Cocona (rapper)

The native form of this personal name is Akiyama Kokona. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

Cocona
ココナ
Cocona in 2024
Born
Kokona Akiyama

(2005-12-06) December 6, 2005
OccupationRapper
Years active2022–present
AgentXgalx
Musical career
InstrumentVocals
Member ofXG
Japanese name
Kanji秋山 心響
Revised HepburnAkiyama Kokona

Kokona Akiyama (秋山 心響, Akiyama Kokona; born December 6, 2005), professionally known as Cocona, is a Japanese rapper. Signed to Xgalx, they[a] are a member of the Japanese music group XG.

Career

In 2022, Cocona debuted as a rapper in XG with six other members.[2][3][4] That same year, XG released a cypher on YouTube featuring Cocona and fellow bandmates Maya, Harvey, and Jurin which drew praise from Jackson Wang and Milli.[5] In it, Cocona rapped to the instrumental of "Surround Sound" by JID and was specifically lauded on the internet for their trilingual rapping skills in Japanese, Korean, and English.[6][7]

Influences

Cocona has listed Lauryn Hill, Tyler the Creator, and Keyshia Cole as influences, specifically admiring Cole's "Love".[3]

Personal life

Originally having long hair, in 2024, Cocona shaved their hair to a buzz cut during XG's music video "Woke Up" shooting.[8]

On December 6, 2025, their twentieth birthday, Cocona announced on XG's shared Instagram account that they identify as transmasculine non-binary and had underwent top surgery.[9] They have generally struggled with embracing their masculine identity but specifically found support through their parents, fellow bandmates, and Simon Jakops, XG's executive producer.[10]

Jakops expressed his support for Cocona over social media in addition to sharing a photo of XG taken on Coming of Age Day, and many other celebrities, including members of Aespa, Megan Skiendiel of Katseye, and Han So-hee, openly supported Cocona on social media.[11][12] Of the announcement, Japanese actress and model Luna Oliver stated, "Cocona is a current member of a big group who is the hottest thing in Japan right now, I think...So for them to come out so actively, vocally...I think it's something that has not been done in Japan as much."[13]

Discography

See also: XG (group) § Discography

Notes

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

References

  1. ^ Momenian, Donya (December 9, 2025). "XG's Cocona Came Out as Nonbinary, and Fans Are Seeing Themselves in His Scars". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on December 13, 2025. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  2. ^ Chou, Inna (July 4, 2024). "認識XG：Coachella和Lisa用同個舞台唱跳超穩！7人皆日籍卻在韓出道、歌曲全英文、全員皆ACE……". Vogue Taiwan (in Chinese). Archived from the original on April 14, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Dongre, Divyansha (August 1, 2022). "XG: "We Want to be Remembered as a 'One and Only' Group"". Rolling Stone India. Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  4. ^ Fell, Nicole (September 19, 2025). "XG Can Turn Any Stage Into the Met Gala". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 22, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  5. ^ Yeo, Gladys (January 25, 2023). "Girl group XG talk new single 'Shooting Star': "I want people to remember us as 'Xtraordinary'"". NME. Archived from the original on April 29, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  6. ^ "'XG' On Rapping Their Way to Stardom & Creating a Culture of "Bold" Creativity". A Book Of Magazine. February 3, 2023. Archived from the original on July 3, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  7. ^ Yong, Rebecca (September 14, 2023). "The most captivating beauty moments from XG". Vogue Singapore. Archived from the original on April 15, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  8. ^ Bui, Jessica (June 21, 2024). "Global Girl Group XG Ushered In A New Era With Their Latest Single "Woke Up"". BuzzFeed. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  9. ^ Lynch, Jessica (December 6, 2025). "XG's Cocona Comes Out as Transmasculine Non-Binary On 20th Birthday". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 6, 2025. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  10. ^ Pasajol, Anne (December 6, 2025). "XG's Cocona comes out as transmasculine non-binary, reveals top surgery". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  11. ^ Kim, Hye-young. "걸그룹 XG 코코나, 가슴 절제 수술 고백 "난 트랜스매스큘린"". MBC 뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  12. ^ "aespaやハン・ソヒも反応 XGのココナ「ノンバイナリー」告白に世界中からエール！（25ans（ヴァンサンカン））". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved December 13, 2025.
  13. ^ Momenian, Donya (December 9, 2025). "XG's Cocona Came Out as Nonbinary, and Fans Are Seeing Themselves in His Scars". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on December 13, 2025. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
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