Yoshinori Masakado is one of the standout members of Ae! group, a five-member boy band under STARTO ENTERTAINMENT. The group, which includes Seiya Suezawa, Keita Richard Kusama, Ken Kojima, and Masaya Sano, made their CD debut last year after forming just before the global pandemic. Signed with Universal Music Japan, they’ve been making waves in the industry ever since.

But Ae! group is more than just another song-and-dance unit—they refuse to fit into the mold of a typical pop act. Much like their STARTO seniors, SixTONES and Travis Japan, they’re proving that they bring something extra to the table, adding their own distinct heat to the music scene.

And speaking of heat—just take one look at Masakado on the cover of Tarzan Magazine No. 896, and you’ll see just how hot this young man is. 

“Maybe it’s the ‘never give up’ mentality I’ve developed through work. But I think I managed to push my limits a little further!” He said in the interview with the magazine who stated that his workout routine includes:

  • Bench presses & push-ups
  • Squats & lunges
  • Side planks (10 reps × 3 sets)
  • Ab roller (50 reps daily)

He committed to this straightforward yet demanding program for nearly two months. During one particularly intense personal training session, after finishing his bench press, he immediately launched into a grueling series of push-up variations.

“Maybe it’s the ‘never give up’ mentality I’ve developed through work. But I think I managed to push my limits a little further!” He added and as Tarzan stated,  the results well… they  speak for themselves:

  • 7kg weight loss
  • 5cm waist reduction
  • Body fat percentage dropped to single digits

In short, he effectively burned fat while preserving muscle mass, transforming his physique into something truly beautiful to behold..

“My abs have changed, but the biggest transformation is my face! I used to get puffy easily, and my eyelids would swell in the morning, but now I wake up with double eyelids every day! (laughs)“

A key factor in his success? Diet. He alternated between low-fat and low-carb meal plans every two weeks:

  • Low-fat phase: Three meals of rice balls, salad chicken, and a vegetable salad
  • Low-carb phase: No rice balls but added grilled fish
  • Protein shakes in between meals

“I thought, ‘This is all I can eat…?’ At first, it felt hopeless, but I could see my face and abs changing, so I stuck with it until the end.”

As a performer, the  diet, and work outs have only helped get him more performance ready.

“Looking back, every time I changed my body for a stage production, it set something in motion. My first stage role had me wearing one-tooth geta sandals, which strengthened my iliopsoas muscles. The next production got me into weight training, and the one after that pushed me to train even harder.“

His progress has been so inspiring that now his fellow group mate Richard wants to start training with him. 

He’s the perfect sugar-sweet treat to unwrap this valentines day. There will be more Masakado and Ae! group soon so.. .

Stay Tuned!

NOTE: Subtitled have been graciously provided by DUMPLING BOX