Biography
Who is Takuya Kimura?
Early life and career beginnings
Born in Chōfu, Japan, Takuya Kimura attended Chiba City Isobe Daiichi Junior High School and Kotehashi High School before graduating from Tokyo Metropolitan Yoyogi High School. In 1987, at the age of 15, he auditioned for the talent agency Johnny and Associates. This agency recruited and trained young males to become performers.
Later that year, he was placed into a group called The Skate Boys. This group was originally formed to provide backup dancing for the established band Hikaru Genji. By April 1988, producer Johnny Kitagawa selected six members from this group to form a new boy band called SMAP. This group went on to become one of the most successful musical acts in Asia, achieving 14 number-one albums and 24 top-10 albums before officially disbanding on December 31, 2016.
Rise to acting stardom
Takuya made his television acting debut in 1988 in the series Abunai Shonen III alongside his bandmates. He later gained wider attention in 1993 for his role in The Ordinary People, also known as Asunaro Hakusho. The show sparked a national fashion trend, with fans replicating his style, including the thick-rimmed glasses he wore. His performance in the film Shoot earned him the Yūjirō Ishihara Newcomer Award.
His breakthrough as a leading actor came with the 1996 drama Long Vacation. The show was a big success and created the so-called Lon-bake hit, which reportedly influenced many young men to take up piano lessons. Following this success, he starred in other record-breaking series such as Love Generation in 1997, Beautiful Life in 2000, and Hero in 2001. His work in television dramas has been recognized with the Best Actor award at the Television Drama Academy Awards 11 times.
Solo music and recent projects
In 2020, Takuya released his first solo album titled Go with the Flow, which reached number one on the Oricon Albums Chart. He followed this with a concert tour in Tokyo and Osaka. His second album, Next Destination, was released in 2022 and featured collaborations with artists like Tatsuro Yamashita. His third solo album, See You There, debuted at the top of the Billboard Japan Weekly Album Sales chart in 2024.
Beyond his music and television work, Takuya has appeared in various films, including Love and Honor, Hero, and provided voice acting for Howl's Moving Castle. He also portrayed the character Takayuki Yagami in the video games Judgment and Lost Judgment. In May 2026, he moved to the label C and C STAGE under Avex Music Creative, announcing his fourth solo studio album, Checkpoint, and an international tour with stops in Seoul and Taipei.
Family and personal life
Takuya is married to Shizuka Kudō. Together, they have two daughters named Cocomi and Kōki. In May 2021, he and his daughters were recognized at the Weibo Starlight Awards 2020. Takuya is also a sibling to Shunsaku Kimura.
Birthday and age
Takuya Kimura was born on November 13, 1972, which makes Takuya 53 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Takuya shares the date with 25 other famous people.
Explore more
