NAOKI KOBAYASHI X THE LATERALS
You need to know that Naoki Kobayashi is making moves. Although he's just tip toed his way into the Hollywood scene, Naoki has been been breaking ground since he was a teen. While in junior high school, he discovered that music could open up new world views. This passion projected him into singing and songwriting, something he was so intent about pursuing, he considered leaving high school. With his mother's direction, he decided to stay in school and focused on cultivating this craft. Even at a young age, Naoki had this unique understanding that it was essential for musicians to understand rhythm. As fate would have it, he took his first steps toward dance.
Naoki has firmly placed himself into an international zeitgeist. As a dancer, performer and choreographer, he has built a dedicated fanbase as a member of Japan's renowned performance group Exile, as well as the leader of the Sandaime J Soul Brothers. If having millions of fans is not enough, Naoki has walked runways as a model for Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto. He continues to keep us on our toes with his latest venture into acting. Although he's starred in a number of features in film and theatre, he is finally streaming into the American entertainment industry. His breakout debut will be a feature film on Netflix called Earthquake Bird.
We can officially say that Naoki Kobayashi is a triple threat (if not more if we're truly keeping tabs). Yet, no matter what he steps into, we can always be sure that he will always dance to his own tune.
Music has seemed to always played a major part in your life. Was there a specific moment that made you realize this was your calling?
Since I was a little kid, I was always inspired by performers – whether it was a singer, a dancer or an actor. I saw their lives in their performance, and it has always touched my heart. There wasn’t really a specific moment when I realized what I’m doing is my calling, but now that I’ve been a performer for 15 years and looking back, my heart was always overflowing with this feeling I wanted to express, just like those performers who inspired me. So it does feel right that I’m doing what I am doing now on stage and on screen. I’m very happy about it.
What was your favorite song or artist growing up and why?
Lately by Stevie Wonder is my favorite song. This song was among the first I learned the lyrics too. I looked up every English word. I like this feeling of affirmation Stevie holds. Even if it’s sadness or pain, his art is something you can embrace.
How did you get involved in dance competitions? Also tell us what "krumping" is.
I liked music. I liked sports. And dance combined those two worlds. When I first saw and experienced Krump, it felt so right for me. I always saw dance as a means to express something that words cannot. Krumping is a means to live. Tight Eyez, the dancer who created Krump, is a good friend of mine. He’s also the same age as me. In our community, you always have your buddies’ backs. That is what Krump is all about. I see Krump as a culture rather than a genre of dance. And what represents the culture best is the jam. In a Krump cypher, you try to break your limits. You put your everything into it and still try to do more while your crew cheer and push you up. The idea is to push your limits through this process. Perhaps that applies to our lives outside the dance world. I was born and raised in Tokyo but that ethos still resonated with me. I find that acting shares that same aspect. Whether you’re in music or movies, what moves audiences is the process, the story.
What was the biggest change for you when you started your career as a professional performer in a J-pop group?
Responsibility. When I used to dance in the street, what comes first was always- feeling. When you are a member of a group as a professional, it’s “show must go on” mentality. You can’t change your schedule as you like. In Japan, especially, we think it’s a virtue to put the team first rather than trying to stand out on your own. You’re not an individual; you are an elemental part of the group. Through teamwork, I also learned what I cannot do. Be it a live show or a movie, you create it with other members of the team. Director, writer, producer, costume designer… professionals of all fields gather together to create an art and among them is myself as an actor or a performer. Together, we are collaborators.
You are now 1 of 19 members of the popular J-Pop group Exile. What was it like working with such a large group of talented people?
EXILE has attracted over 1 million attendees during our last tour in 2018. The group is also well known in South East Asia outside of Japan. One member pulls off a stadium tour as a solo singer, another one is the first ever Asian man who serves as the worldwide Ralph Lauren brand ambassador/campaign model. And I started to look for what I can do among such talented members. This endeavor to find our own individual specialties has inspired me to pursue my acting career. EXILE is a training ground where all members challenge each other to be the best they can be, moving forward and rising above.
Was acting something you were always interested in?
I started acting 10 years ago in theater. I played my first role in a movie about 3 years ago. Earthquake Bird is the first international film for me, and it is my English-language acting debut. As I made the transition into acting, I found that playing a role on screen and playing a role in a live show is pretty much the same thing. When I dance the solo choreography for a ballad, for example, I weave a strong story as the protagonist. The only difference is whether I am communicating through words or not.
Tell us about Earthquake Bird.
The movie is a noir thriller set in Tokyo 1989 centered around a love triangle between two women and a man starring Alicia Vikander, Riley Keough and myself. It’s produced by Netflix and Scott Free and directed by Wash Westmoreland who also directed Still Alice and Collette.
What do you think is the most difficult part of acting in comparison to performing on stage?
I think what you should pursue when you act is “real life”. Creating the real life deliberately is I think the most difficult part which is also the most fun part of acting. Right now for example, you don’t know what I’m about to say and I don’t know what you’re about to say. There’s this tension and we are choosing our words and interpreting each other’s reactions constantly. There are many factors that create this certain rhythm of dialogue. But when you act, you have the script from which you know the lines and flow. In Earthquake Bird, I was able to learn and understand my character Teiji. Teiji and I are inherently different people, however I came to understand his mind and his actions. It was certainly a challenge, but a very rewarding one.
Now that you are venturing out on your own, what have you learned about yourself in the process?
I learned that I have a firm vision of what I want to communicate, what I want to do. I learned that I enjoy people. I learned that there is something only I can offer. I want to continue my collaborations with people who inspire me.
Breaking out into the American entertainment scene must be a huge change. What has been most surprising to you about Hollywood?
In Hollywood you see top-notch creators gather from all over the world in one place to create one collective vision. The DP on Earthquake Bird (Chung Chung-Hoon) is from South Korea and the Production Designer (Yohei Taneda) is from Japan. There was diversity and yet there was chemistry. I think that contributed to the film being such a unique experience. All the top professionals want to create the best work, and that was truly exciting. The first day we shot a scene in my character’s room. I was amazed at how everything suddenly made sense once I stepped onto the set. The Production designer created the character’s entire life through the design. This couch, this color… That was so much fun. It was incredible.
Attending the Met Gala is such a dream come true. Can you tell us about any behind-the-scenes moments from that night?
The theme of this year’s Met Gala was “Camp”, and I witnessed amazing costumes, some eccentric, some elegant. It was an honor to be in the room with some of the most notable people in fashion, art and entertainment. Wearing Tom Ford at the Met Gala was also a dream come true. I am truly so grateful for this experience.
You are officially a triple-threat – acting, modeling and dancing. What other talents do you have that we should know about?
The next time we meet I will cook Japanese food for the wonderful team of The Laterals.