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August 10, 2026
From Madonna to Sakurazaka46, island to island. What is TAKAHIRO's Magellanic power?
LOUNGE | TAKAHIRO (Dancer, Choreographer) Interview
At 23, he moved to the United States alone and set an unprecedented record of nine consecutive wins at the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night, the mecca of hip-hop. His talent caught Madonna's eye, and he was chosen as a dedicated dancer for her world tour. A young man from Japan stood on the stage of the Queen of Pop. That was TAKAHIRO, a dancer and choreographer.
After returning to Japan, he shifted his focus to choreography and direction, creating works across genres, from events for luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren to the NHK historical drama "Taira no Kiyomori" and the opening ceremony of the World Athletics Championships in Osaka.
In recent years, he has been exploring new forms of expression with songs for Sakurazaka46 and expanding his scope to live direction. We spoke with him, who has been constantly in motion, about his journey so far and his future aspirations.
Text by TSUZUMI Aoyama | Photography by TAKAYANAGI Ken
Setting Sail Like Magellan
TAKAHIRO calls the force that drives him "Magellanic Power." It's the impulse to set sail, no matter what, imagining a continent of treasure beyond the horizon.
"When I was young, that impulse was even stronger. There were times when storms would hit, capsizing the boat and breaking it, but I managed to keep rowing."
Around the age of 23, he decided to move to the U.S., unable to give up his dream of becoming a dancer. In a land where he didn't speak much English and had no acquaintances, he performed on the Apollo Theater stage almost every week. The record of consecutive wins wasn't achieved by talent alone. He danced before a foreign audience, received feedback, and then danced again the following week. What made this repetition possible was the tenacity to pull the imagined future into reality.
His experience participating in Madonna's tour became an opportunity to learn the philosophy of entertainment design, beyond honing his skills and experience as a dancer. On the world's foremost stage, he experienced firsthand how lighting, sound, costumes, and direction combined to move the audience's emotions. This holistic understanding formed the foundation for his later work as a choreographer and director.
In a Kingdom of Addition, Consider Subtraction
A print by Kaii Higashiyama hangs in TAKAHIRO's studio. His favorite piece depicts a single road extending into the distance through a green meadow. This painting has a surprising creation process. Initially, there were horses and houses along the road. However, Higashiyama erased the horses, erased the houses, and left only the road. It was through subtraction, not addition, that the solitary road was born.
Adding lights, adding sound, adding costumes, adding dancers. Why does TAKAHIRO, whose main stage is typically a show-packed spectacle, revere a painting born from subtraction?
"I've come to understand that adding more doesn't necessarily make something better. By increasing information, you can create excitement in the moment. However, that doesn't always lead to deep emotion. I want to create moments of profound emotion that leave a lingering resonance after returning home, something that comes to mind before sleep. I believe these moments are born from subtraction."
The more his career progresses, the more he sees the value of subtraction. The act of removing elements is not the goal itself. It's the judgment to discern what to keep and what to remove, and the accumulation of experience through repeated addition makes that judgment possible.
From Island to Island, Carrying the Provisions of Experience
TAKAHIRO began his career as a choreographer in earnest in his mid-thirties, a transition after accumulating substantial experience as a dancer. When prompted, this journey was likened to a voyage between islands. He spoke of it as an adventure where he gambled his life.
"Once I've stored up provisions on the 'Island of Dancers,' I thought I could go to the 'Island of Choreography.' If I combine the provisions gathered on the 'Island of Choreography' with those from the 'Island of Dancers,' I should be able to reach the 'Island of Direction.' When I get there, sometimes I encounter monsters and get completely beaten. When I landed on the 'Island of Actors,' I was thoroughly rejected, and had to retreat, thinking, 'It's too soon! We're pulling out!"
Even setbacks become pages in his logbook. He laughs, saying, "But I left my flag behind, so I can say I landed, right?" He fears not being able to land more than he fears not setting sail. This attitude has been consistent since his move to the U.S. in his twenties.
How to Overcome Walls, How to Take a Step
So, at what moment do people overcome their walls?
"I believe people have an idol-like image of themselves, of how they want to appear and be seen. But deeper within that, there's a door to the heart. This tendency is stronger for those who stand before fans. However, if one can open that door, shed the idolized self, and accept showing their true, vulnerable self, that moment is when they overcome their wall. For an artist, showing a personal moment, a raw display of emotion, in front of the audience creates empathy and becomes a highlight. I believe that's what it means to transcend a wall as a performer."
