Dean Fujioka

Biography

Dean Fujioka was born in Sukagawa, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Moving with his family, he grew up in Kamagaya, Chiba Prefecture. Although Fujioka is multilingual (fluent in Japanese, English, Cantonese, Standard Mandarin, Indonesian) and made his debut in a Chinese fashion show, he has clarified in some interviews and variety shows that his parents and grandparents are all Japanese, who used to work or live in foreign countries. Raised in such a family, he grew determined to explore the world himself. After graduating from Chiba Prefectural Funabashi High School, Fujioka majored in IT at Seattle Central College in the city of Seattle, USA. After graduating from college, he traveled to different countries in Asia and came into contact with various ethnicities, cultures and languages.

Fujioka has a wide range of hobbies such as Chinese martial arts, kickboxing, chess, basketball, skiing and taking pictures, and also likes composition and lyrics. Although he is allergic to gluten, he enjoys eating and is particular about food.

Since his childhood, Fujioka had been influenced by musical theory and instruments. He produced music, first in Indonesia, but now mainly in Tokyo. Besides writing, composing, and producing, he also works as a rap singer. He can play a number of instruments, such as the guitar, the drums, and the piano. Fujioka also often shows off his beatboxing skills on TV shows. He likes music such as songs by Yutaka Ozaki and the song "Sweet Memories" by Seiko Matsuda. The song "Kessen wa Kinyōbi" of Japanese band Dreams Come True is the first single CD he bought by himself.

Career

Active overseas

Dean Fujioka started his career as a model in Hong Kong's fashion scene in 2004 for both local and international designer brands. He continued to appear in Hong Kong's leading fashion and lifestyle magazines. Simultaneously with his career in fashion, he also embarked on various advertising campaigns, appearing in TV and print commercials for both local and multinational clients in the Asia pacific region.

In 2006, Fujioka started to pursue a career in acting. He moved his base from Hong Kong to Taipei and appeared in his first TV series Goku Dō High School with Bao Weimin, Bao Xiaobo, and Kingone Wang. His very first film August Story, starring Tian Yuan, Dean Fujioka, and Jan Cheung, caught public attention in the film festivals held in Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan.

In 2007, Fujioka appeared as a talented pianist in the TV series Corner with Love with Barbie Shu and Show Lo. He also appeared in Summer's Tail, his first film in Taiwan, with Bryant Chang, Enno Cheng, and Hannah Lin. A year later, Fujioka appeared in the TV series Miss No Good with Rainie Yang and Will Pan, produced by Angie Chai. Afterwards, he suspended his career in acting and went to Jakarta, where he met DJ Sumo (Sumantri) and collaborated on his songs.

In 2011, Fujioka appeared in the feature film Seediq Bale, about the history of Taiwan under Japanese rule, and in the film The Road Less Traveled with Vanness Wu, Jimmy Hung, Eric Tu, and Chris Lung. He also joined Amuse, Inc. in that year. In 2012, Fujioka appeared in the film Black & White Episode I: The Dawn of Assault, which was based on the popular Taiwanese TV series directed by Tsai Yueh-Hsun.

In 2013, Fujioka appeared in the TV series Just You in Taiwan. Furthermore, he starred in his first self-directed film I am Ichihashi: Journal of a Murderer in Japan. A year later, he appeared as a Chinese historical figure in his first Japanese TV movie Shooting Down – Three Pilots, the dramatization of the lives of three fighter pilots from Japan, China, and the U.S.A. He also appeared as a noble samurai-like Japanese in the TV series The Pinkertons in North America.

Getting his big break in Japan

In 2015, Fujioka starred as a private detective in his first Japanese TV series Detective versus Detectives. He also impressed with his appearance as a Japanese historical figure in the Japanese morning drama series Here Comes Asa!. In 2016, he not only appeared in the TV series Please Love the Useless Me and IQ246: The Cases of a Royal Genius but also starred in the web series Happy Marriage!? and the TV movie The Noisy Street, The Silent Sea, playing a variety of roles with distinctive personalities. Furthermore, Fujioka resumed his career in music and released his first album Cycle in March. He also started a regular segment in a radio program. In the same year, Fujioka released the download single History Maker which is used as the opening theme of the anime television series Yuri!!! on Ice. Along with global popularity of the anime, his name came to be known to people all over the world. According to the top trending Google Search queries by year in 2016, he was ranked 5th in the world in the category "Musicians".

