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 impressions that people often do and that really hype up the crowd (41–50)
Masakazu Tamura
When it comes to Masakazu Tamura, it’s got to be the “Furuhata Ninzaburō” series.
That intensely idiosyncratic acting of his is so memorable.
The black suit, the gesture of putting his hand to his forehead, that sticky, drawling way of speaking and the famous lines, his unique sense of timing—there are so many distinctive moves, so study them in detail and try to copy them.
If that’s too hard, exaggerating it to about the level of Hollywood Zakoshishou could be an option!
Celebrities who are easy to impersonate: Popular and crowd-pleasing impressions (51–60)
Yuji Oda
When it comes to impersonations of Yuji Oda, many people probably think of the impressionist Takahiro Yamamoto.
I recommend that you start by watching a lot of Yamamoto’s impressions rather than footage of Oda himself.
Speaking of Yuji Oda, his famous line from “Bayside Shakedown” is probably, “We can’t close the Rainbow Bridge!” Another iconic catchphrase is his passionate shout from the World Athletics Championships: “I’m so glad I was born on Earth!” Be sure to try using these yourself!
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.
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!”
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.
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.
Kanpei Kazama
It’s also nice to perform a bit everyone knows.
So I’d like to introduce Kanpei Hazama’s signature gag, “Kaii no.” The way to do it is very simple: rub your butt against something nearby while repeatedly saying “kaii no.” It’s easier to get if you watch the original, but try tightening your throat a little and saying it in a cute voice.
By the way, this gag is simple and versatile, so you can also slip it in during conversation transitions.
