LEO (レオ), birth name Kamimura Reo (上村礼王), is a Japanese singer and dancer under Japanese management company BMSG as a member of BE:FIRST, a boy group selected by SKY-HI at the end of the audition show THE FIRST. He made his debut with the group in November 2021.
Before joining BMSG, Leo trained at Avex Artist Academy Tokyo and as an Avex Entertainment trainee he was a member of units Change, dino and BXB.
Biography[]
Early Life[]

LEO, 2013
LEO's childhood dream was to be a baseball player, and he played the sport since elementary schoool until he graduated from middle school[1]. It was after he made a huge mistake during a game that he realized he would never be able to go pro, so he decided to turn to music, which he had always loved, as a career[1]. As a result, he started attending singing and dancing lessons at the Avex Artist Academy in Tokyo in 2014[1].
2016-2020[]
In 2017, Leo signed a Trainee contract with Avex Management. He was a member of three different units: starting in 2016, Change [2] and dino [3], and starting in 2017, BXB [4].
Between September 2019 and March 2020, Leo trained in South Korea. He was set to debut in a group, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]
In March 2020, Leo decided not to renew his contract with Avex. The same month, he appeared as a backdancer in SKY-HI's Don't Worry Baby Be Happy feat. STAMP Music Video.
2021[]

LEO in THE FIRST, March 2021

LEO promoting Shining One
In 2021, Leo auditioned for SKY-HI's THE FIRST and passed the 2nd / Quality screening round in Tokyo (conducted in-person) with "Mo-Eh-Wa" by Fujii Kaze (vocal performance) and "Let It Be" feat. Kid Fresino by Daichi Yamamoto (dance performance). He was ranked 5th after this round. [6]
In THE FIRST Artisism screening, Leo sang "GIRL FRIEND" by Hirai Dai. He was placed in Team F (with Kanshuji Tamotsu, Ikegame Junon, Nakagami Asahi, and Kinoshita Hiromu) to perform "Beautiful Now" by w-inds. Leo ranked 6th after this round, and successfully continued on to THE FIRST training camp.
In THE FIRST training camp Creativity screening, Leo was placed in Team A with NAOKI, SOTA, MANATO and TEN. The song they created in this round is titled "'A' Life". Leo ranked 3rd after this round.
In THE FIRST training camp Mock Professional Screening, Leo was placed in Team "Be Free" with Junon, Sota, Manato, Reiko, and Rui. They performed Be Free, and Leo ranked 4th after this round.
In THE FIRST training camp VS. Pro Artist screening, Leo performed To The First together with the remaining 10 THE FIRST Members. He ranked 7th after this round and was confirmed as one of the 10 finalists.
After a one month break from THE FIRST training camp, Leo and the other finalists returned to the same location to prepare for the final round. Leo was placed in Team One, and performed Shining One with Ryoki, Shunto, Ran, and Reiko.
In THE FIRST Creative NEO screening, he teamed up with Junon and Ryoki to form "Club JRL". The song they created for this round is "Lonely Night", with "Stray Cat" by SKY-HI working as the instrumentals.
On August 13, Leo was chosen to be the seventh and final member of BE:FIRST. On August 16, BE:FIRST released its pre-debut single, Shining One. On November 3, BE:FIRST released its debut single, Gifted.
2022-2024[]
On September 18, 2022 he released New Chapter as a part of BMSG ALLSTARS.
On January 23, 2023 he was appointed ambassador of the "Avatar: The Way of Water" student campaign [7]
On September 18, he released The Sun from the EAST as part of BMSG EAST.
On April 4, 2024 he and JUNON were announced as narrators for NTV's short documentary series My Turning Point ~Mirai ni Idomu Boukenshatachi~ starting in April 5.
On September 18, 2024 he released Memoria as a member of BMSG MARINE.
On September 21, 2024, the first day of BMSG FES '24 he gave the first live performance of his solo song I just wanna be myself.
On October 17, 2024 he performed his solo song live on the TBS morning program LOVE it!
On November 26, he participated in BMSG presents THE GAME CENTER, BMSG's first ever Sports Day event, as part of team Yellow Arcades.
2025[]
In the spring he will set out on his first word tour with BE:FIRST.
Personal Life[]
LEO's father is an artisan or tradesman (職人)[1].
He has an older brother, Shota, older by two years, who is a hip-hop dancer and part of the group MAVERICK [8] [9]
In March 2017, Leo graduated from high school.
