Kentaro Ito

is a Japanese actor and model. Previously known mononymously as Kentaro, began his career as a model and transitioned into acting in 2014 with his acting debut in Fuji TV's Hirugao: Love Affairs in the Afternoon as Keita Kinoshita. He has since starred in multiple television dramas, such as Tokyo Love Story, Peanut Butter Sandwich, and Is This Love a Sin!?.

Career Ito began his career as a model, previously known simply as Kentaro, appearing mainly in magazines and advertisements. He made his acting debut in the afternoon television drama Hirugao: Love Affairs in the Afternoon, since then he has continuously appeared in many shows such as Gakkō no Kaidan, My Love Story!, Transit Girls, and as a former studio regular in Terrace House among others.

During the beginning of his acting career, Ito had been considering a stage surname for some time. When his character's name in the television drama From Today, It's Me!! was the same as his real surname, "Ito," he felt it was fate. On his 21st birthday, June 30, 2018, he announced that he would change his stage name to his full name, Kentaro Ito.

On July 21, 2020, Ito was set to co-star with Ryusei Yokohama in the play Ganryujima; however, it was reported that Yokohama had contracted Covid, and the Tokyo stage performance was effectively canceled. Ito also took a PCR test, but it came back negative. However, as a close contact to Yokohama, he was asked to self-isolate at home for two weeks, until August 4, 2020.

On October 28, 2020, Ito was detained for a vehicular accident after he collided with a motorcycle while driving a passenger car and subsequently left the scene. He was later released and was not charged. He took a short break from his career after the accident due to receiving significant backlash for fleeing the scene.

2022–present: Resumption of activities and restitution

On June 30, 2021, Ito launched his official website "GOLONDRINAS".

On May 15, 2022, he starred in the film Winter Rose. Set in a port town, he plays a young delinquent who later gets involved in uncovering the truth behind what happened to one of his friends who had been brutally attacked by an unknown assailant. The film was directed by Junji Sakamoto.

In May 2023, he played the lead role in the film The Quiet Don as Kondo Shizuka, the third leader of the Shinsengumi. In December of the same year, he appeared in the movie Till We Meet Again on the Lily Hill as the protagonist's best friend; for this role, he was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor award at the Japan Academy Award ceremony.

Car accident and public image On the night of October 28, 2020, Ito collided with a motorcycle while driving a passenger car, critically injuring a man and a woman. On the following day, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested him on suspicion of violating the Automobile Driving Punishment Act and the Road Traffic Act for leaving the scene of the accident.

Following the police reports, Ito's works and other television appearances were either removed, suspended or cancelled. He was removed from the cast of the NHK evening drama Ucchan that was scheduled to air in December 2020, and the on-demand streaming of his dramas was also suspended. Fuji TV replaced the programs scheduled to air from October 29 to 31. Ito's film Tonkatsu DJ Agetarō was released as scheduled on October 30, but his greeting appearance on the opening day was canceled. He was selected as the "Face of 2020" by the magazine Nikkei Trendy but was absent from the announcement held on November 3. Additionally, his appearance in the morning information program was suspended from November 2020.

On March 25, 2021, in court hearings, the charges of negligent driving resulting in injury were dropped as a settlement was reached with the victims, and the charges of hit-and-run were not indicted due to insufficient evidence to prove criminal intent.

After dealing with the lawsuits, he faced much criticism from the public, as he had received no legal consequences for the act. Due to the hate, at one point, he considered retiring from acting.

Filmography Film

Television drama

Awards and nominations