BMSG Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
BMSG Wiki
Advertisement
Register
BMSG Wiki
BMSG Wiki
809
pages
in: 2001 Births, January Births, Members from Kanagawa,
and 8 more

SOTA

Sign in to edit
SOTA
Biography
Discography
Live Events
Publications
Gallery
Music Videos

SOTA (ソウタ), also known as Souchin, birth name Shimao Sota (島雄壮大), is a Japanese singer, rapper, dancer and choreographer 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, Sota was active as a professional backdancer, choreographer and hip-hop dancer. As such, he won many awards, including multiple world champion titles.

Biography[]

Main article: SOTA/Biography

Early Life[]

Baby Sota

SOTA, circa 2012

SOTA 1st

SOTA, August 2019

Sota started dancing at age 9, influenced by his mother. He decided to become an artist after coming across Bruno Mars. [1] However, seeing the Jackson 5 perform in a TV show had a great impact on him when was around 8 years old, and they made him become interested in music. [2]
He participated in his first world competition in 2013 at 13 years old and he came in 6th place. After coming in 6th place again in 2014, he insisted to his choreographer and instructor that his own choreography was better and that he could make them win the World Championship, which he did for the first time (of many to follow) in 2015.
Over the years, Sota competed in many dance competitions and won many titles (see Awards).

2017-2020[]

In 2017 he appeared in a Pocari Sweat CM.
In May 2019, Sota was a backdancer for ATEEZ in K-CON Japan. [3]
In October 2020 he started working as one of former Keyakizaka46 member Hirate Yurina's main backdancers (where he worked with TAKUTO). He was featured in the music video for "Dance no Riyuu" and he made a few TV appearences with her before having to quit to participate in THE FIRST.

2021[]

SOTA TheFirst

SOTA in THE FIRST, March 2021

SOTA ShiningOne

SOTA promoting Shining One

In 2021, Sota auditioned for SKY-HI's THE FIRST and passed the Quality screening round in Tokyo (conducted in-person) with "Neo Gal Wop" by JP the WAVY (dance performance). He ranked 6th after this round. [4]

In THE FIRST Artisism screening, Sota performed "F-3" by SKY-HI and did some acrobatics. He was placed in Team B (with Watanabe Shota, Miyama Ryoki, Kubo Shunto, Handa Yusuke) and assigned as the leader of the team to perform "Sexual Healing" by SKY-HI. Sota ranked 4th after this round, and successfully continued on to THE FIRST training camp.

In THE FIRST training camp Creativity screening, Sota was placed in Team A with Leo, Naoki, Manato, and Ten. The song they created in this round is titled "A Life". Sota ranked 1st after this round.

In THE FIRST training camp Mock Professional screening, Sota was placed in Team "Be Free" with Junon, Leo, Manato, Reiko, and Rui. They performed Be Free, and Sota ranked 1st for the second time since the training camp screenings started.

In THE FIRST training camp VS. Pro Artist screening, Sota performed To The First together with the remaining 10 THE FIRST members. He ranked 3rd after this round and was confirmed as one of the 10 finalists of THE FIRST.

After a one month break from THE FIRST training camp, Sota and the other finalists returned to the same location to prepare for the final round. Sota was placed in Team Shining, and performed Shining One with Junon, Shota, Manato and Ryuhei.

In THE FIRST Creative NEO screening, he teamed up with Shota and Manato to form "ShowMinorSavage". The song they created for this round is "No Cap Navy", with Nanairo Holiday by SKY-HI working as the instrumentals.

On August 13, Sota was chosen as the first member of BE:FIRST. [5]
On August 16, BE:FIRST released its pre-debut single, Shining One.
On October 12 Sota made his first TV appearences on his own.
On November 3, BE:FIRST released its debut single, Gifted.

