Yoshinori Masakado: Celebrating a Year of Success and Transformation

On May 15, 2025, Ae! group—Yoshinori Masakado, Seiya Suezawa, Ken Kojima, and Masaya Sano—celebrated their first full year since debut (originally as a five-member group). 365 days that transformed them from Kansai’s rising stars into one of STARTO’s most dynamic, rising acts. Their debut single “《A》BEGINNING,” released on May 15, 2024, set off a chain reaction of tours, variety breakthroughs, music releases, and growing media presence.

Ae! group is set to headline the long‑awaited sequel to the live‑action Osomatsu‑san film, originally portrayed by Snow Man in 2022. Joined by their beloved friend and Kansai Junior Takuya Nishimura, the six‑man cast will bring a distinctly Kansai flavor to the beloved sextuplets when the movie hits theaters in 2026.

2026 is already shaping up to be loud, messy, and absolutely unforgettable—and there’s no group better suited for it than this chaotic Kansai six.

Against this backdrop, the members have experienced dramatic shifts in their individual careers, too. Their acting roles, voice work, stage and musical contributions, and even personal challenges have shaped Ae! group’s story in palpable ways, revealing the depth and complexity behind the group’s first year, much to fans’ joy and excitement.

There was no question where this spotlight series should begin — with the man whose evolution has quietly changed everything: Yoshinori Masakado.

Yoshinori Masakado

Masakado is more than just the group’s incredible guitarist and steady presence—with just the right amount of ditziness. His influence extends far beyond the stage and screen and has done so for years.

In 2025, he returned as the official ambassador for Immersive Museum OSAKA, a role he carries with deep sincerity and renewed passion.

His performances continue leaning toward emotionally demanding and introspective roles, but his ambassador work reveals another side of him: a gentle, thoughtful guide who invites audiences to slow down and truly feel art.

Masakado’s own words—reflecting on crossing borders, understanding historical backdrops, and experiencing art with one’s whole body—mirror the same quiet intensity that defines his acting, making his presence in the exhibition both grounding and transformative.

And transformative is another keyword when it comes to Masakado’s highlights of the past year. In early 2025, he surprised everyone with a dramatic transformation in Tarzan magazine (Issue No. 896), where he appeared with a sculpted, athletic physique achieved through two months of disciplined training.

The feature wasn’t just a display of physical results — it revealed a side of Masakado built on determination, self‑reflection, and personal challenge. His interview emphasized that the journey was less about aesthetics and more about testing his limits, learning about his body, and discovering what discipline means to him.

What the Tarzan feature ultimately proved isn’t that Masakado changed—but that he has the courage to challenge himself while knowing he is loved in every form.

The same discipline he applied to Tarzan—measured, intentional, and grounded in self‑discovery—echoes through his acting work as well. Whether on stage or on screen, he continues to work roles that challenge him emotionally and physically, pushing his limits not to prove anything to others, but to explore what he is capable of as a performer.

It is from this spirit of growth that his recent and upcoming drama and film projects take shape, each one expanding how audiences see him and how he sees himself as an actor.

Stage: “Touching the Void” (2024)

Ae! group’s Masakado Yoshinori in Touching the Void ～虚空に触れて～

The highly anticipated stage adaptation of “Touching the Void” premiered on October 8 at Tokyo’s New National Theatre before moving to Osaka’s Umeda Arts Theater. Directed by Tom Morris, who also helmed the original UK production, the play adapts Joe Simpson’s 1988 memoir of survival against impossible odds. Scottish playwright David Greig first brought the story to the stage in 2018, earning acclaim for its minimalistic yet emotionally overwhelming presentation.

Masakado led the Japanese production as Joe Simpson, delivering a physically grueling and psychologically intense performance. The story follows Joe and Simon Yates after their ascent of Siula Grande, where Joe breaks his leg and plummets into a crevasse, forcing both climbers into a life‑or‑death struggle. With only four cast members and a stark, skeletal set, the actors must convey the terror, isolation, and resilience of the climbers with raw physicality.

Film: “グランメゾン・パリ / Grand Maison Paris” (Winter 2024)

A young man in a chef's uniform speaks thoughtfully, framed against a warm, natural background.

Masakado continued expanding his acting portfolio with a major role in the highly anticipated film “Grand Maison Paris,” the long‑awaited continuation of the acclaimed 2019 drama Grand Maison Tokyo. Starring Takuya Kimura, the film follows Chef Obana and his team as they attempt to achieve what no Asian chefs have before—earning three Michelin stars in Paris, the very heart of French cuisine.

