Yasuhisa Furuhara

1.1. Birth and Family Background

Furuhara was born on August 13, 1986, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. His mother gave birth to him at the age of 16. His parents' relationship was tumultuous, marked by constant arguments, and they divorced when Furuhara was three years old, when his mother was 19. Following the divorce, his mother worked night jobs, and Furuhara experienced severe neglect, including being left for days without his diaper being changed. When he was five years old, his mother placed him in a children's home in Tokyo. The last time he saw his mother was when he was ten years old, and he later realized that she had abandoned him two years after their final meeting.

1.2. Childhood in Children's Home

Life in the children's home was challenging for Furuhara. Due to his personality, which was described as not always obedient and prone to showing his emotions, he often became a target for staff members and was disliked. He was unfairly singled out for punishments, such as being forced to do his own laundry, and frequently endured unreasonable scolding and physical abuse from both staff and older children. He recounted incidents where he was forced to sit upright for extended periods, from 8 AM until 3 AM the next day. Older children would force him and his friends to fight each other for entertainment, routinely shoot them with Airsoft guns for various reasons, and often steal popular food items like meat, forcing him to eat vegetables he disliked. Furuhara stated that he has "no good memories" of his childhood until he was in the sixth grade of elementary school, describing it as a miserable situation. However, his experiences improved somewhat in middle school as he learned to navigate the environment. He also noted that the bullying culture within the facility gradually improved and eventually disappeared after he left.

1.3. Decision to Pursue Acting

Leading up to his departure from the children's home, Furuhara's future path was uncertain. Staff members had arranged for him to work at a live-in newspaper delivery service, but he firmly declined the offer. Having been scouted by the entertainment industry previously, he chose to pursue a career in acting instead. He later joined the agency Hercules, and is now a freelance actor affiliated with Cast Power for business collaborations.

2.1. Debut and Early Roles

Furuhara made his acting debut in 2005 in the television drama Nobuta wo Produce, where he played the role of Takuzo Wakui. Following this, he appeared as Okuda in The School of Water Business (2006) and in Shinuka to Omotta (Case 3, 2007). In 2007, he also took on the role of Taiyo Ogimachi in Hanazakari no Kimitachi e. During his time on The School of Water Business, Furuhara struggled with tying his necktie and would receive assistance from the lead actor, Takashi Fujii, each time. He fondly recalled the production as a welcoming environment with supportive people, making it an easy set to work on.

2.2. Breakthrough Role: Engine Sentai Go-onger

Furuhara achieved significant popularity in 2008 when he landed his first starring role as Sosuke Esumi/Go-On Red in Engine Sentai Go-onger, a Super Sentai Series that aired from February 2008 to February 2009. Prior to this, he had auditioned for other tokusatsu roles, including Ken Kanzaki/Kamen Rider Sasword in Kamen Rider Kabuto and Eiji Takaoka/Bouken Silver in GoGo Sentai Boukenger in 2006, but was unsuccessful. He sought advice from actors who had experience in such roles, including Mitsuomi Takahashi and Shun Shioya, who both told him he would pass if he acted normally. He later learned from the staff that he was chosen for Go-onger because of his ability to portray a "clumsy character." Hirofumi Fukuzawa, the suit actor for Go-On Red, praised Furuhara's unconventional ad-libs, stating that he found Furuhara's improvisations stimulating and felt he couldn't surpass them. Fukuzawa also noted that director Satoshi Morota allowed Furuhara the freedom to fully express his abilities, realizing that Furuhara should not be restrained.

2.3. Super Sentai Series Appearances

Beyond his starring role in Engine Sentai Go-onger, Furuhara has made several other appearances within the Super Sentai franchise. He reprised his role as Sosuke Esumi/Go-On Red in episodes 35 and 36 of Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger in 2011. In 2019, he made a guest appearance in the first episode of 4-Week Continuous Special Super Sentai Saikyo Battle!!. Most recently, he appeared as Sosuke Esumi/Go-On Red in episode 12 of Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger in 2024. Notably, in the final episode of Engine Sentai Go-onger, Furuhara himself performed the suit acting for Go-On Red during the traditional baton pass scene with Shinken Red from the subsequent series, Samurai Sentai Shinkenger.

