From the Track to the Fashion Scene: &TEAM’s K Shines as an Ekiden Announcer and Sneaker Best Dresser Winner

&TEAM × About group &TEAM &TEAM is a nine-member Japanese boy group under YX LABELS. The group consists of EJ, FUMA, K, NICHOLAS, YUMA, JO, HARUA, TAKI, and MAKI. The group was formed through the survival program &AUDITION - The Howling and officially debuted on December 7, 2022, with the mini album First Howling : ME. &TEAM promotes primarily in Japan while maintaining a strong international K-pop presence. The group later expanded its activities in South Korea with its Korean debut. Their official fandom name is LUNÉ. Tap again to view profile → Close ’s K × Artist bio K Real name: Koga YudaiPosition: Performance Leader, CenterNationality: JapaneseBirthday: 1997-10-21Birthplace: Chiba, Japan K is the performance leader and center of &TEAM. Athletic and performance-focused, K is often described as a strong leader on stage with expressive dance skills and a competitive spirit. Tap again to view profile → Close once again showcases his versatility after winning the atmos “Sneaker Best Dresser 2026” award in the Male Artist Category and becoming an announcer for this year's 58th All Japan University Ekiden. Beyond music, K continues to expand his interests and skills, reaching different audiences and promoting &TEAM through his individual talents.

K Returns to His Athletic Roots as an Ekiden Announcer

On Nov. 1, 2026, &TEAM’s K returned to his track days as an announcer for the 58th All Japan University Ekiden 2026. The Ekiden is one of Japan’s biggest long-distance running competitions among prestigious universities. The race determines the national university champion among distance runners and recognizes the winning university as the best ekiden in Japan.

The race covers a distance of 106.8 kilometers (66.3 miles) with over 27 teams participating from eight regions in Japan. This race is also culturally significant as the route connects two important Shinto shrines, highlighting Japan’s cultural history.

Belonging to a well-known ekiden high school, &TEAM’s K was a long-distance runner and was selected as a special announcer due to his background in track and field. This is not the first time K was selected as an announcer for track, as he participated in the World Championships in Tokyo last year for TBS Broadcast. Additionally, he was also chosen for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya in September as a TBS Athletics Supporter.

Remembering his running days, K commented on the appeal of the ekiden and said:

“When things get tough, I remember my teammates, and that helps me persevere, allowing me to overcome them many times. It's truly a 'relay of feelings,' and I think that's a different kind of charm from running a race alone,” according to Getsuriku Online.

As someone who understands and used to participate in the sport, K also explained to Getsuriku Online what this opportunity meant to him by saying:

“As a former ekiden runner and fan, I am very honored to be involved as a special supporter in the All-Japan University Ekiden, which I have watched every year. I want to do my best to support those watching the ekiden for the first time so that the greatness of this event can be conveyed.”

In the same interview, when talking about the final leg of the race, K was asked hypothetically if &TEAM would form an ekiden team, who would he trust to be the anchor? He replied:

“FUMA × Artist bio FUMA Real name: Murata FumaPosition: Sub-LeaderNationality: JapaneseBirthday: 1998-06-29Birthplace: Shizuoka, Japan FUMA is the sub-leader of &TEAM. FUMA is known as diligent, dependable, and leadership-minded, with a calm presence and strong dance background. Tap again to view profile → Close is truly responsible, stable, and in typical ekiden terms, he's a 'runner who never misses.' I think it's a very stressful section, but I think FUMA will see it through."

&TEAM’s K continues to shine even off stage as he demonstrates his knowledge of track to ekiden enthusiasts, and fans can once again see how track shaped his work ethic to become a talented performer.

&TEAM's K with other announcers at the 58th All Japan University Ekiden 2026

K Enters the Fashion Scene by Winning the “Sneaker Best Dresser Award” Presented by atmos

Breaking into the fashion world, K added another accomplishment to his list by winning the Male Artist Category for the “Sneaker Best Dresser” award presented by atmos on Oct. 31, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan. The “Sneaker Best Dresser” award recognizes celebrities who promote sneakers in everyday fashion and help spread sneaker culture.

For the award, K chose to wear adidas leather sneakers, specifically the HANDBALL SPEZIAL LOAFER W. According to Talent Databank, when asked why he chose those specific sneakers, K said:

“I rarely had the chance to wear loafer-style sneakers, but the casual feel of sneakers combined with a bit of classic vibes made them perfect for this occasion. Today, I chose this with a special feeling.” 

He continued to talk about his fashion preferences, highlighting his favorite point of an outfit is when his denim jeans pile on top of his sneakers to show them off. K also has a particular rule about his shoelaces, stating:

 “I tie my shoelaces myself because I tighten them super tight. That's my rule."

Lastly, as reported by Talent Databank, K was asked who he would like to spend time with this winter while wearing sneakers, and he said:

“There are people I really love named LUNÉ, and I want to spend time with LUNÉ. I want to spend time together while making music." 

K once again expresses his gratitude and love for LUNÉ, always keeping them on his mind during important wins.

Beyond the Stage: K’s Career with Many Lanes

To LUNÉ, K demonstrates his athletic background as a special announcer for several track events and showcases how his running days shaped him to have the perseverance and determination he uses as an idol now. His love for physical challenges transcends into his love for performing at his best for LUNÉ.

Through fashion, K is exploring self-expression and showing LUNÉ a different side of him. Being part of &TEAM allows K to represent the group through individual activities and connect with different audiences outside of music.

As K continues to explore opportunities based on his interests, LUNÉ can hope to expect exciting projects in the future and witness new sides of K as he continues to show LUNÉ his undying love and gratitude for their support.

Note: Japanese quotations have been translated into English using machine translation.