Shigeaki Kato

Kato was born in Hiroshima, Japan, but he grew up in Osaka Prefecture and Yokohama-shi. He joined Johnny's Entertainment on April 17, 1999 when he was 11 years-old. As a junior he was a member of the organizations Best Beat Boys (B.B.B.), Boys Be Ambitious (B.B.A.), Best Beat Dancing (B.B.D.), Beautiful American Dreams (B.A.D.) and J-support (later changed to K.K.Kity). He debuted as a member of NEWS in 2003. Along with other NEWS members, he plays the guitar, composing some of NEWS' songs, including his own solo "Kakao" in 2002, which he composed the lyrics to. In 2010, he graduated from the Faculty of Law of Aoyama Gakuin University. Aside from music, Kato has also establish himself as an author. During early days of NEWS, he felt his presence in the group was falling behind and didn't have much solo work like other members. This combined with the lack of group activities in 2011, Kato decided that he wanted to do something not only for his career but for the band, so after getting permission from management to write a novel, he started writing Pink and Gray and finished the book in less than a year. On January 28, 2012, the book was published. This make Kato the first idol in Johnny & Associates to become an author. Pink and Gray was later adapted into a movie in 2016, directed by Isao Yukisada and stars Yuto Nakajima formerly of Hey! Say! JUMP. Kato has received several accolades for his written works. His 2020 novel Alternate was nominated for the Naoki Prize. In 2021, the book won Yoshikawa Eiji Literary Award for New Writers and the High School Students Naoki Prize. Alternate was also nominated for Japan Booksellers' Award. He received a second Naoki Prize nomination in 2023, for Nare no hate. On August 27, 2025, it was confirmed that Kato will star as Sam in the Japanese production of Danny Robins' play 2:22 A Ghost Story, directed by Shintaro Mori. The play will run from February 6 until March 16, 2026 and also stars Wakana Aoi, Nao Minamisawa and Satoru Matsuo. Private life On March 3, 2024, Shigeaki announced through his groups' official website that he is getting married. The date of the ceremony has not been disclosed. == Discography ==