Tatsuya Ueda is a prominent Japanese idol, singer, and actor, a KAT-TUN member known for his multifaceted music and acting career, distinctive "Boxer Idol" image, and mentorship.
Tatsuya Ueda is a prominent Japanese idol, singer, and actor, best known as a member of the popular male idol group KAT-TUN. Born on October 4, 1983, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, Ueda joined Johnny & Associates in 1998, embarking on a multifaceted career that has seen him achieve success in music, television, film, and stage. He is recognized for his distinctive public image, often characterized by a tough exterior contrasted with a warm smile, and his dedication to hobbies like boxing. After KAT-TUN's debut in 2006, Ueda's role evolved within the group, becoming a central figure in its current three-member formation. Beyond his group activities, he has cultivated a significant solo music career, starred in numerous dramas and stage productions, and engaged in various entertainment ventures, including popular variety shows and a strong presence on social media. His contributions extend to mentoring junior idols and collaborating with other artists, influencing the Japanese entertainment industry.
Tatsuya Ueda's early life laid the foundation for his eventual rise as a prominent figure in the Japanese entertainment industry, marked by unique family anecdotes and a clear path into the highly competitive world of idol performance.
Ueda was born on October 4, 1983, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. He is the youngest of two children, with an elder sister named Miyuki. His family includes a Pomeranian dog named Chibi, and sources also mention four Golden Retrievers, indicating a family environment with multiple pets. In his childhood, Ueda harbored an aspiration to become a teacher, a dream he later abandoned due to a humorous fear of teaching at an all-girls' school. An unusual anecdote from his youth recounts his parents leaving him on a mountain. Ueda has a B blood type, and his height is approximately 67 in (170 cm).
Ueda's entry into Johnny & Associates, a renowned Japanese talent agency, occurred on June 22, 1998. His motivation stemmed from seeing Tsubasa Imai dancing on television, which inspired him to persuade his parents and send in his own resume. During his audition, he was noted by Johnny & Associates founder Johnny Kitagawa, who reportedly approved of him with the comment, "I like monks," due to Ueda's shaved head at the time.
Prior to his official debut, Ueda was active as a Johnny's Jr., participating in various junior units. These units included B.B.A. (Boys Be Ambitious), M.A.D. (Musical Academy Dancing), B.B.D. (Best Beat Dancing), and the Toshi Otoko Unit. His involvement in these groups provided him with foundational performance experience. In 2001, Ueda was selected as a member of the group KAT-TUN. The group was initially formed to serve as exclusive backing dancers for Koichi Domoto of KinKi Kids on the popular NHK program "Pop Jam."
KAT-TUN officially debuted on March 22, 2006, with the release of their first single, "Real Face". The group's name was originally an acronym derived from the first letter of each member's family name. Following the departures of members Jin Akanishi in 2010, Koki Tanaka in 2013, and Junnosuke Taguchi in 2016, Ueda took on the 'T' in KAT-TUN, now representing Tatsuya. As of 2016, the group consists of Kazuya Kamenashi (KA), Tatsuya Ueda (T-TU), and Yuichi Nakamaru (N).
Ueda initially volunteered to be the leader of KAT-TUN but later stepped down from the role. This decision was largely influenced by the frequent arguments among the passionate members, as he disliked being singled out for reprimand. Consequently, KAT-TUN has operated without a formal leader since then. Throughout his tenure in the group, Ueda made a conscious effort to cultivate a unique persona to avoid being overshadowed by the other distinctive members, a strategy that became more pronounced as the group's lineup evolved.
Tatsuya Ueda has developed a notable solo music career in addition to his work with KAT-TUN, marked by his involvement in songwriting and a series of successful concerts and releases.
Ueda has held several solo concert tours under the recurring title "MOUSE PEACE," characterized by a mouse making a peace sign with its fingers as the concert's symbol. These concerts have often featured many songs with lyrics penned by Ueda himself.
TATSUYA UEDA LIVE 2008 『MOUSE PEACE』 was his first solo tour, held from September 8 to September 21, 2008, at the Johnnys Theatre. This inaugural tour drew an audience of 52,500 people.
MOUSE PEACE uniting with FiVe TATSUYA UEDA LIVE 2010 took place from August 4 to October 3, 2010, encompassing seven performances across five cities.
