Keita Tachibana

Keita Tachibana (橘 慶太, Tachibana Keita, born on 16 December 1985), also known monomously as Keita (stylized KEITA), is a Japanese singer and actor. Since 2000, he rose to fame as the lead vocalist from the boy band W-inds. During that time, he launched a solo career, and in 2012, has revitalized it again under a reinvented image.

Keita Tachibana
橘 慶太
Tachibana in 2020
Born (1985-12-16) 16 December 1985[1]
NationalityJapanese
Other namesKeita
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actor
Spouse
​
(m. 2013)​
Children3
RelativesMio Tachibana (sister)
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
Years active2000–present
Labels
Member ofW-inds
Websitekeita-official.tv

In addition to music, Tachibana also launched an acting career and has appeared in television dramas such as Ohitorisama and Mattsugu.

Career
Main article: W-inds

At age 14, Tachibana was only male finalist in the 2000 Kyushu-Okinawa Starlight Audition. Afterwards, he was scouted and became part of W-inds with Ryuichi Ogata and Ryohei Chiba. In addition to his singing and dancing talents, Keita plays keyboard[2] and guitar.[3]

Solo career

In addition to Tachibana's activities in W-inds, he launched a solo career, with his debut single "Michishirube" releasing on 18 October 2006.[4] "Michishirube" served as the first ending theme to the anime Reborn! and debuted at No. 3 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.[5] Shortly after the release of "Michishirube", Tachibana's first solo album, Koe, was released on 29 November 2006, and debuted at No. 5 in the first week on Oricon Weekly Albums Chart. Following its success, Tachibana's second single, "Friend", was released in May 2007 as the first opening theme song to the anime Blue Dragon.

In 2007, Tachibana voiced Prince Arthur in the Japanese dubbed version of Shrek the Third, as his first starring role.[6] In 2009, he played Hiroyuki Harada in the television drama Ohitorisama.[7]

Late in 2012, Tachibana announced his intent to restart his solo career, this time under a mononymous, romanized stage name, Keita. His first single under his new name, "Slide 'n' Step", released on 20 February 2013.

Personal life

Tachibana is the second oldest of four siblings. He is the older brother of model, actress, and former singer Mio Tachibana.[8]

On 4 August 2013, Tachibana announced he registered his marriage to Aya Matsuura after almost 12 years of dating.[9] Their wedding ceremony was held in Oahu, Hawaii on 7 October. On 24 December 2014, Tachibana and Matsuura announced via their agencies that they gave birth to a girl. In July 2018, Tachibana announced the birth of his second child.[10]

Discography
See also: W-inds discography

Albums
Title Details Peak chart positions Sales
JPN
Koe (声)
  • Released: 29 November 2006
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD
 5 40,000
Side by Side
(as KEITA)
  • Released: 5 June 2013
  • Label: Flight Master
  • Formats: CD
 4[11] 14,000

Extended plays
Title Details Peak chart positions Sales
JPN
Fragments
(as KEITA)
  • Released: 16 December 2015
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD
 26[12]

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
JPN
"Michishirube" (道標) 2006 3[5] 48,725 Koe
"Friend" 2007 4 21,858
"Slide 'n' Step"
(as KEITA)		 2013 6 Side by Side

Promotional singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
JPN
"Slide 'n' Step (Extended Mix)"
(featuring Sky-Hi (AAA))		 2013 Side by Side
"I'll Be There"
(featuring Ms. Ooja and Spicy Chocolate) 		2015 Fragments
"Lost & Found"
(Taeil featuring Keita (w-inds.))		 2017 Block B Project-1

Filmography

Films
Year Title Role Notes
2001 Star Light Himself Cameo
2002 Nurse no Oshigoto: The Movie Soccer player Cameo
2007 Shrek the Third Artie Japanese dub[6]
2009 Baby! Baby! Baby! Shop attendant Cameo

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2009 Ohitorisama Hiroyuki Harada Supporting role[7]
2010 Mattsugu Seiji Lead role
2012 Answer Junpei Karasawa

Radio
Year Title Notes
2000–2008 w-inds.'s Windy Street
2006 Keita Tachibana All Night Nippon
2009 Radio Session: Keita Tachibana from w-inds.'s Free Style Show

Tours
  • Keita Side By Side Tour 2013 (2013)

Awards and accolades
Year Award Category Nominated Work Result
2006 CyberAgent Blog of the Year Award N/A Keita Tachibana Won[13]
2014 IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Awards Best Seller Release of Japan and Korea Side by Side Won[14]

References
  1. "橘慶太のプロフィール" [Keita Tacihibana's profile]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  2. "w-inds.の17年にファンをエスコート！FCツアー盛況で幕、アルバム＆ツアーも決定". Natalie (in Japanese). 1 May 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  3. "橘慶太×☆Taku Takahashi対談【後編】 日本でダンスミュージックを作る難しさと将来のビジョン". Real Sound (in Japanese). 9 June 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  4. 道標. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  5. オリコン週間 シングルランキング 16 October 2006 ～22 October 2006. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  6. "w-inds.、映画「シュレック3」イメージソング". BARKS (in Japanese). 28 June 2007. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  7. "TBS 「金曜ドラマ おひとりさま」人物相関図". Tokyo Broadcasting Corporation (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  8. モデル南條有香、1年ぶりの本格的芸能活動 アルバイト生活語る. Model Press (in Japanese). 16 July 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  9. "松浦亜弥とw-inds.橘慶太が結婚!". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). 4 August 2013. Archived from the original on 5 August 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  10. "w-inds.橘慶太、松浦亜弥の第2子妊娠を報告". Natalie (in Japanese). 8 July 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  11. オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2013年06月03日～2013年06月09日. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  12. オリコン週間 アルバムランキング December 2015 ～December 2015 21～30位. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  13. "「BLOG of the year 2006」授賞式に中川翔子や桜塚やっくんらが登場". Impress Watch Corporation (in Japanese). 21 December 2006. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  14. "Hong Kong Top Sales Music Award presented 2015". IFPI. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
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