Leon Niihama
Leon Niihama (新浜レオン) | |
|---|---|
 Niihama in 2020 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Yuki Takajō (高城 勇貴) |
| Born | May 11, 1996 Chiba, Japan |
| Genres | Enka, Kayōkyoku |
| Years active | 2019- |
| Labels | Kaikyo Record (2019–present) |
| Website | niihamaleon |
| Leon Niihama | |
|---|---|
| YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2019 - |
| Subscribers | 10,5k[1] |
| Views | 6,232,465 million times[1] |
Last updated: November 11, 2023 | |
Leon Niihama (新浜レオン, Niihama Reon), birth name Yuki Takajō), born May 11, 1996, in Chiba, Japan, is a Japanese enka and kayōkyoku singer, who debuted on the first day of Reiwa, May 1, 2019, and is currently signed to Kaikyo Record label, a subsidiary of B Zone.[2] His alma mater is Daito Bunka University.
Early life
[edit]Niihama devoted himself to baseball since elementary school, even becoming a catcher and captain when he was in high school. When he failed to reach his dream to appear in Koshien, he decided to follow his father's path, Yasuo Takajo (髙城靖雄, Takajō Yasuo), to become an enka singer.[3] Even before that, he has already been interested in the enka music due to the father's influence, citing as the major influence Hideki Saijo and Itsuki Hiroshi. When he was in his third year at Daito Bunka University, he won the Grand Prix at the "Mr. Daito Contest 2017".[4]
Career
[edit]On May 1, 2019, on the first day of Reiwa, he made his major debut with the single "Hanasanai Hanasanai" as the first artist of B Zone Group's enka label Kaikyo Record.[5] Four days after the debut, he become the main host of his own television show "Hajimemashite, Boku, Niihama Leon Desu!" broadcast on Chiba Television, which lasted until 2021.[6] Later, at the same year, he won "61st Japan Record Awards" in the "New Artist Awards" category.[7]
In 2020, he won Best Enka/Kayokyoku New Artist at the 34th Japan Gold Disc Awards.[8] In 2022, his single "Tukamaete Konya" served as an opening theme to the anime television series Case Closed: The Culprit Hanzawa.[9]In 2021, he designed his own original Sanrio character Leosuke (れおすけ).[10][11]
In 2023, he made his acting debut in the television drama Gekoku Juukyuuji.[12] Later the same year, he released his first video album Leon Niihama 5 Shuunen Kinen Concert, including footage from the live concert held on May 11.[13]
In 2024, he collaborated with the guitarist Tak Matsumoto from the same music agency on the covers single "Kizudarake no Roller", which was included on the kayokyoku covers album The Hit Parade II.
Discography
[edit]As of 2025, he has released 6 singles and 1 video album.[14]
Singles
[edit]| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon [15] | ||
| "Hanasanai Hanasanai" (離さない 離さない) |
|
19 |
| "Kimi wo Motomete" (君を求めて) |
|
7 |
| "Dame Dame..." (ダメ ダメ...) |
|
12 |
| "Jealousy: Unmei ni Kiss wo Shiyō" (ジェラシー〜運命にKissをしよう〜) |
|
7 |
| "Tsukamaete, Konya" (捕まえて、今夜。) |
|
10 |
| "Subete Ageyō" （全てあげよう） |
|
5 |
| "Fun!Fun!Fun!" / "Hono no Kiss" (Fun!Fun!Fun!/炎のkiss) |
|
2 |
Digital singles
[edit]| Year | Single | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | "Kimi wo Motomete" （君を求めて） |
[16] |
| 2022 | "Jealousy: Unmei ni Kiss wo Shiyou" （ジェラシー〜運命にKissをしよう〜） |
[16] |
| "Konya, Tsukamaete" （捕まえて、今夜。） |
[16] |
Video albums
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Niihama Leon 5 Shuunen Kinen Concert (新浜レオン5周年記念コンサート) |
|
References
[edit]- ^ a b "About 新浜レオン". YouTube.
- ^ ビーイング系アーティスト (in Japanese). uta-net. Retrieved 2008-12-14.
- ^ "日本レコード大賞新人賞 新浜レオンさん（白井市出身） 多世代に愛される歌い手に 元球児「マリンでライブを」". Chiba Nippou. 2020-01-12. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ "令和デビューの歌手・新浜レオン、成田山新勝寺でヒット祈願". オリコン. 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
- ^ "新浜レオン、令和デビュー！父は「伯方の塩」ＣＭ曲歌う高城靖雄". Sankei Sports. 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
- ^ "はじめまして！僕、新浜レオンです！！". Chiba Television. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
- ^ "61st Japan Record Awards Announced". rockinon. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
- ^ "第34回日本ゴールドディスク大賞 Best Enka Kayokyoku Artist". 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
- ^ "アニメ「名探偵コナン 犯人の犯沢さん」オープニング主題歌担当決定!". 新浜レオン公式サイト. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
- ^ "-新浜レオンさん＆「れおすけ」ファンイベント開催！（株式会社サンリオエンターテイメント ハーモニーランド）". 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
- ^ "-サンリオファン羨望 新浜レオンのオリキャラ「れおすけ」誕生秘話". 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
- ^ "新浜レオンがTBS系「下克上球児」で俳優デビュー 演歌第7世代の旗手がドラマ進出". サンケイスポーツ. 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
- ^ "-「紅白捕まえてみせます！」新浜レオン5周年記念コンサート 五木ひろしも駆けつけ2000人沸かす". 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
- ^ "新浜レオン 作品". 新浜レオン Official Website (in Japanese).
- ^ "新浜レオンの作品売上ランキング" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c "-新浜レオンの作品" (in Japanese). Mora. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
External links
[edit]- Official website (in Japanese)
- Leon Niihama at Anime News Network's encyclopedia