[OCTPATH] sweet web 241226

[OCTPATH NISHIJIMA RENTA] “I think girls who are fully confident are sweet.”

The first appearance of Nishijima Renta from the boy group OCTPATH, which was formed by former trainees of “PRODUCE 101 JAPAN SEASON2” on sweet web❤️
Their colourful multi-genre 2nd album “Present” was released on 25th December, and is truly a Christmas present from Nishijima-san!
We bring you a lot of Nishijima-san’s charm - the one of a straight forward looking and hardworking person - along with lots of cool photos.

You are currently 21 years old. Is it correct that you began to aim to become an artist and started to learn dancing during your first year of highschool at age 16?
Renta: That’s right. The turning point was during my 3rd year of middle school when I went to see a concert of my favourite Korean artist BIGBANG. I was absolutely inspired, thinking “wow!! I want to become someone who can stand on stage and impact people like this!” At this time, I was preparing for the highschool entrance exams and I had been a soccer kid since elementary school. I was so serious about it that I wanted to become a professional player, yet I announced to my parents “I want to quit playing soccer and join a Korean agency!”.

And did your parents support this?
Renta: My dad told me from the start “Do what you want to do”, but my mom had high hopes for me to become a soccer player, so she was really against it, saying “If possible, I want you to continue soccer”. But I had that weird confidence that “I can do it!”, so I promised them that if this has not happened until I graduate highschool I would give up and it happened that I passed an audition and went to Korea during my first year of highschool.

It is amazing how fast you went from having the dream to moving forward on it. And then you joined OCTPATH in November 2023, but how was this year for you?
Renta: It was a year full of memories and a lot of work, so the time passed really quickly. The hardest time was at the beginning, when I had to learn about 15 songs in a month right before my first concert with them. That time, it was so insane (laughs). I thought I was a fast learner, but I felt pretty rushed.
TN: The article here makes a mistake and states that Renta joined in November 2024 (as of 26 December 2024, 9:30 PM JST). For the sake of clarity I put the correct date in the translation.

OCTPATH’s second album “Present” , released on Christmas, is your first commemorative album since you joined the group.
Renta: Of course the title track “Present” is my recommendation, but personally I am attached to “Car Stereo”, the first ballad since I joined the group. It is a medium tempo ballad with a gentle atmosphere, and I think you can enjoy its chill feeling while driving or listening to it while looking up to the night sky.
Also, “Silhouette” is good, too. The intro sounds a bit like Japan in the 90s and 00s and from there on the sound takes an unexpected turn, giving it a K-Pop vibe. I hope you also pay attention to my rap part which is really rhythmic.

As sweet web, we have another song we are curious about…
Renta: Right, it is “Sweet -2024 ver.-“, isn’t it? The 2024 version means that my voice is also included. It honestly makes me happy and it is a song that makes me really grateful to hear.

Which was an especially memorable episode with the members during the album production?
Renta: On the day of the MV shooting, we came together at around 4 am and we returned home the next morning. It was funny to see how the members went from absolute sleepiness to “late night excitement”. It felt like youth. I thought, “that’s the kind of fun that only a MV shooting can bring.”

I heard that the “OCTAVE” MV was also filmed in Korea.
Renta: Yes. There was no translator, so I translated not only for the members but also for the manager when dealing with the hotel or taxi drivers. It was quite difficult, but it prevented me from forgetting my Korean. Above all, it was a lot of fun to be able to visit my beloved Korea together with the members.

What kind of atmosphere is when all eight members come together off stage?
Renta: I think everyone has a different character and thus there is a good balance. According to the MBTI test, I am the introvert type I, but in real life I am often fiddling with my phone. I am like a quiet observer of the extrovert E type members who dance and joke around.

By the way, you made your long-awaited model debut in 2024.
Renta: SAPPORO COLLECTION was my first runaway. It was truly a memorable moment. Ever since my time in Korea my role model has been Cha Eunwoo, who is multi talented as an idol, actor and model. I wanted to be like him , so I worked hard on my body and other things, which all had been worth it.