2.4. Television Dramas

Furuhara has appeared in numerous television dramas throughout his career:

• Nobuta wo Produce as Takuzo Wakui (NTV, 2005)
• The School of Water Business as Okuda (NTV, 2006)
• Shinuka to Omotta in Case 3 (NTV, 2007)
• Hanazakari no Kimitachi e as Taiyo Ogimachi (Fuji TV, 2007)
• Engine Sentai Go-onger as Sousuke Esumi/Go-On Red (TV Asahi, 2008-2009)
• My Way as Kazuki Yamagishi (CBC, 2009)
• Hana Matsuri as Yuichi Ikeda (CBC/TBS, 2009)
• Challenged (episode 2) as Saito (NHK, 2009)
• Midnight in Indigo as Wataru Hiraoka (Tokai TV/Fuji TV, 2010)
• Arienai! (episode 6) as Shingo Nakakura (MBS, 2010)
• Dohyo Girl! as Shoichi Hirosaki (TBS/MBS, 2010)
• Monday Golden Misa Yamamura Suspense: Detective Kariya Series 9 - Ryoma Sakamoto Murder Case as Hiroshi Haruta (TBS, 2010)
• Aozora Produce as Takeshi Onda (CBC, 2010)
• Muscle Girl! (episode 4-5) as an audience member (TBS/MBS, 2011)
• Friday Prestige Special Project Akujo-tachi no Mesu episode 2 as Kosuke Nakagawa (Fuji TV, 2012)
• Monday Golden Investigation Commander Sayaka Mizuki as Takeshi Yamashita (TBS, 2013)
• Last Cinderella (episode 2) (Fuji TV, 2013)
• Hoiku Tantei 25-ji: Hanasaki Shinichiro wa Nemurenai!! as Shohei Wakisaka (TV Tokyo, 2015)
• Saturday Wide Theater Special Project Kirisaki Jack no Kokuhaku: Keiji Inukai Hayato as a detective (ABC/TV Asahi, 2015)
• Saturday Wide Theater Ghostwriter no Satsujin Shuzai 2: Celeb no Tsumi wo Daishitsu Suru Onna! as Ippei Uechi (TV Asahi, 2015)
• Keishicho Sosa Ikka 9 Gakari season 11 (episode 9) as Rui Miyajima (TV Asahi, 2016)
• Wednesday Mystery 9 Konno Bin Suspense: Rekka Keishicho Kyokohan Higuchi Akira as Shigeki Tanigawa (TV Tokyo, 2016)
• Keiji 7-nin Season 8 (episode 8) as Hirokazu Iida (TV Asahi, 2022)
• Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger as Sousuke Esumi (ep. 35-36) (TV Asahi, 2011)
• Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga as Shohei Moriwaki (Amazon Prime, 2016 - 2017)
• Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger as Sosuke Esumi / Go-On Red (ep. 12) (TV Asahi, 2024)

2.5. Filmography

Furuhara has also appeared in several feature films, often reprising his iconic role from the Super Sentai series.

• Engine Sentai Go-onger: Boom Boom! Bang Bang! GekijōBang!! as Sousuke Esumi/Go-On Red (Toei, 2008)
• Engine Sentai Go-onger vs. Gekiranger as Sousuke Esumi/Go-On Red (Toei, 2009)
• Samurai Sentai Shinkenger vs. Go-onger: GinmakuBang!! as Sousuke Esumi/Go-On Red (Toei, 2010)
• Shodo Girls as Kentaro Sorimachi (Mobcast, 2009)
• Ongakunin as Keita Hara (Thanks Lab., 2010)
• Karate-Robo Zaborgar as the Younger Daimon (King Records/T-Joy, 2011)
• Canaria: Jinsei wo Umaku Tobenai Hito 2 as Shinji (Okashinema, 2012)
• Iron Girl as Billy (Ark Films, 2012)
• Outerman as Hideki Yoshino (R2 Entertainment, 2015)
• ARAKAWA UNDER 9 -Episode1- (KEITO, 2023)

