A Station

Lore & Background

In 2010, Hiro Mizushima left his talent agency, Ken-On, to create his own independent agency called A Station. This move allowed him greater creative control over his projects, including his starring role as Sebastian Michaelis in the 2010 film Black Butler. The film was shown at the Toronto Japanese Film Festival and Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival 2014.

Reader's Guide

A Station represents a pivotal step in Hiro Mizushima's career, marking his transition from a talent agency-managed actor to an independent creative director and producer. The agency enabled him to take on multiple roles in the Black Butler film, including co-producer and co-screenwriter, demonstrating his ambition to shape his own projects. While the agency itself is not widely documented beyond its founding, it underscores Mizushima's desire for autonomy in the Japanese entertainment industry. His decision to leave Ken-On and establish A Station came shortly before he won the 5th Poplar Publishing Grand Prize for Fiction for his novel Kagerou, written under the pen name Satoshi Saitō. The agency's existence is a footnote in Mizushima's broader career, which includes major TV dramas, a Kamen Rider lead role, and international appearances such as a guest role in HBO's Girls.

Did You Know?

• A Station was founded by Hiro Mizushima in 2010 after he left his talent agency Ken-On.
• Mizushima starred as Sebastian Michaelis in the 2010 film Black Butler.
• The Black Butler film was shown at the Toronto Japanese Film Festival and Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival 2014.