SMAP

SMAP is a popular Japanese "idol" group, formed by Johnny & Associates Inc. office. Current members are Masahiro Nakai, Takuya Kimura, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Goro Inagaki and Shingo Katori. (Please note, names are given here in Western personal name-family name order.) The members of SMAP have dominated the Japanese pop cultural landscape from their musical debut in 1991 until the present time (as of 2005), showing incredible longevity for a manufactured group. They produce not just numerous hit singles, but also star in numerous television variety shows, dorama, commercials, movies, etc. They are almost unrivaled in their immense popularity among younger, and especially female, Japanese.

Members

Singing is only a small part of the reason for SMAP's current fame. All of the members of SMAP have acted in numerous television dramas, variety programs commericials, and movies, but each also cultivates a distinctive image and personality.

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• Masahiro Nakai (中居 正広) is the "leader" of the group and has hosted numerous television programs through out the years. He is a notorious bachelor and trickster. He is known for his bad singing. He frequently wears a hat and has long hair, although his look changes frequently.
• Takuya Kimura (木村 拓哉) has appeared in many extremely successful television dramas. He has been said to be the "sexiest guy in Japan". He cultivates a heartthrob image, as well of that of a devoted husband. After his breakout role in Asunaro Hakusho, Kimura became the cover boy for many magazines. In 1994, the so-called Kimutaku (a contraction of Kimura Takuya) syndrome shook Japan. Kimura was voted AnAn's favorite guy, Best Jeanist, etc. He was voted Best Jeanist from 1994 to 1999 and became a "forever Jeanist". He is still AnAn's favorite guy, having won the vote 12 times consecutively (as of 2005). In 1995, Kimura acted in a movie called "Kimi wa wasurenai," and was praised by critics and viewers alike. Many of the projects in which he has acted, such as "HERO" and "Beautiful Life," have held records for Japanese viewership.
• Goro Inagaki (稻垣 吾郎) is one of the main vocalists of the group. He has his own late-night variety programme called Goro's Bar, and also acts in television dramas as well as occasional stage plays.
• Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (草彅 剛) speaks Korean and is known as the best dramatic actor. He has soft features and projects a "sensitive" image. In 2005, he went to Thailand, to learn more about the lives of orphans there, and documented the trip for a television special of SMAP's weekly variety programme SMAPXSMAP.
• Shingo Katori (????) is known for his use of English and even has a guidebook, "English Berabera," published in his name. (English speakers who watch SMAP may dispute claims that he knows the language.) For a while he dyed his hair white, making him stand out in the group.