Ami Kawai
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
television
and theater actress, best known in Japan for her role as Marsha in Kidou Keiji Jiban
and Lami in Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger (the latter known as Scorpina in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
).
. She comes from a lineage of actors, including her grandmother and great-grandfather. Her older sister is Katsumi Fujita, who is an environmental planning designer, most recently contributing to the sign for Park Hyatt in Seoul
, Korea
. Her mother has been managing a small bar in Takadanobaba
, an area close to Waseda University
in Shinjuku, Tokyo
.
Kawai attended Jissen Women’s Academy Junior High School and High School. She majored in English literature at the Department of Literature in Jissen Women’s College. While attending elementary school, she belonged to Gekidan Komadori, a theater company. Her achievements there include television, soap operas, educational programs, commercials, radio soap operas, and foreign films. She temporarily stopped her activities because her middle school and high school outlawed outside activities relating to the entertainment industry. While attending college, she was scouted by a production company, resuming her show biz career.
Kawai is best known for her role as Lamie in the 1992 Super Sentai
series Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. While some people have distanced themselves from their role in the Super Sentai series, she appears to have fond memories of her role. As she appeared towards the middle of the series, she had a tough learning curve to overcome, but overcame it well. Kawai’s official websites mentions several behind-the-scene experiences playing the role. These include confronting her fear of height when she had to stand from the tip of a tall building when the first time she appeared on screen and her embarrassment of turning into a monster when her character became a giant.
For the Power Rangers series in the North America, Scorpina was credited as "Ami Kawai" the first time she appeared, but later credited to American voice actress, Wendee Lee. Scorpina was immensely popular among public viewers that when the production ran out of her footage, many speculation emerged as to her fate.
Before the Power Rangers popularity she was already known in Europe and Latin America for her role in Kidou Keiji Jiban
, although her role there was shared with Akemi Furukawa who played a similar secondary character.
In recent years, Kawai has undergone a major image change. She does not have long black hair; instead, she has lightly dyed brown, short hair. She is not in the forefront of the entertainment industry in Japan, choosing to focus her time learning and teaching Japanese traditional dance, buyo. In late 2006, for her efforts, she was given the name .
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and theater actress, best known in Japan for her role as Marsha in Kidou Keiji Jiban
Kidou Keiji Jiban
is a Japanese tokusatsu television series; part of the Metal Hero Series produced by Toei, aired by TV Asahi in Japan from January 30, 1989 to January 29, 1990 with 52 episodes and a feature movie aired on July 17, 1989....
and Lami in Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger (the latter known as Scorpina in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is an American live-action children's television series based on the 16th installment of the Japanese Super Sentai franchise, Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. Both the show and its related merchandise saw unbridled overnight success, catapulting into pop culture in mere months...
).
Biography
Kawai was born to a restaurant manager and actress Rie Kawai in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. She comes from a lineage of actors, including her grandmother and great-grandfather. Her older sister is Katsumi Fujita, who is an environmental planning designer, most recently contributing to the sign for Park Hyatt in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. Her mother has been managing a small bar in Takadanobaba
Takadanobaba
Takadanobaba is a neighborhood in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.-History:Originally, the area's name was read Takatanobaba and many Tokyo residents in their 50s or older pronounce it as such. However, younger Tokyoites and residents who have come from outside Tokyo, use the pronunciation Takadanobaba...
, an area close to Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
in Shinjuku, Tokyo
Shinjuku, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative center, housing the busiest train station in the world and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the administration center for the government of Tokyo.As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population...
.
Kawai attended Jissen Women’s Academy Junior High School and High School. She majored in English literature at the Department of Literature in Jissen Women’s College. While attending elementary school, she belonged to Gekidan Komadori, a theater company. Her achievements there include television, soap operas, educational programs, commercials, radio soap operas, and foreign films. She temporarily stopped her activities because her middle school and high school outlawed outside activities relating to the entertainment industry. While attending college, she was scouted by a production company, resuming her show biz career.
Career
Her first drama feature role was in FNN’s Onna mo Otoko mo naze Korinai (Neither Man Nor Woman Inexplicably Do Not Learn). Her other major achievements as an actress include movies and theaters while also serving as reporter, newscaster, and host of various television programs.Kawai is best known for her role as Lamie in the 1992 Super Sentai
Super Sentai
The is the name given to the long-running Japanese superhero team genre of shows produced by Toei Co., Ltd., Toei Agency and Bandai, and aired by TV Asahi...
series Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. While some people have distanced themselves from their role in the Super Sentai series, she appears to have fond memories of her role. As she appeared towards the middle of the series, she had a tough learning curve to overcome, but overcame it well. Kawai’s official websites mentions several behind-the-scene experiences playing the role. These include confronting her fear of height when she had to stand from the tip of a tall building when the first time she appeared on screen and her embarrassment of turning into a monster when her character became a giant.
