Jin Akanishi

Overview

Jin Akanishi (赤西仁, born July 4, 1984) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and actor. A former member of the boy band KAT-TUN, he left Johnny & Associates in February 2014 and has since pursued a solo career through his own independent label, Go Good Records. Since December 2019 he has also performed with Ryo Nishikido under the name N/A. His younger brother Reio is also a singer and actor.

Career

Early life and entry into Johnny's

Born in Chiba Prefecture, Akanishi moved to Tokyo in first grade. In 1997 a classmate sent his photo to the magazine Myojo, and in 1998 his mother applied to Johnny's on his behalf. At his audition on November 8, 1998, he technically failed, but when he tried to return his number plate (No. 1) to a man who turned out to be Johnny Kitagawa himself, he was told to stay. He became a Johnny's Jr. in 2000, joined units such as B.A.D., and in 2001 was selected for the group that became KAT-TUN, originally formed as backup dancers for Koichi Domoto.

KAT-TUN years

Akanishi broke through in 2005 with the drama Gokusen 2, and KAT-TUN debuted on March 22, 2006 with the single "Real Face." In 2006 he announced an indefinite hiatus to study English abroad, returning from Los Angeles on April 19, 2007. In October 2007 he starred in his first lead role in a TV series, Yukan Club, and in July 2008 he voiced the Japanese dub of Speed Racer. He also wrote songs for the group and himself, including "Hesitate," "Lovejuice," "Care" and "Wonder" (a collaboration with Crystal Kay), appeared on her track "Helpless Night," and co-created "Butterfly" with Tatsuya Ueda.

LANDS and solo beginnings

In 2009 he fronted LANDS, the fictional band from the film Bandage, produced by Takeshi Kobayashi of Mr. Children. The single "Bandage" (November 25, 2009) and the album Olympos (January 13, 2010) both debuted at No. 1 on the Oricon charts. In January 2010 Bandage marked his film debut and first lead role. He then held the solo concert series "You & Jin" at Nissay Theatre in February, with shows in Los Angeles in June. On July 16, 2010 his departure from KAT-TUN was announced, and on July 20 he announced a solo career, citing differing musical direction rather than interpersonal conflict.

U.S. push and Japonicana

His "Yellow Gold Tour 3010" in November 2010 visited Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Los Angeles and New York, drawing 15,000 people. On December 9, 2010 he signed with Warner Music Group, followed by the Japanese homecoming tour "Yellow Gold Tour 3011." His solo debut single "Eternal" was released on March 2, 2011, selling 217,000 copies in its first week and topping the Oricon chart. He also passed an audition for the Hollywood film 47 Ronin (released in Japan December 2013, playing Oishi Chikara). His U.S. debut, the digital EP Test Drive featuring Jason Derulo, reached No. 1 on the iTunes Dance chart on November 8, 2011, and the single "Seasons" followed on December 28. His first album, Japonicana, was released simultaneously in Japan and the U.S. on March 7, 2012. After announcing his marriage to Meisa Kuroki in February 2012, his activity slowed, but he returned in June 2013 with "Hey What's Up?" and released "Ainaruhoue" on October 2, 2013.

Independence

Akanishi left Johnny & Associates on February 28, 2014 when his contract expired; reports cited differing views on his direction, and he said he wanted to focus on activity overseas, a childhood dream. On July 4, 2014, his 30th birthday, he launched his official website and the fan club JIP's under the slogan "Happy Jindependence Day." He released the single "Good Time" (August 2014), the mini-album Mi Amor (November 2014) and the album ME (June 2015). In 2015 he became the first Japanese artist to win the "Asia Popular Artist" and "Music of the Year" awards at China's iQiyi Scream Night in Beijing.

In September 2016 he formed the unit JINTAKA with actor Takayuki Yamada and debuted with "Choo Choo SHITAIN." In October 2017 Go Good Records announced a partnership with Universal Music Japan. He collaborated with Sanrio's Gudetama in 2018 and opened a collaboration cafe in 2019. In March 2019 he was diagnosed with lumbar spondylosis, changing the content of his 2019 tour and screening a documentary on his five years of independence. On December 6, 2019, the N/A project with Ryo Nishikido was announced.

His first career best-of, OUR BEST, was released on April 22, 2020 and topped the Oricon weekly album chart for the second time in his career. In October 2021 he began his first own show, JIN & JULES Powered by NO GOOD TV, on Hulu. After the Christmas Live 2022 at Tokyo Garden Theater, he held the 10th Anniversary Live at Yoyogi National Gymnasium on July 1–2, 2023, followed by the FANCLUB TOUR 2023 YELLOW NOTE, his first nationwide tour in five years. The album YELLOW NOTE, his first in four and a half years, with lead track "Can I," was released on December 27, 2023.

Recent activity and personal life

He married Meisa Kuroki in 2012 and they had a daughter in 2012 and a son in 2017; he announced their divorce on December 25, 2023. In 2025 he appeared in the Netflix series Romantic Anonymous as Hiro Takada.

Musical style

Rooted in J-pop, Akanishi is a singer-songwriter who writes and composes his own material and plays guitar. He wrote songs from his KAT-TUN days, and his solo work, often in English and aimed at the U.S. market, leaned toward dance pop, with collaborations including Jason Derulo and J. R. Rotem.