Yuta Tamamori


Yuta Tamamori is a Japanese singer and actor who is a member of the boy band Kis-My-Ft2 under Starto Entertainment. His nicknames are Tama and Tama-chan. He is often described as the face of Kis-My-Ft2.
In addition to his boy band activities, he is mainly active as an actor. His recent major roles include the TV dramas La Grande Maison Tokyo and Oh My Boss! Love Not Included, the films Parallel World Love Story and Shylock's Children, and the fashion-focused documentary series Yuta Tamamori Mode, which follows his personal approach to style and the creative process behind his fashion work.
He is also known for his dubbing voice work for the Pixar film Elemental in 2023.
IG yuta.tamamori_j

Early years

Tamamori was born in Tokyo in 1990. His parents were still young when he was born; his mother was 17 and his father was 20. Although his family was not wealthy, he was raised in a close-knit household together with his younger brother.
When Tamamori was in his first year of junior high school, his mother, a fan of Tomohisa Yamashita, secretly sent a résumé on his behalf to Johnny & Associates. He initially refused to go to the audition because he had promised to go fishing with a friend, but at the urging of his parents, he was taken to the venue against his will. He was placed in the front row because of his small stature. Shy as he was, he danced while crying, but this caught the attention of the judges, and he passed the audition.
On December 1, 2002, he joined Johnny & Associates alongside peers such as Yuya Tegoshi and Hikaru Yaotome. After joining the agency, he gradually gained recognition for his charm and talent, appearing on TV as a trainee and becoming a member of several trainee groups, including J.J. Express and A.B.C. Jr., as a prospective star.
The boy band Kis-My-Ft2 was formed on July 26, 2005, and Tamamori was selected as a member. They officially debuted in 2011 with the single "Everybody Go".
Between the group's formation and their official debut in 2011, he spent six years working as a backup dancer for senior groups such as Tackey & Tsubasa, NEWS, and KAT-TUN. He also performed as a backup dancer for Hey! Say! JUMP when they debuted in 2007. Reflecting on this long period of preparation, he later said that although there were frustrating moments, those experiences motivated him to work hard and helped ease his anxieties after debuting.
Tamamori was known from an early age for being very shy and straightforward — a personality that might have seemed ill-suited to the competitive world of show business. His unpretentious demeanor proved popular, and after the group's debut, he gained recognition as the group's center, in part through his lead roles in television dramas and frequent appearances on variety programs.

Career

Experience as a leading actor

Alongside his activities with Kis-My-Ft2, Tamamori has also built a career as an actor.
In March 2009, he made his first drama appearance in the Nippon Television school drama Gokusen Graduation Special. In July, he made his first appearance in the film Gokusen: The Movie. Gokusen was a popular school drama depicting the interaction between a female teacher and delinquent students, and the series had been running since 2002. Many young actors appeared in this drama, and it was considered a gateway to success for emerging talent. Tamamori also played the role of a delinquent student.
In July 2011, in anticipation of Kis-My-Ft2's CD debut on August 10, 2011, the TBS TV drama He is Beautiful began airing. This drama was a remake of the popular popular Korean series You're Beautiful, in which Tamamori played the role of Ren Katsuragi, the leader of boy band A.N.JELL. He starred alongside fellow Kis-My-Ft2 member Taisuke Fujigaya, Hikaru Yaotome, and actress Miori Takimoto. The live performance scene in the final episode was filmed at Kis-My-Ft2's live performance at Yokohama Arena.
In 2013, he played his first starring role in a serial drama, TV Asahi's jidaigeki A Chef of Nobunaga, in January, and his first starring role in a prime-time drama, the TBS series Pintokona, in July. In A Chef of Nobunaga, he played a modern-day cook who travels back to the Sengoku period to serve warlord Oda Nobunaga. The drama received high ratings in its late-night slot and was later promoted to prime time in 2014, with a second series airing. In Pin to Kona, he played the heir to a traditional kabuki family.
In November 2015, he starred in his first feature film, World of Delight, a romance about a man who falls in love with a woman with disabilities. The film ranked number one at the weekend box office in its opening week. It opened on 190 screens and drew about 91,700 people over two days, earning approximately ¥124 million.
He also gained experience on stage, appearing in Johnny & Associates' flagship production Dream Boy since its premiere in 2004. After playing a semi-leading role as a boxing champion in 2012, he played the lead role five times from 2013 to 2018.