MOUSE PEACE 2024 ~Garyu Tensei~ marked Ueda's return to solo touring after a 13-year hiatus. The tour commenced on January 6, 2024, at Zepp Sapporo, and ran until February 6, 2024, with 15 performances in 5 cities as an "All Zepp" nationwide tour. For this tour, Ueda collaborated with Sho Sakurai on two new songs.
Tatsuya Ueda's solo discography includes an EP and numerous solo and duet songs, often featured on KAT-TUN's albums and singles. He is frequently involved in the lyric writing and composition of his solo tracks.
EPs
The EP "Girist!" debuted at number one on the weekly Oricon Digital Album chart, achieving 6,293 downloads. It includes the following tracks:
ギリスト！Girist!Japanese (co-written with Sho Sakurai)
光射す方へHikari sasu kata eJapanese (co-written with Sho Sakurai)
カンタービレCantabileJapanese
Lollipop
ヤンキー片想い中Yankī kataomoi-chūJapanese (released as a digital-only song on October 13, 2017)
花の舞う街Hana no mau machiJapanese
Solo Songs and Duets
Other notable solo songs that have been performed live or released include:
Love in snow (featured on DVD KAT-TUN Live Kaizokuban)
PIECES
Kakigori
SPARKING (featured on DVD Live of KAT-TUN "Real Face")
Sodachi Shima
DICTATOR
Haruka Mirai e
TIME
TEEN'S
Friends
DEEP RED DROP
Mikansei no Answer (theme song for the drama Shinjuku Seven)
Ore Melody (stage play theme song, first officially released on single Ask Yourself)
Ueda's solo activities have been documented in official video releases, primarily showcasing his live concert performances.
MOUSE PEACE 2024 ~Garyu Tensei~ (released on September 4, 2024) was released in various formats, including 2BD (Limited and Regular Editions), 2DVD (Limited and Regular Editions), and a fan club exclusive version that included a BD+CD or 2DVD+CD.
Tatsuya Ueda has established a diverse acting career, appearing in numerous television dramas, films, and stage plays, often taking on roles that highlight his unique persona.
Shijou Saiyaku no Date (Nippon Television, 2001) - Episode 16 "I'm Not Afraid of Vampires"
Konkatsu! (Fuji TV, 2009) - Kuniyasu Amamiya. This was his first appearance in a continuous television drama.
Runaway ~Aisuru Kimi no Tame ni~ (TBS, 2011) - Kuya Takimoto. For this role, Ueda famously shaved his head, a transformation he underwent again for a subsequent film role.
Boys on the Run (TV Asahi, 2012) - Ryuu Andou. Ueda utilized his boxing hobby for this role as a boxing prodigy.
Shinjuku Seven (TV Tokyo, 2017) - Nanase (lead role). This marked his first lead role in a continuous television drama, for which he also sang the theme song "Mikansei no Answer."
Setsuyaku Rock (Nippon TV, 2019) - Takao Matsumoto (lead role). He reprised this role in Setsuyaku Rock Chotto Tokubetsu Hen (Nippon TV, 2020) and the streaming drama Setsuyaku LOCK (Hulu, 2020).
Yoにも奇妙な君物語 (WOWOW, 2021) - Jun (lead role) in Episode 5 "Wakiyaku Battle Royale."
Nemesis (Nippon TV, 2021) - Kensho Hoshi. This marked his first drama co-starring with his admired senior Sho Sakurai.
GAME OF SPY (Amazon Prime Video, 2022) - Toru Kageyama.
Ueda has a rich history in stage productions, often taking on challenging and prominent roles.
MILLENNIUM SHOCK (2000)
SHOW geki SHOCK (2001, 2002)
SHOCK is Real Shock (2003)
Hey! Say! Dream Boy (2005)
Dream Boys (2006)
Romeo and Juliet (2009) - Romeo (lead role). Performed at Tokyo Globe Theatre (March 4-29, 2009) and Sankei Hall Breeze (April 2-5, 2009). This was his first leading role in a stage play.
Tōmin suru kuma ni soine shite goran (2014) - Tanehiko Kawashita (lead role). Performed at Theatre Cocoon (January 9 - February 1, 2014) and Morinomiya Piloti Hall (February 7-12, 2014).
Aoi Hitomi (2015) - Sam. Performed at Theatre Cocoon (November 1-26, 2015).
