Cocona (rapper)

Cocona
ココナ
Cocona in 2024
Born
Kokona Akiyama

(2005-12-06) December 6, 2005
Tokyo, Japan
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
Years active2022–present
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
LabelXgalx
Member ofXG
Japanese name
Kanji秋山 心響
Revised HepburnAkiyama Kokona

Kokona Akiyama (秋山 心響, Akiyama Kokona; born December 6, 2005), known professionally as Cocona (ココナ), is a Japanese rapper and singer. They[a] are a member of the Japanese vocal group XG, debuting with them in 2022. They publicly came out as transmasculine and non-binary on their 20th birthday in 2025.

Early life

Kokona Akiyama was born on December 6, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan. They began singing at age nine, and felt that their deeper tone was appealing, so their vocal teacher then recommended rapping.[2] When they were in elementary school, they took part in the entertainment contest Kirachare 2017, sponsored by Avex Inc., where they won a special prize in the vocal category.[3] They also started taking lessons at Avex Artist Academy while in elementary school.

Career

In 2017, Cocona passed the audition for the XG Project, led by Simon Jakops, and trained under Xgalx. They said their trainee period was "filled with new and hopeful moments" that taught them about music, personal growth, teamwork, and community.[2] They debuted with XG on March 18, 2022, being the youngest member of the group at age 16.[4][5] In November 2022, Cocona was featured in the performance of “Galz Xypher” alongside Jurin, Harvey, and Maya, which went viral for their trilingual rapping over instrumentals by JID and Rosalía.[6][7]

In 2023, Cocona and Maya co-wrote “Show You Can” for Street Woman Fighter 2, their first major songwriting credit. The song was performed live for the first time during XG’s The First Howl World Tour finale at Tokyo Dome in 2025.[8] In February 2026, Cocona was named a brand ambassador for Gucci and appeared on the cover of Elle Japan for its April issue, modeling Gucci clothing from the La Famiglia collection.[9][10] They attended the 2026 autumn-winter collection show in Milan, Italy, along with fellow brand ambassadors Jay Park and Lee Know.[11]

Artistry

Cocona has said their role model is American singer Lauryn Hill.[3] They have also named artists like Tyler, the Creator, and Keyshia Cole as favorites who inspire them.[12] They have also named TLC, Billie Eilish, and Doja Cat as some of their biggest inspirations.[7] They have also said that fashion, music videos, and the overall style of artists have inspired their musical style.[2] Cocona is also a fan of the South Korean group BigBang, singing their song "Haru Haru" for Kirachare 2017.[13]

Personal life

Cocona has said that they are “drawn to unique patterns, distinct colors, and unconventional clothing styles” and they also like vintage fashion and visiting thrift stores.[2]

Public image

In the music video for XG’s 2024 song “Woke Up,” Cocona shaved their head and said on XG’s fan messaging app Alphaz that they "wanted to show that I want everyone in the world to see and love themselves for who they really are".[14][15] Later, they told BuzzFeed they had many reasons for shaving their head and wanted to show those meanings in their future work.[16]

On their 20th birthday, Cocona came out as transmasculine and non-binary in an Instagram post shared on XG’s official account, also stating they had top surgery earlier in the year and expressed gratitude to their XG bandmates, Simon Jakops, and their parents for their support.[17][18] The announcement received international media coverage and widespread support from fans and the industry.[14][19] After they came out, XG’s initialism, Xtraordinary Girls, was reinterpreted as Xtraordinary Genes.[20]

Discography

Songwriting credits

YearTitleArtistAlbumRef.
2023 "Show You Can" Maya and Cocona Street Woman Fighter 2 OST [8]

Notes

  1. ↑ Cocona uses they/them and he/him pronouns.[1] This article uses they/them for consistency.

References

  1. ↑ Zhang, Zoey (December 24, 2025). "Japan girl pop group member comes out as transmasculine non-binary after breast removal". South China Morning Post.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Yoshida, Saori (October 4, 2023). "How X-Pop Girl Group XG Is Changing Music". Hypebae.
  3. 1 2 Yamamoto, Aki (November 21, 2024). "日本発ガールズグループ"XG（エックスジー）"とは？　今さら聞けないメンバー7人のプロフィールとビジュアルをチェック！". Elle Girl (in Japanese).
  4. ↑ Nga, Hằng; Haddad, Hanan (May 30, 2024). "10 of XG's Best Makeup Moments For Bold Beauty Inspiration". L'Officiel Singapore.
  5. ↑ Abraham, Hannah Rachel (February 24, 2023). "Rising Stars XG on "Shooting Star," Kep1er's Hikaru, and the Pressures of Stardom". Teen Vogue.
  6. ↑ "Powerful girl group XG amazes fans worldwide with a new rap video". Philippine Daily Inquirer. November 21, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Yeo, Gladys (January 25, 2023). "Girl group XG talk new single 'Shooting Star': "I want people to remember us as 'Xtraordinary'"". NME.
  8. 1 2 "XG set to drop new single 'MILLION PLACE' during tour finale at Tokyo Dome on May 14". Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 25, 2025.
  9. ↑ "XG・COCONA、『エル・ジャポン』表紙にソロで初登場 グッチネスを着こなす". Oricon News (in Japanese). February 27, 2026.
  10. ↑ Tsubota, Ai; Yamada, Chisato; Miyake, Yoko (March 1, 2026). "COCONA (XG)が『エル・ジャポン』4月号カバーに登場！ デジタル限定のロングインタビューをお届け". Elle Japan (in Japanese).
  11. ↑ "XG・COCONA、グッチ2026秋冬コレクションの会場に登場 P逮捕騒動の中で笑顔見せファン安堵". Oricon News (in Japanese). February 28, 2026.
  12. ↑ Dongre, Divyansha (August 1, 2022). "XG: "We Want to be Remembered as a 'One and Only' Group"". Rolling Stone India.
  13. ↑ Hsieh, Allie; Yang, Christy; Chang, Yuwen (April 15, 2025). "XG女團是誰？登2025 Coachella台風超穩被讚爆，全員日籍打破框架，連王嘉爾都認證的超強女團". Elle Taiwan (in Chinese).
  14. 1 2 Momentian, Donya (December 9, 2025). "XG's Cocona Came Out as Nonbinary, and Fans Are Seeing Themselves in His Scars". Teen Vogue.
  15. ↑ Tan, Azrin (May 21, 2024). "XG on their latest single 'Woke Up' and what's next for the septet". Vogue Singapore.
  16. ↑ Bui, Jessica (June 21, 2024). "Global Girl Group XG Ushered In A New Era With Their Latest Single "Woke Up"". BuzzFeed.
  17. ↑ Fell, Nicole (December 5, 2025). "XG's Cocona Comes Out as Transmasculine, Nonbinary". The Hollywood Reporter.
  18. ↑ Lynch, Jessica (December 6, 2025). "XG's Cocona Comes Out as Transmasculine Non-Binary On 20th Birthday". Billboard.
  19. ↑ Inoue, Yukana (December 17, 2025). "XG member Cocona's coming out as nonbinary puts spotlight on gender identities". The Japan Times.
  20. ↑ Mendez, Moises II (January 12, 2026). "XG changes name after a singer came out as transmasculine, nonbinary". Out.
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