THIS IS KENTY - IDOL ver2.0 : Live Report

Live Report Date: January 25, 2026

Hello, I’m Delhia, a French person who has been living in Japan for 8 years! English is not my strong point, so I used AI to help correct my translation. I hope you will enjoy this live report and that it will be easy to read despite that 😊

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From January 23 to 25, Nakajima Kento met with his fans, U:nity, to start the year together through four special concerts full of surprises.

As always, when it comes to a Kenty concert, we were there , and here is our full report.

Kento Nakajima, the Perfect Idol?

My fan heart would say “yes” without any hesitation, and would probably lock you in a room to listen to a very long list of reasons why Kenty is the perfect idol. But today, I’ll simply try to convince you through this live report.

Being an idol is a strong concept in Japan. It is not always well understood overseas and can be hard to clearly define. However, from the very first intro video of the concert, Kento clearly reminded us, using humor and subtlety, of the true essence of an idol: love (ai in Japanese). It is the love from fans to the artist, and the love the artist gives back to fans, staff, and everyone around them.

In this short video, we see a scientist obsessed with creating the perfect idol. During her research, Kenty’s face appears, but she fails again and again to create the perfect idol. In a moment of frustration, she knocks down the letter “I” from a sign and realizes that without the “I” (pronounced ai), only the word “doll” remains. The message is clear: without love, idols become nothing more than dolls.

With the help of the fans waving magical-girl-style light sticks love is collected as the light sticks change color. Filled with that love, Kenty finally appears on the center stage and begins nearly 2 hours and 50 minutes of concert with IDOLIC, the title track of his latest single released on October 29, 2025.

A Concert Like He’s Never Done Before!

Nakajima Kento went solo not long ago. This new path in his artistic career has not always been easy, but it has allowed him to be much more involved in the creative choices around his concerts, especially as a songwriter and composer for some of his music. All of these decisions, combined with strong teamwork, are what made THIS IS KENTY – IDOL ver2.0 a series of four truly unique concerts. And this live is the proof of that.

Rather than giving you a simple, chronological recap of the concert, I’ll continue by highlighting the key moments that, for me, made this show such a genuine surprise and that already place it among my top concerts of 2026

• IDOLIC NO MAHOU: The Fans’ Magic Wand!

You might think that concert goods don’t really have a direct impact on a live show. But not at all! In idol concerts, there are two key items that can truly make a difference when they are fully integrated into the stage concept: uchiwa and penlights / lightsticks.

And once again, Kenty’s lightstick was amazing! Its shape is inspired by magical girl magic wands, and the option to add a Yu-Gi-Oh!–style card (Kento is a big fan) is a particularly fun bonus.

But beyond its look, the lightstick was fully part of the concert’s storytelling. In the videos shown during the live, we follow the story of a prince traveling through different worlds and collecting three cards: Heart / Star / Wings. These elements are directly reflected in the design of IDOLIC NO MAHOU, which also plays a role in defeating “Waruty”… but I’ll let you discover that in a future DVD 😉

GOODS VIDEO :

• Fan Chants

Fan chants, commonly called calls, are an essential part of idol lives, but they are not always included in concerts by major artists. That’s why it was such a real pleasure to actively take part in the concert and shout the fan chants created by Kenty himself!

He even posted a YouTube video to help fans prepare for the live. It may seem like a small detail, but it really matters,and once again, it shows how much Kenty cares about giving his fans the best possible experience.

• The Presence of the Juniors

While Kenty has already performed in concerts with N’s Performance (Yastaka, Solomon, MASATO, Koji, SASUKE, JOEL, SHOYA), with whom he clearly shares great chemistry, it was a real pleasure to see Juniors perform on stage again. Their performance with Kenty, followed by Idol ni natta hi (アイドルになった日)—a song written and composed by Nakajima Kento, felt especially fresh and heartwarming.

It’s a beautiful, very “idol-like” song, with lyrics that truly speak to idol fans. It was also a strong performance by the Juniors, one that makes you want to support them and follow their journey. Kento introduced different members at each show, making every performance feel unique.

It was a genuine senpai–kohai moment that really warmed the heart, full of kindness and sincere respect. The Juniors clearly appreciated the experience and Kento’s support. Some of them were even seen in tears during the final thank-you segment. The opportunity to film one song made this moment even more special.