In 2017, Fujioka started an irregular appearance as an influencer in a news program, Saturday Station. His song "Unchained Melody" is used as the ending of it and of Sunday Station. He starred as an unfaithful man in the film Marriage and released his first EP "Permanent Vacation" as its theme song. Fujioka also starred in the TV series May I blackmail you? with Emi Takei, and released his second EP "Let it snow!" as its theme song. He appeared in the TV series Moribito II: Guardian of the Spirit and Totto-chan!. Furthermore, he appeared in the live action adaptation of the anime and manga Fullmetal Alchemist. In this film, he played the colonel Roy Mustang, one of the most popular characters in the story.

In 2018, Fujioka held his first Japan tour entitled History In The Making 2018 and attracted 20,000 fans, including fans travelling to the concerts from overseas. He starred in the TV series The Count of Monte-Cristo: Great Revenge. His performance in this drama made Fujioka win the Best Leading Actor at the 12th Confidence Award Drama Prize. Furthermore, he released the single "Echo" as its theme song. The song is inspired by the "Wave" genre which attracted the attention in the worldwide club music scene. Its music video, in which he co-starred with Moga Mogami, received the Best Alternative Video at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan.

Fujioka also appeared in the films Kids on the Slope and Recall and starred in the film The Man from the Sea, filmed in Jakarta.

2020's

In February 2020, Fujioka assumed the post of an ambassador of "World Robot Summit 2020". Meanwhile, he planned to hold his live tour from October 2020 to January 2021, but cancelled it due to the spread of COVID-19. In August, he released the download single "Neo Dimension" on his birthday. There was a song "My Dimension" that he wrote in 2008 and first released in 2013 as his self-introduction and the statement of his intentions. He evolved it into a completely new form song after 12 years. In September, he released the download single "东京游 (Tokyo Trip)". On this song, he collaborated with 福克斯 (FOX) which is a rapper and co-starred with him in the variety show 潮流合伙人 (FOURTRY) within the China's video streaming service iQIYI last year. In October, he released the download single "Go The Distance". There are both Japanese and Chinese versions of the song, and the Chinese version became the campaign theme song for the mobile game Hidden World Records (Chinese: 隐世录; pinyin: Yǐn Shì Lù), created by China's largest game company NetEase. MVs of each version were made to commemorate this collaboration and he became an anime character in them. Meanwhile, he appeared in the TV series Dangerous Venus. In December, he held his first live stream concert entitled Plan B, which was distributed to the whole world. Prior to the concert, he released the download single "Follow Me".

Fujioka appeared in the TV series Reach Beyond the Blue Sky, which aired from February 2021, and it was his first appearance in the taiga drama. He played Godai Tomoatsu in the asadora Here Comes Asa!, which aired on the same TV station from 2015 to 2016, and he played the same role again. In March, he released his single "Take Over". In April, he published his picture book FamBam named after his fan club. Furthermore, he also launched the "DEAN FUJIOKA Picture Book Donation Journey #SavewithFamBam", a support project that began with his desire to "create a colorful future with children through picture books", and sought support for this project through crowdfunding until March 31, 2021. The money raised, together with a portion of the proceeds from the picture book, will be used to provide learning opportunities for children in Japan and Asia, in cooperation with the INGO Save the Children. In June, he published his first photo book Z-Ero. From July, he appeared in the TV series My Fair Prince. Meanwhile, he held his live tour entitled Musical Transmute, from September to December. In November, he became the first Japanese ambassador for the men's category of the fashion brand COACH. In December, the animated film Hula Fulla Dance, his first challenge to a voice actor, was released. In the same month, he released his third album Transmute.

