Maeda Kentaro

Maeda Kentaro

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Maeda Kentaro前田 拳太郎
Maeda Kentaro (June 2024)
Personal Information
Name	Maeda Kentaro 前田(まえだ)拳太郎(けんたろう) マエダ ケンタロウ
Born	September 6, 1999 (age 25)
Birth Place	Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Blood Type	O
Height	182 cm (5 ft 11.6 in)?
Professional Information
Occupation	Actor
Years Active	2021-present
Agency	LDH JAPAN (2021-present)
Associated Acts	GEKIDAN EXILE
External Links
Profile	EXILE TRIBE mobile
Instagram	@kentaro_maeda_official

Maeda Kentaro (前田拳太郎) is a Japanese actor and singer. He is member of the acting troupe GEKIDAN EXILE.

On July 1, 2021, he announced that he had been signed to LDH JAPAN after being an EXPG Tokyo student. On October 31, 2022, he joined GEKIDAN EXILE.

Early Life

Maeda Kentaro was born on September 6, 1999, in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. He has a younger sister.

When he was in kindergarten, he loved hero movies, watched tokusatsu and dreamed of becoming a "Kamen Rider" (actor). However, he was shy to tell people around him that he wanted to enter the entertainment industry as he didn't have confidence in himself and felt embarrassed.

Maeda had also been practicing karate since kindergarten, and in his third year of junior high school, he won the national championship in karate. "Actually, I wanted to quit karate in elementary school. However, I told my dojo teacher that I would continue, so I changed my mind and set my goal to become the best in Japan in junior high school. I don't know how long practice takes normally, but now I think I was practicing to a pretty dangerous degree. Even in high school, I spent a lot of time practicing, and during summer vacation I would get up at 5:00 in the morning to go for a run, and then practice until about 10:00 at night." Nevertheless, he decided to quit the sport with the intention to start something new and discover a "new self". Ultimately, he trained karate for about 14 or 15 years from kindergarten to high school, and achieved the second dan.

When he was a freshman at university, he entered the "Junon Super Boy Contest" but was unsuccessful, which led him to give up his dream of becoming an actor. While studying at university, he took up competitive ballroom dancing after he was strongly encouraged to do so by senior students due to his good physique for the sport, and planned to continue practicing it until his senior year and then get a job. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he had to stop his club activities from around the end of his sophomore year. When he was looking for a job in his third year, he considered working as a professional dancer or in the beauty industry since he liked cosmetics. As he was researching various jobs, he thought about his future career, realized he wanted to pursue performing arts and decided to try becoming an actor again. After this decision, he started posting his own photos on SNS such as Instagram, and modeled at beauty salons. At the same time, he was looking for an agency to manage him and hoping his activities would catch the attention of one as he was in a hurry to study acting before the "Kamen Rider" audition started to fulfill his childhood dream.

In his youth, he started attending EXPG Tokyo.

Career

2021

On July 1, Maeda announced that he had been signed to LDH JAPAN as an actor. He later revealed that he was contacted by the agency first and that they had actively scouted him.

In the same year, he was assigned the lead role of "Igarashi Ikki / Kamen Rider Revi" in the Kamen Rider 50th Anniversary celebration work KAMEN RIDER REVICE. According to himself, the role changed him significantly and gave him more confidence as he lacked self-confidence and could not speak in front of people before.

2022

On October 31, it was announced that he had joined GEKIDAN EXILE alongside Shiono Akihisa and Sakurai Yuki.

2023

On February 14, his first solo photobook titled Awake was released.

In September, he starred in the TV drama Kimi ni wa Todokanai, a live-action adaptation of the BL manga of the same title.

In October, he also collaborated with the apparel brand KANGOL REWARD for the release of several unisex items.

2024

In spring 2024, he played the lead role in the TV Asahi drama Kimi to Yukite Saku ~Shinsengumi Seishunroku~. For the drama, he also became part of the unit "Kimiyuki" (キミユキ) which is made up of 10 main cast members of the Shinsengumi and was in charge of the opening and ending theme songs of the drama.

Personal Life

Family

Maeda's father is a chef who specializes in Italian cuisine. He taught Maeda how to cook, specifically Italian food such as pasta.

His younger sister is Maeda Kokoro, a member of the idol group BEYOOOOONDS. He respects her a lot, and admires her work ethic.