Shin Sekai Romance Orchestra (2017) - Takuya (lead role). Performed at Tokyo Globe Theatre (April 30 - May 21, 2017) and Theatre Drama City (May 26-28, 2017).
Political Mother: The Choreographer's Cut (2019) - Lead role. This marked the Japan premiere of the work by choreographer Hofesh Shechter, performed at Bunkamura Orchard Hall (April 6-11, 2019).
Endless SHOCK 20th Anniversary (2020) - Tatsuya. Performed at Imperial Theatre (February 4-26, 2020).
Endless SHOCK -Eternal- (2020, 2021) - Tatsuya. Performed at Umeda Arts Theater (September 15 - October 12, 2020) and Imperial Theatre (February 4 - March 31, 2021).
Birdland (2021) - Paul (lead role). Performed at PARCO Theatre (September 9 - October 3, 2021), Kariya Cultural Center (October 9), Kyoto Theatre (October 15-18), and Kurume City Plaza (October 30-31).
After Life (2023) - Number 2 (lead role). Performed at New National Theatre, Playhouse (July 8-18, 2023), Morinomiya Piloti Hall (July 21-27), and Canal City Theatre (August 2-4).
Hammon Federico: Kutabare! Jujigun (2024) - Heinrich. Performed at PARCO Theatre (August 6 - September 1, 2024), Niterra Nippon Tokushu Togyo Civic Hall Village Hall (September 7-8), Morinomiya Piloti Hall (September 11-16), and Kurume City Plaza The Grand Hall (September 21-22).
Endless SHOCK (2024) - Tatsuya. Scheduled for November 2024 at Imperial Theatre.
Beyond his core activities in music and acting, Tatsuya Ueda has engaged in a variety of other entertainment ventures, showcasing his versatility and public presence.
Ueda has been a regular presence on various television variety shows and hosted radio programs.
R-One KAT-TUN (Bunka Hoso "Recomen!") (April 5, 2006 - March 27, 2012) - Co-hosted with KAT-TUN member Yuichi Nakamaru.
Kyokasho ni Nosetai! (TBS, July 26, 2011 - September 4, 2012).
Honoo no Taikukai TV (TBS, October 2012 - March 18, 2023) - He was a regular cast member on this sports variety show, notably leading the "Johnny's Athletics Club" and "Johnny's Swimming Club" segments.
Ueda Tatsuya no Mita Me de Zettai Kimetsukerai TV (TV Tokyo, May 28, 2022) - This was his first solo variety program where he held the "crown" (lead host) title.
Ueda Tatsuya no Pirates Radio (BayFM, April 1, 2023 - present).
Ueda launched his official Instagram account on February 14, 2023. His first post, featuring himself and his Pomeranian dog, Chibi, was notably written in English. Subsequent posts, including one celebrating KAT-TUN's 17th debut anniversary on March 22, often feature content in Japanese with some English phrases. He gained significant popularity for his "Taoshikata Series" (How to Defeat Series) posts, which humorously depicted his interactions with senior and junior idols, including Koichi Domoto, Kento Nakajima, Sho Hirano, and Raul. This series was praised for its humor and accurate portrayal of personalities.
Ueda has also participated in various other notable events.
Johnny's Sports Day 2017 (April 16, 2017, Tokyo Dome) - Ueda participated as the director of the "J-RED" team.
J-Series Festival in Thailand (June 18, 2017, Siam Pavalai Theater).
MOUSE PEACE FES. 2024 1st Bite (scheduled for October 31, 2024, at Pacifico Yokohama) - This is a Halloween festival initiated by Ueda himself, featuring various guest artists including So Matsushima and Noeru Kawashima.
Tatsuya Ueda is known for a range of distinctive personal characteristics, hobbies, and notable relationships that contribute to his unique public image.
Ueda has a passionate dedication to various hobbies and has cultivated several special skills.
Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts: Since around 2007, Ueda has been deeply committed to boxing, regularly training at a gym. His rigorous regimen includes a daily 6.2 mile (10 km) roadwork, and his body fat percentage has been known to drop to 4%, typically maintaining between 6% and 8%. He is an amateur boxer, and his skills have been showcased in dramas (such as Boys on the Run) and various sports and variety programs. He has famously sparred with professional boxers, including former world champion Yasuei Yakushiji in 2014, Tenshin Nasukawa in 2022, and former world champion Daisuke Naito in 2023. Beyond boxing, he is also an avid fan of mixed martial arts, having appeared as a guest on the RIZIN event broadcast on December 31, 2019.
