Yuto Adachi (安達 祐人, Adachi Yūto, born January 23, 1998), known mononymously as Yuto (Korean: 유토; Japanese: ユウト), is a Japanese rapper, singer, songwriter and composer. He is a member of the South Korean boy group Pentagon, formed by Cube Entertainment.[1]
Biography
Early life and education
Yuto was born on January 23, 1998, in Nagano, Japan.[1] He is the youngest of a family of three children with one sister and one brother.[1] He got interested in K-pop since he was in grade 4 elementary school. After seeing K-pop groups such as TVXQ and Girls' Generation together with his sister on television, he was fascinated with their vocal skills, synchronized dance, and visual.[1]
In an interview with BuzzFeed Japan, he said "I was not interested in music. I was the type who don't listen to music, and just played sports such as baseball and soccer. However, when I heard about K-pop for the first time, I got attracted and after that, gradually being more into it." After becoming a middle school student, he became a K-pop fan. He danced to K-pop choreography with friends together and uploaded choreography videos to the internet. Later, he applied to the global audition opened in Japan by a Korean entertainment company when he was in grade 2 middle school. However, he was rejected because he was too young. During the reading session set in the morning in his middle school, he studied Korean and imitated dancing while watching K-pop videos. People around him recognized his affection for K-pop. In the graduation article collection of his middle school yearbook, he wrote "I want to become a big star."[1] He was the school baseball and soccer player and a member of dance club which he would perform on stage for his school festival every year.[2]
At 15 years old, he moved to Korea after persuading his parents several times. He aimed to be the first Japanese male K-pop "[but] my skills was completely insufficient."[1] During his trainee days, Yuto's grandfather had passed away. However, he continued his practice with his grandfather's encouragement letter. Yuto trained for 3+1⁄2 years as a trainee before debuting with Pentagon.[1]
In 2016, Yuto joined as survival candidate in a South Korean television reality program Pentagon Maker, hosted by Cube Entertainment and co-produced by Mnet.[7][8] Though he was initially in the bottom four in the first elimination,[9] he was save in the ninth week after performing "Young" (Prod. by Dok2) with his team.[10] On July 9, "Young" was released on various online music sites.[11] In episode 9, week 10 of Pentagon Maker, Yuto performed Block B's "Very good" alongside Jinho and Wooseok for the 3 vs 3 vs 3 match, where the confirmed member were selected as unit leaders and each team includes the elimination candidates including Yuto. As a result of the final mission, Yuto's team won first place in the unit performance. Thus, he was excluded from the candidate for elimination after completing his Pentagraph and joined as Pentagon's 6th member.[12] Before the group officially debuted, Yuto made his first cameo on Yeo One's web drama Spark, alongside fellow Pentagon members Hui, E'Dawn and Wooseok.[13]
Yuto in April 2020
2016–present: Debut with Pentagon and solo activities
On October 10, 2016, Yuto officially debuted as a member of Pentagon with their first extended play Pentagon.[14] He is the lead rapper and lead dancer in the group.[2] Less than two months later, Yuto participated in Pentagon's second extended playFive Senses. He co-wrote the song "Engine", making this his first Pentagon's song after debuting as a Pentagon member.[15] In 2017, he made a cameo in the drama Hello, My Twenties! 2 with his bandmates as a member of Asgard.[16] On September 24, Yuto challenged his first role as the MC for Japan-Korea 10th Anniversary KMF2017 which was held at Yokohama Arena.[17] In 2018, Yuto co-hosted 69th Sapporo Snow Fest 10th Anniversary K-POP FESTIVAL 2018 along with Monsta X's Hyungwon and Target's Woojin. The MCs were selected for being born in a year in which the Olympics took place, Yuto was born in 1998 during Nagano Winter Olympic.[18][19][20] In June 2021, Yuto began hosting his own bimonthly segment on Mnet Japan's program Mnet BANG!.[21]
In early 2023, Yuto became the co-host of the TV Tokyo program Who is your next? The Klobal Stage alongside ONF's U.[22] On October 9, it was announced that he had left Cube Entertainment alongside fellow Pentagon members Yeo One, Yanan, Kino, and Wooseok.[23] By the end of the month, he had signed with RINK Entertainment, moving his activity base to Japan.[24]
Yuto will release his first single Dat Girl, featuring the lead single "Dat Girl" and three other songs, on December 13.[25]
Personal life
Yuto has expressed his fondness towards Shinee's song "Lucifer" in many of his interview. He also confessed that his role model is Taemin from the same group.[1] Yuto is known to have a low-tone voice especially during rapping.[1]
^ abcdefghijTatsunori Tokushige (February 14, 2019). 少年は高校を辞めて15歳で韓国に渡り、K-POPのスターになった [A youngster quitted his high-school at the age of 15 and migrated to Korea, becoming a K-POP Star]. BuzzFeed Japan. Archived from the original on August 5, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
^ abSon Hae-seon (September 8, 2020). [PICK포토] 꿈을 위해 타국까지! 한국을 사랑한 아이돌(보이그룹.ver) [[PICK Photo] To other countries for dreams! Idols Who Loved Korea (Boy Group.ver)]. Market News. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
^Song Chorong (May 3, 2016). 큐브 히든카드' 펜타곤, 본격 데뷔 경쟁 시작됐다… 10인 멤버 공개 [Cube Hidden Card' Pentagon, debut competition began in earnest... unveiled 10 members to the public]. Star Seoul. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
^Park Soo-in (June 22, 2016). [팝업TV]'펜타곤메이커' 아이돌 능력치 못채운 첫 탈락자 누구? [[Pop-up TV] Who was the first dropout who couldn't fill the'Pentagon Maker' idol skills?]. HeraldPop. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
^Jung Ji-won (July 6, 2016). '펜타곤메이커' 진호·여원·후이, 펜타곤 최종확정…신원 하차 ['Pentagon Maker' Jinho, Yeowon, Hui, Pentagon finalized... Shinwon getting off]. XSports News. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
^Song Chorong (July 13, 2016). '펜타곤 메이커' 일본인 멤버 유토 극적으로 6번째 멤버 확정…탈락자 마지막 부활 예고 ['Pentagon Maker' Japanese member Yuto dramatically confirmed the 6th member... Final elimination notice]. Star Seoul. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
^Kim Young-jin (October 10, 2016). 펜타곤 "10명 모두 데뷔, 함께 하지 않으면 팀워크 안 나왔다" [Pentagon "All 10 people debuted, teamwork didn't come out unless we were together"]. Asia Today. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
^Yoo Ji-hoon (November 30, 2016). 펜타곤, 새 앨범 '트랙리스트 공개'…2개월 만의 초고속 컴백 [Pentagon, new album 'tracklist released'... Super-fast comeback in 2 months]. ET News. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
