Tomoya (NEXZ) Profile 2026: Age, Birthday & Facts
Tomoya is the leader of NEXZ, the seven-member boy group created through JYP Entertainment and Sony Music Japan’s Nizi Project Season 2. Born in Japan in 2006, he entered the audition project with an unusually strong dance background and ultimately finished No. 1 in the final rankings. He later became one of the group’s most visible performance and creative figures.
As of September 2026, Tomoya is 20 years old and remains an active NEXZ member. The group has expanded from its 2024 debut into Korean and Japanese releases, nationwide and arena touring, a first music-show win, multiple rookie and trend awards, and a newly announced first Asia tour. In August 2026, Tomoya also directed an official NEXZ promotional video for the SAUCIN’ era, giving a particularly clear example of his growing role beyond stage performance.
Quick Facts: NEXZ
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Group Name | NEXZ |
| Korean Name | 넥스지 |
| Japanese Reading | ネクスジ |
| Formation | Nizi Project Season 2 |
| Members | Tomoya, Yu, Haru, So Geon, Seita, Hyui, Yuki |
| Global/Korean Debut | May 20, 2024 |
| Debut Release | Ride the Vibe |
| Agency | JYP Entertainment |
| Japanese Management/Label | Sony Music Labels / Sony Music Japan |
| Origin | Japan-Korea audition project |
| Fandom | NEX2Y |
| Active Years | 2024–present |
| Official Colors | Not officially confirmed |
| Current Status | Active seven-member group |
NEXZ’s official profile identifies the seven-member lineup and describes the group as having been created through JYP and Sony Music’s joint Nizi Project Season 2. The name NEXZ comes from “Next Z(G)eneration,” expressing the idea of a new generation opening a new era of music and performance.
Table of Contents
Who Is Tomoya?
Tomoya, whose birth name is Uemura Tomoya (植村 朋哉), is a Japanese singer, dancer and the leader of NEXZ. Publicly available established profiles also identify him with vocal, dance and rap responsibilities, although NEXZ’s official Japanese profile does not publish a detailed fixed-position chart for each member. For that reason, “leader” is the clearest officially established title, while the broader performance-role descriptions should be treated as secondary-source classifications.
Tomoya was born on January 19, 2006, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, and his blood type is publicly listed as A. His birth date is especially worth noting because some third-party profile pages have shown conflicting dates, including January 18. The current Sony Music NEXZ profile and ORICON’s introduction to the final NEXZ lineup both support January 19, 2006, so that is the date used here.
Dance was part of Tomoya’s life long before his idol debut. Profile reporting and Nizi Project Season 2 coverage describe him as having started dancing at a very young age, with his style background including popping, rocking and house. His interest in dance eventually became the foundation for a much larger performance career.
What makes his profile especially interesting in 2026 is the widening gap between his role as simply a performer and his role as a creative contributor. NEXZ’s official material confirms that Tomoya directed promotional content for both the 2026 Mmchk period and the SAUCIN’ era, while JYP has also highlighted his involvement in NEXZ’s expanding self-production activities.
Tomoya’s Nizi Project Season 2 Story
Tomoya’s route to NEXZ began with Nizi Project Season 2, the audition project jointly connected to JYP Entertainment and Sony Music Japan.
By the final stage, he had built a reputation as an experienced performer. ORICON’s debut-era profile recorded his results across the competition: he placed No. 1 overall, ranked second in the vocal ranking, and also received high evaluations in the later stages of the competition.
The final ranking put Tomoya first among the seven selected members:
- Tomoya
- Haru
- Yuki
- So Geon
- Yu
- Hyui
- Seita
The lineup was formally announced on December 15, 2023.
The project’s final stage also helped establish something that would later become central to Tomoya’s public identity: he was not simply a strong dancer. His profile combined dance experience, stage performance, musical interests and an early desire to become an artist capable of giving people dreams and happiness. ORICON recorded those ambitions in his Nizi Project profile.
