Tag: Masakado Yoshinori

Riding the Tailwind: Ae! group Celebrate anan’s 55th Anniversary

by Sabina, posted in Spotlight, STARTO

As anan celebrates its monumental 55th anniversary, the magazine has gathered a truly extraordinary lineup—a constellation of cultural icons, trend-setters, artists, and storytellers who have shaped the look and feel of Japanese entertainment for generations. And among them, shining with their unmistakable Kansai-bright energy, stands Ae! group—Yoshinori Masakado, Seiya Suezawa, Ken Kojima, and Masaya Sano—spirited, grounded, and continuing … Continue reading Riding the Tailwind: Ae! group Celebrate anan’s 55th Anniversary

Yoshinori Masakado: Strong in Every Form | 2024-2025 Ae! Spotlight

by Sabina, posted in Spotlight, STARTO

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 … Continue reading Yoshinori Masakado: Strong in Every Form | 2024-2025 Ae! Spotlight

Yoshinori Masakado’s First Instagram Live—Everyone’s 心の実家

by Sabina, posted in Spotlight, STARTO

“This is a good space to connect casually with everyone.” On October 3, 2025, Ae! group's Yoshinori Masakado opened an official Instagram account, and the announcement was shared through their official channels. For an industry where personal social media for idols has only recently become normalized, Masakado’s step into it felt natural for an artist … Continue reading Yoshinori Masakado’s First Instagram Live—Everyone’s 心の実家

Drama Review: Musashino Rondo – A Heart-Pounding Journey of Love with Yoshinori Masakado

by Sabina, posted in Review, Spotlight, STARTO

Watching Yoshinori Masakado (Ae! group) take the lead in TV Asahi’s "ムサシノ輪舞曲 (Musashino Rondo)" was more than just exciting—it was emotional and heart-wrenching. Adapted from Haruka Kawachi’s manga with the same name published in FEEL YOUNG, this romantic drama that aired from April to June 2025 marked a string of firsts: his first lead role … Continue reading Drama Review: Musashino Rondo – A Heart-Pounding Journey of Love with Yoshinori Masakado

Masakado Yoshinori Takes on Female Role in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night Stage Adaptation

by Sabina, posted in News, Press, STARTO

Ae! group’s Yoshinori Masakado is set to take the stage in a bold new production of "Twelfth Night," Shakespeare’s timeless comedy of mistaken identity and love gone awry. The production, directed by acclaimed stage visionary Shintaro Mori, will run from October to November at Tokyo Globe Theatre, before heading to Morinomiya Piloti Hall in Osaka … Continue reading Masakado Yoshinori Takes on Female Role in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night Stage Adaptation

The Toronto Japanese Film Festival

by Penlight Chronicles, posted in Review, Spotlight, STARTO

The Toronto Japanese Film Festival is officially over, and your writer had a great time! I was excited to watch three out of the four films featuring STARTO actors that were screened at the festival. While sad that I missed Shigeoka Daiki in The 35-Year Promise, I was excited to watch Nintama Rantaro: Invincible Master … Continue reading The Toronto Japanese Film Festival

The Body Behind the Guitar: Masakado’s Tarzan Transformation

by Sabina, posted in Spotlight, STARTO

"There’s a particular kind of smile Yoshinori Masakado wears after achieving something hard-earned—like the one captured in an Instagram story after he bit into his first post-diet hamburger." Ae! group’s nationwide debut tour, "The Best Ae LIVE in the World," left fans deeply moved and excited. As their first tour after debuting, the members delivered … Continue reading The Body Behind the Guitar: Masakado’s Tarzan Transformation

SixTONES’ Yugo Kochi joins the cast of “Musashino Rondo”

by Judit, posted in News, Press, STARTO

It has been announced that Yugo Kochi of SixTONES will appear in TV Asahi’s Oshidora Saturday “Musashino Rondo” (Saturdays, 11:00 pm) drama, starting April 19. Dumpling Box previously covered the announcement about “Musashino Rondo” and Masakado's Yoshinori comments about the drama. Yugo will portray Bunta Musashibara, Tamaki's (played by Rin Takanashi) younger brother, who has returned to his parents' home after being dumped by his … Continue reading SixTONES’ Yugo Kochi joins the cast of “Musashino Rondo”

Masakado Yoshinori Leads in ‘Musashino Rondo’

by Sabina, posted in News, Press, STARTO

Ae! group's Masakado Yoshinori has been cast as the lead in his first-ever TV drama! He will star in the upcoming TV Asahi Saturday night drama “Musashino Rondo”, premiering on April 19. The drama is a live-action adaptation of the popular manga by Haruka Kawauchi. Masakado will take on his first romance drama role, portraying … Continue reading Masakado Yoshinori Leads in ‘Musashino Rondo’

SUNA: Kato Shigeaki & Masakado Yoshinori Team Up as Detectives in the 15-Minute Short Film

by Sabina, posted in News, Press, STARTO

The MIRRORLIAR FILMS Season 7, a short film anthology project featuring a wide range of creative talent across major and indie platforms, is set to captivate audiences with its latest lineup. Among these highly anticipated works is SUNA, a mystery thriller directed by Shigeaki Kato, a member of NEWS and an acclaimed author. In SUNA, … Continue reading SUNA: Kato Shigeaki & Masakado Yoshinori Team Up as Detectives in the 15-Minute Short Film