Yuta Tamamori (Japanese: çÂÂ森 è£Â太, Hepburn: Tamamori Yà «ta; born March 17, 1990) is a Japanese singer and actor. He is a member of the boy band Kis-My-Ft2 under Starto Entertainment.
As an actor, he is known for his roles in television dramas such as Gokusen, He is Beautiful, Reverse, and La Grande Maison Tokyo, for which he won the Best Supporting Actor award at the Television Drama Academy Awards (for La Grande Maison Tokyo). He has also appeared in films including Parallel World Love Story and Shylock's Children.
In 2023, he provided the Japanese dubbing voice for Wade Ripple in Pixar's Elemental, marking his first major voice-acting role.
In addition to his entertainment career, he has been active in the fashion industry and has attended major fashion events in Europe.
Tamamori was born in Tokyo in 1990 and grew up with his younger brother. His mother was 17 years old at the time of his birth, a fact he has mentioned in interviews when reflecting on his upbringing.
When he was in his first year of junior high school, his mother sent a résumé on his behalf to Johnny & Associates. Although he was initially reluctant to attend the audition, he ultimately went and passed. On December 1, 2002, he joined the agency alongside peers such as Yuya Tegoshi and Hikaru Yaotome.
As a trainee, he appeared on television programs and became a member of several junior groups, including J.J. Express and A.B.C. Jr.
Kis-My-Ft2 was formed on July 26, 2005, with Tamamori selected as one of the members. Before the group's official debut, he spent six years working as a backup dancer for senior artists and groups such as Tackey & Tsubasa, NEWS, KAT-TUN, and Hey! Say! JUMP, gaining experience through concerts and stage productions.
Often described as shy, he continued working as a backup dancer during these years and later became one of the group's central members after their debut.
Tamamori made his acting debut in the Nippon Television drama Gokusen Graduation Special (2009) and appeared in the film ' the same year. The Gokusen series, known for launching the careers of many young actors, was widely popular in Japan.
He gained wider recognition in 2011 for his leading role as the reserved band leader Ren Katsuragi in He is Beautiful, a Japanese adaptation of the Korean series You're Beautiful.
In 2013, he achieved his first starring roles in television dramas with A Chef of Nobunaga, in which he portrayed a modern-day chef transported to the Sengoku period, and Pintokona, where he played the heir to a traditional kabuki acting family. These roles established him as a leading actor.
He continued to expand his range with performances such as a conflicted teacher in Reverse (2017) and a young chef with a troubled past in La Grande Maison Tokyo (2019), where he starred alongside Takuya Kimura. His performance in the latter earned him Best Supporting Actor at the Television Drama Academy Awards.
In 2021, Tamamori appeared in Oh My Boss! Love Not Included as the female lead's love interest. In 2022, he starred in the TV Asahi drama Nice Flight! (JulyâÂÂSeptember), produced in collaboration with Japan Airlines, and in Nippon TV's Patient Chart Prayer (OctoberâÂÂDecember), marking two consecutive lead roles in television dramas that year.
In 2023, he provided the Japanese dubbing voice for the protagonist Wade Ripple in Pixar's Elemental, marking his first major voice-acting role. He was selected for the role through an audition conducted at Pixar's U.S. headquarters and later visited the studio, where he met with director Peter Sohn.
As a central member of Kis-My-Ft2, Tamamori has frequently been featured in the group's performances and media appearances, including songs used as theme music for television dramas in which he has starred.
Within the group, he has performed numerous solo songs and duet songs. His solo works include songs such as "Alive" (2016) and "Share Love" (2021), both of which received dedicated music videos highlighting his individual artistic image.
He has frequently collaborated with fellow Kis-My-Ft2 member Toshiya Miyata on duet songs and related projects, including "Be Love," "Hoshi ni Negai wo," and "Unmei." These works later inspired the television drama Be Love (2020), in which the two appeared together. The partnership between Tamamori and Miyata dates back to their trainee days.
In June 2012, Tamamori appeared on the variety program Ikinari! Ougon Densetsu, known for its physically demanding projects. At the time, no talent from Johnny & Associates had previously participated in the program.
He took part in the segment "Celebrity Savings Battle: Living on 10,000 Yen for a Monthâ (è¸è½人ç¯Âç´ÂãÂÂãÂÂã«1ã¶æÂÂ1ä¸ÂÃ¥ÂÂçÂÂæ´» æÂÂå¼·No.1決å®Âæ¦), competing against comedian Shigeo Takahashi and competitive eater Gal Sone.
In this challenge, contestants were required to cover food and utility expenses within a monthly budget of 10,000 yen. Tamamori, who had little cooking experience, purchased a large quantity of onions directly from a farmer and relied on them as a primary ingredient throughout the challenge. He prepared several dishes centered on onions, including Japanese curry and onion rings, and became known on the program by the nickname "Onion-kun" (Tamanegi-kun). He also prepared handmade noodles and attempted to catch fish during the challenge.
