Yuta

I. Introduction

Nakamoto Yuta (Kanji: 中本悠太) , known professionally as Yuta (Hangul: 유타), is a Japanese singer, rapper, actor and dancer. He is one of the lead dancers, sub vocalists and sub-rappers in the permanent NCT sub unit, NCT 127. NCT 127 sings primarily in Korean, as well as songs in English, Chinese and Japanese. He is also a singer and dancer in the rotational sub-unit NCT U.

II. Career

III. 2013-2016: SM Rookies

Yuta was born on October 26, 1995 in Kadoma, Osaka, Japan. He was cast through the 2012 Osaka SM Global Audition Japan and introduced as a member of the pre-debut SM Rookies group on December 23, 2013. He began appearing with other SM Rookies in live performances and variety shows.

IIII. 2016: NCT

Yuta appeared in the ongoing NCT reality show, NCT Life. In April-May 2016, he appeared in NCT Life in Bangkok, focusing on the members of SM Rookies and their journey to debut. As part of the show, he prepared for shows and appearances in Thailand with other members, including Hansol, Taeil, Johnny, Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun, Mark, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin and Jisung.

On June 30, 2016, it was announced that NCT would debut its first permanent sub-unit, NCT 127. Yuta debuted with NCT 127 on the EP NCT #127 on July 10, 2016 as one of the lead dancers and a sub vocalist and rapper. NCT 127 has an edgier, hip hop-focused style with experimental textures and a heavy emphasis on dance.

In July-August 2016, he appeared in the third season, NCT Life in Paju, with the other 127 members planning and enjoying games and activities in Paju.

In October-November 2016, he appeared in the fourth season, NCT Life: Korean Food King Challenge, a cooking competition show featuring his fellow NCT 127 members, as well as non-NCT 127 member, Ten.

Yuta became a popular guest on many variety shows, due to his engaging and open personality.

IIIII. 2017: Limitless and Cherry Bomb

NCT 127 released its second EP Limitless on January 4, 2017.

NCT 127 released its third EP Cherry Bomb on June 14, 2017. It made its first appearances in live shows in the U.S. throughout the summer. Yuta's strong and dynamic dancing is highlighted as one of the lead dancers behind center Taeyong, notably on "Cherry Bomb's" iconic side step walkout.

In June-July 2017, Yuta appeared in the seventh season, NCT Life in Osaka, featuring NCT 127 members Taeil, Taeyong, Doyoung and Winwin touring Osaka with Yuta as a guide.

IIIV. 2018: Empathy and first album

Yuta participated with NCT during the NCT 2018 project on March 14, 2018, featuring all NCT members, and debuting three new ones. This project also included the first NCT full album, NCT 2018 Empathy. He appears as a singer on the NCT 127 song "Touch." He is also a singer and featured dancer in "Black on Black."

NCT 127 released its first Japanese EP Chain on May 23, 2018.

NCT 127 released its first full album Regular-Irregular on October 12, 2018, featuring a popular English version of its lead single, "Regular," that was utilized during the group's United States' based performances. The group also released a repackage Regulate on November 13, featuring the single "Simon Says."

Yuta also appeared in another season of NCT Life Hot & Young Seoul Trip- touring Seoul along with other foreign-born NCT members, including Johnny (USA), Kun (China), Winwin (China), Lucas (China) and Mark (Canada).

IIV. 2019: First World Tour

In January 2019, NCT 127 began its first concert tour, Neo City - The Origin, with worldwide stops until May.

The group also released its first full-length Japanese album, Awaken. The group then increased its publicity in the United States ahead of the release of its fourth EP, We Are Superhuman, including appearing at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. They also released an English version song "Highway to Heaven" of the Korean song on the EP and an accompanying video filmed in California. On October 24, 2019, 127 released a live album based on the Neo City concert tour: Neo City Seoul - The Origin.

In addition to his activities with NCT 127, Yuta continued to appear as a guest on variety shows. Yuta appeared in the ninth season, NCT Life: Chuncheon and Hongcheon, with NCT 127 members touring parts of South Korea. Yuta released a digital cover of TVXQ's "White" for NCT's social platforms.

IIVI. 2020: Neo Zone and Resonance

NCT 127 released its second full album, Neo Zone, on March 6, 2020, as well as a repackage Neo Zone: The Final Round on May 19.

Yuta participated in the NCT 2020 project in October 2020, featuring all NCT members, and debuting two new ones. This project also included a 2-part NCT full album, NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 and NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 2. He appears as a singer on NCT 127's song "Music, Dance," as well as a part of NCT U combination units on 5 songs: "From Home," "Raise the Roof," "Dancing in the Rain," "Work It" and "Faded in My Last Song." He also features in the combination single "Resonance," which combines multiple songs. Resonance gave Yuta the opportunity to sing larger portions of song, as well as featuring on one of the NCT U released singles. On "From Home," he was the only singer was not a main or lead in their sub-unit. The entire project also appeared on NCT World 2.0, a competition-focused show.