Tomoya’s Early Dance Background
Tomoya’s dance history is one of the clearest distinguishing features of his biography.
KProfiles reports that his father introduced him to Michael Jackson through a DVD when Tomoya was four years old, after which his interest in dance grew rapidly. The same source says he developed experience in popping, rocking and house dance, while other profile sources also describe him as having competed in youth dance contests.
These details should still be read as secondary-source biography information, rather than as facts independently restated in NEXZ’s current official profile. They are consistent across multiple profile pages, but the strongest official material available today focuses more heavily on his professional work than on childhood competition records.
The broad picture, however, is difficult to dispute: Tomoya entered the NEXZ project with a performance background that predated his idol career by many years.
Tomoya’s Personal Profile
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Stage Name | Tomoya |
| Japanese Name | トモヤ |
| Korean Name | 토모야 |
| Birth Name | Uemura Tomoya |
| Date of Birth | January 19, 2006 |
| Age in September 2026 | 20 |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Chinese Zodiac | Rooster |
| Birthplace | Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Blood Type | A |
| MBTI | ENFJ, according to established profile sources |
| Height | Not officially verified |
| Weight | Not publicly available |
| Agency | JYP Entertainment |
The January 19 birthday and Japanese nationality are supported by Sony Music and ORICON. The ENFJ classification appears across K-pop profile databases, but it should not be confused with an official agency biographical statistic. Likewise, online claims of a precise height such as 183 cm are not treated as officially verified here.
Tomoya’s Role in NEXZ
Tomoya is first and foremost NEXZ’s leader.
That leadership position matters because NEXZ was built around members with different backgrounds and varying degrees of trainee experience. As the highest-ranked contestant at the end of Nizi Project Season 2, Tomoya entered the group with a clear public connection to the project’s final result.
Secondary profile databases commonly describe him as a main dancer, main vocalist and rapper, but these exact labels are not all displayed in NEXZ’s official current profile. A careful profile therefore separates the documented leadership title from the broader role classifications found in K-pop databases.
There is stronger evidence for his creative role. In April 2026, JYP’s official NEXZ site promoted “Mmchk” and related TOMOYA-directed content. In August 2026, the group released “SAUCIN’: Bon appétit (Directed by TOMOYA)”, explicitly crediting him as director.
That progression suggests a performer gradually becoming involved in how NEXZ presents itself.
Tomoya’s Career After Debut
NEXZ made its Korean/global debut on May 20, 2024 with the single album Ride the Vibe. Sony Music’s official NEXZ history says the release reached No. 1 on HANTEO’s daily Physical Album Chart and that the “Ride the Vibe” music video surpassed 10 million YouTube views within three days.
The group followed with its Japanese debut on August 21, 2024, using the EP Ride the Vibe (Japanese Ver.) / Keep on Moving. Sony Music says it reached No. 1 on the Oricon daily album ranking. The group’s Japanese showcase tour later covered three cities and six shows, all of which sold out according to the official NEXZ biography.
For Tomoya, these early milestones mattered because NEXZ’s identity was never limited to South Korea. The group was designed from the outset through a JYP-Sony Japan project, making Korea and Japan core parts of its operating strategy.
NEXZ Members in 2026
Tomoya
Tomoya is the leader and the member who finished No. 1 in Nizi Project Season 2. He combines a long dance background with singing and performance work and has increasingly moved into creative responsibilities. In 2026, official NEXZ content directly credited him with directing promotional material, making him one of the clearest examples of the group’s growing member participation in content creation.
Yu
Yu, born April 27, 2005, is NEXZ’s oldest member. He was born in Japan and finished fifth in the final Nizi Project Season 2 ranking. Established K-pop databases commonly describe him as a dancer, vocalist and visual.
