Tarento
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese rendering (Wasei-eigo
) of the English word "talent
" and is used as a catch-all term for mass media
personalities who regularly appear on television. Detractors of the phenomenon have referred to it in an English sense as "famous just for being famous" because many that fall into this career line have no discernible talent outside being featured on television. Successful tarento craft unique public personas in order to cater to certain Japanese demographics
. However, insofar as Japanese culture demonstrates certain extremes, so, too, tarento reflect these cultural fixations.
shows. Their participation in these programs varies greatly and includes performing, voicing opinions, mimicking fellow celebrities in a practice called Monomane, taking part in game shows, joking, or just being present for the entire duration of the show (known as being part of the "gallery
").
While it is very common for tarento to appear in serious Japanese television drama
or movies, they are distinguished from mainstream actors by the fact that, where an actor might go on variety television to advertise their latest venture, tarento often appear on variety shows with no apparent promotional agenda outside of a personal one.
Often, tarento, whether men or women, have notoriously short career spans (around one or two years), and their earning capabilities are not as high as popularly imagined. The vast majority make just enough to maintain a middle-class lifestyle in Tokyo
, Japan's media capital. This is because their talent agencies take a majority share of their earnings for the appearances that they make on TV. Part of the money given up by the tarento is to pay for initial support the agencies gave them in terms of free housing, financial stipends, and promotion of that person. These cuts can sometimes be as much as 90%. That said, their work achieves social prominence (and all the associated benefits), and a successful tarento career can be the launching point for a career as movie actor
or even political figure. An example is Takeshi Kitano
, a prominent director, who started out as a comedy tarento and still does weekly shows. Female tarento who are unable to leverage their career into something larger sometimes slowly fade away into eventual obscurity
.
Important considerations for tarento include the degree to which their names are publicly known ("chimeido", 知名度) which is the Japanese equivalent of a Q Rating, the degree to which they are generally liked by the public ("koukando", 好感度), and the character or personality by which they are known (often just "chara"). The distinction between the first two terms is an important one, as celebrities such as Egashira 2:50 might be widely disliked by audiences and still make a living; being disliked is a part of their character. Other elements of a tarento's character may include their origins and other/former careers (e.g. author/illustrator Lily Franky), intelligence (e.g. Masaru Hamaguchi
, a comedian who once misspelled his own name on a televised test), hobbies and skills (many female celebrities are known for how well or poorly they can cook, from the former members of Pink Lady
on the high end of the continuum to race queen
Yinling
on the low end), or appearance (many non-Japanese talents such as Bobby Ologun
use their looks to this effect). The way by which a person becomes tarento can more often than not be categorized.
, Dandy Sakano
, and Razor Ramon Hard Gay.
' is Japanese for laughter, or in this case a "comic talent". Owarai tarento are generally former comedians, often in manzai
(type of stand up), who, after becoming famous, make appearances on variety television
programs that are comedic in nature.
, the son of the legendary Yomiuri Giants
player and manager, Shigeo Nagashima
. After failing to become a successful baseball player, he turned to the entertainment circuit and used his father's name to make inroads. The son of controversial Tokyo
governor Shintaro Ishihara
, Yoshizumi Ishihara, has also achieved a measure of exposure due to nepotism
as well as Kotaro Koizumi
, son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
.
s, and television appearances that capitalize on their physical beauty, with little stress put on their actual ability to entertain or otherwise add to the production. These people are referred to as obaka-aidoru or "dumb idols". Many of the men that fall into this category come from Johnny & Associates
, a male talent agency which is the backbone of the music and television industry. Female examples include Norika Fujiwara
and Waka Inoue
.
, a former American
model, exploited the Japanese stereotype of American women being noisy, and domineering on her husband, singer Mayo Kawasaki. Bobby Ologun
, a Nigerian comedian, uses both stereotypes and caricatures in his act when he flubs lines in Japanese to play off the "foreigners have trouble with the language" stereotype as well as contort his face in the golliwog "Sambo
" style to gain laughs, even though it can be seen as offensive.
