Yoshihiro Usami

Yoshihiro Usami (宇佐美 吉啓, Usami Yoshihiro; nicknamed Üsa and Exile Üsa (stylized as ÜSA and EXILE 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]

Üsa 宇佐美 吉啓
Usami at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards Japan
Background information
Birth name	Yoshihiro Usami
Born	(1977-02-02) 2 February 1977 (age 48) Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Occupation(s)	Dancer, singer
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Rhythm Zone
Website	Official website

Career

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] On 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

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

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

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

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

TV programmes

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

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

Radio

Year	Title	Network
2006	Evolution D	InterFM
2008	Black room

Voice acting

Year	Title	Role
2008	Examurai	Usa

Music videos

Year	Title
2010	Exile "Negai"

Magazine serialisations

Year	Title
2013	Sotokoto

Others

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

Books

Year	Title	ISBN
2016	Kizuna	ISBN 978-4344028760