Tsubasa Imai facts for kids

Tsubasa Imai (今井 翼, Imai Tsubasa, born October 17, 1981) is a Japanese singer, actor, and dancer. He used to be part of the famous Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates. Tsubasa joined the agency in 1995. He officially started his career in 2002 as part of the music duo Tackey & Tsubasa with Hideaki Takizawa. Their music was released by the record company Avex Trax. Tsubasa Imai released his first solo song, "Backborn," on February 24, 2010.

About Tsubasa Imai

Tsubasa Imai was born in Fujisawa, Japan, on October 17, 1981. People who work with him know him as a very skilled dancer. His close friends at the Johnny Entertainment agency include Hideaki Takizawa, Tsuyoshi Domoto, Toma Ikuta, and Sho Sakurai. His friends often call him Tsuba or Imai-kun. He is a big fan of the Japanese baseball team, the Yokohama BayStars. He has supported them since they were called the Taiyou Whales.

Tsubasa is also known as one of the "Four Dancing Kings" at the Johnny & Associates agency. Another "Dancing King" is Koichi Domoto from the group KinKi Kids. Tsubasa has acted in many TV shows and movies. He also played the second main role in the yearly musical Shock. He returned to this important role in the 2005 show called Endless Shock.

Tsubasa's Career Journey

How Tsubasa Started

Tsubasa's older sister was a fan of the band TOKIO. She sent in his application to the agency. During his audition, Johnny Kitagawa, the head of the agency, noticed his amazing dancing. He told Tsubasa, "YOU dance well." Tsubasa was first planned to start his career as a solo artist. However, he and Hideaki Takizawa decided to debut together as a duo, which became Tackey & Tsubasa.

Learning Flamenco Dance

In 2007, Tsubasa went on a trip to Spain. There, he quickly fell in love with flamenco, a lively Spanish dance style. He even studied flamenco with a professional dancer named Hiroki Sato.

Facing a Health Challenge

In 2014, while practicing for a show called Playzone, Tsubasa started feeling dizzy. He also found it hard to stand up. He went to the hospital and was told he had Ménière's Disease. This condition can cause dizziness and problems with balance. He took time to recover and get better.

Tsubasa on Screen

Television Shows

• Mokuyou no kaidan (1995)
• Brothers (ブラザーズ) (1998)
• Summer Snow (2000)
• Never Land (2001)
• Saigo no Bengonin (The Last Lawyer) (2003)
• Haru to Natsu (2005)
• Yoshitsune (2005), playing Nasu no Yoichi
• Kirin ga Kuru (2020), playing Mōri Shinsuke
• Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki (2020)

Movies

• Life in Overtime (2018)
• What She Likes... (2021)
• Tell Me (2022), playing Hiroshi

Voice Acting in Anime

• Layton Detective Agency ~Katrielle's Mystery Solving Files~ as Simon Wright (2018)

Tsubasa's Music and More

Music Releases

For a full list of songs from his duo, see: Tackey & Tsubasa Discography

Solo Songs

Radio Shows

• To base (翼のto base) is Tsubasa's weekly radio show. It is broadcast on the Japanese radio station JORQ AM 1134 kHz.

TV Appearances

• TV de Spain-Go

Commercials

• Tongari Corn Commercial spokesperson (2001–2006)
• Nissin (2011)

Concert Tours

• "TSUBACON" 2004 (August 6–18, 2004)
• "23 to 24" First Solo Tour 2005 (September 17 - November 6; December 28–29, 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 Plays and Musicals

The musical Shock is performed every year at the Imperial Garden Theater in Tokyo. Koichi Domoto from KinKi Kids plays the main role. Tsubasa acts in the second main role.

• Shock 2000 - Millenium Shock (November 2–26)
• Shock 2001-2002 - Shock (December 1–25; January 3–27)
• Shock 2002 - Shock (June 4–28)
• Shock 2004 - Shocking Shock (February 6–29）
• Shock 2005 - Endless Shock (January 8 - February 28）
• Shock 2006 - Endless Shock (February 6 - March 29）
• "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 1986….2014 ★Arigatou! ~AOYAMA THEATRE★ (July 6 - September)
• PLAYZONE 2015 - ★Sayonara! ~AOYAMA THEATRE★ PLAYZONE 30YEARS
• Burn the Floor 2012 - Around the World Tour (December 5–9 TOKYU Theatre Orb; December 12–16 Orix Theatre Osaka)
• Burn the Floor 2014 - Dance with You (May 2–7 TOKYU Theatre Orb; May 9–13 Festival Hall; May 16–18 Nagoya Congress Center)
• GOEMON (2014)
• GOEMON (2016)
• Marius (2017)
• Musical GOYA (2021) title role

Videos and DVDs

• "TSUBACON" 2004
• "23 to 24" First Solo Tour 2005
• Dance and Rock Tour '09
• LHTOUR 2011 Dance & Rock Third Floor ~DiVelN to SExaLiVe

See also

In Spanish: Tsubasa Imai para niños