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 (31–40)
Tetsuya Takeda
Takeda Tetsuya has long been one of the most mainstream targets for celebrity impressions.
He’s so synonymous with impersonations that just about everyone has probably tried doing him at least once on a whim.
Many people imitate his drama roles, with Mr.
Kinpachi in “3rd Year Class B, Mr.
Kinpachi” and “101st Proposal” being especially famous.
Putting on that long-haired wig really amps up the mood, and the swaying hair will make the impression even more exciting!
Yuriko Yoshitaka
Yuriko Yoshitaka, who starred in the NHK morning drama Hanako to Anne, has become a nationally beloved actress.
When someone appears in a morning drama, their way of speaking and acting gets etched into many people’s minds through the daily broadcasts, so impressions are likely to get a good reaction if you imitate them.
In particular, the series of commercials for TORYS Highball is easy to understand and recommended for imitation.
Carefully observe her gaze and facial expressions, and try filming your own impressions—you’ll likely improve.
Mana Ashida
The impression of Mana Ashida that Yuu Yashiro made a classic.
Even though she uses the technique of saying the person’s actual name—a trick often used when it doesn’t really resemble the original—hers is actually very similar! Once your impression is fairly close, adding your own unique twist on top of it might make it a performance everyone can enjoy even more.
Kohei Otomo
Yasuhira Otomo of HOUND DOG is a popular figure representing a rugged, masculine rocker.
The easy part of impersonating him is that if you imitate his voice and sing his hit song “ff (Fortissimo),” you’ll end up with something that feels very Otomo-like.
Rather than someone who just looks a lot like him, it’s actually more impactful—and gets bigger laughs—when someone you’d never expect manages to match only his voice.
Aim for that gap effect, like Ringo-chan, who’s been everywhere lately!
Ken Shimura
Speaking of the most widely known and beloved comedian across the Showa and Heisei eras, it has to be Ken Shimura.
He had so many skits and characters that you might even be unsure which one to imitate.
If you can get a voice close to his, the Foolish Lord (Baka Tono-sama) is recommended; if you’re not comfortable speaking in front of others, the Mustache Dance is a good choice.
It may also be best to practice the character that’s most familiar to the age group you’ll be performing for.
Shigeo Nagashima
When it comes to easily impersonated legends who represent the world of sports, Shigeo Nagashima is surely at the top of the list.
Many people imitate him, and no matter who does it, it’s easy for others to recognize, “Oh, that’s Shigeo Nagashima.”
YOU
Recently, more and more people have been doing impressions of YOU.
Among them, Miracle Hikaru’s impression might be the best of the bunch! YOU’s slightly nasal voice is really charming, so try gently pinching one nostril and adjusting the nasality bit by bit.
Her voice might be lower than you expect!? YOU also uses a lot of filler phrases like “So, um, lately…” so instead of planning what you’re going to say, it might feel more like YOU if you talk while thinking out loud, like “What should I talk about…?” The key points for the impression are a nasal tone with a sweet, cutesy quality!!
Sunshine Ikezaki
If you’re a man who’s good at projecting a loud voice and high energy, I recommend impersonating Sunshine Ikezaki.
His act features a costume with a white sleeveless shirt with red stripes and “Sunshine Ikezaki” printed on it, blue shorts, and a headband—and above all, an relentlessly high-energy performance style.
Shout catchphrases like “Yeaah!” “Okaaay!” and “Justice!” and use full-power gestures to crank up the excitement with unstoppable momentum!
Rola
If you can do an impression of model and TV personality Rola, it would really liven things up! Her unique way of speaking and the distinct hand gestures she uses when she talks give you plenty of signature moves to mimic, which is great for impressions.
As a repertoire item that women can perform, having this one up your sleeve could be a powerful weapon at parties or other entertainment settings.
Takuya Kimura
Takuya Kimura, a former member of SMAP, is extremely popular both as a singer and as an actor.
You often see impressions of him on TV variety shows.
Impressionists like Hori and Atsushi Motoki are famous for their Kimura impersonations and really resemble him.
If you listen with your eyes closed, you might think it’s actually him.
Taking a cue from them, when it comes to Takuya Kimura, the line “Cho, mate yo!” (“Hey, wait a sec!”) is famous.
Also, his role as an unconventional, maverick prosecutor in the drama HERO is often parodied.