Kento Nakajima has officially launched his solo career with the release of his first single, “MONTAGE,” on May 21, 2025. This marks a significant milestone following his solo debut album, N / bias, released in December 2024.
The title track, “MONTAGE,” serves as the opening theme for Fuji TVโs spring anime Nazotoki wa Dinner no Ato de and showcases Kento’s multifaceted artistry.
Composed by renowned music producer Hiroyuki Sawano, with lyrics co-written by Kento and cAnON., “MONTAGE” is a high-energy, dance-infused track that blends suspense and elegance. The song’s intricate composition reflects the enigmatic atmosphere of the anime it accompanies.
The music video, directed by YERD, portrays Kento as a detective entangled in a noir-inspired narrative. The visual storytelling, characterized by stark contrasts and minimalist sets, complements the song’s themes of identity and duality. The MV has garnered significant attention, surpassing 3 million views, and is praised for its cinematic quality.
As a solo artist, Kento’s vision has grown sharper, more personal. In recent interviews, he described how stripped-back venues made him reconsider how to connect with his audienceโnot through spectacle, but through shared emotion. That same rawness pulses through “็ขงๆฆ“, which trades cinematic drama for quiet depth. Here, the choreography is subtle, the gaze more lingering. His voice carries more than melodyโit carries intent.
In the Billboard interview, Kento explained how the theme of โใใใโ (question marks) shaped “MONTAGE“. To him, mystery wasnโt confusionโit was potential. In “็ขงๆฆ,” that same idea takes on a softer tone: a wistful exploration of memory, legacy, and self-belief. Itโs not about finding answers anymore, but learning to move forward even without them. Whether in the pulse of a dance track or the gentleness of a ballad, Kentoโs message remains the same: run toward the unknownโbecause thatโs where your future begins.
Words and emotions that ripple like wavesโreaching hearts even in silence.
As mentioned, the single also features the track “็ขงๆฆ” (Hekireki), a collaboration with the immersive art exhibition HOKUSAI: ANOTHER STORY. Inspired by the famous Hokusai’s iconic “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji,” the song delves into themes of timeless youth and introspection. Kento co-wrote the lyrics with Kanata Okajima, drawing parallels between Hokusai’s artistry and his own journey.
โ็ขงๆฆโ isnโt just a songโitโs a feeling, an unspoken connection that transcends barriers. In just over three minutes, it paints a vivid story of struggle, solitude, hope, and the quiet strength to keep going. One listener with a hearing impairment shared how even without sound, the lyrics and Kentoโs expressions brought the music to life. Others echoed that sentiment, moved by how the melody and visuals resonated like a personal memory.
While โMONTAGEโ dazzles with complexityโstacked syllables, layered meanings, rhythmical twistsโโ็ขงๆฆโ whispers with emotional clarity. The lyrics may feel more transparent, but their impact is no less profound. Listeners described feeling seen, even comforted, by the words and melody. Where one track challenges the listener to chase down clues, the other offers a soft place to land. Together, they form a complementary duality: head and heart, pursuit and pause.
The song reflects the inner world of Kento. His signature color blue evolves here into โ็ขงโโa deeper, gem-like blue that symbolizes growth and timeless youth. Itโs a nod to his journey: from a boy who carried โblueโ onstage to a man who now owns it fully, in every hue.
The melody feels like clear waterโand the lyrics give you the courage to move forward.
Whether experienced live, through headphones, or projected on a 14-meter immersive screen in Shibuya with wind and vibration at your feet, “็ขงๆฆ” has proven itself more than a coupling track. Itโs a love letter to dreams that donโt fade, to paths not yet walked, and to every person who has felt lost, lonely, or quietly brave.
As many fans have said: this isnโt just music. ็ขงๆฆ is Kento Nakajimaโs life in song. Itโs an emotional keepsake, a story carved in deep blue. A song thatโlike its titleโwill quietly endure as a part of our own histories.
With MONTAGE, Nakajima set out to make a statement: that mystery is worth the chase, and that art should never be too easy. โIf solving a mystery was simple, it wouldnโt be interesting,โ he saidโand that belief echoes across ็ขงๆฆ too. Where MONTAGE pieces together a noir-tinted puzzle, ็ขงๆฆ drifts through a more emotional landscapeโwhere the answers donโt matter as much as the feeling they leave behind. In both, Kento invites listeners to not just hear, but to interpretโto live in the โใใใ,โ where the unknown becomes possibility.
Stream and Download “MONTAGE“:
https://kentonakajima.lnk.to/MONTAGE
For those who want more than just streaming, the CD release offers even more elegance and depthโand perhaps hints at where Kentoโs journey is headed next.
For overseas: Bundle Set of 3 Editions (Blu-ray) | Bundle Set of 3 Editions (DVD) | Type A (Blu-ray/DVD) | Type B (Blu-ray/DVD) | Regular Edition
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