Discography

Other

Collaborations/Other

• [2022.01.16] Igarashi Ikki (Maeda Kentaro), Igarashi Daiji (Hyuga Wataru), Igarashi Sakura (Imoto Ayaka) - "Go with the flo"
• [2022.01.16] Igarashi Ikki (Maeda Kentaro) & Vice (Character Voice: Kimura Subaru) - "VOLCANO"
• [2022.02.27] Igarashi Ikki (Maeda Kentaro), Kadota Hiromi (Komatsu Junya) - "Without you"
• [2022.08.28] Igarashi Ikki (Maeda Kentaro) - "Kimi wa Sonomama de" (君はそのままで)
• [2022.10.15] Nice Family REVICE - "Love yourself"
• [2024.04.24] Kimiyuki - "Hono" (炎)
• [2024.05.01] Kimiyuki - "Yume HANABI" (夢HANABI)

Filmography

Movies

• [2021] Saber + Zenkaiger Superhero Senki (セイバー+ゼンカイジャー スーパーヒーロー戦記)
• [2021] KAMEN RIDER REVICE Short Film (仮面ライダーリバイス 短編映画)
• [2021] KAMEN RIDER BEYOND GENERATIONS (仮面ライダービヨンド・ジェネレーションズ)
• [2022] KAMEN RIDER REVICE / Avataro Sentai DON BROTHERS THE MOVIE
• [2022] Kamen Rider Revice: Battle Familia (仮面ライダーリバイス バトルファミリア)
• [2022] Kamen Rider Geats × Revice: Movie Battle Royale (仮面ライダーギーツ×リバイス　MOVIEバトルロワイヤル)
• [2023] Revice Forward Kamen Rider Life & Evil & Demons (リバイスForward 仮面ライダーライブ ＆ エビル ＆ デモンズ)
• [2023] Utsukushii Kare ~eternal~ (美しい彼～eternal～)

TV Dramas

• [2021] Love Kome no Okite: Kojirase Joshi to Toshishita Danshi (ラブコメの掟～こじらせ女子と年下男子～) (episode 1)
• [2021] KAMEN RIDER SABER Special Episode (仮面ライダーセイバー 増刊号)
• [2021] KAMEN RIDER REVICE (仮面ライダーリバイス)
• [2023] Megami no Kyoushitsu ~Legal Seishun Hakusho~ (女神の教室～リーガル青春白書～)
• [2023] Watashi no Oyome-kun (わたしのお嫁くん)
• [2023] Kimi ni wa Todokanai (君には届かない。)
• [2023] Tokumei! Keishicho Tokubetsu Kaikeigakari (トクメイ！ 警視庁特別会計係)
• [2024] Kao (顔)
• [2024] Jeanne no Sabaki (ジャンヌの裁き) (episode 4)
• [2024] Kimi to Yukite Saku ~Shinsengumi Seishunroku~ (君とゆきて咲く～新選組青春録～)

Digital Dramas

• [2022] KAMEN RIDER REVICE The Mystery (仮面ライダーリバイス The Mystery)
• [2022] Revice Legacy: Kamen Rider Vail (リバイスレガシー 仮面ライダーベイル)

TV Programs

• [2023.04.] Mezamashi Janken (めざましじゃんけん) - Entertainment Presenter

Stage

• [2023] Recital play "Gokuraku Ro Yashiki" Kinoshita Hanta-ban Yotsuya Kaidan (朗讀劇『極楽牢屋敷』（木下半太版四谷怪談）)

CMs

• [2021] Marudai Foods "Kamen Rider Revice Fish Sausage & Wiener"
• [2022] Otsuka Pharmaceutical "Oronamin C"
• [2024] Recruit "Town Work"

Other Works

Events

Events

• [2021] DANCE FESTA AUDREY "The Promise of 'Sakura Garden'" (サクラガーデンの約束)
• [2022] Dance Show "The Unity of Stardust"
• [2022] Kamen Rider 50th Anniversary × Super Sentai Series 45th Work Celebration "50×45 Kanshasai Anniversary LIVE & SHOW" (50×45感謝祭 Anniversary LIVE & SHOW)
• [2022] KAMEN RIDER REVICE Special Event (仮面ライダーリバイススペシャルイベント)
• [2022] KAMEN RIDER REVICE Final Stage (仮面ライダーリバイスファイナルステージ)

Runways

• [2023] 36th MYNAVI TOKYO GIRLS COLLECTION 2023 SPRING/SUMMER
• [2023] THE LAST DANCE KAMEN RIDER REVICE

Games

• [2021] Kamen Rider Battle: Ganbarizing (仮面ライダーバトル ガンバライジング)