Please tell us about a Christmas memory.
Renta: It is a story from my childhood, but there was a ball that became famous when Honda Keisuke made a free kick around the World Cup of 2010. I wrote a message to Santa asking for it, and when I went to sleep, I didn’t expect to find it under my pillow the next morning. I still remember how happy I was back then.
TN: After a quick research it seems like he means the official ball “JABULANI” of the 2010 World Cup. It became quite famous in Japan for the unusual curf it flew after Honda’s free kick.

Please give advice to girls who are struggling to choose a Christmas present for their beloved one.
Renta: If it were me, I would be happy to receive a handmade present that I can wear, such as a scarf or accessories. I would also appreciate something bought from a storer, but a handmade gift is one of a kind.

Please tell us about traits of girls that you think are sweet.
Renta: What I think of as sweet is someone who never stops smiling and someone who is curious and always willing to try anything. Also, I think it is better to be straightforward and fully confident than having no confidence. For fashion I like a calm look. If it is winter (fashion), knitwear is cute, isn’t it?

By the way, who is the sweetest member in OCTPATH?
Renta: I guess it is me who, once I have made up my mind, I will carry it through to the end (laughs). If not me, then Takahashi Wataru. During dance practice we posed next to each other and I thought we were making eye contact in the mirror so I jokingly winked at him, but he did not react at all. When I looked clooosely I saw that Wataru was only staring at his own reflection in the mirror. That was sweet ❤️

And lastly, please give a sweet message to the fans.
Renta: 2024 was a really blessed year. I am truly grateful to THme, the embers and everyone who supported me. I hope to meet you in 2025 in a more evolved form so that I can prove this feeling. As for OCTPATH, we will continue to strive towards our goal of (performing at) Budokan, so please watch over us kindly.

[OCTPATH] Suumo 240606

Nishijima Renta’s (OCTPATH) love for his hometown “The charm of the prefecture Nagasaki are the rich nature and the retro townscapes”

Nishijima Renta who joined the boy group OCTPATH in November 2023 hails from the prefecture Nagasaki. As he pursues his dream of performing worldwide, his love for his hometown naturally remains strong. Also as his future goals he lists taking up the position of becoming a tourism ambassador and appearing on local television programs. He talked with us about his memories of Nagasaki, favorite food, his favorite restaurants and more.

His childhood was one of being a soccer boy by heart who was a member of a club team in his hometown Nagasaki.

What kind of youth did you spend in Nagasaki, Nishijima-san?
Renta: My childhood dream was to become a soccer player and until my 3rd year of middle school I was a lively boy who was completely devoted to soccer. During my middle school years I was part of a club team, so I trained and had matches at the stadium.
TN: most Japanese children play sports as part of a school team. So being part of a club team unrelated to one’s school is considered something special.

And then, after watching a K-POP idol’s concert, you decided to aim for the entertainment world and your direction in life changed. What was the reaction of your surroundings?
Renta: Initially, my family was against it, but eventually they supported me. My friends also cheered for me and after debuting they told me “I respect you for fulfilling your dream”, which made me happy.

That is the result of you not giving up. Back when you still lived in your hometown, where did you go to have fun?
Renta: When I went out with my family they often took me to the city center and when I went out with friends we often went to the city center of Nagasaki or Fukuoka. Nagasaki has Shinkansen and bus lines so the access to Fukuoka wasn’t bad. Speaking of this, there is the commercial facility “Amu Plaza Nagasaki” at Nagasaki station now, isn't there? The area around the station is five times more prosperous than it was during my school years, and I was surprised when I went back home (laughs).

What he will eat for sure when returning home is the roast katsu from “tonkatsu bunjiro”

What are your most memorable places in Nagasaki, Nishijima-san?
Renta: “Inasayama”. I went there on an excursion as a child and I think every citizen of Nagasaki has been there at least once. The night view is very beautiful and it has been selected as one of the world's top three night views. I have also been there to see the first sunrise of the year.

