20 Fascinating Facts About Kento Yamazaki

20 Fascinating Facts About Kento Yamazaki

Kento Yamazaki is a renowned Japanese actor and model who has captivated audiences with his talent and charm. With numerous successful film and television projects under his belt, Yamazaki has become a household name in Japan and has gained international recognition for his versatile performances.

Though he has risen to become one of Asia’s biggest stars, there is still so much about this versatile performer that international fans don’t know. I feel extremely privileged to have had the opportunity to go beyond the major roles and uncover intriguing details about the man himself.

From his early modeling work to his current globetrotting fame, Yamazaki’s path has been nothing short of captivating. In this article, I will delve into the early life and career highlights of Kento Yamazaki and reveal 20 fascinating facts about the talented entertainer.

1. Kento was a soccer player in junior high school

Photo by Connor Coyne on Unsplash

Yamazaki grew up in a middle-class family in Tokyo with his parents and older brother. He has been passionate about football from a young age, playing on teams consistently from 2nd grade through middle school.

Yamazaki dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player or even coaching the national team one day. Before acting, he saw himself pursuing a career in sports, particularly football which he started playing as a child. His family and love of football-shaped his early life in Japan.

2. Kento was scouted while out shopping at a soccer shop

Yamazaki was first discovered as a model during his third year of junior high school. While heading home after a soccer match, he was scouted by his current agency on Takeshita Dori in Harajuku.

This chance encounter launched his modeling career while still a student. Though he was focused on soccer at the time, this opportunity opened doors for him in the entertainment world.

Yamazaki was signed by the agency that spotted him in Harajuku, leading him to make his modeling debut while in his third year of high school. His journey into acting and modeling began with this fateful recruitment at a soccer shop.

3. His first modeling gig was for a girl magazine

Nickolas Muray, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons

Though now better known as an actor, Kento Yamazaki’s career began in modeling in 2009. His first gig was with the Japanese teen fashion magazine Pichi Lemon, which has since ceased publication.

Despite being recruited by his agency, he still had to audition for modeling jobs like the Pichi Lemon campaign. Even as a new model, booking the shoot for the female-focused magazine demonstrated his appeal.

While Yamazaki has shifted his focus to acting roles in recent years, his early model work marked the launch of his time in the spotlight. His career took off after those initial modeling auditions and jobs.

4. Yamazaki made his acting debut in 2010

Kento made his acting debut in 2010 with a guest role on the TV series Atami no Sousakan, portraying a mysterious high school student. This was followed by a supporting part as a hacker on the show Clone Baby.

His first film was 2011’s Control Tower, where he sang, played guitar, and received praise for his acting. Other early roles included lead parts in the horror thriller Another and the LGBT-themed TV movie Sato Family Breakfast.

Through these varied projects and genres early in his career, Yamazaki gained recognition and experience on both the big and small screen. His talents were on display from the start.

5. His career breakthroughs came in 2014

Naoki Nakashima, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2014 marked a career breakthrough for Kento Yamazaki with his starring role in the manga adaptation L DK alongside Ayame Goriki. The successful film significantly raised his public profile.

That same prolific year, he acted in three TV drama series, including Baseball Brainiacs with Sota Fukushi and Yuto Nakajima. Yamazaki also made his theater debut in 2014, playing the lead role of Inuzuka Shino in the stage production Satomi Hakkenden.

Through high-visibility film and TV projects plus his first stage performance, 2014 represents a period of exposure and professional growth for Yamazaki.

6. He often plays roles in live-action adaptations

Yamazaki frequently takes on roles in live-action adaptations of popular manga, anime, and novels.

Renowned for his versatility, he’s portrayed iconic characters in adaptations like “L-DK,” “Your Lie in April,” “Orange,” “Kingdom,” and notably as L in “Death Note” and Kiriyama in “Battle Royale.” Yamazaki’s ability to embody diverse characters from beloved source materials has solidified his status as a sought-after actor in Japan’s entertainment industry.

His consistent presence in live-action adaptations has garnered significant attention, showcasing his talent and contributing to the success of these adaptations among fans and audiences.