While continuing his regular professional activities, such as concert tours and drama filming, he completed the month-long challenge and ultimately won the contest. The program was widely popular in Taiwan and other parts of Greater China, and his appearance in the challenge attracted attention from overseas audiences.
Since the mid-2010s, Tamamori has often been recognized in Japanese media for his charm and enduring popularity. In ViVi magazine's "National Treasure-Class Handsome Ranking" (Kokuhà Â-kyà « Ikemen Ranking), organized by Kodansha since 2015, he has repeatedly ranked within the top tiers. After appearing in the rankings several times between 2016 and 2018, he later achieved higher recognition in the "Adult" category (for men aged 30 and over), ranking prominently in 2021 and continuing to place in subsequent years.
Tamamori has also been rated favorably in public image surveys conducted by Architect Co., Ltd., which evaluate public awareness and likability of Japanese celebrities through its "Talent Power Ranking" surveys. Throughout the early 2020s, he consistently ranked highly in categories highlighting actors with a clean-cut, refreshing, and approachable image across different age demographics.
Beyond his acting career, Tamamori is also known for his fair complexion and strong presence in the fashion industry. He frequently appears solo on the covers of fashion magazines, some of which have sold out following their release. In March 2022, he became the ambassador for Lancôme's skincare product Clarifique, a role considered rare for a male celebrity. Later that year, he received the "Most Beautiful Person" Grand Prize at Kodansha's VOCE Best Cosmetics Awards 2022. Tamamori has also expressed a long-standing interest in Cartier accessories since shortly after his debut, and in recent years has been invited to several events hosted by the brand.
Tamamori's involvement in the fashion industry expanded internationally in the 2020s, as he began attending major fashion events in Europe by invitation from luxury brands. His appearances at fashion weeks and exhibitions drew attention to his presence beyond Japan and positioned him as a Japanese celebrity active on the global fashion stage.
His first invitation to a European fashion event came in April 2024, when he attended the From the Heart to the Hands: Dolce & Gabbana exhibition in Milan, Italy, marking a milestone in his overseas activities. He subsequently attended major international fashion events in Europe as a guest, including the AMIRI Spring/Summer 2025 Menswear Fashion Show at Paris Fashion Week in June 2024, the Brunello Cucinelli Fall/Winter 2025 Womenswear Collection presentation at Milan Fashion Week in February 2025, and the Bottega Veneta Spring/Summer 2026 fashion show in September 2025, where he was seated in the front row.
In addition to his public appearances at fashion events, Tamamori has also been involved in creative work behind the scenes. His activities in fashion-related production were documented in the program Yuta Tamamori Mode, which followed his approach to design and artistic direction.
Since 2014, Tamamori has served as the spokesperson for the household brand "LAVONS". In connection with this partnership, he has also appeared at events organized by the brand's parent company NatureLab, including performing ceremonial serves at home games of the Tokyo Great Bears volleyball team for three consecutive years from 2024 to 2026.
Building on his fashion-related creative activities, since 2018, Tamamori has been responsible for designing the stage costumes for Kis-My-Ft2, drawing on his strong interest in fashion. In interviews, he has stated that understanding each member allows him to enhance their individual appeal on stage. His design approach often moves beyond the members' assigned colors and incorporates personal motifs, such as floral elements reflecting his fondness for flowers, as well as text used as a visual feature.
Notable examples of his work include the costumes created for the group's 10th anniversary in 2022, which featured the symbol "X," each member's initial, and patchwork elements made from past costumes as a tribute to the group's history. In 2024, he designed jewel-embellished outfits weighing approximately 8 kilograms (18 pounds), demonstrating an emphasis on visual impact. In addition, he has been involved in selecting fabrics and has traveled abroad to source materials personally, including a visit to the Dongdaemun Market in Seoul, South Korea, a major textile hub with thousands of specialty stores, during preparations for the group's 2025 concert costumes.
In addition to concert attire, he designed fashion showâÂÂinspired costumes for the music video of the album track "Cheat," which were later used on stage and praised for highlighting each member's individuality.
Tamamori has often spoken about songs and artists that influenced his outlook as a performer. He has expressed a deep attachment to Noriyuki MakiharaâÂÂs "Boku ga Ichiban Hoshikatta Mono," noting that its message about giving to others resonated strongly with him, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic when his group was unable to perform for audiences for an extended period. He later connected the lyrics to his own work as an idol, saying that the presence of fans is what gives meaning to his activities.
Tamamori is also a fan of British singer-songwriter Anne-Marie. She once appeared as a surprise guest on the group's variety program, performing his favorite song "Perfect," which left him deeply moved. In 2024, he also attended her concert in Tokyo, describing it as an inspiring experience.
Tamamori has expressed an interest in fishing, nature, and animals. He previously kept a flying squirrel as a pet and has spoken about enjoying time with his family's dog. He surfed frequently as a child due to his family's interest in the sport but later reduced his surfing activities after being advised to avoid tanning during his trainee years.