Kocchi no Kento

, known professionally as , is a Japanese singer-songwriter and internet personality. He began covering songs a cappella in 2019 and is best known for his 2024 single "Hai Yorokonde".

Early life Kento Sugō was born in Minoh, Osaka Prefecture, Japan on June 13, 1996. His father is , a management consultant, journalist, author and television personality, who inspired Sugō to pursue music.

Sugō attended Komazawa University, where he formed an a cappella group, Chemical Quartet, with members from the university's a cappella club Meiseishishin. He won the national amateur a cappella contest, A Cappella Spirits, for two consecutive years. He uses the stage name "Kocchi no Kento", meaning "this Kento". It symbolizes the feeling when he sings, which is himself more than being a salaryman after graduating, like the "other Kento". He appeared as a backing vocal for the performances of Radwimps and Tōko Miura's "Grand Escape" at the 70th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2019, and Miisha Shimizu at New Disney Plus Celebration Night.

He started writing his own songs in 2022, and released his debut single "Tiny" through Blowout Inc. on August 30 the same year. The song is about the relationship among his brothers. His following single "Shinuna!", went moderately viral on TikTok in mid-2023, and peaked at number nine on the Billboard Japan Heatseekers Songs.

The singer's 2024 single "Hai Yorokonde" depicts the daily lives of salarymen whose stress has peaked while struggling to overcome peer pressure. Its cover artwork and music video are inspired by Shōwa-era manga and anime. The song became his most successful song to date after becoming viral on social media, peaking at number four on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and seven on the Oricon Combined Singles Chart. Following this success, he won Best New Artist at the 66th Japan Record Awards and appeared as a main artist for the first time to perform "Hai Yorokonde" at the 75th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen on December 31.

On January 1, 2025, the singer announced via X for his intention to "take a break for the time being," and resumed his activity in March. Months later, Kocchi no Kento performed "Kekka Ōrai", an opening theme for anime series My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, which released digitally on April 7 and came on CD as an EP on June 18. He was in charge of the theme for drama series Chotto Dake Esper, titled "Watakushigoto".

Personal life Kocchi no Kento quit his company job in 2020 and, thereafter, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which was revealed later in September 2023.

He married an unnamed spouse on February 14, 2024. He announced the birth of their child on March 18, 2026.

Discography Extended plays + List of extended plays, showing selected details, chart positions and sales Title Details Peaks Sales JPN Kekka Ōrai EP Released: June 18, 2025 Label: Blowout Inc., Ki/oon Formats: CD, DL, streaming 25 JPN: 1,576

Singles + List of singles as lead artist, showing year released, selected chart positions, and album name Title Year Peaks Album JPNCmb. JPNHot WWExcl.US "Tiny" 2022 — — — "Shinuna!" — — — "Viva Peek-a-Boo" 2023 — — — "Donguri Game" — — — "Iroha" — — — "Hai Yorokonde" 2024 7 4 99 "Mō Ii yo" — 81 — "Time Lapse" 2025 — — — "Kekka Ōrai" — 77 — Kekka Ōrai EP "Sore mo Ii ne" — — — "Gokurosan" — — — "Watakushigoto" — — — "Pickles" — — — "Goron to Doron" 2026 — — — "Dada" — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Guest appearances + List of non-single guest appearances, showing year released, other performing artists, and album name Title Year Other artist(s) Album "Hurricane" 2025 Masayuki Suzuki All Time Doo Wop

Concerts Yoitokose (2024)

Filmography Films Title Year Role Note Moana 2 2024 Island resident Japanese dub voice Zootopia 2 2025 Kent Tanuki

Radio shows Title Year Role Sugō Kento no Doboku o Shiru 2023 Host The Moment 2024–present

Web shows Title Year Role Sugō Kento no Doboku o Shiru 2020–2023 Host

Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee(s)/work(s) Result Japan Record Awards 2024 Best New Artist Kocchi no Kento MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2025 Future Icons Award Best Animation Video "Hai Yorokonde" Video of the Year Music Awards Japan 2025 Best Music Video Best Viral Song Best New Artist Kocchi no Kento U-Can New Words and Buzzword Awards 2024 New Words and Buzzwords Awards "Hai Yorokonde"