Kazuya Kamei sat down for an in-depth interview on Japan's "Oshare Clip" to reflect on KAT-TUN's dissolution and his journey since leaving STARTO ENTERTAINMENT (formerly Johnny & Associates) about a year ago.

The episode featured candid insights from people who've worked closely with Kamei over the years. Yusho Nakashima, who starred alongside him roughly 20 years ago, praised Kamei's charisma as an idol while addressing the pressure he faced—noting how others would tell him not to imitate KAT-TUN's style. Fukui Suzuki, who has maintained a friendship with Kamei since their collaboration 15 years ago, summed up his appeal simply: "His greatness is that he's always just 'Kazuya Kamei.'" Tomohisa Yamashita, who partnered with Kamei on the drama "Nobuta wo Produce," highlighted the contrast between Kamei's commanding stage presence and his humorous, laid-back personality off-camera.

When asked why he maintains that polished persona, Kamei explained, "I feel more at ease when I'm being 'Kamei.'"

The conversation turned serious when discussing KAT-TUN's final years. Kamei reflected on the challenges of balancing his solo work while managing the group through member departures and keeping KAT-TUN's identity intact. He revealed that he even considered scaling back personal projects to focus on the group's legacy. "Right up until the end, my mission was to keep KAT-TUN existing as KAT-TUN," he said, describing it as a personal code of ethics.

Now at 40, Kamei continues carving his path as a solo artist. The timing of this appearance coincides with his growing solo momentum—he recently launched a collaboration campaign with arcade chain GiGO and has music releases planned, including his first album "WAVE" set for July.

The interview offered fans a rare glimpse into how Kamei navigated one of J-pop's most significant group dissolutions while maintaining his artistic integrity.