He has also starred in original video productions:

• Engine Sentai Go-onger Special DVD: Seminar da yo! Zen'in GO-ON! as Sousuke Esumi/Go-On Red (Toei Video, 2008)
• Engine Sentai Go-onger: 10 Years Grand Prix as Sousuke Esumi/Go-On Red (Toei Video, 2018)
• CONNECT: Hasha e no Michi as Shoji Takeuchi (NBCUniversal Entertainment, 2024)
• CONNECT: Hasha e no Michi 2 (NBCUniversal Entertainment, 2024)

2.6. Stage Performances

Furuhara has a significant presence in theatrical productions:

• Switch as Toshiki Shiba (Differ Ariake Arena, 2007)
• Natsu no Ana as Takaki Kuribayashi (Aoyama Round Theatre, 2009)
• Trifle ~reorder~ as Yugo Minagawa (Space Zero, 2010)
• T-Shirt Sangokushi ~Ninchuu ni Waari~ as Rintaro Maehara (Space Zero, 2010)
• Sekai Seifuku no Tsukurikata as Takuma Kikuchi (Za-Koenji 2, 2010)
• Kokansetsu! as Iwakiri (Tennozu Ginga Gekijo, 2010)
• Hanasakeru Seishonen ~The Budding Beauty in The Oriental Blue Wind~ as Karl (Sogetsu Hall, 2011)
• Hanasakeru Seishonen Final The Blooming Princess (Sunshine Theatre, 2012)
• Aozora Shigure as Reo Maihara (Theatre BONBON, 2011)
• Toiki Yukiiro as Reo Maihara (Nakano The Pocket, 2012)
• Mores as Mamoru Takechi (Theatre Sun Mall, 2013)
• Noroi as Mataichi Minato (Akasaka RED/THEATER, 2013)
• STAND BY~Reading~ as Atsushi Seno (Takadanobaba Rabinest, 2014)
• Walk oN! ~Saa, Atarashii Kimi ni Ai ni Ikou~ (Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, 2015)
• Salaryman Night Fever as Hirose (Sendai Denryoku Hall, 2022)
• Reading Play Meitantei Satorare: Fukushu to Himitsu no Ango A Team as Satoru Urahara (Mitaka RI Theatre, 2024)
• WITH YOU 13th Performance Momotaro ~Ryunosuke Akutagawa ver.~ (Rikoukai Hall, 2024)
• 2.5D Reading LIVE Stage Damen's Walker Reiwa Ban A Team as Kenji Uozumi (Mitaka RI Theatre, 2024)

2.7. Other Media

Furuhara's presence extends to various other forms of media, including web dramas, variety shows, music videos, commercials, and DVD releases.

He has appeared in web dramas such as Seibyou Sensei (episode 6) as Nobuhiko (GyaO, 2006), Engine Sentai Go-onger BONBON!BONBON! Net de BONG!! as Sousuke Esumi/Go-On Red (2008), and Ultraman Orb: The Origin Saga as Shohei Moriwaki (Amazon Prime Video, 2016-2017).

His variety show appearances include Odoru! Sanma Goten!! (Nippon Television, 2009), Aruwaa (Fuji TV, 2009), The! Sekai Gyouten News: Shougeki no Daidasshutsu Special (NTV, 2009), The Most Useful School in the World (NTV, 2009), and Ikemendel no Housoku (Kansai TV, 2009). He has also been a regular reporter for NHK General's Asaichi since April 2012, initially for the "Pikapika Japan" segment and later for "Odekake LIVE" from 2018. Additionally, he is a regular reporter for The Premium: Ikuzo! Saihate! Hikyo x Tetsudo on NHK BS Premium (now NHK BS), covering various international railway journeys.

