Yūdai Takenaka

Yudai Takenaka is a Japanese singer-songwriter, whistler, and YouTuber. He is the vocalist of the rock band Novelbright based on Osaka, Japan.

Early life

Yudai Takenaka was born in Himeji City, Japan on November 10, 1995.[1][2] In his hometown, Takenaka was known as a good singer and whistler as a boy. Singing wise, he was known for singing in a high pitch vocal tone.[3] He learned how to whistle at age three[4] and did it often. In elementary school while watching TV, he saw an international whistling convention in the United States and competed at age 12.[5]

He moved to Osaka, Japan for his correspondence high school.[6] He started composing music after joining a One Ok Rock cover band in high school.[7] He is a big fan of the band, particularly of singer Takahiro Moriuchi.[8]

Career

As a tween and teenager, Takenaka won the International Whistlers Convention in 2009 and 2013 in Louisburg, North Carolina[9][10][11] In 2013, he performed his whistling on television before fame.[12] In 2023, Takenaka created his own whistling concert, called "Whistling Sound Vol. 1" in Tokyo.[13] That same year in 2013, Takenaka was one of the founders of Novelbright.[14] Takenaka is the singer and whistler of the group, whistling in songs like "See You Tomorrow".[15]

They made their indie debut in October 2018 with the nationwide distribution mini-album " SKYWALK ".[16]

On August 17, 2020, they made their major debut with the digital album "Opening Declaration" released by Universal Sigma, which features the song "Sunny Drop".[17][18]

From November 12, 2020, to March 25, 2021, he served as the host of "Novelbright U-Dynamite Nippon" on Nippon Broadcasting System, a radio show for the band.[19]

On January 14, 2021, Takenaka started his YouTube career.[20]

Since July 20, 2025, he has appeared on Nippon Television's "Active Singing King JAPAN" and was in 1st place of the Top 7 representing Japan. His final performance song was " Pretender (Official Hige Dandism song)" by Official Hige Dandism.[21]

On November 10, 2025, He released a solo cover album called DIVA.[22] It was released in January 2026 in South Korea.[23]

Personal life

Moriuchi, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, and Yuzu are his inspirations.[24][25] He is the ambassador of his hometown, Himeji since 2021.[26][27]

Solo discography

Digital-only single

  Release Date Title Published
1st May 10, 2021 Shinobi's Song Music download

Cover album

Release Date Title Published Standard part number
1st January 14, 2026 DIVA CD UMCK-1812

Working with other artists

Release Date Title Artist MV Published Notes
March 19, 2019 Forward（feat. Yudai Takenaka & KZK） THE AGUL - Music download
April 27, 2019 Forward Nuoh Remix（feat. Yudai Takenaka & KZK） -
July 20, 2020 We are not alone（feat. Yudai Takenaka） -
August 27, 2021 Remember I said（feat. Yudai Takenaka） [28] Songwriter
December 4, 2022 I don't mind dying（feat. Yudai Takenaka） SG [29]
September 29, 2023 Lonely Yoshikatsu Ikeuchi & Yudai Takenaka [30]
[31]
December 11, 2024 Crossover（feat. OZworld & Yudai Takenaka） Yoshikatsu Ikeuchi -