Yu’s role is particularly useful in understanding NEXZ’s structure: the group did not depend on a single all-purpose performer. Different members developed recognizable strengths, while the lineup was built to function as a seven-member performance team.
Haru
Haru was born January 23, 2006, just four days after Tomoya. He completed the final competition in second place and entered NEXZ with a strong dance reputation. He is commonly categorized by profile databases as a main dancer and rapper.
Haru and Tomoya form an especially important part of the group’s performance identity. Both members arrived from Nizi Project Season 2 with significant dance exposure, helping NEXZ build a performance-centered image early in its career.
So Geon
So Geon was born September 13, 2006. In the Nizi Project Season 2 final ranking, he finished fourth under the competition name Ken, before later promoting in NEXZ as So Geon. ORICON identified him as Korean in nationality in its debut-era lineup reporting.
His inclusion also gives NEXZ a different cultural profile from a fully Japanese lineup. That Korea-Japan mix is part of the group’s original design rather than an identity added later.
Seita
Seita was born November 28, 2006, in Japan and ranked seventh in the final Nizi Project Season 2 selection. Despite finishing last among the seven successful contestants, he secured his debut and became part of the original NEXZ lineup.
His development illustrates one of the important characteristics of survival-program groups: final rank is a snapshot of one competition, not a permanent measurement of each member’s future contribution.
Hyui
Hyui was born May 11, 2007, and finished sixth in the final Nizi Project Season 2 ranking. Current profile databases commonly describe him as a rapper, vocalist and dancer.
Like the other members, Hyui has participated in NEXZ’s music output as the group’s creative work has expanded. This became particularly visible during the 2026 SAUCIN’ era, when Hyui joined Tomoya and Haru in writing and composing “APPETITE.”
Yuki
Yuki, born September 20, 2007, is the youngest member, or maknae, of NEXZ. He ranked third in the Nizi Project Season 2 final, an unusually high result for the youngest contestant.
By 2026, Yuki had also become involved in songwriting. JYP’s official material for “Mmchk” identifies Yuki and Tomoya as lyricists for “HYPEMAN,” showing that the group’s younger members are also contributing directly to its music.
Family Background
Detailed private family information about Tomoya is not publicly available from primary official sources.
Some profile websites state that he has parents and two older sisters, but this is secondary biographical material rather than information prominently confirmed in NEXZ’s current official profile. For a fact-checked biography, it is safer not to add private family details beyond what can be firmly sourced.
Relationship Status
There is no publicly confirmed relationship information available for Tomoya from JYP Entertainment, NEXZ’s official channels or a reputable publication that establishes a current romantic relationship.
Dating rumors and fan speculation are not treated as factual biography.
Tomoya’s Net Worth
Tomoya’s exact net worth is not publicly available.
There is no reliable public financial disclosure from JYP Entertainment that establishes his personal wealth, salary or take-home earnings. Online net-worth websites commonly publish unsupported celebrity estimates, but those figures should not be presented as verified information.
His professional revenue categories may include group music, concerts, merchandise, licensing and commercial work, but the specific amount earned by Tomoya from those activities has not been publicly established.
Tomoya and NEXZ’s Growing Creative Identity
One of the more interesting developments in Tomoya’s 2026 profile is that the group increasingly shows signs of member participation in music and content production.
JYP’s official description of “HYPEMAN” says the lyrics were written solely by Yuki and Tomoya. The agency also describes NEXZ as gradually expanding its creative participation across lyrics, composition, arrangement and performance.
Then came the SAUCIN’ era. On August 22, 2026, NEXZ released “Bon appétit,” explicitly labeled “Directed by TOMOYA.” Korean broadcaster MBC’s entertainment news coverage reported that Tomoya personally directed the teaser content, while Tomoya, Haru and Hyui participated in the writing and composition of “APPETITE.”
That is more meaningful than simply adding another “fun fact” to a profile. It shows a real shift in what Tomoya is doing inside the group.
