Entering the Sexy Zone

Members: Nakajima Kento, Kikuchi Fuma, Sato Shori, Matsushima Sou & You Marius

Top (l to r) Kikuchi Fuma & Nakajima Kento
Bottom (l to r) Matsushima Sou, Sato Shori & You Marius

Sexy Zone is the latest FIVB group to debut, with their debut in November of 2011. They debuted with a self titled single under the Pony Canyon music label. They are considered the youngest group for Johnny's to debut.

The debut announcement took many fans by surprise based on the fact that outside of Nakajima Kento and Kikuchi Fuma the other members of the group were not very well known at all. And even though they did manage to debut with a number 1 single it was a very close call.

Because they were not given their own section on the official homepages originally it lead to people wondering if this is a career debut or a one-shot debut. But in early 2012 they were given their on section on Johnny's net, confirming their status as a career debut group.

In April of 2012 they became one of the growing number of groups that have covered the Hikaru Genji song Yuuki 100% for the theme song of the long running anime series Nintama Rantarou. The song was released on their second single as a bonus track on the regular edition.

In the summer of 2012 they join A.B.C-Z as well as Johnny's Juniors to perform the annual SUMMARY concerts.

Nakajima Kento is the oldest member of the group and is considered the group's leader. He has had the most drama work of all the members from his time as a Junior. He is known by fans by his nickname, Nakaken.

Kikuchi Fuma is the next oldest member and was in the same Junior group as Nakaken. He has not had much in the way of drama roles but leading up to the announcement of SZ he was in a couple of stage plays.

Sato Shori has been a Junior that has come to prominence in the few months leading up to Sexy Zone’s debut. This has continued with SZ’s debut as he is the member shown center in the group shots and was the first to have a drama role post-debut with a supporting role in the drama Hungry!.

Matsushima Sou is known as one of the strongest singers of the group. He was an ungrouped Junior that was placed in the same grouping with Shori on Shounen Club in the few months leading up to the formation of SZ.

You Marius is the first half-Japanese Junior to debut as well as the youngest to debut at age 11. He is half-German and lived part in Japan and part in Germany. His mother was in the all female theater troupe, Takarazuka Revue, and has trained Marius to enter the entertainment industry with singing and dancing.


TRIVIA: Before the group was announced Johnny Kitagawa brought up the Junior group A.B.C-Z debuting with two new members as A.B.C-xyZ and that Kikuchi Fuma would be a candidate for that. And the month before a Junior group called Sexy Boy, with the three youngest members of SZ a part of it, was announced.


Next Entry >  The 5Stars A.B.C-Z


Directory >
Introduction
Johnny’s Juniors, full of rising stars and heartbreak
The Early and Rocky Path to Fame
Kondo Masahiko: Singer, Dancer, Actor, Professional Race Car Driver
Giving a New Meaning to Playzone, Shounentai
Hikaru Genji, Shining the Brightest and Crashing the Hardest

Otokogumi, Rocking It Old School
The Living Legend of SMAP
TOKIO, From Spaceships to the Over 30s World
Victory, Volleyball, Vegetable, Vicylce? V6
KinKi Kids, It's Not What You Think
Arashi, Storming to the Top
The Inseparable Duo, Tackey & Tsubasa
North, East, West, South ... It's big NEWS
Kansai Underdogs,  Kanjani∞
Cartoon? KAT-TUN!
Jumping to Their Dreams, Hey! Say! JUMP
Johnny's Black Sheep, Akanishi Jin
How to Debut Without Even Trying, Ikuta Toma
Kis-My-Ft2, Everybody Go (Roller Skating)!
Yamashita Tomohisa, Johnny’s Golden Boy
Entering the Sexy Zone
The 5Stars A.B.C-Z
International Ventures
Johnny's and Charity 
Odds & Ends