Yugo Kochi Explained

Yugo Kochi
Native Name:髙地優吾
Native Name Lang:ja
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Yugo Kochi
Birth Date:8 March
Birth Place:Kanagawa, Japan
Origin:Kanagawa, Japan
Genre:J-pop
Occupation:Singer, actor
Years Active:2009–present
Label:Sony Music Entertainment Japan
Associated Acts:Johnny's Jr., SixTONES
Website:https://www.sixtones.jp/

, is a Japanese idol, actor, and singer. He is currently a member of Smile Up (formerly known as Johnny & Associates) unit SixTONES.[1]

Background

Yugo Kochi was born on March 8, in Kanagawa, Japan.[2] ‘Yugo’ was a name given by his grandfather, with the hope of him growing up to be a kind person.[3] He was in football club during the primary and junior high school, while even becoming a candidate for his regional team of Yokohama during junior high school.[4] [5] Though he could not continue with football in high school, he created a futsal team with his university friends and even reached the top 16 of Kanto Tournament.[6]  

Yugo is known to love visiting different hot springs during his free time, and it was revealed that he got his ‘Hot Spring Sommelier’ qualification in 2019.[7]  

Career

Yugo, who had no plans of entering the entertainment world joined Johnny & Associates after winning the audition program held in "School Kakumei!", whose application was sent in by his friend.[8] He won the regular spot on the program beating more than 1300 contestants.[9]

On June 4, 2009, Yugo became a member of Yuma Nakayama w/B.I.Shadow along with Yuma Nakayama, Kento Nakajima, Fuma Kikuchi and Hokuto Matsumura.[10] Three days later on June 7, Ryousuke Yamada and Yuri Chinen of Hey! Say! JUMP were added to the group to form a limited-time unit "NYC Boys" with whom Yugo made CD-debut on June 15, 2009.[11]

On March 29, 2011, B.I.Shadow's members Fuma Kikuchi and Kento Nakajima announced their debut in Sexy Zone on November of the same year, leading to the de facto dissolution of B.I.Shadow.[12]

Yugo made his debut as an actor on April 14, 2012, in "Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou" in the role of Makoto Jinbo.

Beginning from July 2019, he has a regular spot "Egao no YouGo!" in the "Yokohama Walker" magazine.[13] On August 8, 2019, during the "Johnnys Junior 8.8 Matsuri~ Tokyo Dome kara hajiramu", it was announced that he will be making CD debut with his group SixTONES in 2020.[14]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNetworkNotes
2012Shiritsu Bakaleya KoukouJinbo MakotoNTVRegular series
2018Black PeanTamura HayatoTBSEpisode 3[15]

Film

YearTitleRole
2012Gekijōban Shiritsu Bakaleya KōkōJinbo Makoto
2019Shōnentachi[16] Egao

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Member Profile . SixTONES Official . October 26, 2016.
  2. Web site: 髙地 優吾 SixTONES(ストーンズ) Official web site . 2024-01-30 . 髙地 優吾 SixTONES(ストーンズ) Official web site . ja.
  3. February 2013 . マンスリーwe♡Jr. vol.11 . Monthly we♡Jr. vol.11 . ja. Myojo . Shueisha .
  4. September 2011 . Questions ジャニーズJr. B.I.Shadow 髙地優吾 . Questions JohnnysJr. B.I.Shadow Kochi Yugo . ja. Duet . Shueisha .
  5. December 2009 . 中山優馬w/B.l.Shadow …そして、キミに出会うまで♡のヒストリーをプレイバック! . Nakayama Yuma w/B.l.Shadow … and, playing back the history until we met you! . ja. Myojo . Shueisha .
  6. May 2016 . キミのハートのエースを狙う!SixTONESなりきり部活話&スポーツ武勇伝自慢 . Aim for your ace of hearts! SixTONES narrative club story & sport heroic bragging . ja. Myojo . Shueisha .
  7. November 2019 . SixTONES パワフルカラーズ! . SixTONES Powerful colours! . ja. MEN'S NON-NO . Shueisha .
  8. March 9, 2016 . Johnnys'Jr. DATA☆BOOK . ja. Myojo特別編集 Johnnys'Jr. CALENDAR 別冊付録 . Shueisha .
  9. January 2019 . SixTONES  brave people . ja . Wink up.
  10. August 2009 . ジャニーズJr.[1日4公演やるぞ!]コンサート . Johnny's Jr. "We will have 4 performances in a day!" concert . ja. Duet . Shueisha .
  11. Web site: 中山優馬 w/B.I.Shadow、デビュー曲が初日1位 . Oricon Music . November 13, 2019 . ja . July 16, 2009.
  12. August 2012 . 夏の特別講座 ジャニーズJr. 松村北斗 . Summer Special course Johnny's Jr. Matsumura Hokuto . ja. Nikkei Entertainment . Nikkei BP .
  13. August 2019 . 髙地優吾(SixTONES) 「笑顔のYou Go!」 vol.01 . Kochi Yugo (SixTONES) 'Egao no You Go!' vol.01 . ja. Yokohama Walker . KADOKAWA .
  14. Web site: SixTONES & Snow Man、2020年"ジャニーズ史上初"2グループ同時CDデビュー決定 . Oricon Music . November 13, 2019 . ja.
  15. Web site: Black Pean cast . https://web.archive.org/web/20240526160038/https://www.tbs.co.jp/blackpean_tbs/2018/cast/ . 26 May 2024 . 12 June 2024 . TBS Black Pean official site . Japanese.
  16. Web site: 最新情報. 『映画 少年たち』公式サイト. 松竹. ja. November 17, 2018.