TV-Series
Description
Yamato Nikaidō, at 22, leads IDOLiSH7 primarily as the oldest member. He accepted this role reluctantly, having nearly withdrawn from the group's audition beforehand. His initial drive to enter the entertainment industry was fueled by a desire for revenge against an unspecified target, stemming from a deep-seated dislike for the industry itself, implied to connect to undisclosed past experiences. Agency head Otoharu Takanashi intervened to recruit him, convincing him to join Takanashi Productions instead of accepting an offer from a persistent acquaintance; Yamato later likened this intervention to a wing-man stealing a girlfriend.
Over time, he abandoned his pursuit of revenge, shifting his focus entirely to supporting his fellow members' dreams. Despite projecting an aloof, lazy, and easy-going persona—often claiming things are troublesome and preferring to idle in bed until noon on days off—he possesses a deeply passionate and caring nature. He consistently prioritizes the others' well-being and development, preparing elaborate character lunches for the underage members, inserting special flags into Iori Izumi and Tamaki Yotsuba's omurice, and creating polar bear shaved ice for Nagi Rokuya during summer heat fatigue.
His personality holds contradictions: he claims to dislike trouble and identifies as an indoor person, yet diligently engages in weight training to avoid a "beer belly." He holds a driver's license but avoids driving, citing laziness and a desire to drink. He possesses a sensitive tongue, strongly disliking spicy or hot foods and preferring bland flavors, as noted by Sogo Osaka and Tsumugi Takanashi. He owns a Roomba vacuum named Musashi, treating it like a pet; the name references a sister ship to the WWII-era Japanese battleship Yamato. He uses a backscratcher to retrieve his remote control. During his "YMT strengthening month" birthday period, he resisted attempts by others to spoil him, reciprocating kindness to maintain equilibrium. He once contemplated getting contact lenses.
Within the group, he acts as an observant and protective figure, maintaining privacy by always claiming the single room during hotel stays. While generally reserved about deeper emotions, moments of vulnerability surface, like tearing up after an End-of-Year live performance, captured in a photo by Sogo Osaka. During performances, particularly unit songs like "Pythagoras☆Fighter," he engages actively, enduring an enthusiastic bear hug from Nagi that reportedly lifted him off his feet and momentarily impeded his breathing. His relationship with rival group TRIGGER's Gaku Yaotome includes mutual respect, evidenced by Gaku gifting him matching shoes after Yamato complimented Gaku's pair.
His name reflects aspects of his character: "二階" (Nikai) means "second floor," "堂" (Dou) signifies "temple" or "majestic," "大" (Yamato) translates to "big" or "great," and "和" (Wa) means "gentle" or "harmonious." "Yamato" is also an alternative name for Japan.
Over time, he abandoned his pursuit of revenge, shifting his focus entirely to supporting his fellow members' dreams. Despite projecting an aloof, lazy, and easy-going persona—often claiming things are troublesome and preferring to idle in bed until noon on days off—he possesses a deeply passionate and caring nature. He consistently prioritizes the others' well-being and development, preparing elaborate character lunches for the underage members, inserting special flags into Iori Izumi and Tamaki Yotsuba's omurice, and creating polar bear shaved ice for Nagi Rokuya during summer heat fatigue.
His personality holds contradictions: he claims to dislike trouble and identifies as an indoor person, yet diligently engages in weight training to avoid a "beer belly." He holds a driver's license but avoids driving, citing laziness and a desire to drink. He possesses a sensitive tongue, strongly disliking spicy or hot foods and preferring bland flavors, as noted by Sogo Osaka and Tsumugi Takanashi. He owns a Roomba vacuum named Musashi, treating it like a pet; the name references a sister ship to the WWII-era Japanese battleship Yamato. He uses a backscratcher to retrieve his remote control. During his "YMT strengthening month" birthday period, he resisted attempts by others to spoil him, reciprocating kindness to maintain equilibrium. He once contemplated getting contact lenses.
Within the group, he acts as an observant and protective figure, maintaining privacy by always claiming the single room during hotel stays. While generally reserved about deeper emotions, moments of vulnerability surface, like tearing up after an End-of-Year live performance, captured in a photo by Sogo Osaka. During performances, particularly unit songs like "Pythagoras☆Fighter," he engages actively, enduring an enthusiastic bear hug from Nagi that reportedly lifted him off his feet and momentarily impeded his breathing. His relationship with rival group TRIGGER's Gaku Yaotome includes mutual respect, evidenced by Gaku gifting him matching shoes after Yamato complimented Gaku's pair.
His name reflects aspects of his character: "二階" (Nikai) means "second floor," "堂" (Dou) signifies "temple" or "majestic," "大" (Yamato) translates to "big" or "great," and "和" (Wa) means "gentle" or "harmonious." "Yamato" is also an alternative name for Japan.