A gaikokujin tarento , also known as gaijin tarento (外人タレント) and abbreviated gaitare, is a foreign celebrity active exclusively or almost exclusively in Japan
. The phrase literally means "foreign talent." Having at least a conversational level Japanese
, combined with European or other foreign looks as well as a standout personality, they are often chosen because they meet the Japanese stereotypes of foreigners (for example, the notion that Americans
generally look rugged and have blond hair and blue eyes). Gaikokujin tarento are seen as curiosities by the Japanese, just as other tarento, and are cast differently depending on their ethnicities. When guests of mixed race reveal their backgrounds, the hosts tend to jokingly tell the guests the combination of the mentioned racial backgrounds.
, the third leader of Morning Musume who left the group in 2005 due to a scandal but has continued to appear on variety shows and Japanese television drama
since leaving; the late Ai Iijima
, a former porn starlet
; and Yuusuke Santamaria, who fronted several bands before moving into acting and being a tarento. Fashion modeling can also provide an entry path, with such examples as Rinka
and Aya Sugimoto
.
Wasei-eigo
are Japanese pseudo-Anglicisms: English constructions not used in the English-speaking world or by native English speakers, but that appear in Japanese. This should not be confused for foreign words gairaigo, which generally refer to words from European languages, especially American English...
) of the English word "talent
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
" and is used as a catch-all term for mass media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
personalities who regularly appear on television. Detractors of the phenomenon have referred to it in an English sense as "famous just for being famous" because many that fall into this career line have no discernible talent outside being featured on television. Successful tarento craft unique public personas in order to cater to certain Japanese demographics
Demographics
Demographics are the most recent statistical characteristics of a population. These types of data are used widely in sociology , public policy, and marketing. Commonly examined demographics include gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, and even location...
. However, insofar as Japanese culture demonstrates certain extremes, so, too, tarento reflect these cultural fixations.
Careers
Japanese television programs often feature these media personalities. Many, sometimes dozens at a time, are called in to take part in these prime timePrime time
Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast programming during the middle of the evening for television programing.The term prime time is often defined in terms of a fixed time period—for example, from 19:00 to 22:00 or 20:00 to 23:00 Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast...
shows. Their participation in these programs varies greatly and includes performing, voicing opinions, mimicking fellow celebrities in a practice called Monomane, taking part in game shows, joking, or just being present for the entire duration of the show (known as being part of the "gallery
Audience
An audience is a group of people who participate in a show or encounter a work of art, literature , theatre, music or academics in any medium...
").
While it is very common for tarento to appear in serious Japanese television drama
Japanese television drama
, also called , are a staple of Japanese television and are broadcast daily. All major TV networks in Japan produce a variety of drama series including murder romance, comedy, detective stories, horror, and many others...
or movies, they are distinguished from mainstream actors by the fact that, where an actor might go on variety television to advertise their latest venture, tarento often appear on variety shows with no apparent promotional agenda outside of a personal one.
Often, tarento, whether men or women, have notoriously short career spans (around one or two years), and their earning capabilities are not as high as popularly imagined. The vast majority make just enough to maintain a middle-class lifestyle in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan's media capital. This is because their talent agencies take a majority share of their earnings for the appearances that they make on TV. Part of the money given up by the tarento is to pay for initial support the agencies gave them in terms of free housing, financial stipends, and promotion of that person. These cuts can sometimes be as much as 90%. That said, their work achieves social prominence (and all the associated benefits), and a successful tarento career can be the launching point for a career as movie actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
or even political figure. An example is Takeshi Kitano
Takeshi Kitano
is a Japanese filmmaker, comedian, singer, actor, film editor, presenter, screenwriter, author, poet, painter, and one-time video game designer who has received critical acclaim, both in his native Japan and abroad, for his highly idiosyncratic cinematic work. The famed Japanese film critic...
, a prominent director, who started out as a comedy tarento and still does weekly shows. Female tarento who are unable to leverage their career into something larger sometimes slowly fade away into eventual obscurity
Obscurity
Obscurity may refer to:* Obscurity , German melodic metal band* Security through obscurity, a controversial principle in security engineering which attempts to use secrecy to provide security...