2022[]

On January 18 he released 118 with edhiii boi and Novel Core.
On September 18 he released New Chapter as a part of BMSG ALLSTARS.
On December 21, he met with the mayor of his hometown, Chigasaki, for a courtesy visit celebrating his first appearance on Kouhaku Uta Gassen. [6]
On December 31, he took part in the NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen Guinness World Record breaking kendama chain, which made him a Guinness World Record holder. The same day, during rehearsals for the event, he passed his 1-kyu kendama test certification, examined by Miyama Hiroshi.[7] [8]

2023[]

On January 20, 21 and 22 he taught a series of master classes in New Zealand's IDENTITY dance studio. [9]
On September 18, he released The Sun from the EAST as part of BMSG EAST.
For the D.U.N.K. Showcase (Chapter 2) taking place December 2-3, he and choreographer RIEHATA collaborated on a creating routine which will feature artists starring at the event. The dance will be to an original song produced by SKY-HI and Ryosuke "Dr.R" Sakai.

Personal Life[]

Sota's mother Yasue is a professional dancer and dance teacher who works at dance studio Studio HANA! under the name YATCH. [10]. Sota's father's name is Hideshi. [11]
Sota has a little sister, younger by two years, named Konatsu. [12] She's also a hip hop dancer who is a member of KANA-BOON.

The family owns two female toy poodles who are mother and daughter, Puoh and Piyg [13], named after Winnie the Pooh and Piglet.

In March 2019, Sota graduated from Human Campus High School Yokohama, a correspondance high school [14].

He did not pursue higher education and instead he worked as a dance instructor in Studio HANA! [15]

  • Aile The Shota: he became close to fellow THE FIRST contestant SHOTA during the training camp
  • MANATO: he became close to fellow BE:FIRST member MANATO during the THE FIRST training camp, as they were together for every evaluation round.
  • Novel Core: he's close to fellow BMSG artist Novel Core

  • Sota-kun (そうたくん): most common nickname used by BMSG artists
  • Souchin (そうちん): used by his dance friends

Sota's given name, "壮大", means "manhood, prosperity" (壮) and "big" (大). It can also be read as the word "soudai" (そうだい), meaning "magnificent, grand, majestic, splendid". To add more significance to his name meaning "prosperity" and "big", his parents used the kanji "大" instead of "太" (both read the same to mean 'big').

Profile[]

  • Birth Name: Shimao Sota (島雄壮大)
  • Stage Name: SOTA (ソウタ)
  • Nicknames: Sota-kun (そうたくん)
  • Birth Date: January 18, 2001 (2001-01-18) (age 23)
  • Birth Place: Chigasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
  • Blood Type: AB
  • Height: 174 cm (5 ft 8.5 in)?
  • Western Zodiac: Capricorn Capricorn
  • Eastern Zodiac: Dragon Dragon
  • Emoji: 🕺
  • BMSG Status:
    • 2021-08-13: Joined
    • 2021-08-13: BE:FIRST member
  • BMSG Groups:
  • BMSG Units:

  • Special Skills: can improvise a dance to any kind of sound
  • Hobbies:
  • Looks Up To: Bruno Mars [16]
  • Motto: slow but steady wins the race (継続は力なり) [16]
  • Favorite Character: Winnie the Pooh
  • Favorite Food: Sukiyaki, Udon noodles in miso broth
  • Favorite Drink: Coffee
  • Favorite Artists: Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown [17]
  • Favorite Movie(s): The Fast and the Furious
  • Favorite Tokyo district: Odaiba [16]
  • Favorite scent: the ocean [16]
  • Favorite part of his body: bottom and hands [16]
  • Favorite Jewelry: Swarovski jewelry, which he's been wearing since he was 18, because he likes how good it looks on stage and the variety of designs[18]
  • Healing Moment: live performances[19]
  • His Boom: sauna [16]
  • Most used emoji: 🏄‍♂️ [16]
  • His "song of destiny": Uptown Funk ft. Bruno Mars by Mark Ronson, because it was the song he performed when he won his first world title. [20]
  • First live concert: Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS' BLUE PLANET tour [2]
  • A dish he's good at making: Mapo Tofu
  • A country that left an impression: Colombia
  • A country he wants to go to right now: United States, specifically Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas
  • Something he would do 800 times: dancing [21]
  • Something he doesn't want to do, even if he's asked 800 times: long-distance relay race [21]
  • Something he would buy if he had 800 yen: sparkling water [21]
  • Most recent compliment that made him happy: RYOKI told him black hair looks good on him [16]
  • Something that made him excited recently: recording BE:1 [16]
  • Words he wants to shout: "low pressure!" [16]
  • What BESTY means to him: partners [16]
  • Best meal he had recently: steamed lobster [16]
  • Role of Jewelry: a talisman[18]
  • Memorable Christmas Memory: giving Swarovski jewelry to a junior leaving the dance team[18]
  • If he could spend Christmas with BE:FIRST: spending it in the USA while Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" plays[18]
  • 2022 was: a year where he could move forward without any worries[18]

Discography[]

Main article: SOTA/Discography

During the audition SOTA 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
  • Creativity NEO
  • Final Screening - Team Shining vs Team One
    • Team Shining

Live Events[]

Main article: SOTA/Live Events


Other Works[]

  • [2018.12.16] Kanjam / TV Asahi (KANA-BOON!) [23]
  • [2019.06.23] Kanjam / TV Asahi (KANA-BOON!) [24]
  • [2019.10.27] Kanjam / TV Asahi [25] (KANA-BOON!)
  • [2019.12.27] Music Station Ultra SUPER LIVE 2019 / TV Asahi (KANA-BOON!) [26]
  • [2020.12.09] FNS Kayousai/ Fuji TV (Hirate Yurina backdancer) [27]
  • [2020.12.31] CDTV Live! Live! Toshikoshi Special! 2020→2021 / TBS (Hirate Yurina backdancer)
  • [2021.02.19] Music Station / TV Asahi (Hirate Yurina backdancer) [28]
  • [2021.03.20] MUSIC FAIR /Fuji TV (Hirate Yurina backdancer)
  • [2021.10.12] Zip! / NTV
  • [2021.10.12] Sukkiri / NTV
  • [2021.10.12] Baguette / NTV
  • [2021.10.12] Odoru! Sanma Goten!! / NTV
  • [2023.05.27] Numa ni Hamatte Kiite Mita / NHK
  • [2024.02.11] Kanjam Kanzennen Show / TV Asahi
  • [2024.05.27] THE DANCE DAY / NTV

Main article: SOTA/Music Videos


Featured

Collaborations

  • [2019] SPINNS [29]
  • [2022.11] FILA Brand Ambassador (as BE:FIRST)
  • [2022.11] Swarvoski Brand Ambassador (as BE:FIRST)

Publications[]

Main article: SOTA/Publications
See also: BE:FIRST/Publications
  • [2022.09.30] rockin' on Japan - November issue
  • [2023.11.01] anan - No.2371

Choreography[]

Sota has choreographed the following songs for BMSG:

Awards[]