Which restaurant have you often visited in your hometown?
Renta: “Tonkatsu Bunjiro”. I have loved this restaurant ever since I was a child and even now I make sure to go there when I come home. I can neither leave aside the sirloin nor the filet, so I always order a sirloin cutlet with an extra filet. Recently they are so popular that they were also able to open a store in South Korea. When my mom eats tonkatsu in Tokyo, she even says “it is delicious but I prefer Bunjiro.”

So it’s a taste you remember together with your mother, right? Is there anything else?
Renta: There is a sushi place called “Wakatakemaru” which I also visited when I went home recently. I feel that when people from Nagasaki go to eat sushi, most of them will eat it at Wakatakemaru. All my friends also say “The sushi from Wakatakemaru is the most delicious one.”. I always eat roasted salmon the whole time. (laughs)
Some time ago I also went to “Yaitoruken”. An acquaintance of my grandfather told me about this place, but the yakitori is delicious, so check it out.

The Nagasaki speciality he wants to give (the members) as a snack is “Kakuni Manju“ from Iwasaki Honpo.

What is your absolute favorite food from Nagasaki? Is there some local chain you always end up going to?
Renta: I guess when it comes to Nagasaki, it is known for chanpon. It was served as a school lunch and we often ate it at home, too. If I went to eat it at a restaurant, I would go to “Sanpa Ramen” or “Shianbashi Ramen”. I prefer chanpon with a slightly stronger flavor.
TN: Chanpon is some type of ramen dish, which is made with only one pan as the noodles are boiled in the soup.
Also, I like kankoro mochi. An acquaintance from the Goto islands often sends those to me in Tokyo. These are mochi that were mixed with thinly sliced and sundried sweet potatoes and they are delicious when roasted.

When OCTPATH have a concert in Nagasaki in the future, is there any place where you want to take the members to or is there any snack you would like to bring them?
Renta: If the members came to Nagasaki, I want to go with everyone to “Osakaya”. It is a kinda luxurious yakiniku restaurant and perfect to kick-off a concert.
As a snack I would like to bring them “Kakuni Manju” from Iwasaki Honpo. I remember often going to buy them with my mother when I was a child and eating them as a snack.
TN: Kakuni manju are buns filled with marinated pork belly. It is another local speciality from Nagasaki.

His dream is to appear on the local television of Nagasaki and to become a tourism ambassador

Is there any future dream you want to make true in Nagasaki?
Renta: I want to appear on the variety program “Hirujike don” (Nagasaki local television) which is filmed in the city of Nagasaki. It is such a famous program in my hometown, that you can say every citizen of the prefecture has watched it. It’s also often on during noon hours at my home. I would like to appear there one day and shoot in the city.
Also, I want to become a tourism ambassador for the prefecture Nagasaki one day!

We can feel your love for your hometown! Once again, what do you think is the charm of Nagasaki?
Renta: There is a lot of rich nature and delicious food in Nagasaki. The retrolike townscapes are nice and when you walk through the city everyone greets you. I think the friendly personalities of the people is also a charm point.

When you go home, do you receive a lot of encouragement?
Renta: That’s right. No matter where I go, I hear it, which makes me really happy. The fans made a support ad in my hometown. I was unable to visit it, but I was happy to receive pictures of the ad from my family and soccer friends.

What do you hope to achieve in Nagasaki as OCTPATH?
Renta: I want us to appear at “Lovefes” which takes place at the Nagasaki Seaside Park. It is an event that attracts a lot of people, and my older sister also went there. I think a festival is a chance for more people to get to know OCTPATH, so I will do my best to perform at this festival eventually.

We believe there are people in Nagasaki who, just like you, aim for the entertainment world, Nishijima-san. Lastly, please give a message to these people chasing their dreams.
Renta: In any way I think the most important thing is to take action, so I would suggest going to auditions at every single chance. If there is no dance school in your neighborhood, you could try to rent a place with mirrors, such as a multipurpose hall, to practice. I hope you don’t give up, I’m cheering for you!