.
Important considerations for tarento include the degree to which their names are publicly known ("chimeido", 知名度) which is the Japanese equivalent of a Q Rating, the degree to which they are generally liked by the public ("koukando", 好感度), and the character or personality by which they are known (often just "chara"). The distinction between the first two terms is an important one, as celebrities such as Egashira 2:50 might be widely disliked by audiences and still make a living; being disliked is a part of their character. Other elements of a tarento's character may include their origins and other/former careers (e.g. author/illustrator Lily Franky), intelligence (e.g. Masaru Hamaguchi
Masaru Hamaguchi
is a Japanese comedian and actor. People have affectionately given him nicknames i.e. Gucchyon, Hamaguchyon, Hamaguche, Masaru-san, Massaru, etc.- Profile :Together with his screen partner, Shinya Arino, Hamaguchi is part of the comic duo, Yoiko....
, a comedian who once misspelled his own name on a televised test), hobbies and skills (many female celebrities are known for how well or poorly they can cook, from the former members of Pink Lady
Pink Lady (band)
is a Japanese female pop music duo of the late 1970s and early 1980s, featuring Mitsuyo Nemoto and Keiko Masuda...
on the high end of the continuum to race queen
Race queen
is a Japanese term for a type of promotional model found as part of a pit crew in certain kinds of motor racing, such as F1 races. The equivalent British term is "Pit babe".-History:...
Yinling
Yinling
Yinling Yinling Yinling (垠凌, real name: 顔 垠凌, Hanyu pinyin: Yán Yínlíng, or in Japanese, (born February 15, 1978) is a Japan-based Taiwanese swimsuit model, race queen, singer and former wrestler. She is called also "Yinling of Joytoy (インリン・オブ・ジョイトイ)," when she appears on television.-Early...
on the low end), or appearance (many non-Japanese talents such as Bobby Ologun
Bobby Ologun
Bobby Ologun is a Nigerian-born TV personality in Japan, and a mixed martial artist. In Japan, he is known simply as . He speaks English, Yoruba and Japanese. He currently lives in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture...
use their looks to this effect). The way by which a person becomes tarento can more often than not be categorized.
Gimmicked tarento
These are people on programs that have a "trademarked" phrase, wardrobe, or mannerism that is used to elicit laughs from the audience. Their on-TV characters tend to be very shallow as they milk the comic device or neta(ネタ) that gave them notoriety and hardly ever expand on their character. It is these figures that tend to have the shortest shelf life on TV as they quickly fade into obscurity after the novelty of their act wears off. They are known in Japan as ippatsuya(一発屋), or "one trick pony". Recent examples include Yoshio KojimaYoshio Kojima
is a Japanese comedian famous for appearing only in a small bathing suit, during both performances and interviews. Among his well-known catchphrases are Sonna no kankei nee and Oppapī , an abbreviation of "Ocean Pacific Peace",...
, Dandy Sakano
Dandy Sakano
Dandy Sakano is a Japanese comedian, best known for his flamboyant clothing and "Gets" catch phrase.A former noodle shop owner, Sakano began his comedy career in 1996...
, and Razor Ramon Hard Gay.
Owarai tarento
'OwaraiOwarai
is a broad word used to describe Japanese comedy as seen on television. The word owarai is the honorific form of the word warai, meaning "a laugh" or "a smile". Owarai is most common on Japanese variety shows and the comedians are referred to as owarai geinin or owarai tarento...
' is Japanese for laughter, or in this case a "comic talent". Owarai tarento are generally former comedians, often in manzai
Manzai
is a traditional style of stand-up comedy in Japanese culture, which usually involves two performers —a straight man and a funny man —trading jokes at great speed...
(type of stand up), who, after becoming famous, make appearances on variety television
Japanese variety show
Japanese variety show is a entertainment television program made up of a variety of original stunts, musical performances, comedy skits, quiz contests, and other acts.-Current situation:...
programs that are comedic in nature.