Beyond the lead role: his acting career

Tamamori has also developed his skills as a supporting actor. In 2017, he appeared in the TBS drama Reverse as high school teacher Asami. The story revolves around a group of former university classmates whose friend died in an accident during their graduation trip. Each of them now leads a separate life, burdened by guilt over what happened. When a mysterious woman appears and a new incident occurs, the long-hidden truth about the accident begins to surface. Asami, Tamamori's character, was also on that trip and carries a secret related to the accident. He won the Best Supporting Actor award at the TV Station Drama Awards 2017. It is said that his acting improved significantly after receiving strict guidance from director Ayuko Tsukahara.
In 2019, he appeared in the TBS drama La Grande Maison Tokyo, starring alongside Takuya Kimura. Directed by Ayuko Tsukahara, Tamamori played young chef Shohei Hirako, haunted by a secret from a past incident. His delicate emotional expression was praised, and he won the Best Supporting Actor award at the 103rd Television Drama Academy Awards and the Best Supporting Actor award at the 29th TV Life Annual Drama Awards.La Grande Maison Tokyo was well received and recorded high viewer ratings. He also starred in the romantic comedy spin-off drama Gura Gura Maison Tokyo, distributed online via Paravi, which saw heavy traffic during its run.
In 2021, Tamamori appeared in the romantic drama Oh My Boss! Love Not Included as the heroine's love interest. The drama focused on a woman balancing work and romance at a publishing company. Tamamori portrayed a single-minded lover devoted to the heroine, including a comedic scene in which he appeared dressed as a dog in her imagination. The drama received high ratings, and the theme song "Luv Bias" by Kis-My-Ft2 won the "Drama Song Award".
In 2022, he starred in two consecutive TV dramas: TV Asahi's Nice Flight! and Nippon TV's Patient Chart Prayer. Nice Flight! is a television series about a young co-pilot who earnestly devotes himself to both his work and his love life, while Patient Chart Prayer portrays a kind young medical intern sincerely dedicated to his patients. It was considered rare to be selected for a series of leading roles more than ten years after debut, reflecting high acclaim for his extensive experience and acting skills.
In August 2023, he voiced Wade Ripple in Pixar's Elemental. He reportedly earned the role after auditioning at Pixar's U.S. headquarters. In July, he visited Pixar Animation Studios and met with director Peter Sohn. The film drew over 1.33 million viewers in its first 17 days, ranking third in weekend box office attendance and surpassing ¥1.7 billion in revenue. Tamamori's performance, alongside co-star Haruna Kawaguchi, was widely praised. In May 2024, he appeared as a guest Pixar voice actor on the Niconico program Disneycco Radio, where voice actor Junichi Suwabe commented, "I don't usually praise others, but I think he is a very good voice actor."
In 2024, for his role as a former boxer in the romance drama I Wanna Punch That Scumbag!, Tamamori underwent rigorous physical preparation, including weight gain, weight loss, and strength training over the course of a year. The transformation was so intense that Tamamori mentioned he had little memory of the filming process until midway through production. The dietary restrictions, in particular, were extremely strict — during October, when he was losing weight, his drastic physical change led staff and fans to express concern about his health.
In December 2025, Amazon Prime Video released Yuta Tamamori Mode, a fashion-focused documentary series following Tamamori’s personal approach to style and the creative process behind his fashion work. The series will be distributed worldwide.

At the Variety Show

One of the variety shows in which Tamamori appeared became a topic of discussion in 2012. In June of that year, he participated in , a popular variety show known for its physically demanding projects. At the time, no talent from Johnny & Associates had previously appeared on the program.
He took part in the segment Celebrity Savings Battle: Living on 10,000 Yen for a Month , competing against comedian Shigeo Takahashi and competitive eater Gal Sone.
In this challenge, contestants had to manage food and utility expenses within 10,000 yen for an entire month. Tamamori, who was living with his family and had little cooking experience, purchased a large quantity of onions directly from a farmer. He chose onions, called tamanegi in Japanese, partly as a play on his own name. The sight of onions stored throughout his room and refrigerator became a notable feature of the show.
He prepared several distinctive dishes centered on onions, including Japanese curry made with whole onions and a tower of onion rings stacked to resemble the Tokyo Skytree. He became widely known on the program by the nickname "Onion-kun". He also made noodles from flour and went into the sea to catch fish using a trident, despite the cold weather. While continuing his other professional activities, such as concert tours and drama filming, he maintained this onion-based diet for the full month. It was reported that he lost weight, with his body fat percentage dropping to 7%.
He ultimately won the contest, demonstrating a level of physical endurance considered unusual for an idol performer.

Public image

Influence

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", organized by Kodansha since 2015, he has repeatedly ranked within the top 20. After appearing in the rankings several times between 2016 and 2018, he achieved higher recognition in the newly established "Adult" category, ranking 2nd in both halves of 2021, followed by continued placements in subsequent years.
Tamamori has also been rated favorably in several public image surveys conducted by Architect Co., Ltd., a company that evaluates public awareness and likability of Japanese celebrities through its "Talent Power Ranking" surveys. He was ranked among the top ten in 2020 in categories highlighting actors with a "clean-cut" or "wholesome" image, ranked 5th among actors under 35 known for a refreshing and approachable image in 2023. and 4th among actors in their thirties most popular among women aged 20 to 34 in 2024.

