Haruo (하루오) is a Japanese trainee under YR Entertainment. He's best known for being the son of renowned Japanese game developer, Hatsu Akimoto.
Early life[]
Haruo was born on July 15, 1997, in Tokyo, Japan, to Hatsu Akimoto, a legendary game developer, and his mom, a former ballet dancer. Growing up, Haruo was surrounded by creativity, especially in the world of video games. He admired his father’s work and naturally started learning about game development at a young age.
From the time he was ten, Haruo spent hours tinkering with game design software and learning coding basics from his dad. He even designed a few small games as personal projects, which impressed his family and friends. By the time he graduated high school, Haruo was set on following in his father’s footsteps.
At 18, he enrolled in a top-tier university for game development in Tokyo. He spent his days learning programming, level design, and storytelling for games, all while working on projects to build up his portfolio. His professors recognized his creativity, and he seemed like he was on the perfect path to become a game developer like his dad.
But no matter how hard Haruo worked, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. He’d always loved singing and dancing, secretly dreaming of being an idol, but he pushed it aside because he thought it was unrealistic. Still, he found himself dancing to K-pop choreographies at night or humming tunes while coding.
At 24, Haruo made the toughest decision of his life. He realized that game development wasn’t his true passion and decided to leave the path he’d been on for so long. Instead, he chose to follow his heart and pursue his dream of becoming an idol. Joining YR Entertainment as a trainee, he started from scratch, working harder than ever to catch up with younger trainees.
Career[]
Pre-debut: 2021-2024[]
On July 24, 2021, NHK reported that Hatsu Akimoto's son, Hatsu Haruo, had given up on game development to move to South Korea and began an idol career. The news came with a lot of controversy, many were angered and felt the man's decision was disrespectful to his father. Haruo responded to the controversy in an airport interview.
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I have immense respect for my father's work, and when I say immense I mean it. But I have come to realize that being a game developer is not something I ever wanted, but something that was pushed onto me. I hope everyone will come to understand my reasoning and support me in my future path. |
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| —Hatsu Haruo, 2021 | ||
In late-2021, many theorized that YR Entertainment was preparing a brand new boy group revolving around Haruo, but no group was debuted. People rumored the group to debut in 2022, but alas, nothing came of the rumors. In the 3rd quarter of 2023, YR Entertainment announced that they would be debuting their brand new boy group, and first boy group since LUVX, FANTASIZE (now known as BOY to Kiss).
Rumors of Haruo's debut were once again rising but YR Entertainment would soon release a statement on the matter. They stated that unfortunately, Haruo would not be a part of the 2023 boy group due to his well-being. They further revealed that he had broken his femur in a car accident, fans were upset and called for the group to be postponed, but nothing came of their protests. Haruo later addressed the situation through a heartfelt statement shared on his personal social media, expressing gratitude to fans for their concern and support during a challenging time. He wrote:
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I want to thank everyone who reached out with kind messages after hearing the news. It’s true that the accident has been a difficult hurdle, both physically and emotionally. I was looking forward to debuting alongside my teammates, but for now, my priority is recovering fully. This isn’t the end for me—just a detour. I’ll continue working toward my dream, and I hope you’ll support the group as they take this big step forward. Your encouragement means everything to me. |
” |
| —Hatsu Haruo, 2023 | ||
2024-Present: YR Newcomers, MAGNET RISE[]
On August 23, 2024, he was revealed to be a part of the YR Newcomers' "Adult Division."
On February 25, 2025, Haruo was announced to be competing in the idol survival program, MAGNET RISE, as a part of the CHARGE PLUS TEAM. During the AUDITION MISSION, he performed "On My Youth" by AIDYLLIC and passed, officially becoming a contestant in the competition. In the first elimination round, Haruo ranked 3rd in his team with 95,000 votes, meaning he would be progressing to the next round.
Personal life[]
Education[]
Haruo received an education fitting his creative aspirations and family legacy. He began his schooling at Gakushūin Primary School, a prestigious school in Tokyo known for its amazing academics and connections to Japan’s elite, including members of the royal family.
For his middle and high school years, Haruo attended The American School in Japan (ASIJ), an internationally renowned institution based in Tokyo.
After graduating high school, Haruo pursued higher education at the University of Tokyo, where he specialized in engineering with a focus on game development.
Personality[]
Haruo is thoughtful and introspective, often seen as the calm presence in a room. He’s supportive of others and has a natural talent for listening, making people feel comfortable sharing their worries with him. Despite this, he struggles with self-doubt, often dwelling on his decision to start his idol career so late and comparing himself to younger, more experienced trainees.
Haruo is a bit of a perfectionist, always striving to give his best, but this can make him overly critical of himself. He’s also highly creative, bringing unique ideas and a fresh perspective to the group, thanks to his background in game development.
While he can come off as serious, Haruo has a playful side that shows when he’s around close friends. His dry sense of humor and unexpected witty remarks often catch people off guard, adding a fun, lighthearted energy to practices. However, his tendency to overthink sometimes holds him back, especially when he feels like he’s falling behind.
Friendships[]
- Akira: After first arriving in Korea, Akira was the first person to show kindness to Haruo. As both are Japanese they quickly bonded and became the best of friends. The two still often speak and hang out.
- K: K and Haruo trained together and were originally meant to debut together. Haruo is openly supportive of his friend and has even been spotted at some of their fan events and concerts.
- Ivan: Similarly to his relationship with K, Haruo also trained with Ivan and was meant to debut with him. The two still often hang out and go to the gym together.
- Ju Han Sol: As older trainees, Hansol and Haruo naturally get along. They often bond over their ages, and they both expressed their desires to debut with one another.
- Lee Han: Despite being 3 years his senior, Haruo and Lee Han are quite close. Lee Han's extensive Japanese speaking skills are definitely one of the reasons why.
Filmography[]
Reality shows[]
- MAGNET RISE (SPHBS TV, 2025)
Gallery[]
Promotional[]
Trivia[]
- His MBTI is ISTP.
- Languages he speaks: Japanese, English, Korean.
- As a child, Haruo planned to become a game developer like his father.
- Although he recovered, he stated it would be too hard to get back into swimming.
- He wants to learn Chinese.
- His favorite groups right now are ODYSSEIA, MERAVI, and rm8z.
- If he was a girl, he would date Park Eunwoo.