Nepotic tarento
Sometimes, Tarento are given prominent air time on TV and are promoted heavily due to their association or relationship to an established celebrity or politician, and not because they possess any discernible skills for entertaining audiences. One of the bigger examples of this phenomenon is Kazushige NagashimaKazushige Nagashima
is a Japanese actor, sports commentator and former professional baseball player. His father is Japanese baseball legend, Shigeo Nagashima.-Biography:...
, the son of the legendary Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
player and manager, Shigeo Nagashima
Shigeo Nagashima
is a Japanese former professional baseball player and manager.Nagashima was by far the most popular figure in Japanese baseball during his career. His contributions to the development of the sport in Japan are immeasurable.-Biography:...
. After failing to become a successful baseball player, he turned to the entertainment circuit and used his father's name to make inroads. The son of controversial Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
governor Shintaro Ishihara
Shintaro Ishihara
is a Japanese author, actor, politician and the governor of Tokyo since 1999.- Early life and artistic career :Shintarō was born in Suma-ku, Kobe. His father Kiyoshi was an employee, later a general manager, of a shipping company. Shintarō grew up in Zushi...
, Yoshizumi Ishihara, has also achieved a measure of exposure due to nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
as well as Kotaro Koizumi
Kotaro Koizumi
Kotaro Koizumi is a Japanese actor and the eldest son of the former Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, and Kayoko Miyamoto....
, son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
Junichiro Koizumi
is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2001 to 2006. He retired from politics when his term in parliament ended.Widely seen as a maverick leader of the Liberal Democratic Party , he became known as an economic reformer, focusing on Japan's government debt and the...
.
The beautiful people, a.k.a. "dumb idols"
Additionally, Tarento, both male and female, may be discovered and be given considerable exposure due to their perceived physical beauty and endowments, but the way they are promoted is different from being strictly a fashion model. This is because they spend time making music CDs, star vehicleStar vehicle
A star vehicle has historically been a movie, play, TV series, or other production whose primary purpose, besides turning a profit, is to enhance someone's career. Vehicles are most commonly produced when a young or inexperienced actor has signed a long-term contract with a major studio...
s, and television appearances that capitalize on their physical beauty, with little stress put on their actual ability to entertain or otherwise add to the production. These people are referred to as obaka-aidoru or "dumb idols". Many of the men that fall into this category come from Johnny & Associates
Johnny & Associates
is a talent agency formed by Johnny Kitagawa in 1962. Johnny & Associates trains and promotes groups of male idols, collectively known as , in Japan.-1962–1989:...
, a male talent agency which is the backbone of the music and television industry. Female examples include Norika Fujiwara
Norika Fujiwara
is a Japanese beauty queen, model and actress. She became Miss Japan in 1992 and was an exclusive model for CanCam magazine. She has appeared in various commercials and TV series and a number of films in Japan.-Career:...
and Waka Inoue
Waka Inoue
Waka Inoue is a Japanese idol, tarento and actress. She was born in Meguro, Tokyo as Naoko Aramura . Her mother is former actress Kyoko Saga.Waka's main claim to fame in the tarento circles is her bustline...
.
Foreign tarento
Foreign, often non-Asian, tarento often exploit stereotypes and caricatures to gain notoriety. Carolyn "Caiya" KawasakiCarolyn Kawasaki
Carolyn Kawasaki , better known as Caiya , is a Chicago-born American gaijin tarento, that is a foreign celebrity active in Japan. Kawasaki was active as a model in the 1980s working in the United States, Europe, and Japan. In 1990 she married Mayo Kawasaki, a Japanese celebrity...
, a former American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
model, exploited the Japanese stereotype of American women being noisy, and domineering on her husband, singer Mayo Kawasaki. Bobby Ologun
Bobby Ologun
Bobby Ologun is a Nigerian-born TV personality in Japan, and a mixed martial artist. In Japan, he is known simply as . He speaks English, Yoruba and Japanese. He currently lives in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture...