7. Kento prefers food to human

Photo by Victoria Shes on Unsplash

Kento shared that as a child he would eat fried chicken with a rice ball in each hand, saving his favorite dish for last as motivation to finish quickly.

Though he can’t indulge like that now, he still loves trying new foods, especially chewy textures he can savor. Yamazaki takes photos of his meals when possible, admitting that he retakes unsatisfactory shots, demonstrating his dedication to food photography.

Though restrictions come with fame, it’s clear the actor still appreciates good eating. His youthful fried chicken tradition shows his lifelong passion for food endures despite his changing lifestyle

8. He learned to play piano in the ‘Your Lie In April’ live-action movie

In 2016, Kento Yamazaki landed the lead role of pianist Kosei Arima in Your Lie in April, starring opposite Suzu Hirose. To prepare, he trained extensively on piano for six months before filming began.

That same year, he was cast in the live-action Wolf Girl and Black Prince and the TV series A Girl & Three Sweethearts. Through dedicated practice for Your Lie in April and taking on diverse roles, 2016 represents Yamazaki’s continued growth and rising star power.

His portrayal of Kosei required rigorous preparation showcasing his commitment, while the other projects demonstrated his versatility.

9. Kento has a realistic 3D model of himself

Girl making, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In 2018, Kento Yamazaki appeared with a 3D model replica of himself at a Tokyo press conference promoting Kagome’s new vegetable juice.

As he couldn’t attend conferences in Osaka and Nagoya, the lifelike model filled in, with Yamazaki praising its realism, from muscle texture to human-like appearance. The digital doppelgänger allowed him to be represented across Japan for the campaign.

By having his 3D model take his place at events, Yamazaki demonstrated the power of technology to create an eerily accurate stand-in. The twinning selfies also illustrated the hyper-realistic results of 3D modeling.

10. He is a vintage clothes addict

Kento has a strong penchant for collecting vintage clothes, and his closet is filled with an array of cherished vintage pieces. He is passionate about the unique styles, quality, and history behind each garment, and his collection reflects his deep appreciation for fashion from bygone eras.

11. His first experience with a gun was when filming Alice in Borderland

In the Netflix series Alice in Borderland, Kento Yamazaki plays Ryōhei Arisu, a jobless young man skilled at video games and solving puzzles.

When Arisu gets transported into a dangerous world of life-or-death games, his strategic abilities emerge. Yamazaki said portraying Arisu firing a gun for the first time was challenging since he had to capture the complex emotions an average person would feel handling a weapon for the first time, like fear and shock.

Though difficult, Yamazaki felt he convincingly depicted Arisu’s reaction to that daunting first shot, realistically conveying the character’s evolution.

12. Kento is always too busy to arrange his room

Kamiki Ryunosuke once visited Kento Yamazaki’s room and commented on the messiness. Yamazaki explained that he doesn’t have time to clean up because he’s so busy.

He enjoys vintage interior design and has purchased many retro items, but lacks time to properly arrange them. As a result, his room appears cluttered with his array of unsorted vintage belongings amidst his hectic schedule.

Yamazaki’s passion for old-fashioned decor combined with his workload prevents him from keeping an orderly living space, though he hopes to organize his cherished vintage pieces when he has more free time.

13. He is adored for his performances in romantic movies

Yamazaki has garnered significant admiration for his roles in romantic movies. His captivating performances in films such as “Your Lie in April” and “Orange” have resonated deeply with audiences, earning him widespread adoration.

Yamazaki’s ability to portray emotions authentically and bring depth to his romantic characters has contributed to his popularity. His on-screen chemistry and heartfelt portrayals have attracted a devoted fanbase, particularly among viewers who appreciate heartfelt and emotionally engaging romantic narratives.

Yamazaki’s talent and charm have solidified his reputation as a beloved figure in romantic cinema, drawing admiration for his contributions to the genre.

14. Kento is unable to grow his beard

Yamazaki struggles to grow facial hair, only managing around 5mm before it stops. As a result, he’s jokingly called a “2.5-dimensional man”, meaning he looks younger than his age.

When playing a more mature role in the drama Mare, Yamazaki wore a fake beard to appear older, since he can’t naturally grow an actual full beard. Though he thought having stubble looked cool, his lack of robust facial hair growth results in a baby-faced appearance.