In January 2022, Fujioka starred in the film Pure Japanese. He also created and produced it. In March, he appeared as Mori Arinori in the TV movie Tsuda Umeko: Osatsu ni Natta Ryūgakusei. From April, he starred in the TV series Pandora's Fruit Season 1 and Season 2. He also sang its theme song "Apple". Furthermore, in May and June, a two-part sequel to the 2017 live-action film Fullmetal Alchemist in which he appeared were released. In June, the film The Hound of the Baskervilles: Sherlock the Movie, a sequel to the TV series in which he starred in 2019, was also released. In July, he released his single "Apple". This includes the song "Be Alive", which was released for distribution in June and became the theme song for Identity V Japan League. From September, he starred in the TV series HOTEL -NEXT DOOR-. Meanwhile, he co-developed a yokan with the confectionery manufacturing and sales company Taneya, which he marketed under the name "Dean Fuji Yokan". The coffee sauce for the yokan is made from coffee from Gayo District, Aceh, Indonesia. A portion of the purchase price of the coffee will be used to support the activities of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme through The Orang Utan Regenwald GmbH. This project aims to protect the environment of the forests where endangered orangutans live and to enrich the lives of local producers. In November, he took part in the charity event Act Against Anything VOL.2 "THE VARIETY 28" by Goro Kishitani and Yasufumi Terawaki. In December, he appeared as a guest at the opening ceremony of the event Identity V Japan League Fall The Play Offs & X'mas Fan Meeting "Christmas Night ni Kane ga Naru".

Personal life

Fujioka married Vanina Amalia Hidayat, who is Chinese Indonesian, in 2012. The couple had fraternal twins, a boy and a girl, born in 2014. In March 2017, Fujioka posted a picture of their third child, his second son on Instagram. On October 18, 2025, Fujioka announced through his agency that they have amicably divorced.

Filmography

Film

August Story (2006, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan) as Ping-on

Breeze of July (2007, Hong Kong) as Michito

Summer's Tail (2007, Taiwan) as Akira Fuwa

Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (2011, Taiwan) as Miyakawa, the signaller

Road Less Traveled (2011, Taiwan) as Yi

Black & White Episode I: The Dawn of Assault (2012, Taiwan) as Agent Lee (Agent Li)

I am Ichihashi: Journal of a Murderer (2013, Japan) as Tatsuya Ichihashi

Dance! Dance! Dance! (2014/2015, Belgium and Japan) as Furu

Shanti Days: 365-nichi, Shiawase na Kokyū (2014, Japan) as Atsushi Narayama

Ninja The Monster (2015, Japan) as Denzō

Go! Crazy Gangster (2016, Taiwan) Tseng, Shuai-nan (Zēng Shuàinán)

Kekkon (Marriage) (2017, Japan) as Kenji Urumi

Hagane no Renkinjutsushi (Fullmetal Alchemist) (2017, Japan) as Colonel Roy Mustang, The Flame Alchemist

Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Kanketsu-hen - Fukushūsha Scar (Fullmetal Alchemist The Revenge of Scar) (2022, Japan)

Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Kanketsu-hen - Saigo no Rensei (Fullmetal Alchemist The Final Alchemy) (2022, Japan)

Television

Goku Dō High School (School Royale) (2006, Taiwan) – Dean Shindō

Corner With Love (2007, Taiwan) – Kaede Andō

Miss No Good (2008, Taiwan) – Chia, Sze-le (Jiǎ Sīlè)

Just You (2013, Taiwan) – Dean Kamiya

Gekitsui San-nin no Pilot (Shooting Down – Three Pilots) (2014, Japan) – Yue, Yi-chin (Yuè Yǐqín)

The Pinkertons (2014–2015, Canada) – Kenji Harada

Tantei no Tantei (Detective versus Detectives) (2015, Japan) – Sōta Kirishima

Asa ga Kita (Here Comes Asa!) (2015–2016, Japan) – Godai Tomoatsu

Dame na Watashi ni Koishite Kudasai (Please Love the Useless Me) (2016, Japan) – Ayumu Kurosawa