For the Power Rangers series in the North America, Scorpina was credited as "Ami Kawai" the first time she appeared, but later credited to American voice actress, Wendee Lee. Scorpina was immensely popular among public viewers that when the production ran out of her footage, many speculation emerged as to her fate.
Before the Power Rangers popularity she was already known in Europe and Latin America for her role in Kidou Keiji Jiban
Kidou Keiji Jiban
is a Japanese tokusatsu television series; part of the Metal Hero Series produced by Toei, aired by TV Asahi in Japan from January 30, 1989 to January 29, 1990 with 52 episodes and a feature movie aired on July 17, 1989....
, although her role there was shared with Akemi Furukawa who played a similar secondary character.
In recent years, Kawai has undergone a major image change. She does not have long black hair; instead, she has lightly dyed brown, short hair. She is not in the forefront of the entertainment industry in Japan, choosing to focus her time learning and teaching Japanese traditional dance, buyo. In late 2006, for her efforts, she was given the name .
Television
- NHK- Hivision de Konnichiwa (Hello in High Vision)
- NTV- Keijikizoku 3 (Officer Aristoracy 3) *NTV- Kasetsu no Yukue (Whereabouts of Hypothesis)
- TBS- Kabegiwazoku ni Hanataba wo (Flower bundles for Those by the Wall)
- TBS- Toshiba Sunday Theater: Sentimental Journey
- TBS- Toshiba Sunday Theater- Moo Itido, Haru (Spring, Once More)
- TBS- Business Zoomup
- TBS- Just
- FNN- Onna mo Otoko mo naze Korinai (Neither Man Nor Woman Inexplicably Do Not Learn)
- FNN- Kyoto Misu Eigamura Satsujin Jiken (Kyoto Movie Village Murder Incident) FNN- Ghoster Hunter Saki
- FNN- Saishu no Sairetsu (Funeral line of a Buddhist Priest)
- FNN- Koojyo no Reikyuu (The Coffin of an Imperial Princess)
- FNN- Tsugaru satsujin jiken (Tsugaru Murder Incident )
- FNN (Skyperfect TV)- Science Channel: Jun-san no Omosiro Testudoo Kenkyuujyo (Jun’s Interesting Railroad Research Laboratory)
- TV Asahi- Mitsushitsu no Yonjyuusoo (Quartet in a Secret Room)
- TV Asahi- Kidookeiji Jiban (Machine Police Jiban)
- TV Asahi- Prestage: Jyoohoo Saizenretsu Frontrow (Information Upfront Frontrow)
- TV Asahi- Noto Hantoo Onna no Satsujin Fuukei (Noto Peninsula: the Scenery of a Woman’s Murder)
- TV Asahi- Tokyuu Shirei Solbrain 1991-1992 (Super Rescue Solbrain)
- TV Asahi- Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger (Dinosaur Squadron Zyuranger)
- TV Asahi- Hotel Doctor
- TV Asahi- Sasurai Keiji Ryojyoo Hen
- TV Asahi- Hagure keiji Jyunyjoo Ha
- TV Asahi- Ninja Sentai KakurangerNinja Sentai Kakurangerwas TOEI Company Limited's eighteenth production of the Super Sentai television series. The name given to this series by Toei for international distribution is Ninja Rangers....
(Ninja Squadron Kakuranger) - TV Asahi- Juukou B-FighterJuukou B-Fighter, was a 1995 Japanese tokusatsu television series. B-Fighter is short for "Beetle Fighter". It was part of Toei's ongoing Metal Hero Series. It dealt with three members of the prestigious fighting against the evil forces of the otherworldly Jamahl Empire...
- TV Asahi- Munetani Honsen Satsujin Jiken
- TV Tokyo- Abunai Syoonen (Dangerous Teen)
- TV Tokyo- Abunai Syoonen 2 (Dangerous Teen 2)
- TV Tokyo- Abunai Syoonen 3 (Dangerous Teen 3)
- TV Tokyo- Fureai Deai Tabi
- TV Tokyo- Doyoo Special: Honobono Ressya no Tabi (Saturday Special: Train Journey)
- TV Tokyo- Happy Relay Concert
Theater
- Pasta to Kakesoba (Pasta and Noodles), Aoyama Round Theater
- Maborosi no Mati (The Visionary City)
Movies
- Kidoo Keiji Jiban Eigahen (Machine Officer Jiban: The Movie)
- Funky Monty Teacher 2 Buruburu
- Tensiteki Kyuujitsu (Burburu: Angelic Holiday)
- Purogorufa Sikibe Kinjiroo 3 (Professional golfer Kinjiro Shikibe 3)
- Jinzoo Ningen Hakaida (Artificial Human Hakaida)