So Okuno

So Okuno
奥野壮
Born	(2000-08-21) 21 August 2000 (age 24) Neyagawa, Osaka, Japan
Occupations	Actor dancer
Years active	2018–present
Agent	Oscar Promotion
Height	168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Website	oscar-aox.jp

So Okuno (奥野 壮, Okuno Sō), is a Japanese actor and dancer who is known for his portrayal of Sougo Tokiwa in Kamen Rider Zi-O and Hayato Shinomiya in Kiss Him, Not Me. He is a member of Oscar Promotion's acting troupe Aoyama Omotesando X.

Career

Okuno won the 30th Junon Superboy Contest with over 17,000 applicants in 2017.^[1] In 2018 he was cast to play Sougo Tokiwa in Kamen Rider Zi-O.^[2] According to producer Shinichiro Shirakura, it was particularly difficult to cast a young man who could properly portray Sougo's kingly aura. He said that Okuno was eventually chosen due to his unique outlook on the world, and considered it an act of fate. Okuno dropped out of high school when he was cast as Sougo Tokiwa.^[3] He trained in classical ballet for over 11 years and has incorporated some of it into his transformation pose and Zi-O's fighting skills.^[4]

Okuno says that he is very optimistic about life like Sougo, but doesn't have the skills to communicate with "everyone".^[5]

Okuno's hobbies include reading manga and playing video games. His favorite Rider is Kamen Rider Kiva.

Filmography

Films

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2018	Kamen Rider Build the Movie: Be the One	Kamen Rider Zi-O	Voice role, cameo
	Kamen Rider Heisei Generations Forever	Sogo Tokiwa/Kamen Rider Zi-O	Lead role
2019	Kamen Rider Zi-O the Movie: Over Quartzer	Sogo Tokiwa/Kamen Rider Zi-O	Lead role
	Kamen Rider Reiwa The First Generation	Sogo Tokiwa/Kamen Rider Zi-O	Lead role
2020	Kamen Rider Zi-O Next Time: Geiz Majesty	Sogo Tokiwa/Kamen Rider Zi-O
	Kiss Him, Not Me	Hayato Shinomiya	Supporting role
2021	Pornographer: Playback	Shizuo Akemi		[6]
	Saber + Zenkaiger: Super Hero Senki	Sogo Tokiwa		[7]
2022	Haiiro no Kabe	Masaki	Lead role	[8]
	The Setting Sun			[9]

Television drama

Year	Title	Role	Network	Notes	Ref.
2018	Kamen Rider Zi-O	Sogo Tokiwa/Kamen Rider Zi-O & Mirror World Sogo (episodes 21 and 22 only)	TV Asahi	Lead role and guest role
2020	Peanut Butter Sandwich	Yuto Tokita	MBS
2021	Chousoku Parahero Gundeen	Daishi Morimiya	NHK	Lead role
2022	Koi ni Mudaguchi	Nishina Yuri	ABC (JP)	Lead role
2024	Cosmetic Playlover	Natsume Mamiya	Fuji TV	Lead Role

See also

• List of Japanese actors

References

1. "＜速報＞ジュノン・スーパーボーイ、グランプリ決定　綱啓永さんが過去最高1万7293人の頂点に". モデルプレス. 株式会社ネットネイティブ. 2017-11-26. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
2. "男劇団 青山表参道X". オスカープロモーション. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
3. "平成仮面ライダーとは"謎の概念"!?『仮面ライダージオウ』白倉P＆武部Pに篠宮暁が直撃！ | シネマズ PLUS". cinema.ne.jp. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
4. "平成最後の仮面ライダーはジュノンボーイ出身の奥野壮 バレエで鍛えた「体幹」が武器". オリコンニュース. オリコン株式会社. 2018-08-07. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
5. "平成最後の仮面ライダーはジュノンボーイ出身の奥野壮 バレエで鍛えた「体幹」が武器". シネマズPLUS. 株式会社クラップス. 2018-12-23. Retrieved 2018-12-23.
6. "劇場版ポルノグラファー プレイバック". eiga.com. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
7. "セイバー＋ゼンカイジャー スーパーヒーロー戦記". eiga.com. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
8. "灰色の壁 大宮ノトーリアス". eiga.com. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
9. "鳩のごとく 蛇のごとく 斜陽". eiga.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.

External links

• Official profile at Oscar Promotion (in Japanese)