  • [2013] World Hip Hop Dance Championship - Varsity Division - 6th place [30] (KANA-BOON!)
  • [2014] World Hip Hop Dance Championship - Varsity Division - 6th place [31] (KANA-BOON!)
  • [2015] All Japan Hip Hop Dance Championship - Varsity Division - 1st place (KANA-BOON!)
  • [2015] World Hip Hop Dance Championship - Varsity Division - 1st place [32] (KANA-BOON!)
  • [2016] All Japan Hip Hop Dance Championship - Varsity Division - 1st place (KANA-BOON!)
  • [2016] World Hip Hop Dance Championship - Varsity Division - 1st place [33] (KANA-BOON!)
  • [2017] GENERATIONS High School National Youth Dance Cup - 1st place [34] (B&W)
  • [2017] All Japan Hip Hop Dance Championship - Varsity Division - 1st place (KANA-BOON!)
  • [2017] World Hip Hop Dance Championship - Varsity Division - 2nd place (KANA-BOON!) [35]
  • [2018] All Japan Hip Hop Dance Championship - Varsity Division - 1st place [36] (KANA-BOON!)
  • [2018] GENERATIONS High School National Youth Dance Cup - 1st place [37] (CHaoS)
  • [2018] World Hip Hop Dance Championship - Varsity Division - 1st place [38] (KANA-BOON!)
  • [2018] All Generation Championship - HIGH TEEN Category - 1st place (KANA-BOON!)
  • [2019] All Japan Hip Hop Dance Championship - Mega Crew Division - 1st place (KANA-BOON! ALL STAR)
  • [2019] World Hip Hop Dance Championship - Mega Crew Division - 1st place [39] (KANA-BOON! ALL STAR)

Trivia[]

  • SOTA is one of three BMSG artists to be born on January 18th. The other two being Novel Core (also 2001) and edhiii boi (also Sota). The three of them are also all rappers. On Jan 18, 2022 the three released the song 118.
  • Sota has taught workshops in different countries, including Guam, United States, Australia and Colombia.
  • Sota was a part of different dance groups: KANA-BOON!, B&W [58], Shonan no Odori BEAT [59] and CHaoS.
  • Sota thinks that BE:FIRST's strength lies in feeling the value of showing their music, and that they are a team that can shine wherever they go. [60]
  • Sota's spends his off-days back in Shonan (his home region in Kanagawa Prefecture), with his family, his dogs, and being by the beach. [61]
  • When creating choreography, Sota focuses on the balance between the members and a story that can be told in a dance. [61]
  • Sota hasn't struggled with choreography whether individually or for members in BE:FIRST, but he admits the most difficult choreography to perfect thus far for BE:FIRST as a group has been Bye-Good-Bye. [61]
  • Sota's in-ear monitors have the BE:FIRST logo in a small size. The left and right ears are different colors (shades of gold), just like SKY-HI's. [62]
  • Since debuting, he became a morning person and his feeling and taste for music changed. [63] He can hear the upper notes more strongly now, and his interest in music has broadened. [2]
  • Sota picked up beatboxing around the last year of middle school and creating choreography for KANA-BOON! [64]
  • JUNON describes Sota as having a very rich imagination, with his very own view of the world [60]
  • SKY-HI describes Sota as a person who is kind beyond imagination, and whose drive to be an artist positively influences those around him [65].
  • Sota has always dreamed of performing at the Super Bowl, and now he wants BE:FIRST to do it [21]
  • The hardest part of THE FIRST for him was saying goodbye to eliminated members. [66]
  • He took many auditions as a dancer, but THE FIRST was his first audition as an artist [2]
  • When asked what they wanted SOTA to change, JUNON and LEO said that they want him to stop taking his clothes off as soon as he enters a room [67]


References[]