Publications

Photobooks

1. [2023.02.14] Awake

Trivia

• Hobby: Reading, manga, anime
• Specialty: Karate (2nd dan), ballroom dance
• Kudo Haruka, actress and former Morning Musume member, is one of his childhood friends.
• According to himself, he has a very shy personality, tends to suppress his emotions and doesn't show them very much, and has difficulty talking to people on set. For example, he has never been the type to get angry at all in his life.
  • According to himself, he tends to be cautious, has a habit of thinking about what people around him are thinking before he speaks and is often unable to be honest or say what is on his mind.
  • Would be the type of person who waits for someone to talk to him. He also tries to actively create an environment where it is easy for people to talk to him.
  • However, he was not shy at all when he was still in school, had a lot of friends and would talk to anyone. According to himself, he would be getting more and more shy as he gets older.
  • According to himself, he used to restrict himself by making up his own rules thinking "This is the kind of person I am'". "I think everyone has their own sense of "this is the way I am", but I don't think "self" is made up of just one element. I believe that there are many more selves inside me than the "me" that I know now, and that I can try out many more things. I think that "identity" is very important and must be protected, but I also feel that in order to express different versions/various aspects of myself, it is necessary to break down "identity"." His hobbies, especially ballroom dancing, helped him overcome his own restrictions.
  • According to himself, he always had the desire to become an actor, but initially put a lid on this feeling, thinking that acting was something out of his world. He also didn't tell his parents or anyone around him about his decision to pursue his acting dream he once gave up as he was too anxious.
  • Thinks it's important to accept someone's invitation without assuming that you're not suitable for it since that is how he started ballroom dancing.
• According to himself, he is very competitive and wants to be the best at whatever he does, and has the personality to plan ahead to achieve that goal, but when it comes to his daily life, he's pretty messy and can't tidy up at all. He would be so focused on work that he doesn't have enough mental space. "Even on my off-days, I try to do everything I can to improve myself. That's why, at the end of the day, when I feel like I haven't made any progress today, I feel so sick that I can't sleep."
• Thinks that his strengths are that he has a friendly atmosphere and that he is a hard worker.
• According to himself, he has always thought of himself as a very ordinary person which has been a complex for him. He would like to be different from other people, but he would not be able to assert himself or say anything witty or interesting in front of people.
  • This complex was defeated when he started wearing makeup. The first time he wore makeup was for a dance competition he participated in as a student. "In fact, when I put on makeup for the first time at the match, I was thrilled to feel like a different person, and I was able to express myself more boldly than usual. Makeup supported my desire to be more daring."
  • According to himself, he had always wanted to wear makeup, but since he was just an ordinary college student, he never really had the chance. "At that time, it was still not that popular for men to wear makeup, and the most we could do was to adjust our eyebrows." It was not until his third year of university, when his skin became rough due to the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, that he started using foundation and applying makeup in earnest outside of competitive dance. "I was in such a bad state that I couldn't even apply lotion, and I didn't want to leave the house because I didn't want people to see my face." "I was really in a helpless situation, so at first it was nothing more than "salvation" rather than "armament," but once I was able to go outside, it gradually became "armament" to guard myself and compete."
  • Learned how to apply makeup by practicing with his sister. "We stood side by side in front of the mirror and she literally took me by the hand, telling me to use this for my eyebrows and draw them this way (laughs)." The two would do makeup together, take pictures and upload them to SNS, and go out together. This led him to enjoy applying makeup. "My feelings toward makeup started out negative, thinking that I couldn't go out without makeup, but gradually changed to positive, wanting to enjoy makeup more and more!"
  • According to himself, a switch flips and he feels more positive when he applies makeup. "My posture and facial expressions change, and my personality also changes." He would also be able to make eye contact with people and walk with confidence (which he couldn't before) since he started wearing makeup.
  • Likes applying more eccentric and heavy makeup in his private life compared to his natural makeup for work.
• According to , his co-star in the drama Kimi ni wa Todokanai, he is extremely kind and gives off a very gentle atmosphere. Additionally, he would be smiling all the time, or rather, always look happy.
• According to himself, he wasn't a good student, only good at sports and not popular at all when he was in school.
• Is friends with actor Takahashi Fumiya.
• His goal is to appear in morning dramas and historical dramas in the future. Additionally, he wants to be versatile, like a chameleon: "I want to be like a chameleon actor, so that no matter which film I appear in, I will always seem like a different person."
