The Enduring Kimura Takuya Legend—Why His Reputation Keeps Rising Among Insiders

The remarkable quote from Typewriter Project has sparked a reaction

The new members of “timelesz” have finally been decided.

The selection process was streamed on Netflix as “timelesz project-AUDITION-” over six months. With each episode, the show gained popularity, and by the final selection, narrowed down to eight candidates, many fans anxiously awaited to see who would be chosen as the new members.

Amidst this, in the episode just before the final, a figure suddenly appeared and stole the spotlight—none other than Kimura Takuya (52), widely known as “Kimutaku.”

“The candidates were, of course, surprised, but even the three existing members of ‘timelesz’ were taken aback by his appearance. However, he did not act arrogantly at all. Instead, he first expressed gratitude, saying, ‘Thank you for paying attention despite the existing biases toward our agency.’ Even this alone won over the viewers, but what truly stood out were the words he shared with the three members afterward.

He subtly cautioned them, wondering if they had become too accustomed to the presence of the staff supporting the project, saying, ‘If you start thinking that having water prepared for you is just a given, that would be a waste.’ This immediately shifted public opinion to ‘Kimutaku is amazing!'” (Entertainment writer)

Recently, Kimura has been under fire for his comments on social media regarding the Johnny Kitagawa sexual abuse scandal. However, with the recent revelations about fellow former SMAP member Masahiro Nakai (52), Kimura’s reputation has surged in comparison.

But in reality, Kimura’s reputation within the industry has remained consistently high. Over years of covering the entertainment industry, reporters have repeatedly heard the same sentiment: “Kimutaku is truly exceptional.”

A former production staff member at a television station once shared an anecdote from years ago.

The moment he steps into work, he becomes Kimutaku

“When SMAP’s workload was at its peak, all the members were sleep-deprived, and when it was time to change outfits, they would collapse and be difficult to wake up. But among them, only Kimura-san would quickly change in a corner of the studio instead of the dressing room, saying, ‘If I change in the dressing room, I’ll get sleepy.’ His professional mindset was on another level.”

There’s also another story I’ve been told.

“When SMAP collaborated with a certain international celebrity, the members were supposed to stand and wait to greet them. However, that celebrity was extremely late due to their own selfish behavior. While the staff were apologizing profusely, Kimura-san simply said, ‘It’s totally fine,’ without showing any sign of displeasure and continued to wait standing. On the other hand, Nakai-san became irritated and sat down, which gave off a really bad impression.” (Another production staff member)

Editors and writers who have interviewed Kimutaku for magazines have consistently shared similar impressions: “He was incredibly pleasant,” “His passion for creating something great was remarkable.” The overwhelming majority of feedback is nothing but praise.

“Not just in front of the camera—he never let his guard down from the moment he stepped into the studio. His aura and demeanor remained exactly like the star Kimutaku we see on TV. The way he put his all into the shoot and interview made us feel like he truly respected our magazine. I got the strong impression that Kimura-san is always embodying ‘Kimutaku’ the moment he steps into work.” (Magazine editor)

Perhaps Kimutaku is the one who has most consistently practiced the philosophy that water being prepared for you is not something to be taken for granted.

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