NAOTO

Template:Infobox concurrent member Kataoka Naoto (片岡直人), better known by his stage names NAOTO and EXILE NAOTO, is a performer and actor. He's member of the group EXILE, one of the leaders of the group Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS and leader of the hip-hop unit HONEST BOYZ®. He was also member of J Soul Brothers' second generation Nidaime J Soul Brothers until their migration to EXILE in 2009.

Biography

Early Life

Kataoka Naoto was born on August 30, 1983 in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

He is a Saitama Prefectural Tokorozawa High School graduate. He started attending the high school's dance club at age 17 and began activities as a dancer. At age 20, he went to Los Angeles and New York (both in United states) to learn more about dance with a famous choreographer and returned to Japan after completing the studies. He then started to work as backup dancer for artists such as Hamasaki Ayumi, Goto Maki, AI, etc., and also for western artists such as Ashanti and Missy Elliott.

2007

On November 10, he joined the revival of the group J Soul Brothers and his stage name became NAOTO.

2009

On March 1, J Soul Brothers migrated to EXILE and he became member of the group.

2010

On July 19, he was announced as member and one of the leaders of Sandaime J Soul Brothers, a new revival of J Soul Brothers, being a concurrent member of the group and EXILE.

2015

In 2015, he created the apparel brand STUDIO SEVEN.

On July 14, he released his first photobook Jinsei Honoji-gumi.

2016

On April 15, he joined the hip-hop unit HONEST BOYZ® as leader and rapper, being the first time he shows vocal abilities in a group.

2017

On January 1, he became director of LDH apparel.

2020

On August 7, he released two solo digital singles under the name HONEST BOY, "O・Y" and "YUM YUM", which were credited as releases of HONEST BOYZ®. The songs were used to promote the brands STUDIO SEVEN and GU.

Group Participation

• [2003.02-N/A] JAZZ DRUG
• [2006.02-N/A] SCREAM
• [2007.11.10-2009.03.01] Nidaime J Soul Brothers
• [2009.03.01-present] EXILE
• [2010.11.10-present] Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS from EXILE TRIBE
• [2016.04.15-present] HONEST BOYZ®

Discography

Digital Singles

1. [2020.08.07] O・Y (HONEST BOY)
2. [2020.08.07] YUM YUM (HONEST BOY)

Works

Cinema / Television

Movies

• [2014] Sakurasaku
• [2015] Mango to Akai Kurumaisu
• [2017] HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE 2 / END OF SKY
• [2017] HiGH&LOW THE MOVIE 3 / FINAL MISSION

TV Dramas

• [2010] Okagesama de!
• [2010] SPEC ~Keishichou Kouanbu Kouan Daigoka Mishou Jiken Tokubetsu Taisakugakari Jikenbo~ (episode 8)
• [2013] Last♡Cinderella
• [2013] Frenemy ~Dobu Nezumi no Machi~
• [2014] Dear Sister (episode 9)
• [2016] Night Hero NAOTO

Digital Dramas

• [2009] Genryou Boxer

Music

Music Video Appearances

• [2003] BENNIE K - Better Days
• [2005] Hamasaki Ayumi - my name's WOMEN
• [2006] Hamasaki Ayumi - Startin'
• [2006] Hamasaki Ayumi - BLUE BIRD
• [2006] Hamasaki Ayumi - Beautiful Fighters
• [2006] Goto Maki - Glass no Pumps
• [2006] Goto Maki - SOME BOYS! TOUCH
• [2006] AI - I Wanna Know
• [2007] JYONGRI - Getting Funky!
• [2014] Pharrell Williams - Happy (Japanese ver.)
• [2016] EXILE THE SECOND - YEAH!! YEAH!! YEAH!!
• [2017] KOBUKURO - Kokoro
• [2018] RED DIAMOND DOGS - RED SOUL BLUE DRAGON

Live DVDs Appearances

• [2006] Goto Maki - Maki Goto SECRET LIVE at STUDIO COAST
• [2007] Goto Maki - Goto Maki LIVE TOUR 2006 ~G-Emotion~

Publications

Photobooks

• [2015.07.14] Jinsei Honojigumi (人生ほの字組)

External Links

• Official Blog
• Official Twitter
• Official Instagram