Kotone

Who Is Kotone?

Kotone (코토네), born Kamimoto Kotone (嘉味元琴音) on March 10, 2004, is a Japanese idol, main rapper, and main dancer under the South Korean label MODHAUS. She’s the eleventh revealed member — S11 — of tripleS, the record-breaking, fan-driven 24-member K-pop girl group that’s become one of the most talked-about acts to come out of the “generation of possibilities.” If you love idols with a scrappy, self-taught origin story, Kotone’s journey is one you’ll want to follow closely.

From Tokyo Trainee to Girls Planet 999

Kotone grew up in Kokubunji, Tokyo, where her mother’s love for TVXQ first pulled her into the world of K-pop. She danced at a local studio, taught herself to sing and rap, and even worked part-time jobs at a restaurant and a yakisoba shop while chasing her idol dream. In 2021, she got her big break, joining the cast of Mnet’s global survival show Girls Planet 999. She nearly went home early but was saved by a “planet pass,” and although she was ultimately eliminated in the show’s third round, her rap skills left a lasting impression on viewers — and on MODHAUS.

Joining tripleS and Sub-Unit Life

That impression paid off. On January 2, 2023, Kotone was introduced as tripleS’s eleventh member. She made her official idol debut on October 11, 2023, as part of the group’s fourth sub-unit, EVOLution, promoting the mini album <ⓐ⟡ (MUJUK)> and its title track “Invincible.” When tripleS finally assembled its full 24-member lineup, Kotone joined the historic comeback with ASSEMBLE24 in May 2024. Since then, she’s continued rotating through the group’s ever-changing “Dimensions,” picking up spots in the dance-heavy Visionary Vision, tripleS’s first Japanese sub-unit ∞! (Hatchi), and the newer Neptune unit — proof of just how versatile she’s become as both a rapper and a performer.

The “Mimic Genius” of tripleS

Ask any member of WAV, tripleS’s official fandom, what makes Kotone stand out, and they’ll likely mention her uncanny talent for impressions. She can nail the voice, facial expressions, and even body language of her groupmates so precisely that she’s earned the nickname “Mimic Genius” on the group’s SIGNAL livestreams. Paired with her golden-yellow representative color and seal emoji, Kotone brings a warm, funny energy to every broadcast, balancing her sharp rap delivery with an easygoing, playful personality offstage.

Life Outside the Spotlight

When she’s not rehearsing or filming content for tripleS, Kotone is usually gaming, watching anime, or looking after animals. She’s a devoted Super Junior fan who says she knows every one of their songs and choreographies by heart, and she counts Tokyo Revengers and Stranger Things among her favorite shows. Comfort food-wise, she swings between Japanese classics like udon and tonkatsu and Korean staples like tteokbokki and tteokgalbi — usually washed down with a lemonade or muscat ade after a long day of practice.

Quick Facts About Kotone

From a Tokyo trainee who taught herself to rap, to one of tripleS’s most beloved all-rounders, Kotone continues to prove why WAV and K-pop fans everywhere are keeping a close eye on her next move.