Music: Ueda learned to play the piano as a child but now prefers the guitar. He is also actively involved in songwriting, having written lyrics and composed many of his solo songs.
Reading Manga: He is a devoted manga enthusiast, particularly enjoying delinquent manga like Chameleon by Atsushi Kase. He reportedly owns over 1,000 manga volumes kept at his current and childhood homes. His passion for manga has even led him to engage in "sacred site pilgrimages" for specific series, such as visiting Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture for Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day with friends, including actor Kanata Hongo.
Ueda's relationships within and outside the entertainment industry, along with various anecdotes, offer insights into his character.
Bond with Sho Sakurai: Ueda deeply admires Arashi's Sho Sakurai, whom he affectionately refers to as "Aniki" (big brother). He is a long-standing member of the "Aniki Kai," a group of Johnny's talents who look up to Sakurai. Their professional collaboration began in 2021 when Ueda co-starred with Sakurai in the drama Nemesis as Kensho Hoshi, a mysterious craftsman. This collaboration extended to the 2023 movie version of Nemesis. In December 2023, Ueda announced that he and Sakurai had co-written two songs, "ギリスト！Girist!Japanese" and "光射す方へHikari sasu kata eJapanese", for his 2024 solo concert tour. Sakurai also made a surprise appearance at a KAT-TUN live concert in Osaka in 2019 for a rap battle corner.
Friendship with Yuichi Nakamaru: Ueda shares a close friendship with his fellow KAT-TUN member Yuichi Nakamaru, who is the only member of the group the same age as him. They often spend time together privately and are noted for their shared dislike of spicy food. Despite Ueda's reputation for being playful with others, he is said to rarely prank Nakamaru, reflecting the genuine nature of their friendship.
Mentorship of Junior Idols: Ueda has taken on a mentorship role for junior idols within Johnny & Associates. He notably formed and led the "Johnny's Athletics Club" and "Johnny's Swimming Club" on the variety show Honoo no Taikukai TV, training junior members to compete against Olympic-level athletes. Even after some juniors, such as Reo Nagatsuma and Shoki Morohoshi, left the agency, Ueda has maintained contact and continued his friendship with them.
Leadership and Individuality: Ueda initially volunteered to be KAT-TUN's leader but later stepped down, stating he disliked being reprimanded as a representative for the frequent arguments among the passionate members. After this, KAT-TUN has operated without a formal leader. Facing a group of distinct personalities, Ueda consciously pursued a unique character to ensure he wasn't overshadowed, ultimately shaping the group's evolving image with his strong individual presence as member numbers decreased.
Public Image: Ueda is often described as having a tough or intimidating appearance, which has earned him nicknames like "Boxer Idol." However, this exterior is frequently contrasted with his warm and friendly smile.
Tatsuya Ueda has cultivated a distinctive public persona and exerted a significant influence on both junior idols and the broader entertainment industry through his unique approach to his career and his collaborative efforts.
Ueda's public image is one of the most recognizable within Johnny & Associates. His rigorous boxing training and seemingly tough exterior have led to him being frequently dubbed the "Boxer Idol." This tough facade is notably complemented by a warm and genuine smile, creating a compelling contrast that defines his public perception. Within KAT-TUN, a group known for its strong individual personalities, Ueda actively sought to develop a unique character that would stand out and contribute to the group's identity. This pursuit of individuality has allowed him to clearly represent the group's image and unique "color," especially as the number of members evolved.
Ueda has played a crucial role in the development of junior idols through his direct mentorship. He notably spearheaded the "Johnny's Athletics Club" and "Johnny's Swimming Club" on the variety show Honoo no Taikukai TV, where he coached junior talents to compete in various sports challenges. His dedication to these juniors extended beyond the show, as he has maintained relationships with former members even after they left the agency, showcasing his lasting impact as a mentor.
Furthermore, Ueda has engaged in significant collaborations with other artists. His songwriting partnership with Sho Sakurai, particularly on the tracks "ギリスト！Girist!Japanese" and "光射す方へHikari sasu kata eJapanese", demonstrates his creative contributions beyond his solo work. These collaborations and his mentorship initiatives highlight his tangible influence on the entertainment industry and his commitment to fostering talent.