He also became the host of a radio show Yuta at Home.

IIVII. 2021: Double million seller and NCT 2021

NCT 127 released its second Japanese release, Loveholic, on Feb. 17. On June 4, NCT 127 released a digital single, "Save", a collaboration with the Korean hip hop label, Amoeba Culture.

NCT 127 released its third Korean studio album Sticker on September 17, 2021, which was also certified as a 2 million seller. On this album, Yuta continued to expand his singing parts and take larger parts of key songs. Additionally, Yuta appeared in a new season of NCT Life, NCT Life in Gapyeong and a new show, Analog Trip NCT 127: Escape from Magic Island.

In October, NCT released a repackage album of Sticker, Favorite. On November 3, the group released a digital single "Freeze" in collaboration with the video game Kartrider.

Yuta participated in the NCT 2021 project in December 2021, featuring all active NCT members at the time. This project also included a NCT full album, NCT 2021 Universe. He appears as a singer on NCT 127's song "Earthquake," as well as a part of NCT U combination units on 2 songs: "OK!" and "Birthday Party." He also features in the all-unit song "Beautiful."

On December 19, NCT 127 started its second concert tour, Neo City: The Link, with 3 nights in Seoul. Yuta featured in a solo stage with a new song "Butterfly," where he emphasized his butterfly tattoo.

IIVIII. 2022: Acting, More Japanese-specific promos and 4th album

In April, it was announced that Yuta would make his acting debut in the popular Japanese High & Low film series. As part of those promotions and a larger Japanese push ahead of 127's Japanese dome tour, a Japanese SMTOWN and the build-up to the launch of a NCT Japan unit, Yuta substantially increased his Japanese promotions. Highly popular in Japan, he began appearing in multiple magazines, on multiple covers and interviews. He also appeared with Shotaro in a joint monthly column in Men's No-No magazine and their own series Show You Our Journey on dTV. Yuta also began a partnership with Louis Vuitton. He was named on Forbes' Japan's 30 under 30 list. He released his first OST with the film's release.

In September, NCT 127 released its fourth album, the 2 million seller 질주 (2 Baddies). A new promotional series was also launched with the album, Fill It Up, which was similar to Stick Together, a mini reality series tied to Sticker promotions.

NCT 127 headlined at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul for their respective tours, joining only a handful of kpop groups who have headlined there. As part of the shows, Neo City: The Link+, the group debuted new mini sub-unit tracks. Yuta featured on rap-focused song "Hello" with Taeyong, Yuta and Mark, where he was shown rapping a verse for the first time.

IIIX. 2023: More acting roles and 5th album

In April, Yuta featured in another acting role in the series Play It Cool, Guys. He was officially named friend of the house for Louis Vuitton and attended Paris Fashion Week for the house.

In August, he featured with the rest of NCT 127 in the documentary NCT 127: The Lost Boys. He also featured with the members on the NCT all-unit album, Golden Age and its accompanying all-unit NCT Nation concerts. He appears on "The BAT", "Alley Oop" and "Interlude: Oasis."

In October, NCT 127 released its fifth album, Fact Check.

III. Discography

Covers as a performer (released in digital/social media):

2019 - "White" (TVXQ)

OST:

2022 - Wings

IV. Radio Show

2020- Yuta at Home

V. Videography

VI. Photos

NCT 2020 Resonance

VII. Trivia

- His NCT emoji is 🍒 (cherries). It was originally 🐙 (octopus for his nickname "Takoyaki Prince") but changed in 2021, however you may see the octopus in older content.

- Yuta was the first Japanese idol in SM Entertainment.

- Yuta plays the guitar and piano.

- Yuta is an artist who loves to draw and paint.

- Yuta is a native Japanese speaker who is very fluent in Korean and fluent in English.

- Yuta is the most followed Japanese male celebrity on Instagram.

- He used to be a soccer player and played for 7 years, which is often referenced in NCT athletic competitions.

- Yuta is artistic and vibrant with a cheerful, outgoing personality and a savagely funny sense of humor.

- He is protective and affectionate with his fellow members.

- His fans are called Ai or Yureka.

- Yuta has a butterfly tattoo, which he displayed during the performance of his solo song "Butterfly" at Neo City: The Link concerts.

- SM released a video using the audio from NCT's MAMA performance that captures the journey of the members through their career.

- NCT members have appeared on an NCT 24 Hour Relay Cam that gives a glimpse into their daily lives.