in his hometown of Kawasaki City (Kanagawa Prefecture). He participated in a talk show at the “Celebrating the Twentieth Year” event held in front of JR Musashi-Kosugi Station.

Ichihara appeared in a firefighter uniform with a cap, his shirt’s buttons tightly fastened, and his arms and chest muscles bulging. His appearance embodied the strong sense of justice and muscular, robust image that is associated with him.

“Ichihara solidified his popularity with roles in the 2004 ‘WATER BOYS 2’ (Fuji TV) and the 2008 ‘ROOKIES’ (TBS), among others. Not only is his sharp appearance notable, but so is his sculpted physique, which consistently garners attention. In the 2022 NHK Taiga drama ‘Kamakura-dono no 13-nin,’ he portrayed the Kamakura samurai Hatta Tomoie, often appearing shirtless to showcase his impressive chest muscles,” said a TV magazine writer.

In the 2023 drama ‘Kocchi Muite Yo Mukai-kun’ (Nippon TV), Ichihara played a “romance expert” named Kamata, whose mysterious allure attracted many female fans. In his current commercial for ‘Daiwa House’ alongside Hidetoshi Nishijima (53), Ichihara is praised for his humorous performance and nuanced expressions.

A large crowd gathered at the shopping mall where the event was held, squeezing together around the stage. Those who received a ticket in advance were able to get a fire safety book from Ichihara.

“He shook hands with each person and chatted with them warmly. He was such a friendly person, and I was surprised. During the talk show, along with shouts of ‘cool!’ there were just as many voices saying ‘cute!’ and ‘funny!'”

Ichihara’s expanding acting range and new roles have built anticipation for his continued success this year.