Kensō no Machi, Shizuka na Umi (The Noisy Street, The Silent Sea) (2016, Japan) – Shin Minazuki

IQ246: Kareinaru Jikenbo (IQ246: The Cases of a Royal Genius) (2016, Japan) – Kensei

Moribito II: Guardian of the Spirit (2017, Japan) – Ehang

Imakara Anata wo Kyōhaku Shimasu (May I blackmail you?) (2017, Japan) – Kanji Senkawa

Totto-chan! ep. 38 (2017, Japan) – Hiroshi Kawake

Monte-Cristo Haku: Kareinaru Fukushū (The Count of Monte-Cristo: Great Revenge) (2018, Japan) – Dan Saimon, Monte-Cristo Shinkai

News program

Saturday Station (TV Asahi), an irregular appearance as an influencer from 22 April 2017 to 26 September 2020

Web series

Happy Marriage!? (2016, Japan) – Hokuto Mamiya

Boku no Oshi wa Ōjisama (My best is Fair Prince) ep. 8 (2021, Japan) – Tomohisa Mitsui

Pandora no Kajitsu: Kagaku Hanzai Sōsa File Season 2 (Pandora's Fruit Season 2) (2022, Japan) – Yūichi Kohiruimaki

Pandora no Kajitsu: Kagaku Hanzai Sōsa File Season 3 (Pandora's Fruit Season 3) (2024, Japan)

Paripi Kanu & Chōhi! (Ya Boys Guan & Zhang!) (2023, Japan) – Narration

The Victims' Game Season 2 (2024, Taiwan) – Zhang, Geng-hao (Zhāng Gěnghào)

Anime film

Hula Fulla Dance (2021, Japan) – Ryōta Suzukake

The short anime Kamiusagi Ropé on Mezamashi TV (ep. "Hula Dance") (2021, Japan) – Ryōta Suzukake

Thomas & Friends: The Mystery of Lookout Mountain (2024) – Whiff

Other web shows

Animated documentary

Mirai eno Tegami〜Kono Michi no Tochū kara〜 (2016, YouTube PrefFukushima) as a story teller

Mirai eno Tegami〜Kono Michi no Tochū kara〜, Jūittūme no Tegami: Kumo no Kanata (2017, YouTube PrefFukushima) as a story teller

Nayameru Otona no Sōdan Live "Ichi-mon Ittō" (2025, ORIX group official Instagram "SMILE ON") as a special guest

Produce 101 Japan Shinsekai (2026, Lemino, Mnet Plus and Nippon TV) as the National Producer Representative

DEAN FUJIOKA Niconama Hatsu Shutsuen! New Single "Take Over" Release Kinen Niconama 24 Jikan Tokuban (2021)

DEAN FUJIOKA Nama Shutsuen! 3rd Album "Transmute" Release Kinen Tokuban (2021)

DEAN FUJIOKA 3rd Album "Transmute" Release Kinen Niconama Tokuban Furikaeri & Tokuban Making Jōeikai (2022)

DEAN FUJIOKA Seitansai & Best Album "Stars of the Lid" Release Kinen Niconama Umaretekitekurete Arigatou! DEAN no Shukujitsu (2023)

DEAN FUJIOKA Seitansai & Best Album "Stars of the Lid" Release Kinen Niconama Tokuban Furikaeri & Tokuban Making Jōeikai (2023)

Short film

2 Cartons of Alphabet H (2006, Hong Kong), directed by Yan Yan Mak

So Poetic (2007, Hong Kong), directed by Yan Yan Mak

Sleeping Princess (2007, Hong Kong), starring with Denise Ho in Small Matters Music Video Story

Sleeping Prince (2007, Hong Kong), starring with Denise Ho in Small Matters Music Video Story

Video games

Stranger Than Heaven (2027) – Yū Shinjō

Music videos (sung by others)

For the music videos sung by DEAN FUJIOKA himself, see Music videos in the Discography.

