Kento Nakajima is a man who knows what he wants. He’s always known. Laser-focused since childhood, he joined STARTO ENTERTAINMENT (formerly Johnny & Associates) when he was sixteen, jumping headfirst into the spotlight as a member of the JPOP idol group Sexy Zone (now timelesz) in 2011.

As a contributor to the group’s 26 chart-topping singles and 9 chart-topping albums, in addition to several successful films and television roles, high-fashion brand partnerships, and memorable self-produced solo tracks like the recent Instagram-exclusive solo track ROSSO, it’s the global stage he has his sights on now.

In March 2024, Nakajima graduated from Sexy Zone in a touching last livestream on YouTube and the group’s official fan club, but he has no interest in slowing down. 

His next venture? CONCORDIA: a sci-fi drama set in a future not too different from our own, produced by Frank Doelger (Game of Thrones). The dark and dangerous story unfolds in a Swedish Utopia shaped with the aid of Artificial Intelligence. This new role signifies a significant transition in Nakajima’s career, and fans eagerly anticipate his performance. 

Kento plays A.J. Oba, who keeps the AI up and running. A simple task at first, until a murder and the hacking of the AI system threaten plans for global expansion into Germany.   

Oba is vastly different from Nakajima in almost every way. Stern, serious, and prone to coarse language, he’s nothing like the bright and energetic young man I had the privilege of sitting down with on a recent trip to Tokyo as a representative of GENIUS Japan. We talked about music and film and how he got the nickname “Mr. Carbonara” from Doelger himself, and also what he’s looking forward to most as a solo artist.

“I am looking forward not only to what I will get to release on my own, but also the opportunity to collaborate with other artists, brands, and just being able to explore myself in ways I haven’t done yet,” he stated candidly after we’d concluded the interview. “To be honest, I’m so grateful, not just for the experience of my ten years with Sezy Zone, but for my brotherhood with my former group members.”

Taking a moment, he was obviously processing through the emotions of this monumental life-change. 

“They have been so supportive of me and my desire to take this next step. I don’t know if I could’ve done it without their support,” he continued. “I still have a lot to learn, so I’m grateful for my friendships with people who have done this, like my friend from the group Yoasobi. Their advice has been invaluable, and because of that, along with the support I’m getting, I feel like I can enter this new journey with confidence. I hope my fans are excited for what’s to come and proud of what I’m doing.”

You can read the original interview on GENIUS.

More Kento soon so…

Stay tuned!