is a Japanese singer, actor and dancer formerly in the Japanese agency Johnny & Associates. He joined Johnny & Associates in 1995 and officially debuted in 2002 in the duo Tackey & Tsubasa with Hideaki Takizawa. They are signed to the record label Avex Trax. Imai released his first solo single, "Backborn", on February 24, 2010.
Profile
Tsubasa Imai was born in Fujisawa, Japan, on October 17, 1981. Among his colleagues, he is known as a very talented dancer. His close friends among those in Johnny Entertainment agency are Hideaki Takizawa, Tsuyoshi Domoto, Toma Ikuta and Sho Sakurai. His nicknames are Tsuba and Imai-kun. He is an avid fan of the Japanese baseball team, the Yokohama BayStars, having supporting them since the time they were known as Taiyou Whales.
Tsubasa is known as one of the "Four Dancing Kings" in the Johnny & Associate agency along with Koichi Domoto of KinKi Kids. He has also appeared in many dramas and was the second lead in the annual musical production Shock. He returned to play the second lead role in the 2005 production of Endless Shock.
Career
Audition
Tsubasa's older sister who was a fan of TOKIO sent in his application. During the audition, Johnny Kitagawa noticed his dancing and remarked, "YOU dance well." Tsubasa was originally supposed to debut solo, but decided along with Takizawa they would debut as a unit, Tackey & Tsubasa.
Flamenco
In 2007 Tsubasa took a trip to Spain where he instantly fell in love with flamenco. He studied under the professional flamenco artist Hiroki Sato.
Ménière's Disease
While rehearsing for Playzone in 2014, Tsubasa began to experience vertigo and found difficulty standing. He was admitted to the hospital where he was diagnosed with Ménière's Disease.
Filmography
Television
Film
- Life in Overtime (2018)
- What She Likes... (2021)
- Tell Me (2022), Hiroshi
- Ice on the Moon (2025), Ryuji Kitamura
Anime
- Layton Detective Agency ~Katrielle's Mystery Solving Files~ as Simon Wright (2018)
Discography
See: Tackey & Tsubasa Discography
Singles
Radio
- To base (翼ã®to base) is Tsubasa's weekly radio show which is broadcast on the Japanese radio station JORQ AM 1134 kHz.
TV
Commercials
- Tongari Corn Commercial spokesperson ( 2001âÂÂ2006 )
- Nissin (2011)
Concerts
- "TSUBACON" 2004 (August 6âÂÂ18, 2004)
- "23 to 24" First Solo Tour 2005 (September 17 - November 6; December 28âÂÂ29, 2005)
- "STYLE" 2006 Tour (August 12 - October 1, 2006)
- "Dance and Rock Tour '09 (2009)
- LHTOUR 2011 Dance & Rock Third Floor ~DiVelN to SExaLiVe (2011)
Stage
An annual musical production, Shock is performed in the Imperial Garden Theater in Tokyo. The lead role is played by Koichi Domoto of KinKi Kids and Tsubasa acts in the second leading role.
- Shock 2000 - Millenium Shock (November 2âÂÂ26)
- Shock 2001-2002 - Shock (December 1âÂÂ25; January 3âÂÂ27)
- Shock 2002 - Shock (June 4âÂÂ28)
- Shock 2004 - Shocking Shock (February 6âÂÂ29ï¼Â
- Shock 2005 - Endless Shock (January 8 - February 28ï¼Â
- Shock 2006 - Endless Shock (February 6 - March 29ï¼Â
- "World Wing 翼 Premium (2007)
- "World Wing 翼 Premium (2008)
- PLAYZONE 2010 - ROAD TO PLAYZONE
- PLAYZONE 2011 - SONG & DANC'N
- PLAYZONE 2012 - SONG & DANC'N PART II
- PLAYZONE 2013 - SONG & DANC'N PART III
- PLAYZONE 1986â¦.2014 âÂÂ
Arigatou! ~AOYAMA THEATREâÂÂ
(July 6 - September)
- PLAYZONE 2015 - âÂÂ
Sayonara! ~AOYAMA THEATREâÂÂ
PLAYZONE 30YEARS
- Burn the Floor 2012 - Around the World Tour (December 5âÂÂ9 TOKYU Theatre Orb; December 12âÂÂ16 Orix Theatre Osaka)
- Burn the Floor 2014 - Dance with You (May 2âÂÂ7 TOKYU Theatre Orb; May 9âÂÂ13 Festival Hall; May 16âÂÂ18 Nagoya Congress Center)
- GOEMON (2014)
- GOEMON (2016)
- Marius (2017)
- Musical GOYA (2021) title role
Videos/DVDs
- "TSUBACON" 2004
- "23 to 24" First Solo Tour 2005
- Dance and Rock Tour '09
- LHTOUR 2011 Dance & Rock Third Floor ~DiVelN to SExaLiVe
References
External links