• Permission to Film !

If you’re not used to concerts in Japan, it’s rare to be given permission to film. This time, however, filming was allowed during the second performance of IDOLIC, the third song of the encore.

Kento also took this opportunity to share a few words about his desire to reach an international audience. In addition, a promotional campaign featuring fan-recorded videos from this concert is currently ongoing on TikTok. More information HERE!

• High-quality and Unexpected Guests!

Each show surprised the audience with collaboration songs featuring different artists: Kocchi no Kento, Mori Calliope, milet, and especially the guests of the January 25 concert, who completely surprised the fans, in the best way possible: Shigeoka Daiki from WEST. and Iwamoto Hikaru from Snow Man! 

We were lucky to see Gokurakucho perform Bad Boys!, the theme song of the drama Bad Boys J released in 2013. By the way, this drama is what first made me fall in love with Kenty!

We also got to enjoy a big first performance of スリーマンセル, a special and energetic song written by Kento. It’s a song I immediately wanted to listen to again (on repeat!), and it once again shows Nakajima Kento’s talent and hard work as a songwriter. It’s truly a song unlike anything he had done before.

Later, during the encore, Shige and Hikaru returned to the stage, joined by an Okentosama mascot, carrying a huge balloon shaped like the IDOLIC no Mahou light stick.

This made Kenty laugh once again—so much that he had a hard time singing “CANDY ～Can U be my BABY～” because he couldn’t stop laughing!

These moments as a trio were a wonderful surprise for the finale, and above all, a real pleasure to hear. Having Shige and Hikaru, close friends of Kento, on stage allowed us to see their close bond… and most importantly, to hear Kento’s laughter.

A laugh that honestly should be considered a national treasure, or at least a very good medicine ✨🥹

• A Concert Ending with Kimi dake FOREVER!

The title itself is already full of meaning (Only You, Forever), and it is also a very important song for both Kenty and the fans. It is a song from Sexy Zone, the group Kento was a member of until 2024, and it has always been deeply loved by fans for the strength of its lyrics.

Kenty also shared these words:“I treasure all my experiences and all my memories so far.” “Isn’t love the only thing that can save us?”

With a soft voice full of love, Kenty brought this surprise-filled concert to a close, leaving one last emotion lingering in the venue.

As you can tell, this concert was, for me, a true success. And once the lights came back on and reality slowly returned, we were simply happy to have shared this moment with other fans and with Kenty… while already looking forward to what comes next with great

A Promise, a Goal… No, a Rendez-vous with U:nity

If Kenty has the image of the perfect idol, it is not only because of his looks and charming smile, but also because of his sincerity and the effort he puts in every day to make his dreams come true and keep improving himself.

During the encore, just before “IDOLIC”, Kento took a moment to speak to the audience. For me, it was one of the most important moments of the concert. He talked about his journey, the difficulties he faced, and his gratitude toward his fans. Most of all, he shared very touching words about the feeling of loneliness he experienced after starting his solo career. That feeling disappeared when he realized he was not alone as long as U:nity (his fans) stayed by his side.

More than a promise, it felt like a real appointment that Kento made with us: in two years, at Tokyo Dome. A venue that would represent a true milestone in his career as an artist.

One thing is certain: I will do everything I can to be there.

From memory, here is a paraphrase of what he said:

“As an idol, I have always lived sincerely, and I started a new life full of challenges. I wondered why people didn’t understand me and how I could reach them. I spent my days thinking about how to make my dreams come true. During the Countdown, when everyone was in a group except me, I realized that even if I was alone, I wasn’t really alone, because U:nity is with me.”

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As you can probably tell, this was an amazing concert for me, with love as the main theme running throughout. It is this sincerity, these laughs, these surprises, and a well-thought-out (and well-marketed) storytelling that make THIS IS KENTY – IDOL ver2.0 – such a success. It will probably remain, for a long time, one of Kenty’s best concerts, and one of the standout shows in the Japanese idol scene.

Setlist – THIS IS KENTY - IDOL ver2.0 - January 25, 2026

To listen to all the songs from the setlist, click HERE!