LEO is close with many of the members in BE:FIRST and THE FIRST and was a big brother figure that looked out for everybody during the audition, but he has some close friendships:
- Aile The Shota: he got close to SHOTA during the third round of THE FIRST and living in the same dorm room during THE FIRST Training Camp.
- NAOKI: he got close to NAOKI during the training camp of THE FIRST because they were in the same dorm room and in Team A.
- TEN: he has known TEN for a long time, ever since Ten joined Avex in middle school.
- SOTA: he got close to SOTA from LINE and messaging each other often when BE:FIRST has off days.
- Novel Core: he often asks fellow BMSG artist Novel Core for advice [10]
Leo's given name, "礼王", means "salute, bow" (礼) and "king" (王). His parents chose these two particular kanji in the hopes that even if he is in the position of a king (王) he doesn't forget his manners (礼儀).
Profile[]
- Birth Name: Kamimura Reo (上村礼王)
- Stage Name: LEO (レオ)
- Nicknames: Leo-kun (レオくん), Leonidas (レオニダス)
- Birth Date: September 8, 1998
- Birth Place: Tokyo, Japan
- Blood Type: O
- Height: 179 cm (5 ft 10.4 in)?
- Western Zodiac:
Virgo
- Eastern Zodiac:
Tiger
- MBTI: ?
- Emoji: 🦁
- BMSG Status:
- 2021-08-13: Joined
- 2021-08-13: BE:FIRST member
- BMSG Groups:
- BE:FIRST (2021-present)
- BMSG Units:
- BMSG ALLSTARS (2022)
- BMSG EAST (2023)
- BMSG MARINE (2024)
Discography[]
- Digital
- [2021.08.16] Shining One
- [2022.07.13] Don't Wake Me Up
- [2023.02.13] Boom Boom Back
- [2023.11.06] Glorious
- [2024.02.26] Set Sail
- [2024.07.01] Hush-Hush - BE:FIRST X ATEEZ
- [2024.09.04] Royal - ATEEZ X BE:FIRST
- [2024.11.04] Sailing
- CD
- [2021.11.03] Gifted.
- [2022.05.18] Bye-Good-Bye
- [2022.08.31] BE:1
- [2023.04.26] Smile Again
- [2023.08.30] Sarracenia / Salvia
- [2023.09.13] Mainstream
- [2024.04.24] Masterplan
- [2024.08.28] 2:BE
- [2025.02.05] Spacecraft / Sailing
- [2022.09.18] BMSG ALLSTARS - New Chapter
- [2023.09.18] BMSG EAST - The Sun from the EAST
- [2024.09.18] BMSG MARINE - Memoria
- [2025.02.05] I just wanna be myself 〜One of the BE:ST-02 LEO〜
During the audition LEO participated in each of below performance screenings:
- Creativity
- Team A
- Song: "A" Life
- Professional Trial Stage - Be Free vs Move On
- Team Be Free
- Vs Professional Artist
- Performance of To The First featuring all Top 11 finalists
- Creativity NEO
- Group name: Club JRL (JUNON, RYOKI, LEO)
- Song: Lonely Night
- Final Screening - Team Shining vs Team One
- Team One
Live Events[]
- [2022.12.12] Round A Ground Special 2022 (guest)
- [2024.08.24] LOVE IT! ROCK 2024 (as BACKSTREET BLANCO)
Other Works[]
- [2021] THE FIRST
- [2021] Ano Hi no THE FIRST
- [2021] THE FIRST MOMENT
- [2021-2022] Gifted Days
- [2022] BE:FIRST Road to VIVA LA ROCK 2022
- [2022] ALL ABOUT BMSG
- [2022] BE:FIRST TV
- [2023] D.U.N.K.
