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 (11–20)
IKKO
IKKO originally worked as a hair and makeup artist, but thanks to her strong on-screen persona, she quickly became a household name on TV.
Just hearing the phrases “Dondake~” or “Maboroshi~” is enough for everyone to recognize IKKO.
Matsuo Shun from the comedy duo Chocolate Planet, who rose to fame by impersonating IKKO, also helped make her character especially easy to imitate.
Key elements include the hairstyle, outfit, and false eyelashes.
Takeshi Kitano
As a comedy talent, Beat Takeshi, and as a film director and actor, Takeshi Kitano—he’s active across a wide range, isn’t he? How about trying an impression of Takeshi? Impressionists like Kunihiro Matsumura often do impressions of him, and they’re very striking.
If it’s Beat Takeshi, you could go all-out with a goofy, over-the-top vibe, and if it’s Takeshi Kitano, how about mimicking a character from one of his films, like an impression from Outrage?
Matsuko Deluxe
Lately, more and more people have been doing impressions of Matsuko Deluxe.
Among them, the best role model is Futoshi Hojo.
With just a quick glance, you might mistake him for the real person.
The topics the real Matsuko gets most fired up about are women’s figure skating and idol news from Hello! Project.
If you say something super niche like, “MidorI Ito’s choreographer David Wilson was perfectly in sync with her, but the choreography I really loved was by Viktor Lishkin,” you’re good to go! If you’ve got a body type similar to Matsuko’s—on the chubbier side—definitely give it a try!
Mikuru Asakura
Impressions of Mirai Asakura—who draws attention for his success in RIZIN and running BREAKING DOWN—are hugely popular.
If you use Razor Ramon RG or Choshoku Milk as references, you might get even closer to the real thing.
For an appearance-based approach, those Asakura-style sunglasses are a must.
He’s said to favor brown and blue tones.
If you set up a stage like the Breaking Down set that’s often parodied on variety shows, your impression will have even more impact.
Over-the-top lines like “I just ran 100 km in training” also make for a good laugh.
Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi
Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi is an artist known for his manly, high-energy performances and a large base of passionate fans.
His signature songs include “Kanpai” and “Tonbo.” If you’re going to impersonate him, start with the look: a leather jacket, sunglasses, and an acoustic guitar to get closer to Nagabuchi’s vibe.
His singing style—pronunciation and vocal delivery—varies by era, so focusing your impression on a specific period can be interesting.
He’s highly recognizable among men in their 50s and older, so give it a try!
Shinji Tanimura
If you’re in a place with many older folks, impressions that are classics for that crowd are a sure bet.
Invite some like-minded friends and do an Alice impression—you’ll probably get a great reaction.
When it comes to Tanimura impressions, the go-tos are Korokke and Akira Shimizu.
The “tape gag,” elevated to an art form, is a must! If you want big laughs, go for the exaggerated upturned-nose face.
If you can play the guitar, singing the songs straight can make the contrast unexpectedly cool.
And if everyone sings “Sarai” together at the end, it might turn into a moving finale!
Celebrities who are easy to impersonate: Popular and crowd-pleasing impressions (21–30)
Hoi Kenta
Hoikenta, who has had a long career as an impressionist entertainer, is best known for his impersonations of Sanma Akashiya.
Recently, though, a different side of him drew attention on the variety show “Chidori no Oni Renchan.” When he performed T.M.Revolution’s “HIGH PRESSURE” at karaoke, his distinctive vocal techniques—like the memorable “karada guu”—really stood out, so it’s recommended to focus on recreating that aspect.
As seen in his Chris Peppler impression, his naturally low and beautiful voice is also a charm point, so leveraging that to create contrast could work well too.
