Yoshihiro Usami

Üsa
宇佐美 吉啓
Usami at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards Japan
Usami at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards Japan
Background information
Birth nameYoshihiro Usami
Born (1977-02-02) 2 February 1977 (age 47)
Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Occupation(s)Dancer, singer
Years active1994–present
LabelsRhythm Zone
WebsiteOfficial website

Yoshihiro Usami (宇佐美 吉啓, Usami Yoshihiro, nicknamed Üsa (stylized as ÜSA); born 2 February 1977, in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture)[1] is a Japanese dancer. He is a member of Exile in which he is a former performer and a member of Dance Earth Party. He is a former member of the first generation J Soul Brothers and Rather Unique. He is married to actress Arisa Sugi since 2017.[2]

Career

[edit]

In 1994, Usami, along with Toshio Matsumoto and Makidai, formed the dance team Baby Nail.[3]

In 1998, he joined the dance team Japanese Soul Brothers.

In 1999, Usami joined the first generation J Soul Brothers, and made their debut in 20 October with their eponymous single "J Soul Brothers".

On 24 August 2001, the J Soul Brothers were renamed into Exile, and re-debuted in 27 September with the single "Your eyes only –Aimaina boku no Rinkaku–".

In 2004, he organized the group Rather Unique.

In June 2006, Usami made his acting debut in the stage play The Mensetsu.

Later in the same year, he started the dance project Dance Earth.

On 29 April 2015, Usami changed his name Usa (stylized as USA) to Üsa. Later in 22 June, he, along with Matsumoto and Makidai, announced that he will retire from performing with Exile at the end of the year.[4][5] In 31 December, Usami's last performance with Exile was in the Tokyo Broadcasting System series CDTV Special! Toshikoshi Premiere Live 2015→2016.[6]

Personal life

[edit]

On October 22, 2017, it was announced that Üsa had married actress Arisa Sugi after 7 years of dating.

On September 21, 2018, the couple revealed to be expecting their first child. At this time Arisa Sugi also announced she will be joining LDH Japan.[7]

On February 21, 2019, they welcomed their first son.[8]

Participating groups

[edit]
Name Period of time Ref.
Baby Nail 1994 – 1998
Hip Hop Junkeez 1998 [9]
J Soul Brothers 1999 – 24 August 2001
Exile 24 Aug 2001 –
Rather Unique 2004 – 2006
Dance Earth Party 2013 – 2018

Filmography

[edit]
For his appearances with Exile, see Exile (Japanese band).

※Bold roles are shown as his starring works

Year Title Role
2006 The Mensetsu
2007 Taiyō ni Yaka rete Takuya
2008 Crown –Nemuri-ra nai, Yoru no Hate ni... Juuyuu
2009 Hebihimesama: Waga Kokoro no Na Hebi Denji, Gonpachi
2010 Dance Earth –Negai– Yu
2013 Dance Earth –Seimei no Kodō– Piero
2014 Changes Ooyabi

Films

[edit]
Year Title Role
2010 Kyoto Uzumasa Monogatari Kota Yanase
2013 Dance Earth –Beat Trip–

TV programmes

[edit]
Year Title Network Notes Ref.
2010 Shūkan Exile TBS MC
2013 E Dance Academy NHK-E Senior lecturer
Zip! NTV "Asa Dance Taisō"
Nekketsu! Dance Academy TV Tokyo Dance instructor [10][11][12][13]
2014 Exile Usa Dance Earth Channel CS Dance Channel [14]
2015 Chikyū Bus Kikō BS-TBS Narration

Advertisements

[edit]
Year Title
2011 Recruit Hot Pepper Gourmet
2012 GREE "Seisen Cerberus"
Fujitsu Arrows
2013 Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical "Air Salon Path"

Radio

[edit]
Year Title Network
2006 Evolution D InterFM
2008 Black room

Voice acting

[edit]
Year Title Role
2008 Examurai Usa

Music videos

[edit]
Year Title
2010 Exile "Negai"