NEXZ Discography
Pre-debut Digital Release
| Release | Date | Type | Notable Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miracle | December 18, 2023 | Pre-debut digital mini album | “Miracle” |
“Miracle” came from the final stage of Nizi Project Season 2 and was released as a pre-debut project before the group’s formal 2024 launch.
Korean Releases
| Release | Date | Type | Notable Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ride the Vibe | May 20, 2024 | Single album | “Ride the Vibe” |
| NALLINA | Nov. 18, 2024 | 1st mini album | “NALLINA” |
| O-RLY? | Apr. 28, 2025 | 2nd mini album | “O-RLY?” |
| Beat-Boxer | Oct. 27, 2025 | 3rd mini album | “Beat-Boxer” |
| Mmchk | Apr. 27, 2026 | 2nd single album | “Mmchk” |
| SAUCIN’ | Aug. 24, 2026 | 4th mini album | “SAUCIN’” |
The official NEXZ discography confirms these releases and dates. SAUCIN’ contains six tracks: “LOCO,” “SAUCIN’,” “APPETITE,” “UPGRADE,” “20 NOW” and “ALIENS.”
Japanese Releases
| Release | Date | Type | Notable Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ride the Vibe (Japanese Ver.) / Keep on Moving | Aug. 21, 2024 | Japan debut EP | “Keep on Moving” |
| One Bite | July 16, 2025 | Japan 2nd EP | “One Bite” |
| Hellmate | June 24, 2026 | Japan 3rd EP | “Hellmate” |
The One Bite EP includes “One Bite,” “BURNING BLACK,” “Make it Better,” “One Day,” “O-RLY? (Japanese Ver.)” and “Simmer (Japanese Ver.).”
The Japanese Hellmate EP contains “Hellmate,” “Hands up, Yo!,” “Can’t hide” and “Mmchk (Japanese Ver.).”
Music Style and Artistic Evolution
NEXZ’s sound has developed through dance-pop, hip-hop, house-influenced production and more experimental idol-pop textures rather than staying inside one strict genre.
The group’s official material repeatedly places performance at the center of its identity. JYP’s description of “Mmchk,” for example, points to bass house, poppin’, breakdance and hip-hop elements in its performance construction.
Tomoya fits naturally into that performance-focused identity because his dance background predates NEXZ by many years.
At the same time, 2025–2026 releases show a gradual expansion toward member participation. “HYPEMAN” gave Tomoya and Yuki direct songwriting credits, while “APPETITE” brought Tomoya, Haru and Hyui into the writing and composing process. Tomoya’s directing credits further extend that development from music into visual content.
The result is a clearer picture of Tomoya as a performer who is also becoming involved in how NEXZ creates and presents its work.
Awards and Major Achievements
| Year | Award / Achievement | Work / Basis | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The Fact Music Awards – Hottest | NEXZ | Won |
| 2024 | HANTEO daily Physical Album Chart | Ride the Vibe | No. 1 |
| 2024 | Oricon Daily Album Ranking | Japan debut EP | No. 1 |
| 2025 | Japan Gold Disc Award – Best 5 New Artists | NEXZ | Won |
| 2025 | The Fact Music Awards – Global Hot Trend | NEXZ | Won |
| 2025 | Korea Grand Music Awards – K-pop International Artist | NEXZ | Won |
| 2025 | Korea Grand Music Awards – Hulu Japan Popularity | NEXZ | Won |
| 2025 | Asia Artist Awards – Best New Artist | NEXZ | Won |
| 2025 | Billboard JAPAN Top Albums Sales | One Bite | No. 1 |
| 2026 | Show Champion | “Mmchk” | 1st music-show win |
| 2026 | Oricon Weekly Music DVD/BD | One Bite in Nippon Budokan | No. 1 |
The 2024 TMA awarded NEXZ the Hottest Award.