"Rolls Royce" by Denise Ho (2005, Hong Kong), directed by Yan Yan Mak

"Echoes of Eternity" by Steven Lin (2007, Taiwan), directed by Jimmy Hung

"Sleeping Prince" by Denise Ho (2007, Hong Kong), directed by Yan Yan Mak

"This is Love" by Cyndi Wang (2007, Taiwan), directed by JP Huang

"Ai Ya" by Vanness Wu (2011, Taiwan), directed by Chen Wei-ling

"Falling Numb" by Rainie Yang (2025, Taiwan), directed by JP Huang

Discography

Singles

"History Maker at InterCycle" (2016)

"Echo" (2018)

"Take Over" (2021)

"Apple" (2022)

Digital downloads

Songs not included on the CD and songs that were distributed before the CD was released are listed.

"My Dimension" (2013), MV directed by DEAN FUJIOKA

"Midnight Messenger mabanua Remix" (2016)

"History Maker" (2016), the opening theme song of the anime Yuri!!! on Ice

"History Maker TJO Remix" (2016)

"Midnight Messenger Mandarin Ver." (2017)

"Let it snow! YUC'e Remix" (2018)

"Let it snow! Mandarin Ver." (2018)

"Maybe Tomorrow" (2019)

"Shelly" (2019)

"Send It Away (feat. GONG)" (2019)

"Searching For The Ghost" (2019)

"Neo Dimension" (2020)

"东京游 (Tokyo Trip)" (2020), sung by DEAN FUJIOKA & 福克斯

"Go The Distance" (2020)

"Follow Me" (2020)

"Plan B" (2021)

"Runaway" (2021)

"Sukima" (2021)

"Apple" (Pandora Ver.) (2022)

"Be Alive" (2022)

"Apple" (2022)

EPs

Permanent Vacation / Unchained Melody (2017)

Let it snow! (2017)

Shelly (2019)

Studio albums

Cycle (2016)

History in the Making (2019)

Transmute (2021)The 12-track digital album Transmute (Trinity) was pre-released on October 29, 2021. The 22-track playlist album Musical Transmute was released digitally on December 27, 2021.

Compilation album

Stars of the Lid (2023)

Live albums

DEAN FUJIOKA Special Live "InterCycle 2016" at Osaka-Jo Hall (2017, Japan)

DEAN FUJIOKA LIVE&DOCUMENTARY SPECIAL Blu-ray BOX 2025 (2025, Japan)

DEAN FUJIOKA Live 2023 “Stars of the Lid” at Nippon Budōkan (2025, Japan)

The DEAN FUJIOKA Documentary "IDENTITY" (2025, Japan)

Others

"Jídào Zhànyì (Gokudō Battle)" in the Goku Dō High School Original TV Soundtrack (2006). Singers: Kingone Wang, Li Wei Hao, Ma Ju Long, and DEAN FUJIOKA (beat box and rap).

"Hello Radio" (2016), the limited-time rental song for the spring campaign ACCESS! by Japan FM League and TSUTAYA. Musicians: The Poolside, including Shigeru Kishida, tofubeats, Takuya Ōhashi, Kaela Kimura, KREVA, DEAN FUJIOKA, Sakura Fujiwara, and YONCE.

"Hare no Hi / Qíng Tīan" (2023), the first Japanese-language single by Taiwanese band Accusefive (告五人). Fujioka wrote new Japanese lyrics for "Finally (好不容易)", which was their smash hit as the ending song for the Netflix series Light the Night (華燈初上). Singers: Accusefive and DEAN FUJIOKA.

"TOY BOY feat. DEAN FUJIOKA" (2024), the song from the first album HBZ, released for distribution in March 2024, by Japanese hip hop group HONEST BOYZ® led by EXILE NAOTO.

