Japan 
Wayne Sleep appears on GB News
4 years ago
Takuya Kimura is a highly acclaimed Japanese actor, singer, and radio personality, renowned for his influential career in both music and television across Asia.
Became a brand ambassador and partnered to produce two lines of special edition aviator and wayfarer sunglasses with his initials engraved.
As a member of SMAP, Kimura and his bandmates were former ambassadors for the telecommunications conglomerate.
Serves as the current brand ambassador for McDonald's in Japan.
Serves as the current brand ambassador for the car manufacturer, starring in a new TV commercial for the all-new Nissan Ariya electric SUV.
Known for being a previous brand ambassador for the Japanese men's grooming brand, promoting its iconic Moving Rubber series.
Acted as a brand ambassador for Suntory, a Japanese brewing and distilling company.
Acted as a brand ambassador for Levi's, the American clothing company.
Acted as a brand ambassador for LINE, a popular messaging application.
Acted as a brand ambassador for Nikon, the Japanese multinational corporation specializing in optics and imaging products.
Served as a brand ambassador for the Japanese fashion brand alongside Beyoncé.
Born on November 13, 1972, in Tokyo, Japan, Takuya Kimura embarked on his entertainment career at the age of 15, auditioning for Johnny & Associates in 1987. He was initially part of The Skate Boys, a backup dance group, before being selected in April 1988 to form SMAP, a boy band that would become one of Asia’s most successful and iconic groups. While SMAP achieved immense popularity with 24 top-10 albums and 14 number-one albums until their disbandment in 2016, Kimura also established a significant solo career in music, releasing his debut solo album “Go with the Flow” in 2020, which topped the Oricon Albums Chart. He followed this with “Next Destination” in 2022 and “See You There” in 2024, consistently ranking at number one on the Billboard Japan Weekly Album Sales chart with all three releases. His solo work features collaborations with prominent artists like Tatsuro Yamashita, Mariya Takeuchi, and Tsuyoshi Domoto, showcasing his vocal versatility through multiple concert tours.
Kimura’s acting career began in 1988 with the television series “Abunai Shonen III.” His breakthrough came with the 1993 series “Asunaro Hakusho,” which sparked the “Kimutaku syndrome,” influencing fashion and style trends across Japan. He achieved widespread fame with his first leading role in the 1996 drama “Long Vacation,” creating a cultural phenomenon known as the “Lonvaca phenomenon” and earning him numerous accolades. He continued to dominate Japanese television with high-rating series such as “Love Generation” (1997), “Beautiful Life” (2000), and “Hero” (2001), where he earned the title “The King of Ratings.” The series “Hero” became the highest-rated TV series in Japanese history, with all episodes exceeding a 30% household share rating. Kimura’s filmography includes critically acclaimed roles in “2046” (2004), “Love and Honor” (2006), and “Blade of the Immortal” (2017), the latter leading to his second appearance at the Cannes Film Festival. He also lent his voice to Studio Ghibli’s “Howl’s Moving Castle” (2004) and starred in the video games “Judgment” (2018) and “Lost Judgment” (2021) as Takayuki Yagami. His recent projects include “The Legend & Butterfly” (2023) and “La Grande Maison Paris” (2024), demonstrating his enduring presence in both domestic and international entertainment.
Curious about our offerings or have inquiries? We're eager to assist!
Just complete the form, and we'll respond promptly.