In 2025, NEXZ added the Best 5 New Artists honor at the Japan Gold Disc Awards. The Gold Disc site lists NEXZ among the five selected artists in the Japanese category.
At the 2025 Korea Grand Music Awards, NEXZ received K-pop International Artist and Hulu Japan Popularity, giving the group its first two-award haul at a music awards ceremony.
The group also won Global Hot Trend at the 2025 TMA and Best New Artist at the 2025 Asia Artist Awards.
The biggest milestone of 2026 came on May 6, when “Mmchk” gave NEXZ its first-ever music-show win on MBC M’s Show Champion.
Chart and Release Milestones
NEXZ’s career progression is easier to understand through a sequence of measurable milestones.
The 2024 debut album Ride the Vibe topped HANTEO’s daily Physical Album Chart, while the music video passed 10 million views in three days according to the official Japanese NEXZ profile.
The 2025 O-RLY? era was another step forward. Sony Music says the mini album became the group’s first to rank No. 1 on both the HANTEO World Chart and Physical Album Chart on a weekly basis, while it also reached No. 1 on the CIRCLE Album Chart and Retail Album Chart.
Later that year, Japan 2nd EP One Bite debuted at No. 1 on Billboard JAPAN’s Top Albums Sales chart.
In 2026, the group’s first live video release from its 2025 tour reached No. 1 on the Oricon weekly Music DVD/BD ranking.
Tours and Concerts
NEXZ SHOWCASE 2024 “Ride the Vibe”
In August 2024, NEXZ held its first Japanese showcase tour across three cities and six performances. The official NEXZ profile states that all six shows sold out and attracted 40,000 attendees.
NEXZ LIVE TOUR 2025 “One Bite”
The group’s first nationwide Japanese tour ran from June to August 2025, covering 15 cities and 18 performances and drawing more than 50,000 people, according to Sony Music’s official profile.
The related Japan 2nd EP, One Bite, reached No. 1 on Billboard JAPAN’s weekly Top Albums Sales chart.
NEXZ LIVE TOUR 2026 “Hellmate”
The first arena-level NEXZ tour took place on:
- May 30, 2026 – Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium
- May 31, 2026 – Yoyogi National Stadium First Gymnasium
- June 12, 2026 – Osaka-Jo Hall
- June 13, 2026 – Osaka-Jo Hall
The official tour page confirms all four dates and venues.
NEXZ 1ST ASIA TOUR “SAUCIN’ THE WORLD”
On September 8, 2026, JYP officially announced NEXZ’s first Asia tour. The opening concerts are scheduled for October 17 and 18, 2026, at Olympic Hall in Seoul. Further tour dates were not yet fully published in the sources reviewed here, so the wider itinerary should not be guessed.
International Activities in 2026
NEXZ’s 2026 expansion was not limited to Asia.
On September 11, 2026, the group was part of the K-pop-centered lineup at Rock in Rio in Brazil, alongside Hwasa and Stray Kids. The official Rock in Rio lineup lists NEXZ on the Palco Mundo stage for September 11.
That appearance is particularly significant for Tomoya and NEXZ because it places the group in a large international festival environment outside the Korea-Japan promotional corridor that shaped its early career.
Social Media and Official Channels
| Platform | Official Account / Status |
|---|---|
| @real_nexz | |
| X / Twitter | @NEXZ_official |
| TikTok | @nexz_official |
| YouTube | NEXZ Official |
| Official Website | nexz-official.com |
| JYP Artist Site | nexz.jype.com |
| Official Fan Community | NEX2Y |
NEXZ’s official YouTube description identifies the group’s official Instagram, X, TikTok and website accounts, while the official Japanese site maintains its own fan-club and news ecosystem.
Brand Endorsements and Commercial Activities
No sufficiently complete, authoritative public record was found that would justify presenting a long list of Tomoya-specific ambassador titles as confirmed.