He describes the initial push as "just sticking out a toe." On stages he's graced thousands of times, he encounters emotions he's never seen before. The catalyst for this can be surprisingly trivial.
"There are many butterfly effects. Small things can become incredibly significant before you realize it. But without that initial flutter of the butterfly's wings, new possibilities won't emerge. For example, try taking a different route home. Or try looking up slightly more than usual. You might discover a shop you've never noticed before and it could become your favorite."
New discoveries often seem distant. Yet, they are scattered all around us, just a step away. All it takes is to extend your toe a little.
Ideas Emerge from Casual Conversations
In recent years, he has been focusing on choreography for Sakurazaka46. For their latest song, he incorporated movements from the martial art "52 Blocks." The inspiration came from a casual conversation with a member. "I had a scary experience being followed by a stranger when I was a student. I wish I had been stronger," she said.
Hearing her words, TAKAHIRO recalled "52 Blocks," a martial art he learned during his time in New York, which primarily focuses on defense, and its style of translating those movements into dance. He adapted it into a style suitable for a female artist.
"I realized that self-protection is also a theme for young people today. Asserting one's will while defending oneself. I wanted to express that through dance."
Transforming techniques born from oppression into choreography that protects contemporary youth. Learning history, understanding context, and discerning what the artist in front of him needs. The work of a choreographer is not solely about dance technique.
In the Age of AI, What Humans Hold
We've entered an era where generative AI can even create choreography, but TAKAHIRO doesn't see AI as an adversary.
"To me, AI is like 'a very creative individual.' It's something that makes me think, 'Wow, AI is doing this now, so maybe I should try this.'"
While often perceived as a threat that encroaches on human territory, he may see AI as just another island to explore. However, he also notes that there are things AI cannot do. It can interpret choreography and generate content from the past to the present. But it likely cannot create something from zero to one.
He draws a parallel from the movie "Blade Runner." It's a story about androids with a limited four-year lifespan who become fixated on photographs of themselves. They desperately crave emotions they shouldn't possess.
He also spoke about the seemingly ordinary photos his late father took in his final years. "The handrail of a train. A corner of the street. I don't know the reason, but he couldn't help but take them." He believes such impulses are also beyond the reach of machines.
"The heart resides in the 'toe' that humans extend to the world at the very end."
What Did You Want to Do?
TAKAHIRO has a message for his peers. It's a message for those whose passions have, at some point, transformed into obligations.
"I want you to reclaim what you wanted to do. Don't let anyone take away the treasure you first held, what you truly wanted to do. Because you are the protagonist of your own life."
When asked which word is most important in his new book, "40 Words to Make You Positively Optimistic, Even If You Think 'I'm Not Good Enough'" (PHP Institute), he said it's the "Afterword." Like the ending of a game, the journey exists to reach that point. He consciously structured the book so that the words along the way converge in the final sentence.
He yearns for subtraction in a kingdom of addition, and continues to sail towards distant islands despite his introverted nature. The contradictions are not resolved. They remain unresolved, yet they carry him far.
How does he want to evolve as a choreographer from here on?
"Choreographers are still not widely credited. Even in the global showbiz industry, choreography awards are rarely heard of. But as the presence of performers becomes more commonplace, choreographers deserve more recognition. When that happens, the next generation will surely emerge."
You won't know until you set sail. Because you don't know, it's worth setting sail. That is TAKAHIRO's course.
TAKAHIRO (Ueno Takahiro)
Dancer and choreographer. Unable to give up his dream of becoming a dancer, he moved to the U.S. alone at age 23. He achieved an unprecedented record of nine consecutive wins in the dance division at the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night in New York. His talent caught Madonna's eye, leading to his selection as a dedicated dancer for her world tour. After returning to Japan, he shifted his focus to choreography and direction, working on events for luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren, the NHK historical drama "Taira no Kiyomori," and the opening ceremony of the World Athletics Championships in Osaka. He was selected as one of "100 Most Respected Japanese in the World" by Newsweek magazine. In recent years, he has expanded his activities to include choreography for Sakurazaka46 and live direction for Kento Nakajima. In February 2026, he will publish his book, "40 Words to Make You Positively Optimistic, Even If You Think 'I'm Not Good Enough'" (PHP Institute).