Hirofumi Arai Returns Home in Stealth Critics Question His Readiness for a Comeback

Allies gather for Arai’s first work return in roughly seven years

On the chilly evening of December 28, an unusual tension filled the air in front of a small theater in Shimokitazawa, completely at odds with the calm of year-end.

That day, actor Hirofumi Arai (46) took the stage for his one-man play Nihon vs Ore 2, marking his return to the entertainment industry. Despite the seven-year silence, the atmosphere on site was heavy and somber.

“Arai was arrested and indicted in February 2019 on charges of forcible sexual intercourse against a female employee at a dispatched massage parlor and received a four-year prison sentence. He had once been an indispensable supporting actor in films and dramas, but the reality of sexual crime weighed heavily, effectively banishing him from the industry. Even though he has served his sentence, this return is close to a self-produced comeback. Online, criticism remains harsh, and this is very much a restart surrounded by adversity on all sides,” said an entertainment reporter from a sports newspaper.

Given the notorious nature of the event, more than 30 members of the press gathered in front of the theater. Around 20 female fans, seemingly eager for his return, waited in the cold. One female fan, clutching an autograph board, shared her feelings:

“I applied for tickets, but I didn’t get them I just had to see him in person.”

At 5 PM, as the curtain fell, the excitement surged. Audience members began descending from the second floor, and the narrow street in front of the theater quickly became packed with nearly 100 people. Among them were notable figures, such as actor Yoshiyoshi Arakawa (51), listed as a guest actor appearing on different days, Kj (46) of Dragon Ash, and the entertainer You (61), who were presumably there as audience members.

Former drinking buddies from the night scene and co-stars came to support Arai’s fresh start, undeterred by public opinion.

Uneven Handling Draws Inevitable Criticism

“Move aside, cars are coming! Move aside!”

Faced with the thronging crowd, event staff shouted at the top of their lungs. Amid the chaos of managing media, fans, and departing audience members, every reporter raised their camera, thinking, “Finally, Arai is coming out.”

—However, even after the crowd had cleared and no celebrities were visible, the main actor failed to appear. When a strange silence began to settle, staff coldly announced:

“Arai has already left.”

From the reporters stationed at the main exit came voices of confusion: “Huh?” “When did he leave?” It was a departure that seemed like a mysterious disappearance. Frustration quickly surfaced among those who had waited for so long. One reporter pressed the staff:

“If he’s already out, you need to tell us where he exited We have no choice but to stay here as long as there’s a possibility he’s still inside.”

Another reporter tilted his head, looking up at the building:

“There doesn’t seem to be a back exit, and I really can’t imagine he left from somewhere else.”

On the night before his return, Arai had posted on his X (formerly Twitter):

“Tomorrow, if there’s time, photos and autographs are totally fine.”

He appeared to show a positive attitude toward fan service. But when the day came, he executed a stealth exit, completely shutting out fans and media who had been holding autograph boards. A stage official criticized the inconsistent handling:

“This kind of approach could make people question his commitment as an actor. Given the stigma of sexual crime, a return to prime-time TV or major films is hopeless, and small theaters are basically the only place he can survive. While supportive fans and friends are valuable, the general public remains harsh. Showing confidence on social media while avoiding inconvenient media coverage will inevitably draw criticism as insincere or self-serving. The path to a genuine comeback is still far away.”

While reporters were there on duty, the biggest victims were the fans. Even after being told by staff that Arai had left, women continued to hold their autograph boards in frozen hands, staring blankly at the theater for hours. Their backs conveyed an unmistakable sense of frustration.

After everything he has been through, Arai may have been able to expose himself as “Ore” (himself) on stage, but in the real world, under the camera flashes and facing tough questions, it seems he has not yet fully committed to facing reality.

His first day back, watched by the media, fans, and many of his colleagues, left only a flight scene under the cold sky—a display that betrayed the seven-year gap since his last appearance.