, a Nigerian comedian, uses both stereotypes and caricatures in his act when he flubs lines in Japanese to play off the "foreigners have trouble with the language" stereotype as well as contort his face in the golliwog "Sambo
Sambo (ethnic slur)
Sambo is a racial term for a person with African heritage and, in some countries, also mixed with Native American heritage .-History:...
" style to gain laughs, even though it can be seen as offensive.
A gaikokujin tarento , also known as gaijin tarento (外人タレント) and abbreviated gaitare, is a foreign celebrity active exclusively or almost exclusively in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The phrase literally means "foreign talent." Having at least a conversational level Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
, combined with European or other foreign looks as well as a standout personality, they are often chosen because they meet the Japanese stereotypes of foreigners (for example, the notion that Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
generally look rugged and have blond hair and blue eyes). Gaikokujin tarento are seen as curiosities by the Japanese, just as other tarento, and are cast differently depending on their ethnicities. When guests of mixed race reveal their backgrounds, the hosts tend to jokingly tell the guests the combination of the mentioned racial backgrounds.
Notable gaikokujin tarento
- AdeytoAdeytoAdeyto is an artist, singer-songwriter, actress, director, photographer, university professor, and fashion designer.- Biography :...
- Jasmine Ann AllenJasmine Ann AllenJasmine Marika is American voice actress, singer and TV personality in Japan. Her first single with Japanese comedian Gorie topped the Japanese single chart for two weeks....
(aka Jasmine Marika) - Peter Barakan
- Francesco BellissimoFrancesco BellissimoFrancesco Bellissimo born January 3, 1979 in Rome. He is famous Italian Celebrity chef and tarento living in Japan. He is the president of the Italian Cooking Association in Japan, known as "Italian Ryouri Kenkyukai" in Japanese and also serves as the president of an official A.S. Roma fan club in...
- Thane CamusThane Camus-Biography:Camus was born in New York on November 27, 1970. He is the grandson of Nobel Prize laureate novelist/philosopher Albert Camus. Camus arrived in Japan in 1980 and graduated from a board school in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture. He was the first male graduate of St. Maur International...
- ChadhaChadhaChadha could refer to:*Khukhrain*Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha...
- Agnes ChanAgnes ChanAgnes Chan or Agnes Miling Kaneko Chan is a pop singer, a television personality , a Doctor of Education, a professor at Japanese universities, an essayist, a novelist...
- Rola ChenRola ChenChen Yi , better known as Rola Chen, is a Chinese-born Japanese gravure idol from Hangzhou.-Early life:While in middle school, she was nicknamed "Flower" . According to Chen, in China, the most beautiful girl in a school earns this title...
- Kent DerricottKent DerricottKent Derricott is an actor and celebrity television personality, or gaijin tarento, in Japan who was born on 3 March 1955 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. He first learned Japanese while working as a Mormon missionary in Japan when he was 19 years old. He is known as one of "the two Kents"...
- Leah DizonLeah DizonLeah Dizon is an American-born former gaijin tarento, singer, and model in Japan. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, she moved to Tokyo, Japan in 2006 to pursue a career in entertainment...
- Robert DunhamRobert DunhamRobert Dunham was an American actor, entrepreneur, writer, racecar driver, and a US Marine. He is probably best known for his role as Antonio, Emperor of Seatopia in Godzilla vs. Megalon ; Dunham's biggest role would be that of Mark Jackson in the Japanese film, Dogora and Captain Martin in The...
- Péter FranklPéter Frankl----Péter Frankl is a Hungarian mathematician and street performer. Frankl studied Mathematics in University Paris Diderot and has lived in Japan since 1988, where he sometimes appears on NHK. Though not as popular as he once was, he still performs juggling in public spaces around Tokyo...
- Marty Friedman
- Kent GilbertKent GilbertKent Gilbert is an actor working in Japan. He first visited Japan in 1971 as a Mormon missionary. After returning to the United States, he received a law degree as well as an MBA from Brigham Young University....
- Edith HansonEdith HansonEdith Hanson is an American television personality and essayist, living in Tanabe, Wakayama, Japan. Younger sister of World War II flying ace Robert M. Hanson....