Despite his youthful looks that earn him teasing “2.5-dimensional” nicknames, Yamazaki takes it in stride and uses props like fake beards when a scruffier look is needed on screen.

15. Kento’s first crush was back in elementary school

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Yamazaki recalled having his first childhood crush in elementary school on a female classmate he thought was cute. During a break, he asked the girl to sneak behind a curtain where he requested she kiss him.

To Yamazaki’s surprise, the girl agreed and kissed him. This innocent puppy love encounter demonstrates Yamazaki’s confidence and boldness even at a young age in pursuing his affections.

Though just a playful grade school crush, it stands out as an early memory of taking the initiative to get his first kiss through a sneaky ploy. While a bit mischievous, this moment represents a childhood rite of passage for the future actor.

16. He is obsessed with dirty Jokes

Despite his innocent image, Kento Yamazaki confessed he enjoys racy jokes, or “shimoneta”. He said that while he can’t tell dirty jokes on TV, he freely discusses them with friends.

Yamazaki revealed that even back in his school soccer club, he and teammates would chat about shimoneta. So while Yamazaki maintains a wholesome public persona, he has a hidden fondness for crass humor.

The actor admits his clean-cut appearance disguises his real hentai, or perverted, tastes when it comes to joking around with buddies by sharing dirty gags that would be unsuitable for his audience as a celebrity.

17. He reads manga more often

OliveMyxine, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Kento is an avid manga fan with an impressive home collection of his favorite series. These include Kingdom and Death Note, which he later got to star in live-action versions of.

In the Kingdom film adaptation, Yamazaki portrayed the lead role of Shin, an orphan who joins forces with a deposed king on a mission to regain power. As a manga aficionado, Yamazaki relished the opportunity to bring Shin to life on screen in the Kingdom movie.

Starring in adaptations of beloved comics he reads demonstrates Yamazaki’s genuine passion for the genre beyond just acting jobs.

18. He keeps his life private

Despite his fame, Kento keeps his personal life very private. He has never been one to openly discuss relationships. However, rumors have circulated online about an on-again-off-again romance with Fumi Nikaido from Okinawa, Japan.

While he maintains secrecy regarding his love life, reports have emerged hinting at a connection with Nikaido. But Yamazaki has not addressed the speculation, preferring to keep romantic involvements out of the spotlight.

As a celebrity, he aims to keep that aspect of his life under wraps, focusing publicity on his work rather than unconfirmed gossip about who he may be dating.

19. He has admitted to being very lazy

Kento has admitted he can be lazy at times. When relaxing watching TV or lounging in bed, he doesn’t want to exert the effort to reach for items like tissues with his hands.

Instead, Yamazaki will use his feet to grab things so he doesn’t have to get up. This demonstrates his casual laziness and preference for convenience and comfort over exerting extra energy.

Though successful and hardworking as an actor, Yamazaki also values moments of leisure where he can indulge his relaxed nature and avoid unnecessary motions, even if it means using his feet in silly ways to fetch items while he lays back.

20. He works under the Japanese talent agency Stardust Promotion

Kento is represented by the major Japanese talent agency Stardust Promotion based in Tokyo. Founded in 1979, Stardust Promotion is one of Japan’s premiere agencies for the entertainment industry.

They represent talents across music, film, modeling, and more. As one of their celebrity clients, Yamazaki benefits from Stardust Promotion’s resources and connections to help manage and grow his acting career.

Signing with an established company like Stardust has provided Yamazaki with crucial support and opportunities as he navigates show business as an in-demand actor.

Kento Yamazaki’s journey from a budding model to an accomplished actor has been nothing short of remarkable. With his magnetic presence on screen and his ability to bring characters to life, Yamazaki has won the hearts of audiences worldwide.

Learning about his diverse talents and singular focus has deepened my respect for his work ethic and dedication to his craft. Though still young, Yamazaki has already left an indelible mark through his memorable roles.

As he continues to explore diverse roles and leave a lasting impact on the entertainment industry, there is no doubt that Kento Yamazaki’s star will continue to shine bright.