Who Is Kento Nakajima? Facts on the Japanese-Filipino Idol and Fashion Ambassador
Kento revealed his half Filipino identity on a fashion week encounter with Liza Soberano in 2024.
by Em Enriquez
Published on Jan 13, 2026
Kento Nakajima has emerged as one of the defining faces of his generation of Japanese idols. The 31-year-old has been immersed in show business for half of his life, and throughout his career, he's displayed a variety of talents through different facets of the industry. Along the way, he's captured the attention of global houses and brands, solidifying him as a formidable force within and beyond the entertainment scene. For us Pinoys, he could even be considered a source of pride.
Curious to learn more about him? Scroll through the curated list of facts below.
Who Is Kento Nakajima?
Kento is a Pisces
Kento was born on March 31, 1994 in Tokyo, Japan. An only child who was raised primarily by his mother, he attained a degree in sociology from the Meiji Gakuin University.
Kento was part of two idol groups
Kento's journey as an artist began early on when he applies for entertainment firm Johnny & Associates at only 14 years old. As a child, he listened to songs by Kazuya Kamenashi and Tomohisa Yamashita, both acts under the same company, and was inspired to enter the industry.
Kento first became part of junior group B.I Shadow in 2008, before moving on to the quintet Sexy Zone in 2011. In early 2024, he graduated from the group and decided to continue solo in order to "take on challenges as an idol and actor." He made his debut on Christmas day of that same year with the launch of his album N/bias.
Kento has acted in local and international productions
Since debuting as an idol, Kento has branched out into acting, beginning with the 2008 school drama Scrap Teacher. Succeedingly, he took part in TV shows and films of varying genres, with Detective Novice (2020), Nisekoi (2018), and Love Like the Falling Petals (2022) being some of his notable work.
In 2024, he starred in his cross-national production titled Concordia. In the action-themed Hulu series, he acts opposite Ruth Bradley, Nanna Blondell, and Hugo Becker.
Kento is a global fashion ambassador
With his star on a constant rise, Kento has gained the trust of several brands who have enlisted him as an ambassador. One of his most recent milestones is when he was named a global ambassador of Bulgari this 2026. On their official social media channels, the high jewelry house states that the 31-year-old possesses "contemporary charisma and captivating talent."
Another luxury fashion house in Kento's roster is Coach, who has worked with him on regional campaigns and invited him to seasonal fashion shows. In fact, he even rubbed shoulders with our very own Liza Soberano during the brand's S/S 2024 presentation in New York!
It was during their stylish encounter that he revealed that he was also partly Filipino. While he hasn't divulged any details of his lineage since, he did tell Liza that he has visited the Philippines before.
Kento is a fur parent
Accompanying Kento at home is an adorable toy poodle he named Bonita. Boni-chan, as she's affectionately referred to, is a constant face in Kento's social media updates. He has a blog that's practically dedicated to her called KenTeaTime!
Stay updated on Kento by following him on Instagram @kento.nakajima_313.
Em is queer and probably daydreaming somewhere. They're Preview's associate entertainment editor who's often spotted in cowboy boots and lemon-tinted sunnies.
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