- Patrick HarlanPatrick HarlanPatrick Harlan is a gaijin tarento, member of the comedy duo Pakkun Makkun, and one of the hosts of the late-night English television show Eigo de Shabera Night in Japan...
- Vivian HsuVivian HsuVivian Hsu is a Taiwanese singer, actress, and model who has gained remarkable popularity in East Asia, mainly in Taiwan and Japan.Hsu rose to prominence in Japan, where she made her first appearance in 1995 and has become a highly-recognized celebrity with her countless appearances in media...
- Daniel KahlDaniel KahlDaniel Kahl is an American of German descent and a foreign TV personality in Japan. He is famous for speaking fluent Yamagata-ben, the very rural dialect of Yamagata Prefecture...
- Carolyn KawasakiCarolyn KawasakiCarolyn Kawasaki , better known as Caiya , is a Chicago-born American gaijin tarento, that is a foreign celebrity active in Japan. Kawasaki was active as a model in the 1980s working in the United States, Europe, and Japan. In 1990 she married Mayo Kawasaki, a Japanese celebrity...
(aka Caiya Kawasaki) - KonishikiKonishiki Yasokichi----, is a Hawaiian-born Japanese–Samoan former sumo wrestler. He was the first foreign-born wrestler to reach ozeki, the second highest rank in the sport...
- Kane KosugiKane Kosugiborn in Los Angeles, California is a American martial artist and martial arts actor. He is the son of martial arts star Sho Kosugi. In Japan, Kosugi is considered gaijin tarento due to his Nisei heritage....
- Brad LesleyBrad LesleyBradley Jay Lesley is a former Major League Baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers from 1982 to 1985. Lesley, who was nicknamed "The Animal", was known for his aggressive style to motivate himself. He later became a television personality in Japan after playing 2 seasons for...
(aka Animal Lesley) - Agnes LumAgnes LumAgnes Nalani Lum, born on May 21, 1956 to a Chinese father and a mother of Hawaiian ancestry, in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a gravure idol star, singer, actress, and bikini supermodel popular in Japan in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
- Mark MusashiMark MusashiMasaru Edward Fulenwider-Musashi , better known by the stage name , is a Wushu martial artist and a stuntman/actor or Gaijin tarento. Raised in Buckfield, Maine, he attended Dartmouth College , majoring in East Asian Languages and Literatures and minoring in Drama...
- Bobby OlogunBobby OlogunBobby Ologun is a Nigerian-born TV personality in Japan, and a mixed martial artist. In Japan, he is known simply as . He speaks English, Yoruba and Japanese. He currently lives in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture...
- Judy OnggJudy OnggJudy Ongg is an actress, singer, author and woodblock-print artist from Taiwan. Born in Taipei, she graduated from Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan, and after that, she changed her nationality from taiwanese into Japanese. Her career has spanned more than four decades.Judy made her film debut in...
- Girolamo PanzettaGirolamo PanzettaGirolamo Panzetta, born September 6, 1962 in Villanova del Battista, is a celebrity from Italy living and working in Japan. He has been on Japanese TV, everything from dramas to cooking shows, and also in fashion magazines. Panzetta voiced the Italian car Luigi in the Japanese version of "Cars". He...
- Zomahoun Idossou RufinZomahoun Idossou RufinZomahoun Idossou Rufin , popularly known as Zomahon , is a Beninese foreign personality in Japan....
- Ousmane Youla Sankhon
- Bob SappBob SappRobert Malcolm "Bob" Sapp is an American kickboxer, mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, actor, comedian and former professional American football player. Sapp currently has a combined fight record of 21–21–0, mostly fighting in Japan...
- Sebastiano SerafiniSebastiano SerafiniSebastiano Serafini is an Italian actor, model, musician, and stylist working in Hong Kong and Japan. He has modeled for brands and fashion lines including h.Naoto, Sixh., Lip Service, Gstar, Stand Up!! The Fragile, Toni & Guy, Paul Smith, Blablahospital, and True Religion...
- Dave SpectorDave SpectorDave Spector is a gaijin tarento in Japan.Spector, a Jewish American, was born in Chicago, Illinois. He studied abroad at Sophia University in 1972. He has lived in Japan since 1983...
