Masahiro Nakai

Masahiro Nakai (中居 正広, Nakai Masahiro, born August 18, 1972) is a Japanese singer, actor and host for music events and variety shows such as the long-running music show Utaban. He is the leader of the Japanese idol group SMAP.

Early life

Nakai was born in Kugenuma, Fujisawa, Kanagawa as the youngest of three brothers. He is a big fan of baseball.

Career

Music

In 1987, Nakai entered the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates at the age of 14. He is the second person after Noriyuki Higashiyama that was allowed to skip auditions and directly enter the agency as a trainee, thus becoming known as one of the elite in Johnny's.

Fans have expressed that "Nakai's inability to sing is somewhat of a national joke today in Japan". Regardless of his lack of ability, Nakai has found eventual major success with SMAP as the group went on to become one of the most successful boy bands in J-pop history.

Acting

In 2007, Nakai was given his first movie role in nearly five years, portraying a humble barber wrongfully sentenced to death as a war criminal in the movie Watashi wa Kai ni Naritai (私は貝になりたい, I Want to Be a Shellfish).