Furuhara has featured in the promotional video for Metis's song "Anata ga Ai wo kuretakara..." (2009), alongside Yumi Sugimoto. He has also appeared in commercials for Reins International's Gyukaku (2006), Seika's "Engine Sentai Go-onger Tsue de Rakugakincho!" (2008), Bandai's "Go-on Jacket" (2008), Toyota Vitz (2012), Shinsei's "Torokeru Kinako" (Web CM, 2019), and Tsuboi Kogyo Co., Ltd. (2021).

For DVD releases, he has his own release, Yasuhisa Furuhara: FLY HIGH -Hishou- (Toei Video, 2008).

3.1. Influences and Personal Insights

Furuhara has expressed admiration for fellow actor Naoto Takenaka. After co-starring in The School of Water Business, he unexpectedly encountered Takenaka after filming wrapped. Takenaka invited him to dinner, an invitation Furuhara initially dismissed as a mere formality, but which materialized a week later. Furuhara was deeply touched by Takenaka's kindness and stated that he aspired to be a person like him. When they reunited years later for the film Karate-Robo Zaborgar, Takenaka still remembered their earlier encounter.

As a child, Furuhara was an avid viewer of the Super Sentai Series, particularly from Chikyu Sentai Fiveman to Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger, and aspired to become a hero in the entertainment industry. He particularly enjoyed Katsuya Watanabe's directing style, and was delighted when Watanabe was appointed as the main director for Go-onger. Even after his starring role, Furuhara continues to watch the Super Sentai Series whenever possible.

3.2. Advocacy for Child Welfare

Drawing from his own difficult childhood experiences, Furuhara has become a vocal advocate for child welfare. He has publicly shared his challenging upbringing, including his experiences of neglect and abuse in a children's home. On September 9, 2022, he participated in a symposium titled "The Emotional Scars of Young People Raised in Children's Homes and Their Aftermath," organized by the General Incorporated Association Compass Navi in Saitama City. Alongside David Yano, who also grew up in a children's home, Furuhara spoke about his personal experiences and appealed for greater support and independence for young people leaving care facilities. The discussion was moderated by Masako Yamamoto and Raito Nishisaka, who also shared their insights on institutional experiences and self-sufficiency measures.

On September 1, 2024, Furuhara appeared on Nippon Television's Charity program 24-Hour Television 47: Does Love Save the Earth?, which had been broadcasting since the previous day. He ran alongside and encouraged Yasuko, a fellow participant in the Charity marathon who also grew up in a children's home. In a subsequent interview with ENCOUNT, Furuhara commented, "I believe this opportunity allows more people to learn about children's homes. Many viewers may be hearing about these facilities for the first time, and I hope some will consider what they can do to help. I am truly grateful for being able to participate in this way." He also reflected on his difficult memories from the children's home, stating that he "also fought against hunger."

4.1. Evaluation of Acting Career

Furuhara's acting abilities have been noted by those he has worked with. Hirofumi Fukuzawa, the suit actor for Go-On Red in Engine Sentai Go-onger, praised Furuhara's unconventional ad-libs, finding them stimulating and acknowledging Furuhara's unique talent. Fukuzawa also observed that director Satoshi Morota played a crucial role in drawing out Furuhara's abilities by allowing him creative freedom, recognizing that Furuhara's talent flourished when not constrained.

4.2. Social Impact of Advocacy

Furuhara's decision to openly share his deeply personal and challenging childhood experiences has had a notable social impact. By participating in public symposiums and charity events like 24-Hour Television, he has brought increased awareness to the realities faced by children in care homes and those transitioning out of them. His advocacy helps to humanize the issue, fostering greater public understanding and encouraging support for child welfare initiatives. His willingness to speak candidly about neglect and abuse, and his call for better support systems, contributes to a more empathetic societal perception of vulnerable children.