NAOKI

## Ozawa Naoki  男澤(おざわ)直樹(なおき)

NAOKI, July 2022

**Ozawa Naoki** (男澤直樹), formerly known as **NAOKI** (ナオキ), is a Japanese singer and former participant in audition shows THE FIRST and PRODUCE 101 JAPAN. He is currently signed to agency Rising Production.

He's a former member of indie group **X'LOCO** and also worked as a backdancer for BTS.

## Biography

### Early Life

Naoki attended Avex Artist Academy in Fukuoka during his high school years  and after graduating he attended Fukuoka School of Music & Dance

### 2019

On February 16 and 17, Naoki worked as a backdancer for BTS in their World Tour Love Yourself in Fukuoka

In April, Naoki became a member of X'LOCO, but quit in August to participate in PRODUCE 101 JAPAN.

Starting in September, he participated of the audition show PRODUCE 101 JAPAN. During the first round, the position battle, he chose the vocal position and the song "Wherever you are" by ONE OK ROCK. In the second round, the group battle, he performed "(RE)PLAY" by Miura Daichi. In the third round, the concept battle, he was assigned to "Happy Merry Christmas" and was afterwards eliminated, ranking #29.

### 2020

On February 15, Naoki was announced to be the lead actor of musical "SING!" from April 29 to May 3. However, the play was postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19 to August 27 through August 30.

On November 21, he was a guest at Lee Minhyuk's second fanmeeting

On December 15, Naoki held a solo birthday and Christmas live

### 2021

In February, Naoki auditioned for THE FIRST and passed the Quality screening in Tokyo (conducted in-person). He ranked 13th after this round.

In THE FIRST Artisism screening, Naoki sang "GIRL FRIEND" by Hirai Dai and was placed in Team C (with Okubo Towa, Obayashi Kairyu, Hirose Manato, and Uchino Sota) and assigned as the leader of the team to perform "BACK TO BACK" by Da-iCE. At the end of the 3rd round, Naoki ranked 14th, successfully continuing on to the training camp.

During THE FIRST training camp Creativity screening, Naoki was placed in Team A with Leo, Sota, Manato and Ten. The song they created in this round is titled "'A' Life". However, he was eliminated after this round.

On June 19, he announced he had signed an artist contract with RISING PRODUCTION.

On November 26, it was announced that he would take part in the THE FIRST FINAL concert alongside his fellow THE FIRST contestants on January 29 and 30, 2022.

On December 6, it was announced that he would take part in RISING NEW COMERS LIVE 2022, a concert with other new RISING PRODUCTION artists, on February 26, 2022 . However, the event was later cancelled due to the spread of COVID-19.

### 2022

On January 29, he tested positive for COVID-19 and had to miss THE FIRST FINAL. However, he recorded a message that was shown during the event.

On August 3, he released his debut single under RISING PRODUCTION, "Behind the moonlight."

## Personal Life

* Family
* Education
* Friendships
* Nicknames
* Name Meaning

In March 2017, Naoki graduated from high school.

He pursued higher education in Fukuoka School of Music and Dance, from which he graduated.

* **TEN**: he is close to fellow THE FIRST contestant TEN
* **TAIKI**: he is close to fellow THE FIRST contestant TAIKI

* **Naoki-kun** (なおきくん): most common nickname used by fans and other THE FIRST contestants

Naoki's given name, "直樹", means "honesty, frankness" (直) and "wood" (樹)

## Profile

* Information
* Q&A

* **Birth Name**: Ozawa Naoki (男澤直樹)
* **Stage Name**: -
* **Nicknames**: Naoki-kun (なおきくん)
* **Birth Date**: December 5, 1998 (1998-12-05) (age 25)
* **Birth Place**: Fukuoka, Japan
* **Blood Type**: A
* **Height**: 170 cm (5 ft 6.9 in)?
* **Western Zodiac**:  Sagittarius
* **Eastern Zodiac**:  Tiger
* **Emoji**: 🦢

* **Special Skills**: impersonations, korean (daily conversation level)
* **Hobbies**: mastering his IKKO impersonation, watching videos of locals building pools and buildings from scratch in the jungle without heavy machinery

## Discography

* Artist
* THE FIRST
* PRODUCE 101 JAPAN

### Digital Singles

* [2022.08.03] Behind the moonlight

During the audition NAOKI participated in the first training camp screening before being eliminated.

* **Creativity**
	+ Team A
	+ Song: "A" Life

During the audition Naoki participated in the recording of the following songs before being eliminated.

* Tsukame ~It's Coming~
* Happy Merry Christmas

## Live Events

* One Man Lives
* Featured Lives
* Tours

* [2022.11.14] Asobitarinai

## Other Works

* Starring TV Programs
* TV Appearances
* Music Videos
* Modeling
* Theater
* Movies
* Dramas
* CM

* [2019] PRODUCE 101 JAPAN
* [2021] THE FIRST

* [2022] Behind the moonlight

**Featured**

* [2019] PRODUCE 101 JAPAN - Tsukame ~It's Coming~

* [2020.08.27-30] SING!

## References

1. ↑ Avex Artist Academy Twitter
2. ↑ Fukuoka School of Music & Dance Twitter
3. ↑  Twitter
4. ↑  X'LOCO Twitter
5. ↑ Lee Minhyuk Twitter
6. ↑ Naoki Twitter
7. ↑ Rising Production press release
8. ↑  RISING NEW COMERS LIVE 2022 announcement
9. ↑  RISING NEW COMERS LIVE 2022 cancellation notice
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1  PRODUCE 101 JAPAN profile