References

  1. ↑ "TAKENAKA YUDAI 's solo cover album to be released!". Novelbright OFFICIAL SITE. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  2. ↑ "Novelbright竹中雄大が初のソロカバーアルバムリリース、リード曲は安室奈美恵「Love Story」". Natalie Music. Archived from the original on February 9, 2026. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  3. ↑ WEBザテレビジョン. "Novelbright、「マリーゴールド」を歌った路上ライブの映像が転機に！「根拠のない自信だけはずっとあった」(2/3)". WEBザテレビジョン (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  4. ↑ "Novelbright・竹中雄大、初の口笛コンサート開催！ 「口笛に出会えたことがいちばんの財産」". THE FIRST TIMES (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  5. ↑ "Novelbright 竹中雄大が初の口笛コンサート開催！「自分にとっても一番の財産」". Liveen Times (in Japanese). 2023-02-05. Archived from the original on 2026-03-06. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  6. ↑ "ロックバンド「ノーベルブライト」の竹中さん　姫路市の観光大使に". Kobe. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Novelbright、路上ライブの「歌上手すぎ」動画拡散で人気急上昇 バンドの歩みや秘話明かす". girlswalker (in Japanese). 2019-12-27. Archived from the original on 2025-10-08. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  8. ↑ "Novelbright 竹中雄大「好きで好きで尊敬」　憧れの "ワンオク" Takaとの初対面エピソード語る". NNN. Archived from the original on February 25, 2026. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Japan's Novelbright Drops Official Cover of Billie Eilish's 'Bad Guy': Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 22, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Novelbright 竹中雄大が初の口笛コンサート開催！「自分にとっても一番の財産」". Liveen Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2026. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  11. ↑ "【ライブレポート】Novelbright、ツアーファイナルで「今日という日が素敵な始まりに」". BARKS. ジャパンミュージックネットワーク株式会社. 2020-02-08. Archived from the original on 2025-08-16. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  12. ↑ "ノーベルブライト【Novelbright】雄大は口笛世界一！レパートリーは？｜イロイロボックス". イロイロボックス (in Japanese). 2019-10-19. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  13. ↑ ""世界大会2度優勝"Novelbright竹中雄大、初の口笛コンサートで満員御礼「いい人生経験」". オリコンニュース（ORICON NEWS）. Archived from the original on 2026-03-04. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  14. ↑ "信じ続けてきたバンドの可能性と手応え、そしてNovelbrightの未来を5人で語る。". music.fanplus.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2024-12-16. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  15. ↑ "【口笛の名曲】聴いて幸せ＆練習したくなるステキな口笛ソング". RAG Music. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  16. ↑ Novelbright - Skywalk, 2018-10-03, retrieved 2026-06-30
  17. ↑ "Ｎｏｖｅｌｂｒｉｇｈｔメジャーデビュー決定、この日配信の新曲「Ｓｕｎｎｙ ｄｒｏｐ」で". スポーツ報知 (in Japanese). 2020-08-17. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  18. ↑ INC, SANKEI DIGITAL (2020-08-17). "Ｎｏｖｅｌｂｒｉｇｈｔが新曲「Ｓｕｎｎｙ ｄｒｏｐ」でメジャーデビュー". サンスポ (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2025-03-19. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  19. ↑ "Novelbright、念願のレギュラーラジオスタート 初回は番組名をリスナーと決める". オリコンニュース（ORICON NEWS）. 2020-11-12. Archived from the original on 2024-12-16. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  20. ↑ "千葉雄大、世界チャンプ・竹中雄大と同じ曲で口笛挑戦「同じ雄大だけに」 | マイナビニュース". news.mynavi.jp (in Japanese). 2021-04-23. Archived from the original on 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  21. ↑ ＨＥＷ. "人気バンドボーカル、「現役歌王JAPAN」で優勝「大口叩いてきたから1位じゃなかったら…」 - 音楽 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2025-08-25. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  22. ↑ "竹中雄大（Novelbright）、本日1/14リリースのソロ・カバー・アルバム『DIVA』よりMISIA「アイノカタチ」パフォーマンス・ビデオ公開". Skream. Archived from the original on February 15, 2026. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  23. ↑ Ji, Seunghan. "延续《韩日歌王战》人气......竹中雄大首张个人翻唱专辑《DIVA》在韩发行". MK. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Novelbright、路上ライブの「歌上手すぎ」動画拡散で人気急上昇　バンドの歩みや秘話明かす". Girlswalker. Archived from the original on October 8, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  25. ↑ "The five members of Novelbright discuss the band's potential and the sense of accomplishment they've gained from believing in it, as well as the band's future". FanplusMusic. Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  26. ↑ Higashi, Takashi. "レザーの産地、姫路でファッションショー　コシノミチコさんも来場". Asahi. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  27. ↑ Shimbun, Mainichi. "姫路市出身ロッカー、ふるさと大使に　「ノーベルブライト」竹中さん　／兵庫". Mainichi. Archived from the original on September 4, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  28. ↑ THE AGUL (2021-08-27), THE AGUL - Remember I said feat. 竹中雄大 from Novelbright [Official Music Video], archived from the original on 2025-08-16, retrieved 2024-12-16
  29. ↑ SG Official (2023-03-18), 死んでもいいや feat. 竹中雄大 - SG (Official Music Video), archived from the original on 2025-08-17, retrieved 2024-12-16
  30. ↑ 池内ヨシカツ (2024-03-11), 池内ヨシカツ × 竹中雄大 (Novelbright) - Lonely, retrieved 2024-12-16
  31. ↑ 竹中雄大 / Novelbright (2024-03-11), 池内ヨシカツ & 竹中雄大(Novelbright) - Lonely [Official Music Video], archived from the original on 2025-08-16, retrieved 2024-12-16
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