Professional Career

Shotaro began dancing at the age of 5. He often recalls the time he was just beginning dance lessons when he cried and told his mom he wanted to go home. Nonetheless, taro continued to dance as he started to enjoy it.

Taro attended and graduated from one of the top dance schools in Japan, EXPG Tokyo, where he was considered a top student. EXPG has helped develop the skills of numerous J-pop and K-pop idols. Many of which he had previously trained, performed, and became friends with while being a student there. Ex: &Team K (Best friend), Treasure Yoshi, FANTASTICS from Exile Tribe Keito Kimura, Physic Fever Ryushin

As Taro grew as a dancer, he began to audition for gigs in Japan. He recalls attending school and University while simultaneously doing part-time jobs, attending regular dance classes, auditioning, and even teaching classes himself at 17-18. He landed his first gig while in middle school. In an interview with GQ, he said this first gig was truly where his burning passion for dance began.

Shotaro was in several commercials and dance teams, participated in numerous showcases, and was hired as a backup dancer for various artists in Japan. He has attended the World of Dance, where he was often at the center and even helped choreograph some parts of the dance. Taro has toured with Ayumu Imazu, who is also one of his best friends, EXHILE, who founded EXPG and LDH and also toured with GACKT, where he was the youngest member of the team.

Shotaro was also very active on social media at that time, building up a following of his own on Instagram and TikTok as he posted dance videos and often went live with friends or his dance crew. In a funny coincidence, a fan of Shotaro’s TikTok account used to create stitches with some of his videos. When his account suddenly disappeared, they were worried only for a couple of months later for Shotaro to make his first debut in NCT.