• Has a strong commitment to acting, and "wants to live as an actor for the rest of his life".
• Admires artistic people.
• Often receives compliments on his good posture thanks to his karate and ballroom dancing background. It also helps him in areas such as action.
• According to himself, he achieved all of the goals he set himself, except for the one he set in his fourth year of university: "Winning the national championship in the team division of ballroom dancing."
  • This was a goal that he could not achieve alone, so he recruited many new dancers and coached juniors. But the COVID-19 pandemic prevented them from practicing, and they lost. "That shock and frustration I felt is an experience I still cannot forget."
  • When he started ballroom dancing, he was determined to win all the competitions for first-year students, and he did.
  • When he decided to continue karate in junior high school, he set a goal to win the national championship, and he did.
• Usually doesn't leave the house unless he has work to do, and just stays at home watching anime and reading manga.
  • Describes himself as an an indoor person who likes to spend time alone and cannot be with someone else all the time.
• Loves anime and manga so much that he has anime posters all over the walls of his house and the glass cases on both sides of his TV stand are filled with figures.
  • Descibes himself as an otaku, and considers manga a his number one source of entertainment.
  • Has a manga app on my phone and reads whenever he can, including on the move and before bed.
  • Likes ONE PIECE, Bocchi the Rock!, Chainsaw Man, My Hero Academia, Blue Box, Kaiju No. 8, and In the Clear Moonlit Dusk.
  • Also reads shoujo manga, and likes their protagonists. He would love to play the role of the heroine's partner from a shoujo manga.
  • Loves anime and manga since he was in junior high school.
  • Grew up surrounded by manga since he was a child because his parents were manga fans. He was recommended ONE PIECE and SLAM DUNK to read as his first manga by them. He also watched the anime version of ONE PIECE with his family.
  • According to himself, he is able to communicate more easily with people on set thanks to his love of manga and anime. "I am shy at heart, but when I can get excited about my favorite works, I feel like I can get closer to them."
• Loves makeup and considers it an important form of self-expression as he gained confidence by exploring makeup.
  • Besides learning how to apply makeup from his sister, he looked to K-Pop idols and makeup videos of men. However, he also gradually started to look up videos of women's makeup. "I realized that "who I want to be" and "the process to get there" may not differ depending on gender." From there, he began to think that gender has nothing to do with makeup.
  • Thinks inner beauty and outer beauty are deeply linked, and values and wants to improve both. He also has the mindset that there are many different types of beauty.
  • Was initially anxious about wearing makeup in his daily life and started with the bare minimum of skin and eyebrow preparation, but gradually worked his way up.
  • Pays special attention to creating a base when it comes to makeup.
  • Feels that there are still not many men around him, including actors, who enjoy wearing makeup on a daily basis and would like to have male friends with whom he can talk about makeup.
• Likes novels that combine a mystery with a love story.
• Likes training at home, but is not conscious of being well-trained.
• Loves going to live concerts.
• Would like to try a musical instrument since he likes bands and often goes to see them live.
• Likes cooking for other people, such as guests that visit him at home.
• Likes visiting saunas.
• In terms of fashion, he likes clothes that are easy to move around in. His favorite style is mode-like, such as clothes that are formal yet have unique designs.
• Often goes back to his parents' house.
  • The deciding factor for him regarding higher education was that the university he went to was close to his parents' home, but at the time, he also had a longing to live alone. However, that desire disappeared after the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Started living alone after the filming of "Kamen Rider" began.
• Wasn't familiar with th BL genre before starring in the TV drama Kimi ni wa Todokanai, and his first contact was reading its manga when he received the proposal. "I felt that BL is not so different from ordinary romance in my mind, and I decided to act with the simple feeling of 'falling in love with the person I fall in love with', whether that person is a man or a woman." "I thought that just to love someone is a precious thing in itself." "As I read the original manga and the script, I realized that the relationship between Yamato and Kakeru is not based on the fact that they are male or female, but on the simple fact that Yamato loves Kakeru, which I thought was important in this work. So I approached the shoot with the pure feeling of love in mind, without getting caught up in the BL aspect."
• In an interview in January 2023, he revealed that he had not gotten many opportunities to meet his fellow LDH actors yet, so he would be closer to the people in the "Kamen Rider" and "Sentai" series. However, he would like to meet and work with Machida Keita, Yagi Yusei and Shiono Akihisa.
• At the audition for "Kamen Rider", he used his special skill, karate, as a selling point.
• Admires actor Yamada Yuki.

External Links

• Official Instagram
• Agency Profile