The entertainment industry in Indonesia remains an attractive profession for both locals and foreigners. Many celebrities in Indonesia come from abroad, not just Indonesia, and one of those countries is Japan.
Language often becomes an initial barrier when they first arrive in Indonesia. However, many of them eventually become fluent in Indonesian and easily blend in with the local population.
Here are some Japanese celebrities who have become quite famous in Indonesia. Do you recognize any of them, Japafans?
1. Haruka Nakagawa
Japafans might already be familiar with this celebrity. Haruka Nakagawa is a beautiful Japanese descent artist who was part of the AKB48 group. She started her career in Indonesia by joining the JKT48 group. In 2016, she graduated from JKT48.
Who would have thought that her solo career made her even more famous, as she became an active presenter? She is also frequently invited to various television events in Indonesia.
2. Kenta Yamaguchi
Another well-known Japanese celebrity in Indonesia is Kenta Yamaguchi. Kenta’s fame grew after he frequently appeared on various television programs in Indonesia.
Like Haruka, Kenta often serves as a presenter for various programs, which made him more recognized by netizens.
Additionally, Kenta is part of the comedy group The Three, along with his Japanese colleagues, Keitaro Ura and Daisuke Hamada. His humorous antics have made him a public favorite.
3. Aelke Mariska
Another celebrity from Japan is Aelke Mariska. This beautiful Japanese-descendant artist first appeared on Indonesian television in the soap opera Cinta Cenat Cenut, which also starred the group SM*SH.
The charm of Indonesia made this 1998-born beauty feel at home and choose to settle in the country. She decided to continue her career in Indonesia, focusing on modeling.
Read:
The Career Journey of Narumi Yui, a Rising Star in Japanese Television
4. Hiroaki Kato
Hiroaki Kato, a presenter and model, is another Japanese-descendant celebrity who chose to pursue a career in Indonesia. Hiroaki ventured into music after reading works by Indonesian writers and becoming interested in the country.
He decided to live and build his career in Indonesia. Not only did he enter the entertainment industry, but he also met his soulmate, Arina Ephipania, the vocalist of Mocca, whom he married in 2019.
5. Yuki Sasou
Yuki Sasou is one of the Japanese celebrities famous in Indonesia after starring in an isotonic drink commercial.
Starting as a commercial star, Yuki Sasou was warmly welcomed and continued her career in acting. She has also appeared alongside Baim Wong in a web series called Hours.
6. Nobuyuki Suzuki
If Japafans have ever watched the Kelas Internasional series on an Indonesian private television channel, you might already be familiar with Nobuyuki Suzuki’s face.
His comedic acting made Nobuyuki well-known for portraying the character Kotaro. Surprisingly, this Japanese artist has lived in Indonesia since 1990.
7. Hiromitsu Harada
Hiromitsu Harada, known as Chef Harada, is a Japanese chef who has often appeared on Indonesian television.
However, sad news came in March 2018, when this beloved and cheerful chef passed away, leaving a void.
These are some of the celebrities famous in Indonesia. Maybe you’re already familiar with them, right? Do you have any idols among them?
