Hey! Say! Jump Keijin Okamoto has denied leaving the group and will study at the American Drama Academy

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(Maringue/Translation) On the 23rd, there was news that Hey! Say! Jump Keijin Okamoto (25) decided to go to the Drama Academy in the United States for a two-year study abroad from September, and will go to the United States after mid-August, so the event was suspended. Since dropping out of Sophia University last year, Okamoto has regretted not being able to achieve his goal of "juggling work and school" and has been agonized by the inability to develop his personality in the face of the rapid development of the group. In order to change the status quo, Okamoto made a decision.

In an interview with Sponichi, Janis acknowledged that "studying abroad and suspending activities are facts." In addition, it resolutely rejected the rumors of quitting the group and withdrawing from the society. JUMP will be held in the form of 8 people for two years from September.

According to the firm, in March Okamoto expressed his desire to study abroad for the firm and the members of the group. After many discussions, the members felt Okamoto's ardent desire to grow hard, and responded to his wish with a positive attitude, saying in solidarity with him, "We will do our best to protect this combination and strive to grow, so I also hope that you can study hard with the determination to break the boat." ”

The school Okamoto went to study at was the New York campus of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. As the oldest art college in the United States specializing in the training of professional actors, the school has produced famous people such as Robert Redford (81 years old) and Anne Hathaway (35 years old) in the 133 years since its establishment. At the end of May, Okamoto accepted auditions and interviews for unsolicited performances in Japan, and passed them. From September onwards, you will start learning acting, singing, etc.

Regarding Okamoto's decision, the firm said that "Okamoto wants to change his original too gentle self, and this idea is getting stronger and stronger." Jump celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, not only touring the Three Domes, but also debuting in the NHK Red and White Song Contest. The activities of the members of the group are also increasing, and the development situation is very good.

In contrast, Okamoto has no conspicuous personal activities. As the eldest son of Kenichi Okamoto (49), a member of the former male fighting group, Okamoto joined the Janis office in 2006 and has been studying in the UK since the age of 9. The language skills acquired during the five years of studying abroad and the guitar talent inherited from his father made the people around them have great expectations for Okamoto. However, as a tv station official pointed out, "Okamoto's personality was buried in the group."

In addition, the goal of juggling academic goals has not been achieved, and dropping out of Sophia University (12 years of enrollment) last summer has had a great impact on Okamoto. According to the person concerned, "Okamoto felt that he had achieved nothing, drinking one after another in the downtown area, so he was said to have a chaotic life." Okamoto's father and those around him couldn't bear to look at him and warned him. ”

Okamoto said, "I can't be a combinatorial force if I've been so upset. Be sure to change your mind more and more intensely. "It's exciting to look forward to the day he returns with a full load.

In the past, Akanishi, Imai, and Shibuya had similar plans for the future. In 2006, former KAT-TUN member Hitoshi Akanishi (33) went to Los Angeles to study for six months. In 2007, he returned to the group and withdrew from the group in 10 years. In April this year, Seki 8 member Akira Shibuya (aged 36) announced that he would leave the group and quit the firm within this year, explaining that he "wanted to study music overseas". Taki and Wing Imai Wing (36 years old) studied Flamenco and went to Spain to study in 2007.

◆ Keita Okamoto was born on April 1, 1993 (Heisei 5), born in Tokyo, 25 years old, blood type O. Pass as "Hey! Say! 7" after the event, as Hey! Say! A member of JUMP debuted in 2007 by releasing a CD. In 11 years, he debuted as an actor in the TBS series "3 Years B Group Kanehachi Teacher Final Chapter".