The charismatic King & Prince member Ren Nagase has sent shockwaves through the fandom by announcing the simultaneous release of his first-ever solo photobook and a deeply personal compilation of his long-running columns “Nichinichi Renren“. Both items will hit shelves on January 23, 2027, the same day as his 28th birthday.
Hold onto your wallets and start making prominent room on your bookshelves, because one of the most monumental and heartwarming moment for ‘Tiaras’ is officially on the horizon! If you are a dedicated follower of Ren, you know all too well that our favorite idol is notoriously famous for being a massive homeboy. He openly dislikes long-distance traveling, packing, and the exhausting process of flight transits at international airports. That is exactly why the sudden, passive news drop that just shook the Japanese entertainment landscape has left everyone completely speechless, incredibly thrilled, and grinning from ear to ear. To celebrate his upcoming 28th birthday on January 23, 2027, Ren has decided to go above and beyond for his fans by announcing the simultaneous release of his very first solo photobook alongside a deeply personal essay book compling over six and half years of private reflections.
The news represents a critical milestone in Ren‘s artistic and personal maturity. This is far from a standard, corporate commercial product thrown together by an agency. Instead, it is a deeply intentional, self-driven project conceptualized under Ren‘s own creative direction and personal wishes. For a long time, he has wanted to do something truly unforgettable to mark his golden late-twenties. The most dazzling highlight of the announcement is undoubtedly the chosen location for the photoshoot: the picturesque, fairytale country of Croatia. It is a European destination that no one saw coming, turning into a hilarious inside joke for fans who understand his absolute love for indoor comfort.
Ren Nagase in Croatia? Yes, Layover and All!
When the announcement officially dropped, Ren himself could not help but laugh out loud when imagining the reaction of his ‘Tiaras‘. Flying from Japan to the heart of Europe is a long, grueling journey that requires multiple flights, immense patience, and mandatory layovers. With his trademark warmth and down-to-earth candor, Ren commented on how much he looked forward to surprising his audience with this choice. In his own words, he knew exactly what his fans would say: “Wait, Ren went all the way to Croatia?! And he actually survived a flight transit on an international journey?!”. However, the lenghty trip proved to be completely worth it. Over an intensive five-day shoot, under the expert lens of acclaimed photographer Hiroshi Fujiwara (from Pygmy Company), Ren immersed himself in an unforgettable journey centered around the historic capital of Zagreb and the breathtaking coastal jewel of the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik.
The upcoming photobook, whose final title is yet to be disclosed by the publisher, Shueisha, promises to be a stunning visual masterpiece capturing the perfect duality of Ren: the untouchable, ethereal pop prince who commands domes and stages, and the down-to-earth twenty-something enjoying life’s simplest pleasures.
The early teaser images display an incredible range of styles and moods. Fans will be treated to raw, vulnerable morning shots showing his messy, sleepy face —a rare, unfiltered side that fans deeply adore. Constrastingly, the book features breathtaking imagery where Ren stands like a true medieval prince amidst the cobblestone streets of Croatia’s World Heritage sites. The photobook also highlights pure, joyful daily moments, such as him exploring European nature or flashing a bright, boyish grin while devouring delicious local culinary delicacies. To top it all off, the journey transtitions into the sleek Croatian nightlife, capturing a mature, sophisticated Ren wearing an angles-sharp, high-fashion suit in the dark, mysterious alleyways of the old town. Ren candidly shared there was an almost surreal experience during the shoot: “When we were standing on top of a cliff with the beautiful Old Town of Dubrovnik right behind me, the surreal landscape made me suddenly snap into reality and think ‘Wow, I am truly shooting my own solo photobook!’. It was an incredible rush of excitement. I want my fans to feel exactly what I felt.“
Six and a Half Years of Confessions: The Birth of ‘Nichinichi Renren’
If a gorgeous European photobook was not enough to make you lose your mind, get ready, because the second part of this dual release is just as massive. Simultaneously, Shueisha will publish a beautifully bound essay book compiling the entirety of his highly celebrated monthly solo column, ‘Nichinichi Renren‘, which ran cointinuoulsy in the popular magazine Myojo from October 2019 all the way to May 2026. This means seven years of personal growth, thoughts, and milestones will be beautifully preserved in a single volume. For any King & Prince fan, this column has served as a sacred space—a monthly rendezvous where Ren stripped away his massive superstar persona to chat with readers as if they were old childhood friends. In those pages, he shared his daily quirks, personal anxieties, simple moments of happiness, and his deepest, unedited thoughts about adulthood and the future.