- Jason StraatmannJason StraatmannJason Straatmann "J" is an American actor in Japan , Korea, and much of Southeast Asia best known for his roles in quirky comedies, drama's, printed advertisements, action figures, and a wide range of television commercial and movie appearances...
- Beckii CruelBeckii CruelRebecca Anne Flint , better known by her stage name Beckii Cruel , is a British pop dancer and singer. She reached popularity in Japan after her YouTube videos of her dancing to dance pop songs were posted around the Internet. She is the 17th most subscribed user in Japan on YouTube...
- Anton WickyAnton Wickyis an educator and celebrity in Japan. His full name is Anton Wicky Ampalavanar. He was born in Ceylon and went to Japan in 1961 as a Mombusho scholar. In 1969 he earned a doctorate from the University of Tokyo. His teaching career has included Ohu and Reitaku Universities.He began his Nippon...
- Charles Kent Wilson (aka Chuck Wilson)
- YinlingYinlingYinling Yinling Yinling (垠凌, real name: 顔 垠凌, Hanyu pinyin: Yán Yínlíng, or in Japanese, (born February 15, 1978) is a Japan-based Taiwanese swimsuit model, race queen, singer and former wrestler. She is called also "Yinling of Joytoy (インリン・オブ・ジョイトイ)," when she appears on television.-Early...
(aka Yinling of Joytoy) - Yoon Son-haYoon Son-haYoon Son-ha is a South Korean actress, singer and television personality . She is signed onto Sony Music Japan's SME Records division...
- YounhaYounhaYounha , is a South Korean pop singer who first got her start in Japan, and continues to have success today in both countries....
- Rosanna Zanbon (aka Rosanna)
- Julie DreyfusJulie DreyfusJulie Dreyfus is a French actress.Dreyfus, who speaks fluent Japanese, French, and English, is well known in Japan, where she made her TV debut on a French-language lesson program on NHK's educational channel in the late 1980s, and has appeared on the TV show Ryōri no Tetsujin as a guest and...
Maintaining relevance
Occasionally, people will become tarento as a result of a directional shift in their career due to a loss of popularity and relevance in their original field. It is especially common for musicians to become tarento due to the tremendous turnover in acts that are featured by record labels. Some examples include Kiriko Isono, who debuted as part of a singing trio and made a name for herself based on a rapid wit and willingness to put herself down for a laugh; Mari YaguchiMari Yaguchi
, known professionally by her birth name of is a Japanese pop artist and former member of Hello! Project. She is a former member of Morning Musume and Tanpopo, one of its first sub groups, and also founded Minimoni...
, the third leader of Morning Musume who left the group in 2005 due to a scandal but has continued to appear on variety shows and Japanese television drama
Japanese television drama
, also called , are a staple of Japanese television and are broadcast daily. All major TV networks in Japan produce a variety of drama series including murder romance, comedy, detective stories, horror, and many others...
since leaving; the late Ai Iijima
Ai Iijima
was a Japanese media personality and AV idol. She belonged to the entertainment agency Watanabe Entertainment until her retirement.-Early life:Born as , she described a troubled early life in her autobiography. She was raped in her early teens, and had an abortion...
, a former porn starlet
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
; and Yuusuke Santamaria, who fronted several bands before moving into acting and being a tarento. Fashion modeling can also provide an entry path, with such examples as Rinka
Rinka
Rinka Falls is a waterfall in the Logar Valley, in the Municipality of Solčava in Slovenia. It is the source of the Savinja River.It has been proclaimed a natural heritage feature. Rinka Falls is one of the most beautiful and best-known waterfalls in Slovenia. It is also a popular tourist...
and Aya Sugimoto
Aya Sugimoto
is a Japanese TV personality, actress, dancer and author born in Kyoto. She also had a J-pop career in the late 1980s-early 1990s.-Early life:Aya Sugimoto grew up in Kyoto under a "strict" upbringing, making her first foray into the world of entertainment when she began modeling at age 15...
.