Live performances

Festivals and events

High Jinks by CHAPTER47 (2014)

LIVE@Makitasports (2016)

MTV VMAJ 2018 -THE LIVE- (2018)

☆Taku Takahashi presents Intergalactic -"History In The Making" Party- (2019) as a DJ

908 FESTIVAL 2019 (2019)

Act Against Anything VOL.2 "THE VARIETY 28" (2022)

Identity V Japan League Fall The Play Offs & X'mas Fan Meeting "Christmas Night ni Kane ga Naru" (2022)

Fantasy on Ice 2023 in NIIGATA (2023)

Fantasy on Ice 2023 in KOBE (2023)

ACCUSEFIVE 1st Live Tour AROUND THE NEW WORLD (2023)

Kaze to Rock Imonikai 2024 Imony Symphony "Furusato" (2024)

SUPERPOP JAPAN 2024 (2024)

Ya Boy Kongming! The Movie Kickoff Party (2025)

2025 SUPER SLIPPA 超犀利趴14 (2025)

9th Momoiro Uta Gassen (2025)

SAKYOU FES.2026 (2026)

Crunchroll Anime Awards 2026 (2026)

Radio

Asian! Plus α Dean Tatsunami RADIO (Nippon Cultural Broadcasting), a digital radio program from 9 February 2007 to 28 March 2008

DEAN FUJIOKA's Ch-Ch-Ch-Check it Out!!! in SUNDAY MARK'E 765 (FM COCOLO), a regular segment from 3 April 2016 to 25 March 2018

DEAN FUJIOKA･Produce･Super･Edition (JAPAN FM NETWORK COMPANY), a program for a limited time during January 2019 and December 2021

ROPPONGI PASSION PIT (J-WAVE), a regular program from 4 April 2020 to 26 March 2022, with Yūki Mihara

From 4 April 2021 to 27 March 2022, its program was also aired on FM802.

DEAN FUJIOKA New Calendar (TOKYO FM), a regular program from 5 April 2025 to 27 June 2026

Books and serializations

Tatsumaki Photoessay

Picture book

FamBam, illustrated by Hikarin (April 9, 2021) ISBN 978-4910315041

Arisan Chef no Shōtaijō, written by Dario Pomodoro and illustrated by Lorenzo Sangiò (October 16, 2025) ISBN 978-4065410738

Photo book

Z-Ero, photographed by RK (June 30, 2021) ISBN 978-4344038110

Serialization

Have a nice Dean!! (December 2016 to October 2017 issues of UOMO, published by Shueisha)

Shūkan Entame "STORY" (every Saturday in December 2021, morning edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun)

Others

Amuse Mobile art project "Shirotoiro"

不変 (Fuhen) (2016), collaborated with Hina Sakurada

We are Asia - Dean Fujioka & Friends

Digest version (2016, Nippon TV)

Original version (5 episodes) (2016, Nittele Plus)

The 150th Anniversary of Beatrix Potter's Birth: Peter Rabbit Exhibition (2016 - 2017, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Sendai, Osaka, Hiroshima and Nagoya) as an official supporter and an audio guide navigator

Dean Fujioka Hatsu no Igirisu Tabi: Utsukushiki Kosui Chihō, Peter Rabbit no Sekai wo Tazuneru (2016, BS Asahi)

NHK Special: Kanzen Kaibō Tyrannosaurus〜Saikyō Kyōryū Shinka no Nazo〜 (2016, NHK) as a navigator

Jack-O-Land "Celebrity Parade" (2016, Yokohama Arena) as a special guest

Bubble tea "Dean Tapioca" (2019, taiwan ten cafe) as the supervisor of the drink

Weibo Account Festival in Japan 2019 (2019, Tokyo) as a master of ceremonies

Charity goods project for medical support of COVID-19 "Amuse Heart Fes. in A!SMART" (2020), agreed with the purpose and participated

World Robot Summit 2020

Opening Ceremony of WRS in Aichi (2021, Aichi Sky Expo) as an ambassador

Opening Ceremony of WRS in Fukushima (2021, Robot Test Field located in Fukushima Prefecture) as an ambassador