NEXZ has participated in commercial campaigns and branded activities, but those should not automatically be labeled ambassador roles. The current official NEXZ site, for example, announced a collaboration with the functional tea brand Teaflex in August 2026.
For Tomoya personally, a comprehensive list of independently verified individual ambassador appointments is not publicly available in the primary sources reviewed.
Revenue Sources
Tomoya’s potential professional income categories may include:
- music and recorded releases
- live concerts and tours
- merchandise
- commercial partnerships
- licensing and related group activities
- creative contributions to NEXZ content
However, the public record does not establish his personal salary, individual royalty rates or annual earnings. Any specific net-worth or salary number circulating online should therefore be treated as unverified.
20 Interesting Facts About Tomoya
- Tomoya was born on January 19, 2006.
- He was born in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
- He is the leader of NEXZ.
- He finished No. 1 in the final Nizi Project Season 2 ranking.
- He was the first member revealed from the final NEXZ lineup.
- His publicly listed blood type is A.
- His zodiac sign is Capricorn.
- His Chinese zodiac sign is Rooster.
- Secondary profile sources list his MBTI as ENFJ.
- His early dance background includes popping, rocking and house.
- His childhood interest in dance has been linked by profile sources to Michael Jackson.
- He entered Nizi Project as a JYP trainee.
- He has publicly documented songwriting credits with NEXZ.
- He co-wrote the lyrics to “HYPEMAN” with Yuki.
- He participated in creative work around the 2026 “Mmchk” campaign.
- He directed the official “SAUCIN’: Bon appétit” promotional video in August 2026.
- He was part of the NEXZ lineup that won Best New Artist at AAA 2025.
- He was part of the NEXZ lineup that won the 2025 TMA Global Hot Trend award.
- He experienced NEXZ’s first music-show victory with “Mmchk” in May 2026.
- He was part of NEXZ’s international 2026 expansion, including the group’s September performance at Rock in Rio in Brazil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tomoya from NEXZ?
Tomoya is a Japanese singer, dancer and the leader of NEXZ, the JYP Entertainment group formed through Nizi Project Season 2. He finished first in the program’s final rankings.
How old is Tomoya in 2026?
Tomoya is 20 years old as of September 2026. He was born on January 19, 2006.
When is Tomoya’s birthday?
Tomoya’s birthday is January 19, 2006.
Where is Tomoya from?
Tomoya is from Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
What is Tomoya’s real name?
His birth name is Uemura Tomoya (植村朋哉).
What is Tomoya’s position in NEXZ?
Tomoya is officially identified as NEXZ’s leader. Profile databases also list him as a vocalist, dancer and rapper, although those detailed role labels are not presented as a full official position chart on the current agency profile.
Who are the members of NEXZ?
NEXZ consists of Tomoya, Yu, Haru, So Geon, Seita, Hyui and Yuki.
When did NEXZ debut?
NEXZ made its global/Korean debut on May 20, 2024, with Ride the Vibe.
What agency manages NEXZ?
NEXZ is managed by JYP Entertainment, with Sony Music playing a major role in its Japan-side activities.
What is NEXZ’s fandom name?
NEXZ’s fandom name is NEX2Y, pronounced as “Next to You.”
Who is the oldest member of NEXZ?
Yu is the oldest member, born April 27, 2005.
Who is the youngest member of NEXZ?
Yuki is the youngest member, born September 20, 2007.
Conclusion
Tomoya’s story is closely tied to NEXZ’s development, but his profile is more than that of a competition-show winner. He entered Nizi Project Season 2 with years of dance experience, finished first in the final ranking, became NEXZ’s leader and then grew into a performer increasingly involved in songwriting and visual production.
By 2026, NEXZ had moved through its debut era, Japanese expansion, nationwide touring, its first arena shows, multiple awards and its first music-show victory. Tomoya’s directing work during the SAUCIN’ era adds another layer to his career, showing a gradual expansion from performing on stage to helping shape content behind the scenes.
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