King & Prince
King & Prince is a two-member Japanese idol group under Smile-Up (formerly known as Johnny & Associates) that debuted in 2018. The group was originally a Johnny's Jr. unit, Mr. King vs Mr. Prince that was composed of 2 separate units: Mr. King and Prince. The units later performed as one group for TV Asahi's Roppongi Hills Natsu Matsuri Summer Station in June 2015. Their debut was announced at a press conference on 17 January 2018 along with the establishment of Johnny & Associates' new record label under Universal Music, Johnny's Universe (now Project K&P), with King & Prince becoming the first artists to sign under the label. They have sold 12.3 million physical copies in Japan.
King & Prince | |
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Kaito Takahashi (left) & Ren Nagase (right) in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Mr. King vs Mr. Prince (2015–2017) |
| Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | J-pop |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Labels | Project K&P |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | https://www.universal-music.co.jp/king-and-prince/ |
The group used to have six members: Sho Hirano, Ren Nagase, Kaito Takahashi, Yuta Kishi, Yuta Jinguji and Genki Iwahashi. However, Genki Iwahashi withdrew from King & Prince and Johnny & Associates on 31 March 2021 due to anxiety disorder. Three of the remaining five members left the group on May 22, 2023. Sho Hirano and Yuta Jinguji left the agency on the same day, while Yuta Kishi remained until fall of 2023.