Masakado joined the cast as Tasuku Kogure, affectionately called “Gure‑chan,” an apprentice working at Grand Maison Paris. Warm‑hearted, upbeat, and speaking in Kansai dialect, Kogure brings levity to the kitchen staff while witnessing firsthand the overwhelming challenges of establishing a top‑level restaurant abroad. He often accompanies Obana and Aizawa on ingredient‑hunting trips, learning how difficult it is for a foreign team to gain trust within France’s fiercely competitive culinary scene.

This role marked Masakado’s first on‑screen collaboration with Kimura Takuya, an opportunity he describes as both thrilling and humbling. The character’s concern for Obana—especially regarding Obana’s reckless promises about earning three stars—adds emotional depth to the story, while Masakado’s natural warmth infuses Kogure with authenticity. His inclusion in the ensemble brought fresh energy to an already star‑studded cast, promising a memorable performance that blends comedy, sincerity, and Masakado’s signature Kansai charm.

Drama: “ムサシノ輪舞曲 / Musashino Rondo” (2025)

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“ムサシノ輪舞曲 / Musashino Rondo” is a romantic drama adapted from Haruka Kawachi’s manga. Airing from April to June 2025, the series marked several milestones for him—his first lead role in a serialized drama, his first mature romance, and his debut as the emotional anchor of an entire production. The drama’s theme song, performed by Ae! group, created a rare and meaningful synergy between his acting and the group’s music activities.

International viewers can stream Musashino Rondo on Rakuten Viki with English subtitles, making Masakado’s heartfelt performance accessible worldwide. Known for its slow‑burn tension, emotionally charged romance, and beautifully soft visual direction, the drama showcases Masakado’s expressive acting—especially his ability to convey longing, vulnerability, and quiet determination through subtle gestures and emotionally rich silence.

Short Film: “SUNA” — MIRRORLIAR FILMS Season 7 (2025)

Another landmark project for Masakado in 2025 was SUNA, part of the acclaimed short film anthology MIRRORLIAR FILMS Season 7. Directed by Shigeaki Kato of NEWS—an established actor, author, and now filmmaker—SUNA is a mystery thriller that blurs the boundaries between fear, reality, and the human psyche.

Masakado starred as Toyama, one of two detectives investigating a string of eerie deaths in Tokai City, where victims are found mysteriously suffocated beneath inexplicable mounds of sand. As Toyama and his partner Sayama (played by Shigeaki) follow the trail, they encounter an enigmatic elderly woman whose presence deepens the unsettling atmosphere. When Toyama begins discovering traces of sand within his own home, the investigation spirals into a surreal descent that challenges his grip on reality.

SUNA marks not only a creative breakthrough for Masakado, but also a reunion with Shigeaki, with whom he previously worked on the stage play Sen, shoku; 染、色. Reflecting on how far he has come since that collaboration, Masakado shared: “Back then, I had almost no acting experience, and I think I caused Kato-san some concern. This time, I wanted to show how much I’ve grown. I poured everything I could into the role.”

Despite its short runtime, SUNA was a tightly crafted mystery packed with emotional intensity—a testament to the artistic growth of both Shigeaki and Masakado.

Stage: “Twelfth Night” (2025)

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Masakado’s boldest theatrical challenge yet arrives with Shintaro Mori’s avant‑garde production of Twelfth Night, staged at the Tokyo Globe Theatre before transferring to Osaka’s Morinomiya Piloti Hall. What sets this staging apart is its fearless approach to gender and identity—beginning with the fact that Masakado plays Viola, the play’s lead female role.

He admitted he never imagined he would take on such a role: “I never imagined I’d be playing a female character. I was really surprised when I was cast.” Yet that surprise quickly transformed into excitement. With a history of comedic female roles during Ae! group’s performances, Masakado now stepped into a far more complex and emotionally layered portrayal.

Reuniting with the director (Shintaro Mori), who previously directed him in Vincent in Brixton, Masakado brings the physical discipline he honed during Touching the Void into Shakespearean comedy. Viola—shipwrecked, grieving, disguised as a man, and caught in a spiraling love triangle—requires emotional nuance and bodily awareness, and Masakado’s training feeds directly into this performance.

The production leans into the play’s chaotic spirit—festivity, confusion, and liberation—mirroring the Twelfth Night holiday itself. Masakado’s Viola becomes the emotional center around which mistaken identities, desire, and longing whirl. His expressive openness and sincerity bring a rare depth to the role, making this a defining moment in his stage career.