Magazine serialisations

[edit]
Year Title
2013 Sotokoto

Others

[edit]
Year Title Notes Ref.
2015 Furusato Matsuri Tokyo: Nihon no matsuri Furusato no Aji Japan festival navigator [15][16][17]
2016 Netflix Original Drama Get Down Japan Ambassador [18]

Bibliography

[edit]

Books

[edit]
Year Title ISBN
2016 Kizuna ISBN 978-4344028760

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "EXILE". LDH (in Japanese). Retrieved 28 Jan 2017.
  2. ^ "EXILE USA、女優・杉ありさと結婚「共に愛すべき未来へ歩んでいきたい」". ORICON. 2017-10-23. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
  3. ^ Igarashi, Hiroyuki (25 Jan 2005). B Boy Salary Man. ISBN 978-4-344-41270-5.
  4. ^ "EXILE・松本利夫、USA、MAKIDAIが年内パフォーマー卒業". Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. 22 Jun 2015. Retrieved 28 Jan 2017.
  5. ^ "ＥＸＩＬＥのＵＳＡ、ＭＡＫＩＤＡＩ、松本利夫がパフォーマー引退「開拓の旅へ」". Sports Hochi (in Japanese). 22 Jun 2015. Retrieved 28 Jan 2017.
  6. ^ "EXILE松本利夫、USA、MAKIDAI"卒業式"でATSUSHI涙 ラスト曲は「Choo Choo TRAIN」". Model Press (in Japanese). Net Native. 1 Jan 2016. Retrieved 28 Jan 2017.
  7. ^ "EXILE USA announces wife Sugi Arisa's pregnancy | tokyohive.com". www.tokyohive.com. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  8. ^ "EXILE USA & Sugi Arisa welcome their first child | tokyohive.com". www.tokyohive.com. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  9. ^ "デジタルジャンキーズって知って". Chu's Blog –Ikiru– (in Japanese). 18 Sep 2009. Retrieved 28 Jan 2017.
  10. ^ "熱血！Ｄａｎｃｅアカデミー　～リアル教育現場でダンスの楽しみ方教えます～". Nekketsu! Dance Academy (in Japanese). 12 Oct 2013. Retrieved 28 Jan 2017.
  11. ^ "熱血！Danceアカデミー　Xmasスペシャル　リアル教育現場にダンスの楽しさ届けます！". Nekketsu! Dance Academy (in Japanese). 15 Dec 2013. Retrieved 28 Jan 2017.
  12. ^ "熱血！Danceアカデミー３ 卒業スペシャル～リアル教育現場にダンスで感動届けます～". TV Tokyo. Nekketsu! Dance Academy (in Japanese). 30 Mar 2014. Retrieved 28 Jan 2017.
  13. ^ "熱血！ＤＡＮＣＥアカデミー４ ～ダンスで学校に革命起こしますＳＰ～". TV Tokyo. Nekketsu! Dance Academy (in Japanese). 13 Jul 2014. Retrieved 28 Jan 2017.
  14. ^ "『exile-usa-dance-earth-channel』がスタート！/". Dance Earth (in Japanese). 1 Nov 2014. Retrieved 28 Jan 2017.
  15. ^ "「ふるさと祭り東京2015」EXILE USAと TETSUYA が参加して開幕" (in Japanese). TV Life Web. 13 Jan 2015. Retrieved 28 Jan 2017.
  16. ^ "小倉智昭、EXILE ÜSA、TETSUYAが登壇『ふるさと祭り東京2016－日本のまつり・故郷の味－』詳細発表" (in Japanese). Spice. 8 Dec 2015. Retrieved 28 Jan 2017.
  17. ^ "EXILE USAとTETSUYA「思わず踊りたくなる美味さ」故郷グルメ舌鼓" (in Japanese). Music Voice. 13 Dec 2016. Retrieved 28 Jan 2017.
  18. ^ "Netflixオリジナルドラマ『ゲットダウン』ジャパン・アンバサダー EXILE ÜSAさんにインタビュー! 自分で道を切り開く主人公の姿に感動" (in Japanese). TV Groove. 13 Oct 2016. Retrieved 28 Jan 2017.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yoshihiro_Usami&oldid=1167640591"