Naoki Kobayashi

Naoki Kobayashi
小林 直己
Kobayashi Naoki at the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival 2019
Background information
Also known as
  • Naoki (stylized as NAOKI)
  • Jr Twiggz
Born (1984-11-10) 10 November 1984 (age 40)
Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Genres
Occupations
  • Actor
  • dancer
  • model
Years active2010–present
LabelsRhythm Zone
WebsiteOfficial website
agent: LDH Japan

Naoki Kobayashi[1] (小林 直己, Kobayashi Naoki, born 10 November 1984, in Inzai, Chiba Prefecture)[2] is a Japanese actor, dancer, choreographer, and model. He is a performer of J-Pop dance and vocal group Exile, and is a leader and performer of J-Pop dance and vocal group Sandaime J Soul Brothers. He was also a member of Nidaime J Soul Brothers until their migration to Exile in 2009.[3] As a member of Sandaime J Soul Brothers, he has received the Japan Record Awards twice, and has received the same award three times as a member of Exile.[3] He choreographed the famous "Pocky Dance" (Pocky Sharehappi Dance) for Pocky's advertisement in 2015.[4]

Besides, he has also taken up acting and made his international debut in Netflix's original film Earthquake Bird.[5] He has also worked as a model for the fashion brand "Yohji Yamamoto".[3] With his fluent-spoken English and understanding of American culture, he serves as a creative career advisor in the Executive Management Team of LDH USA.[6][7] He has a strong interest in traditional Japanese culture,[6][8] which has motivated him to take part in a few projects focusing on promoting the art of samurai and Japanese swords.

  1. ^ "EXILE、第四章始動でメンバー名＆表記変更". Music Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  2. ^ "EXILE" (in Japanese). LDH. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "NAOKI KOBAYASHI | MANAGEMENT | LDH". www.ldh.co.jp. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  4. ^ "三代目JSB・小林直己「打倒ランニングマン」CMで振り付け考案". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Netflix Dates 'Marriage Story,' 'Laundromat' and Other Fall Award Films". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  6. ^ a b "EXILE／三代目JSB 小林直己が切り開いた"世界"への道 「相手の夢を叶えることで自分の夢も叶う」". Real Sound｜リアルサウンド 映画部 (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  7. ^ "LDH USA | LDH – LOVE + DREAM + HAPPINESS TO THE WORLD -". LDH – LOVE + DREAM + HAPPINESS TO THE WORLD - (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  8. ^ "EXILE・AKIRA、青柳翔、小林直己、HIRO初プロデュース映画への意気込み語る (3 June 2015 )". エキサイトニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 September 2019.