Hokuto Matsumura’s First Solo Starring Role Sparks Debate Over His Screen Presence

Does he not fit prime-time dramas?

Hokuto Matsumura (30) of SixTONES is in great form. He is a member of a hugely popular idol group, and over the past few years he has also been steadily gaining recognition as an actor. Recently, in the Netflix-distributed drama “Kujo’s Crimes,” he gave an exceptional performance as the protagonist’s partner, played by Yuya Yagira. It has now been decided that he will take his first solo lead role in the serial drama “Confession – The Secret After 25 Years” – (Nippon TV), airing from July.

What is especially notable is that his high evaluation is not supported solely by idol fans. A writer familiar with the entertainment industry explains:

“Mr. Matsumura first drew major attention as an actor in the NHK morning drama ‘Come Come Everybody.’ His role as a sincere young man of the Showa era fit him perfectly, earning overwhelming support from middle-aged and older viewers, who make up the core audience of morning dramas.

He has also received numerous awards for films, but what is interesting is that works such as ‘Evening Beyond, First Kiss,’ and ‘5 Centimeters per Second’ are all rather understated, culture-oriented productions. This shows that he is appreciated not as an idol fan favorite, but as someone genuinely valued by film audiences.”

SixTONES, the group he belongs to, is extremely popular. He is also highly regarded as an actor. Hearing this, Matsumura’s future seems bright—but there is actually some concern about his upcoming July drama lead role. While his reputation in morning dramas and films is strong, his evaluations in prime-time television dramas have not been as impressive. What does this mean?

“NHK dramas and films tend to have a cultural, artistic worldview. In other words, they differ from the flashy mainstream entertainment style. That means roles without idol-like sparkle tend to suit him better. For Matsumura, who primarily works as an idol, this may not be entirely good news.

As evidence of this, in fact, his evaluations in mainstream prime-time dramas have not been particularly strong. He somehow doesn’t quite fit the trendy, flashy atmosphere.” (same source)

Transformation seen at concerts

When speaking with editors and writers who regularly interview Hokuto Matsumura and SixTONES, they say that his off-stage self is not particularly idol-like or flashy either.

“All the SixTONES members are cheerful, and during breaks in interviews or shoots they often joke around like kids. But Matsumura is usually quiet, just watching the scene with a gentle smile. You don’t really see him getting overly hyped or loud,” said a women’s magazine editor.

“He seems like a typical subculture enthusiast, and even the favorites he mentions in interviews are quite niche, like illustrator Misa Tanaka. He even calls himself an introvert, but despite his strong acting reputation, he often looks unsure and never comes across as arrogant,” said an entertainment writer.

There are also comments that sound like praise, but are hard to interpret as purely positive:

“I watch many actors’ performances for work, and I honestly think his acting ability is very high without any bias. In ‘Kujo’s Crimes,’ his fit with the dark, underground atmosphere was so strong that I found myself thinking, ‘Why is someone like this in an idol group?’” said another entertainment writer.

The more one hears, the more one becomes concerned about his upcoming drama—but he is, after all, a top idol for a reason. There is also testimony about another side of Matsumura that is far from the quiet introvert image.

“At first glance he seems quiet and introverted, but once he steps onto the stage, it’s a different story. I went to a SixTONES concert shortly after interviewing him, and he was completely electrifying—exuding a very intense, almost domineering sexy aura. I genuinely thought, ‘This isn’t the Hokkun I know!’ He was so cool it almost felt intimidating,” said a freelance editor.

The gap when he shows emotion is striking

Which one is the real him? Media critic Takahiko Kageyama, professor in the Department of Media Creation at Doshisha Women’s College, analyzes Matsumura as both an idol and an actor.

“I absolutely love Hokuto Matsumura as an actor, to the point that I’ll deliberately choose to watch dramas or films just because he appears in them. His appeal, in one word, is a kind of Showa-era stoic presence. He is quiet, but internally he is thinking about many things, with complex emotions swirling inside. And he expresses them with carefully chosen words. He often plays characters like this, and a prime example is Minoru in ‘Come Come Everybody,’ which was wonderful.

That said, he is not always stoic. That’s why the moments when his emotions break through in his acting feel like a contrast, and it makes my heart tremble. I also feel that his intense, flashy energy on stage is another form of that emotional expression.”

Personally, he expects Matsumura’s future to blossom in his acting career.

“When I see him in variety shows and similar programs, he doesn’t give the impression of aggressively pushing himself forward. I think that reflects a quiet confidence in himself as an actor.

There were comments saying he looks unconfident, but I don’t think that’s true internally. That hidden, unshowy side of him also feels like a kind of Showa-style stoicism, and it’s quite refreshing.”

In his upcoming drama, he plays a young man who harbors an obsessive, almost mad form of love toward a woman—something between pure devotion and fixation. It will be interesting to see what kind of emotional expression he shows next.