Yugo Kochi (髙地優吾, Kochi Yugo, born March 8), is a Japanese idol, actor, and singer. He is currently a member of Smile Up (formerly known as Johnny & Associates) unit SixTONES.[1]

Yugo Kochi
髙地優吾
Yugo Kochi in 2022
Yugo Kochi in 2022
Background information
Birth nameYugo Kochi
Born8 March
Kanagawa, Japan
OriginKanagawa, Japan
GenresJ-pop
Occupation(s)Singer, actor
Years active2009–present
LabelsSony Music Entertainment Japan
Websitehttps://www.sixtones.jp/

Background edit

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 edit

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 edit

Television edit

Year Title Role Network Notes
2012 Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou Jinbo Makoto NTV Regular series
2018 Black Pean Tamura Hayato TBS Episode 3

Film edit

Year Title Role
2012 Gekijōban Shiritsu Bakaleya Kōkō Jinbo Makoto
2019 Shōnentachi[15] Egao

References edit

  1. ^ "Member Profile". SixTONES Official. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  2. ^ "髙地 優吾 | SixTONES(ストーンズ) Official web site". 髙地 優吾 | SixTONES(ストーンズ) Official web site (in Japanese). Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  3. ^ "マンスリーwe♡Jr. vol.11" [Monthly we♡Jr. vol.11]. Myojo (in Japanese). Shueisha. February 2013.
  4. ^ "Questions ジャニーズJr. B.I.Shadow 髙地優吾" [Questions JohnnysJr. B.I.Shadow Kochi Yugo]. Duet (in Japanese). Shueisha. September 2011.
  5. ^ "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!]. Myojo (in Japanese). Shueisha. December 2009.
  6. ^ "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]. Myojo (in Japanese). Shueisha. May 2016.
  7. ^ "SixTONES パワフルカラーズ!" [SixTONES Powerful colours!]. MEN'S NON-NO (in Japanese). Shueisha. November 2019.
  8. ^ "Johnnys'Jr. DATA☆BOOK". Myojo特別編集 Johnnys'Jr. CALENDAR 別冊付録 (in Japanese). Shueisha. March 9, 2016.
  9. ^ "SixTONES  brave people". Wink up (in Japanese). January 2019.
  10. ^ "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]. Duet (in Japanese). Shueisha. August 2009.
  11. ^ "中山優馬 w/B.I.Shadow、デビュー曲が初日1位". Oricon Music (in Japanese). July 16, 2009. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  12. ^ "夏の特別講座 ジャニーズJr. 松村北斗" [Summer Special course Johnny's Jr. Matsumura Hokuto]. Nikkei Entertainment (in Japanese). Nikkei BP. August 2012.
  13. ^ "髙地優吾(SixTONES) 「笑顔のYou Go!」 vol.01" [Kochi Yugo (SixTONES) 'Egao no You Go!' vol.01]. Yokohama Walker (in Japanese). KADOKAWA. August 2019.
  14. ^ "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 (in Japanese). Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  15. ^ "最新情報". 『映画 少年たち』公式サイト (in Japanese). 松竹. Retrieved November 17, 2018.