Celebrities who are easy to impersonate: Popular impressions that are often mimicked and get the crowd going
Impersonating celebrities is a classic way to get the crowd going at company parties and mixers.
It’s also popular as entertainment or even for self-introductions, and plenty of people probably want to give it a try themselves.
That said, it can be hard to decide which celebrity to impersonate, and ideally you’d want to know some impressions that are easy to learn!
So in this article, we’ll introduce lots of simple, approachable celebrity impressions that are sure to liven up any event.
We’ve picked well-known celebrities regardless of gender, so choose the impression that suits you best and take your time practicing.
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Celebrities who are easy to impersonate: Popular and crowd-pleasing impressions (51–60)
Akira Nakao
When it comes to impersonating Akira Nakao, it’s all about that signature “twisty-twisty shawl.” It can be a scarf, a bath towel—anything—just wrap it around your neck and twist it around.
Then say something that sounds like the sort of thing Nakao-san would say, for example, “When it comes to taste, you know, once you start putting it into words, it’s all over,” and deliver it with lots of pauses—it’s strangely convincing.
He’s also famous for being a devoted husband, so it works well to sprinkle in lines like “Shino, Shino,” here and there, or “My Shino…” There’s so much to imitate that it’s especially recommended for beginners!
Ryoko Shinohara
Ryoko Shinohara, who has appeared in numerous dramas and is active as an actress.
When she debuted, she was also active as a musical artist, and in 1994 she released “Itoshisa to Setsunasa to Kokorozuyosa to,” produced by Tetsuya Komuro.
It was a massive hit, selling over two million copies, and became one of the signature songs of the 1990s.
The music video—memorable for her cool expression and strong gaze as she sings—is also striking, so if you’re going to do an impression of her, you might want to practice that scene.
Antonio Inoki
Antonio Inoki has so many elements people want to imitate—catchphrases, a theme song, even his distinctive chin.
He’s a character who has been loved by people of all ages for many years.
By the way, Inoki’s theme song, “Fighter of Fire: INOKI BOM-BA-YE,” was originally gifted to him by Muhammad Ali in praise of Inoki’s valiant effort after they faced off at the Nippon Budokan in 1976; it had been Ali’s own theme song.
Try channeling and imitating Inoki’s power, which always gives us energy and courage.
koi (nishikigoi)
How about trying an impression of Nishikigoi, the duo that became hugely popular on TV as the champions of M-1 Grand Prix 2021? You could focus on impersonating just one member, or it could be fun to play both roles by yourself.
The charm of the duo lies in the gap between the super-energetic Masaki Hasegawa and the cool, sharp retorts of Takashi Watanabe, so make sure to exaggerate that contrast.
It also helps to include their signature lines to make it feel authentic, like Hasegawa’s elongated “Hellooo there!!” and Watanabe’s curt “You’re so loud!”
Jiro Sakaue
Jirō Sakagami, who, together with Kinichi Hagimoto, formed the duo Konto 55-go and defined an era, was beloved for his playful character but sadly passed away in 2011 due to a cerebral infarction.
His signature line, “Tobimasu, tobimasu” (“I’m flying, I’m flying”), became established as his iconic gag in part because Tsurutarō Kataoka, known for his impressions of Sakagami, frequently used it.