Music and Tour: His “D.N.A”

A performer on stage smiles and holds a microphone, wearing a stylish outfit with intricate embellishments, against a colorful, illuminated backdrop.

As the group’s guitarist, Masakado’s presence became even more defining during the “D.N.A” era. His intricate, expressive guitar work shapes the band’s live sound, grounding each performance with emotional warmth and technical confidence. Even as his acting career flourished, his musical contributions remained the heartbeat of Ae! group—linking his artistic growth on screen with the energy he brings to the stage.

This tour marked a turning point for him and the group, not only in scale, but in identity. Led by member Seiya Suezawa as the tour’s production lead, D.N.A was a full‑force statement of who Ae! group has become: fearlessly theatrical, unpredictable, uproariously funny, and musically bold — all while wearing their Kansai DNA with pride.

And for those who want to experience not only the D.N.A era but the climb that led to it, the tour Blu-ray/DVD pairs perfectly with the group’s Netflix documentary “BORDERLESS” — a real-time chronicle of their turbulent race toward debut. The second part of the documentary captures the first tour after “《A》BEGINNING,” and through backstage frustration, shock announcements, brutal deadlines, and moments of joy so raw they almost hurt to watch, BORDERLESS lays the emotional groundwork that makes the D.N.A tour hit even harder.

Beyond acting and recorded performance, his stage presence remains one of his most defining strengths. On stage—whether with Ae! group or in theatrical productions—he performs with a natural instinct for pacing, eye contact, and emotional projection that differs sharply from his screen roles.

While his drama and film characters often thrive on subtlety, internal conflict, and quiet emotional shifts, his live performance presence is vibrant, spontaneous, and deeply connective. Masakado commands the stage with expressive movement, warm charisma, and an ability to shift from soft sincerity to explosive energy in an instant. It’s this duality—restraint on screen and brilliance in the spotlight—that continues to captivate audiences and set him apart as a multitalented performer.

On October 14, 2024, the digital release of King & Prince’s album Re:ERA introduced a deeply personal and nostalgic collaboration titled “Shimi” (染み)—a song that reunites three of Kansai’s closest friends: Ren Nagase (King & Prince), Daigo Nishihata (Naniwa Danshi), and Masakado himself. The title itself, “Shimi,” alludes to April 3, the day the three first met.

Masakado contributes guitar and chorus vocals, adding warmth and rhythmic brightness to a track rooted in shared history. The trio—who all entered the agency as juniors over a decade ago—have carried their bond through separate groups, debuts, and evolving careers. “Shimi” is their first officially released work together, and its emotional weight reflects that long journey.

Despite belonging to different groups and walking different paths, their connection remains steady—more than “best friends,” closer to “soul friends,” as the lyrics suggest. For Masakado, the collaboration is both musical and deeply emotional, capturing more than a moment: it captures their story.

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On October 6, 2025, Masakado surprised fans with a striking new artistic collaboration titled “Black or White…” alongside senior actor Jun Hasegawa. Released through Jun’s official website, the project blends music, visual art, and performance into a moody, monochrome‑themed short piece. The version on the website is slightly different from the one Masakado posted on his Instagram.

The collaboration features a reimagined performance of “Julia,” originally from the 2018 Takizawa Kabuki stage production. In this new iteration, Jun takes the lead on tap dancing while Masakado accompanies him on acoustic guitar, creating a refined senior-junior dynamic rooted in shared agency history.

This understated yet stylish project further cements Masakado’s reputation as a versatile performer who bridges idol work with genuine musical artistry.

Masakado’s journey over the past two years has proven one thing above all: his artistry doesn’t exist in compartments. Whether he is hanging from a cliff in Touching the Void, navigating the psychological spiral of SUNA, grounding a Michelin-driven kitchen in Grand Maison Paris, unraveling the vulnerability of love in Musashino Rondo, or transforming Shakespeare from the inside out in Twelfth Night, every project carries the same through-line—an honest performer who meets every role and work with sincerity first.

His work in music reflects the same philosophy: the guitar isn’t a prop, but an extension of him; his stage presence isn’t manufactured, but instinctive; even his physical transformation for Tarzan was driven not by aesthetics, but by curiosity and discipline.

What fans connect with isn’t just the talent, but the way he shares each step — not as a performance, but as a person growing in real time. The spotlight may change shape — film, drama, stage, radio, or Instagram — but the heart behind it never does. Masakado continues to evolve boldly, not to distance himself from who he was, but to deepen the story of who he already is.