Ren confessed that going back through his old writings to prepare for this compilation brought a heavy mix of deep nostalgia and intense embarrassment. Revisiting words he wrote when he was barely twenty years old allowed him to rediscover versions of himself he had long forgotten. “Because I always spoke completely naturally and without any filter for this column, looking back I found myself saying things that made me think, ‘Did I seriously say that?!’. It’s going to be a bit embarrassing to have everyone read it all compiled together, but I am truly happy“, he shared. To ensure this essay book stands out as a premium collector’s item, Shueisha confirmed it will feature completely exclusive, never-before-seen photos taken in Croatia—in entirely different settings and outfits from the main photobook—alongside a massive, brand-new 20,000-character long interview where Ren opens up completely about his past career, current mindset, and visions for his upcoming thirties.
The Ultimate Fan Dilemma
Unterstanding that this is a once-in-a-lifetime double celebration, the publishers have crafted multiple formats to accommodate all kinds of collectors. On one hand, standalone standard editions will be widely available. The standard photobook will feature 160 high-quality A4 pages, while the essay book will be released as a compact 200-page volume. Both standard editions will contain unique bonuses, such as a exclusive behind-the-scenes photos taken by Ren himself with his own device and heartflet handwritten messages printed for the readers. On the other hand, the absolute crown jewel causing a massive frenzy online is the limited “Ren Nagase Premium BOX“. This ultra-luxurious edition will be produced entirely on a made-to-order basis, with pre-orders open for a very brief window from July 14 to August 17, 2026. This collector’s chest will house both the photobook and the essay book, but featuring completely exclusive limited-edition covers and alternate photo cuts that will never be printed in the regular versions. Additionally, the box includes two spectacular bonus items: an exclusive 40-page A5-sized Mini Photo Book and a custom collector’s sticker sheet.
To elevate the excitement to an absolute fever pitch, a massive campaign has been announced for fans who purchase the Premium BOX through the dedicated URL on Tower Records Online. Buyers will be automatically entered into a lottery to win a ticket to an ultra-exclusive in-person “Handover Event” and Live Talk Show, where they will get to meet and interact with Ren face-to-face. He has ensured that no fan is left behind; anyone who enters the lottery but does not win a physical seat will be granted guaranteed access to watch the entire live talk show via a private online streaming link. No one is excluded from this massive birthday celebration!
Ren Nagase in 2026: Triumph and a Golden Future
This milestone comes at an incredibly beautiful and successful junction in Ren‘s professional career, where, together with his partner Kaito Takahashi, their momentum has been completely unstoppable. The duo recently wrapped up a monumental four-dome tour across Japan earlier this year —”King & Prince DOME TOUR 2026 STARRING“— which completely dominated the charts this past June with its Blu-ray/DVD release. Furthermore, they are already gearing up for the highly anticipated September release of their brand-new EP, “So Honey“, proving they are currently operating at the absolute peak of their musical powers.
At the same time, Ren‘s career as an actor continues to reach stellar heights. From his early days as a standout Kansai talent to anchoring major cinmatic and television hits like “Last Man“, “Yugure ni, Te wo Tsunagu“, and the dark, gripping psychological film “Houtei Yugi“. Ren has repeatedly proven himself to be a powerhouse cast member of incredible range and emotional depth. This dual literary release for his 28th birthday acts as the perfect, poetic bridge closing out a radiant chapter of youth while welcoming a more mature and deeply artistic era. Without a doubt, this joint project stands as a beautiful monument of mutual love between Ren Nagase and his global fanbase. Mark your calendars, secure your pre-orders, and let us celebrate this historic milestone in the life of an irreplaceable artist. Enjoy the journey to Croatia through his own eyes!
Ren Nagase’s full comment
“My first solo photobook, which I’ve always wanted to release, is something very special to me. I was hoping to release it on a special day, so I’m very happy that it’s coming out on my 28th birthday. The entire photobook was shot in Croatia, a place I’ve always wanted to visit! I’m sure many fans who know my personality are surprised, thinking, ‘Nagase went to Croatia!? He even transited through there!?’ Croatia is simply beautiful. When we were shooting from a cliff overlooking the old town of Dubrovnik, the extraordinary scenery made me feel like, ‘I’m really shooting a photobook!’ I hope you can get a sense of what kind of scenery I saw and what kind of feelings I had, and fully enjoy this unexpected combination of ‘Nagase x Croatia.’ We’re also releasing an essay book at the same time, which compiles my solo series ‘Nichinichi Renren,’ which ran in Myojo for about six and a half years . Since I was speaking naturally each time, I think I might discover some new things about myself, like, ‘Did I really say that!?’, and to be honest, there might be some embarrassing parts (laughs). I think you’ll find many different sides of me in this book, so I hope you’ll read it over and over again. Please look forward to it!”
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