Kocchi no Kento

Kento Sugō was born in Minoh, Osaka Prefecture, Japan on June 13, 1996.^[1] His father is Arata Sugō [ja], a management consultant, journalist, author and television personality,^[2] who inspired Sugō to pursue music.^[3] He has two siblings: his elder brother is the actor and singer Masaki Suda, and his younger brother is the actor and model Araki Sugō [ja].^[4]

Sugō attended Komazawa University, where he formed an a cappella group, Chemical Quartet, with members from the university's a cappella club Meiseishishin.^[5] He won the national amateur a cappella contest, A Cappella Spirits, for two consecutive years.^[6]

Sugō began his YouTube career by covering the a cappella version of several songs in 2019.^[6] He uses the stage name "Kocchi no Kento", meaning "this Kento". It symbolizes the feeling when he sings, which is himself more than being a salaryman after graduating, like the "other Kento".^[7] He appeared as a backing vocal for the performances of Radwimps and Tōko Miura's "Grand Escape" at the 70th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2019,^[8] and Miisha Shimizu at New Disney Plus Celebration Night.^[9]

He started writing his own songs in 2022,^[3] and released his debut single "Tiny" through Blowout Inc. on August 30 the same year. The song is about the relationship among his brothers.^[10] His following single "Shinuna!", went moderately viral on TikTok in mid-2023,^[11] and peaked at number nine on the Billboard Japan Heatseekers Songs.^[12]

The singer's 2024 single "Hai Yorokonde" depicts the daily lives of salarymen whose stress has peaked while struggling to overcome peer pressure.^[13] Its cover artwork and music video are inspired by Shōwa-era manga and anime.^[14] The song became his most successful song to date after becoming viral on social media, peaking at number four on the Billboard Japan Hot 100^[15] and seven on the Oricon Combined Singles Chart.^[16] Following this success, he won Best New Artist at the 66th Japan Record Awards^[17] and appeared as a main artist for the first time to perform "Hai Yorokonde" at the 75th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen on December 31.^[18]

On January 1, 2025, the singer announced via X for his intention to "take a break for the time being,"^[19] and resumed his activity in March.^[20] Months later, Kocchi no Kento performed "Kekka Ōrai", an opening theme for anime series My Hero Academia: Vigilantes,^[21] which released digitally on April 7 and came on CD as an EP on June 18.^[22] He was in charge of the theme for drama series Chotto Dake Esper, titled "Watakushigoto".^[23]

Kocchi no Kento quit his company job in 2020 and, thereafter, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which was revealed later in September 2023.^[24][25]

He married an unnamed spouse on February 14, 2024.^[26] He announced the birth of their child on March 18, 2026.^[27]

• Yoitokose (2024)^[39]