As a Model

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 that is considered rare for a male celebrity.
Later that same year, in December, he received the "Most Beautiful Person" Grand Prize at Kodansha's VOCE Best Cosmetics Awards 2022.
Tamamori has also long been a fan of Cartier accessories, a preference he has maintained since shortly after his debut, and he has been invited to several Cartier events in recent years.
He has been invited as a guest to luxury fashion shows in Europe. In June 2024, he attended the AMIRI Spring/Summer 2025 Menswear Fashion Show held at the Paris Fashion Week in France, and in February 2025, he attended the Brunello Cucinelli Fall/Winter 2025 Womenswear Collection presentation during Milan Fashion Week in Italy. In September 2025, he attended the Bottega Veneta Spring/Summer 2026 fashion show as a front-row guest during Milan Fashion Week.

Stage Costumes

Since 2018, Tamamori has been in charge of 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 make them look cooler. His design approach includes using colors not limited to each member's assigned color, incorporating floral motifs inspired by his love of flowers, and adding text as a design element. In 2018, for example, he incorporated sentences that reflected each member's personality. In 2022, to mark the 10th anniversary of their CD debut, he designed costumes featuring the symbol "X" and each member's initial, as well as patchwork outfits made from pieces of their past costumes, which attracted attention for their symbolic celebration of the group's history. He also designed jewel-embellished costumes in 2024, which weighed about 8 kilograms. In addition, he has been involved in selecting fabrics and has traveled abroad for sourcing, such as a trip to Seoul, South Korea, in April 2025 for the production of that year's concert costumes. He also created fashion show–inspired costumes for the music video of the album track "Cheat", which were later used on stage and praised for highlighting each member's individuality.

Personal life

Relationships

Tamamori maintains a close friendship with fellow Kis-My-Ft2 member Toshiya Miyata, dating back to their trainee days. He has also cultivated relationships with other performers, including Ren Nagase of King & Prince.

Musical inspirations and reflections

Tamamori has often spoken about how certain songs and artists have inspired him and shaped his outlook as a performer. On Kono Kashi ga Sasatta! Good Phrase and Music Capsule, he discussed his deep attachment to the song "Boku ga Ichiban Hoshikatta Mono" by Noriyuki Makihara. He said that he was particularly moved by the lyrics' message about giving to others and realized the song's significance for him especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, during which his group could not hold concerts with audiences for nearly three years. Tamamori related the lyrics to his own work as an idol — recognizing that what he has devoted himself to is something cherished and needed by his fans. When Kis-My-Ft2 finally performed in front of fans again, he was moved to tears upon seeing their joyful faces. "It made me realize that I can be an idol because our fans are there for us. The lyrics express exactly how I feel toward them," he said.
Tamamori is also a fan of British singer-songwriter Anne-Marie. On the August 29, 2019 broadcast of the group's variety show Kis-My-Busaiku!, Anne-Marie appeared as a surprise guest and sang a verse from his favorite song "Perfect." Tamamori, unaware of the surprise, was visibly shocked and deeply moved by the performance. In 2024, he shared on Instagram that he attended Anne-Marie's concert at Tokyo Garden Theater, describing it as an inspiring experience.

Hobby

His hobbies include fishing, which he has enjoyed since childhood. He used to surf frequently but has stopped to maintain his fair complexion for professional reasons. He has a fondness for animals and plants; in the past he kept a flying squirrel as a pet, and he currently enjoys spending time with the dog his mother keeps at their family home.

Other activities

Modeling and brand activities

Cartier

  • Selected as one of the Cartier Friend of the Maison.
  • Attended Sixième Sens par Cartier high jewelry event in Kyoto, Japan.
  • Appeared at the Panthère de Cartier pop-up in Omotesandō, Tokyo.
  • Attended the Trinity 100 Celebration Party held at Japan National Stadium, marking the 100th anniversary of Cartier’s Trinity line; also narrated the Trinity 100 pop-up exhibition in Omotesandō, Tokyo.
  • Attended the opening event of the Cartier Ginza 4-chome Boutique, Tokyo.
  • Served as the audio guide narrator for the immersive exhibition Into the Wild, exploring the history and creative world of the Maison’s iconic Panthère, held at Maison de Panthère, the former Cartier Ginza 2-chome boutique.
  • Appeared as a Friend of the Maison at Cartier’s holiday pop-up The Art of Gifting in Ginza, Tokyo.

Lancôme

  • Appeared at the Lancôme Clarifique Dual Essence Lotion 1st Anniversary Press Conference.
  • Appointed ambassador “Mr. Clarifique” for Clarifique Dual Essence.

Brunello Cucinelli

Bottega Veneta

AMIRI

Dolce & Gabbana

Commercial activities

  • Nature Lab Co., Ltd. - "LAVONS" - liquid fabric conditioner etc.
  • Line - "Line Poko Poko" -
  • Unicharm - flooring wiper "Wave"
  • Manyo Factory Corp. - as "Ma:nyo" brand ambassador

Events

  • Off Mode, a worldwide streaming–release commemorative event for Yuta Tamamori Mode — Osaka on January 26, 2025; Tokyo on January 28, 2025.

Social media and online activities