  1. ↑ https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6ae06d715950d8cbaa2efc38e5afe47ef812e364
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 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
  3. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxn_BysANgi/
  4. ↑ https://bmsg.tokyo/thefirst/
  5. ↑ THE FIRST #20
  6. ↑ Chigasaki City - BE:FIRSTのSOTA さん、市長を表敬訪問 2022/12/23
  7. ↑ Modelpress - ＜紅白本番＞JO1豆原一成＆BE:FIRST・SOTAら貢献 三山ひろしとけん玉でギネス世界記録更新 2022/12/31
  8. ↑ Miyama Hiroshi Twitter
  9. ↑ Masterclass announcement
  10. ↑ YATCH's instagram
  11. ↑ YATCH's instagram
  12. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CCKV4lcgMIw/
  13. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/puoh_piyg_4117
  14. ↑ https://www.hchs.ed.jp/campus/yokohama/085221.php
  15. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B6-t5YwAj_p/
  16. ↑ 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 16.11 Tokyo Calendar - BE:FIRSTのMANATO＆RYOKI＆SOTAが魅せた、オンリーワンの個性
  17. ↑ Bandwagon
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Harper's Bazaar - BE:FIRST、スワロフスキーのきらめきとともに 2022/11/18
  19. ↑ 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
  20. ↑ 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
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 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）
  22. ↑ https://twitter.com/ABEMA/status/863619907962888192?s=20
  23. ↑ http://www.hana-enterprise.com/studio-hana/archives/1603
  24. ↑ http://www.hana-enterprise.com/studio-hana/archives/2339
  25. ↑ https://twitter.com/118Souchin/status/1188474072805470208?s=20
  26. ↑ https://twitter.com/yamachanoha/status/1210571519648137216?s=20
  27. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CIsD99GgSAc/
  28. ↑ https://twitter.com/118Souchin/status/1362664438793334791?s=20
  29. ↑ https://twitter.com/spinns_com/status/1190196963330809856?s=20
  30. ↑ https://www.hiphopinternational.com/medalists/past/
  31. ↑ https://www.hiphopinternational.com/medalists/past/
  32. ↑ www.hiphopinternational.com/medalists/2015-world-medalists/
  33. ↑ http://www.hiphopinternational.com/medalists/
  34. ↑ https://twitter.com/BandW_official/status/866279232430759936?s=20
  35. ↑ https://www.hiphopinternational.com/medalists/
  36. ↑ https://twitter.com/DanceHana1/status/980441822156607493?s=20
  37. ↑ https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1QW411B7Jd?p=4
  38. ↑ http://www.hiphopinternational.com/medalists/
  39. ↑ http://www.hiphopinternational.com/medalists/
  40. ↑ https://www.hiphopinternational.com/medalists/
  41. ↑ https://twitter.com/DanceHana1/status/980441822156607493?s=20
  42. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B0hWen7gzsm/
  43. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B0hWen7gzsm/
  44. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B0hWen7gzsm/
  45. ↑ https://www.hiphopinternational.com/medalists/
  46. ↑ https://www.hiphopinternational.com/medalists/
  47. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/souchin_the_davryu/p/B5AzrcZAIxa/
  48. ↑ https://alljapansuperkids.com/report/sk19sy/
  49. ↑ https://twitter.com/DanceHana1/status/1378646962270990337?s=20
  50. ↑ https://twitter.com/DanceHana1/status/1378646962270990337?s=20
  51. ↑ https://twitter.com/DanceHana1/status/1378646962270990337?s=20
  52. ↑ https://twitter.com/DanceHana1/status/1446960459815346176?s=20
  53. ↑ https://twitter.com/DanceHana1/status/1446960459815346176?s=20
  54. ↑ https://twitter.com/DanceHana1/status/1446960459815346176?s=20
  55. ↑ https://twitter.com/DanceHana1/status/1428659290756182017?s=20
  56. ↑ https://twitter.com/DanceHana1/status/1473474669265440770?s=20
  57. ↑ https://twitter.com/DanceHana1/status/1473474669265440770?s=20
  58. ↑ B&W Twitter
  59. ↑ Shonan no Odori BEAT Twitter
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 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)
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 61.2 BESTY Q&A 2022.03.05 [BMSG App]
  62. ↑ ELLE
  63. ↑ Glitter - NEWシングル「Bye-Good-Bye」発売！BE:FIRSTに3つのQ＆A！
  64. ↑ BE:FIRST no SPARK / J-WAVE, 2022.05.30
  65. ↑ Nikkei Entertainment - SKY-HIが語る7人の成長　「彼は完全にBE:FIRSTの『背骨』ですね」 2022/10/20
  66. ↑ 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
  67. ↑ BE:FIRST / Introducing Each Other You're My "BESTY" #2
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
Advertisement