Ren Nagase

Born in Tokyo,^[1] Nagase grew up in Osaka from kindergarten to second grade, and from sixth grade to first grade of high school.^[5] He speaks Kansai dialect, having spent much of his youth.^[6] His mother sent his resume without telling him. After having an audition, he joined the Johnny & Associates on April 3, 2011.^[2] He was a member of Kansai Johnny's Jr.^[7] Nagase was a member of the Kansai Johnny's Jr. group Ae Shonen.^[8] He formed the unit Naniwa Oji, with Daigo Nishihata and Ryusei Onishi in 2012. Nishihata and Onishi later became members of Naniwa Danshi.

Nagase returned to Tokyo due to his family's job transfer.^[9] He was selected as a member of the limited-time unit Mr. King vs Mr. Prince.^[10] He formed it on June 5, 2015, and has been active as Mr. King since 2016.^[2]

In April 2017, he entered the Department of Sociology at Meiji Gakuin University.^[11]

On May 23, 2018, he made his CD debut as King & Prince with the single Cinderella Girl.^[12] In 2019, he had a leading role in the film According to My Butler,^[13] and in the Fuji Television's special drama Fly, Boys, Fly! We Are Now Cabin Attendants!.^[14]

Nagase won the 44th Japan Academy Film Prize for Best New Actor for the film Wimpy Pedal.^[15] In 2021, he had a leading role for the series Okaeri Mone.^[16] He won the 38th Best Geninist Award in the general selection category for the first time.^[17]

In 2022, Nagase starred in the NHK drama Wagemon: Nagasaki Interpreter.^[18] This was his first full-fledged jidaigeki.^[18] He played Oda Nobunaga in Shin Nobunaga Kouki: Classmate is a Warlord of the Warring States,^[19] and won the 26th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for Best Actor in a summer drama.^[20]

On September 15, 2023, he reported on his blog that he graduated from the Department of Sociology, Meiji Gakuin University.^[21]

On January 23, 2024, he launched his personal official Instagram.^[22]

His decision to enroll at Meiji Gakuin University was based on the recommendation of former Timelesz member Kento Nakajima.^[23] Nagase worked with Kis-My-Ft2 member Yuta Tamamori.^[24][25][26] He is a game companion of Kazunari Ninomiya of Arashi and Ryosuke Yamada of Hey! Say! JUMP.^[27] Nagase also worked with Nishihata and Yoshinori Masakado of Ae! Group for Johnny's since 2011.^[28] Nishihata and Masakado also appeared on Nagase's Instagram Live,^[29] and in each television series.^[30] Nagase's first collaboration song Shimi (Stain), which he sang with Nishihata and Masakado, was included on King & Prince's sixth album Re:Era.^[31][33]