- [2024] My Turning Point ~Mirai ni Idomu Boukenshatachi~ (narrator)
- [2022.12.22] Sukkiri / NTV
- [2023.04.26] Hiru Nan Desu! / NTV
- [2023.06.06] EXITV / Fuji TV
- [2023.09.07] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2023.09.14] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2023.10.09] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2023.11.09] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2023.11.25] Saikou no Ittsuu ~Ossekai na Bunguten Shiroyagi~ Kotoba ni Dekinai, Sonna Yoru / NHK
- [2023.11.29] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2023.12.07] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2023.12.26] Golden LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.01.04] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.01.18] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.01.25] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.01.29] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.02.22] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.03.07] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.03.18] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.03.21] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.03.28] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.04.04] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.04.11] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.04.18] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.04.25] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.04.29] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.05.16] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.05.21] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.06.13] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.06.21] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.06.27] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.07.04] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.07.25] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.08.01] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.08.08] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.08.15] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.08.22] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.08.29] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.09.12] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.09.16] Saikou no Ittsuu ~Ossekai na Bunguten Shiroyagi~ / NHK
- [2024.09.19] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.09.26] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.10.03] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.10.17] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.11.03] Sunday PUSH Sports / NTV
- [2024.11.14] LOVE it! / TBS (pre-recorded segment, no studio appearance)
- [2024.11.18] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.11.21] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.12.05] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.12.12] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2024.12.27] Golden LOVE it! / TBS (last 30 minutes of the program)
- [2025.01.09] Sakurai · Ariyoshi The Yakai / TBS
- [2025.01.23] LOVE it! / TBS
- [2025.02.06] LOVE it! / TBS
Featured
- [2020] SKY-HI - Don't Worry Baby Be Happy feat. STAMP (backdancer)
- [2021] SKY-HI - ONE MORE DAY feat. REIKO (cameo)
- Collaborations
- [2022] BMSG ALLSTARS - New Chapter
- [2023] BMSG EAST - The Sun from the EAST
- [2024] BMSG MARINE - Memoria
- [2023] Avatar: The Way of Water [7]
Publications[]
- [2023.03.30] ROCKIN'ON JAPAN - May 2023 issue
- [2023.06.06] Da Vinci - July 2023 issue
- [2023.06.28] FraU - August 2023 issue
- [2023.09.21] Bunshun Woman - Vol.19
- [2024.02.28] anan - No. 2387
Trivia[]
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References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 NHK - Live Yell x Kimi Koe Radio Special Talk. 2024/05/03.
- ↑ Change performance
- ↑ dino member trailer
- ↑ BXB line-up reveal
- ↑ MOVIE WALKER PRESS - BE:FIRSTのLEOが「ブラックパンサー」への音楽愛を熱弁!「僕の人生に寄り添う曲」
- ↑ THE FIRST Audition website
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 My First Avatar campaign announcement
- ↑ Shota's Twitter
- ↑ Shota's Twitter
- ↑ Novel Core Interview 新作『No Pressure』で開いた新境地――Z世代の代弁者が見つめる今
- ↑ https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/be-first-sota-shunto-manato-ryuhei-junon-ryoki-leo-interview-may-2022
- ↑ 【#VMAJ2022】BE:FIRSTから受賞コメントが到着!SHUNTOが告白する「今までで一番やらかしたこと」とは?!| #TruthorDare
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Harper's Bazaar - BE:FIRST、スワロフスキーのきらめきとともに 2022/11/18
- ↑ The Television - BE:FIRSTのチームワークの秘訣は?「年齢を感じさせないグループ」<インタビュー> 2021/10/07
- ↑ Yahoo! Japan 初来日のIVEが「会いたかったです!」BE:FIRST、CRAVITYとそれぞれの色見せた「ネクステ」 2022/08/09
- ↑ 2022.08.09 LEO Q&A BMSG [BESTY] FC app
- ↑ 2022.08.09 LEO Q&A BMSG [BESTY] FC app
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 J-WAVE - BE:FIRSTのLEO&SOTA、オーディションを経て価値観はどう変化? 三代目JSB・今市隆二が聞く
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Yomiuri - 海外に僕らの音楽を ありがとう言い続けたい…BE:FIRST 視線は世界へ(後編)
- ↑ Yomiuri -新曲「Bye―Good―Bye」の振り付け練習はみんなで話し合って…BE:FIRST 視線は世界へ(前編)
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Classy
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 bay fm - it! 2022.05.16 LEO & RYUHEI guest episode.
- ↑ BE:FIRST TV, Episode 5
- ↑ D.U.N.K. Youtube #2
- ↑ THE FIRST #16
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Saikou no Ittsuu ~Ossekai na Bunguten Shiroyagi~ / NHK, 2024.09.16
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo1LFjpquVU
- ↑ BE:FIRST SPARK 02.07.2022
- ↑ Ano Hi no THE FIRST Ep. 11
- ↑ https://wotopi.jp/archives/128072
- ↑ ELLE Japan
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Glitter
- ↑ Dwango - BE:FIRST、“頂点”を叶えるべく集まった7人「自分たちがカルチャーを作る 2021/10
- ↑ BE:FIRST SPARK MONDAY 08.08.2022
- ↑ LEO's MBS Radio - Matsu Ai no Suko~shi Ai shite - Pre-Debut 1st Anniversary Appearance 16/08/2022
- ↑ BE:FIRST / Introducing Each Other You're My "BESTY" #2