Hope you didn’t get a Christmas date yet, because Kento Nakajima is officially making his solo debut under Sony Music, with his first album, N/bias (pronounced “Non-bias”), dropping on Christmas Day, December 25, 2024!
N/bias promises to be an introspective and deeply personal album, capturing Kento’s experiences and emotions. Through this album, he aims to break free from past judgments and biases, embracing a new chapter in his artistic journey. Each track delves into the complex range of human emotions, from the darker sides we all experience to the hope we carry for the future. Fans can expect a fresh, unfiltered version of Kento as he steps outside his previous roles and showcases his full creative potential.
Earlier works since he stepped into the industry as a solo artist include “Fatal” as part of the duo GEMN with Tatsuya Kitani. The song is the opening theme for the second season of the hit anime “Oshi no Ko.”
GEMN, which was formed specifically to perform the opening theme, has been a standout ever since their debut, gaining massive attention from fans and media alike. The streets of Shibuya and Harajuku have been echoing with song the song on repeat since its release. When you walk down the streets, the familiar tune makes you turn your head to find the source, and people around you react similarly, chatting about the song once they recognize it.
With Kento personally producing the concept behind the performance video, it’s a visually stunning and emotionally charged piece that embodies the spirit of the song. His years of experience of meticulously highlighting and fine-tuning details to ensure his vision is conveyed are evident.
The contrast from the official MV is interesting, where the MV is filled with details and almost overstimulating elements, the performance video is clean and simple. Throughout both videos, the tagline “Keep your eyes on me, my dearest fatale!” resonates strongly.
Something that surprised a few was the announcement of the HITOGOTO project, the song, with the same name was the theme song for TV Tokyo’s Drama 8 series “Shosen Hitogoto desu kara: Toaru Bengoshi no Honne no Shigoto” (In the End, It’s Someone Else’s Problem). Kento starred in the drama as the Osamu Yasuda, a lawyer specializing in internet troubles and running his own law firm.ย Osamuย is known for his catchphrase, โItโs just someone elseโs problem, isnโt it?โ
The song portrays the experience of navigating life amidst fragile connections with society while dealing with a world overflowing with excessive words on social media, where everything feels like “someone else’s problem” (hitogoto), and how people survive in such a world in a human way.
The MV is directed by the up-and-coming filmmaker YERD, and attention is drawn to how Kento embodies the world of the song as a taxi driver.
But even before going solo, Kento has been actively producing and posting his solo works on Instagram, like his original songs “ROSSO” and “Jasmine Tea.”
The debut album is still in production, but it’s clear this is a project close to Kento’s heart. It’s set to be a powerful statement of his growth, both as an artist and as an individual.
Kento Nakajimaโs Message to Fans
This Christmas, Iโm making my solo debut as Kento Nakajima. Iโve titled my album “N/bias, “pronounced โNon-bias,โ to reflect my intention to cast aside preconceived notions and evaluations, breaking out of my shell as an artist and as a person. The โNโ in the title holds multiple meanings: Neo, Natural, and Nakajima.
Since April, weโve shared many moments through projects like GEMN and HITOGOTO, and now, through this album, I want to show you a new version of myself this Christmas. I hope it creates a wonderful world of โNโ that we can explore together.
Followed by his debut album, his first solo live concert, “KENTO NAKAJIMA 1st Live 2025 N/bias,” at Ariake Arena in Tokyo from January 17th to 19th. In a recent interview, Kento shared his thoughts and aspirations for this new phase of his career.
Reflecting on his decision to embark on a solo career, Kento explained, “After launching my fan club ‘I AM:U’ in April, I felt a deep sense of gratitude and support from my fans. I wanted to give back to them immediately, and I realized that the best way to express my current musical identity would be on a live stage.“
The title of his debut album, “N/bias,” signifies a desire to break free from preconceived notions and evaluations. He explained, “I want to give shape to the words, melodies, and ideas I have now. Most importantly, the concept is to break through my shell as a human being and present my true self.“
When asked about his approach to creating music, Kento revealed, “I’ve been creating music in my current environment, and I’ve realized that giving shape to the words, phrases, and melodies in my head is one way of breaking free from my shell. Instead of following a predetermined path, I want to create my own and run on it. By sharing this process with my fans, I believe it will change the way they listen to music, broaden their perspective, and deepen their appreciation for my music.“
He also expressed his excitement about sharing his personal emotions through his music. “I’m not afraid to show my natural emotions,” he said. “I want people to accept my thoughts first. I want to express that I’m living this kind of life right now and thinking about these things through my music.“
Regarding his songwriting process, Kento shared, “I write and compose many of the songs myself. The pain of creation is pleasant. I usually submit my ideas to Sony’s music team first, and they refine it into a song, but since it’s a team of professionals, it’s not easy to get approval. To stick to my beliefs, I’m constantly trying to be more sensitive to everything around me and absorb it, then turn it into a form for album production.“
As for his upcoming live concert, he expressed a desire to create a memorable experience for his fans. “I haven’t seen my fans in a long time, so I want to create something that will make us all even more excited,” he said. “I want to show my fans a new side of myself and create a live performance that doesn’t just end within the venue.“
in addition to his domestic success, also harbors ambitions to expand his reach internationally. He shared, “Thanks to ‘Oshi no Ko’ this year, I had the experience of the song ‘Fatal’ being heard by many people overseas. I’m grateful to ‘Oshi no Ko’ and ‘Team GEMN‘ for this opportunity. Being able to do the theme song at this time was also a kind of fate.“
He further expressed his desire to share his music with a wider audience. “First of all, I want to be heard in this archipelago. I want to convey it to this archipelago. ‘They’re doing amazing music in Japan.‘ I hope to be noticed from overseas as well. Of course, I have the goal of expanding into overseas entertainment.“
While acknowledging his Japanese roots, he emphasized his intention to maintain his identity. “Of course, I won’t forget that I’m a samurai. I’ll keep my sword. I won’t put down my sword and eat hamburgers. I’ll face the overseas stage with a Japanese soul.”
Looking ahead, Kento expressed his aspirations for his solo career. “I want to create music that can be heard both domestically and internationally,” he said. “I want to be recognized as an icon of Japanese pop.”
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