Aya Hirayama
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese actress who has appeared in various films including Waterboys
(2001), as well as appearing in two television programs in her native Japan, Waratte Iitomo
and Itsumo futari de. Aya was born in Kuroiso, Tochigi
, Japan which is now part of Nasushiobara. The talent agency which she uses is called Horipro.
Aya made her acting debut in 1999 with Tengoku no Kiss, a Nippon Television
drama, at the age of 15. From here on she established herself as a television regular with appearances in many Japanese TV dramas. 2001 was the most defining year in Aya's acting career as she played significant parts in the television drama Fighting Girl
and the film Waterboys
, both highly successful. Aya's most notable acting role to date is her leading appearance as Yoko in the South Korean movie Fighter in the Wind
(2004). This role established Aya as a talented Japanese actress the world over and was her first taste of Korean film making. Her convincing portrayal of Yoko, the Geisha
who falls in love with Korean legendary fighter Masutatsu Oyama
, showed how talented Aya had become over such a short period as a professional actress. Aya continued gaining global plaudits for her voiceover role in the highly acclaimed manga, Black Jack
(2005). Also in 2005, Aya played the title character Haruka in the highly successful Japanese television drama Haruka 17
. Her success has earned her leading television roles and anime voiceovers as well as significant movie parts that have seen Aya become one of the most sought after young talents in Japanese cinema and television.
Waterboys (film)
is a 2001 comedy film written and directed by the Japanese film director Shinobu Yaguchi, about five boys who start a synchronized swimming team at their high school...
(2001), as well as appearing in two television programs in her native Japan, Waratte Iitomo
Waratte Iitomo
is a Japanese variety show aired every weekday on Fuji TV. The show is hosted by Tamori and has run since 1982. The show is produced in the Studio Alta building located in Shinjuku, Tokyo...
and Itsumo futari de. Aya was born in Kuroiso, Tochigi
Kuroiso, Tochigi
Kuroiso was a city located in Tochigi, Japan. The city was founded on November 1, 1970.On January 1, 2005 Kurioso was merged with the towns of Nishinasuno and Shiobara, both from Nasu District, to form the new city of Nasushiobara. In 2003, the city had an estimated population of 60,145 and the...
, Japan which is now part of Nasushiobara. The talent agency which she uses is called Horipro.
Aya made her acting debut in 1999 with Tengoku no Kiss, a Nippon Television
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
drama, at the age of 15. From here on she established herself as a television regular with appearances in many Japanese TV dramas. 2001 was the most defining year in Aya's acting career as she played significant parts in the television drama Fighting Girl
Fighting Girl
The Fighting Girl is a Japanese television drama starring Kyoko Fukada. Fukada plays Sayoko, a tough, 19-year-old with ambition, energy and nowhere to direct it. Her father clearly favors her blind 16-year-old sister. Junior college is unstimulating...
and the film Waterboys
Waterboys (film)
is a 2001 comedy film written and directed by the Japanese film director Shinobu Yaguchi, about five boys who start a synchronized swimming team at their high school...
, both highly successful. Aya's most notable acting role to date is her leading appearance as Yoko in the South Korean movie Fighter in the Wind
Fighter in the Wind
Fighter in the Wind is a 2004 South Korean film. It is based on the Japanese book Karate Baka Ichidai which is an account of karate competitor Choi Yeung-Eui who went to Japan after World War II to become a fighter pilot but found a very different path instead...
(2004). This role established Aya as a talented Japanese actress the world over and was her first taste of Korean film making. Her convincing portrayal of Yoko, the Geisha
Geisha
, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...
who falls in love with Korean legendary fighter Masutatsu Oyama
Masutatsu Oyama
, more commonly known as Mas Oyama, was a karate master who founded Kyokushinkai Karate, considered the first and most influential style of full contact karate. He was born Choi Yeong-eui . A Zainichi Korean, he spent most of his life living in Japan and acquired Japanese citizenship in 1964...
, showed how talented Aya had become over such a short period as a professional actress. Aya continued gaining global plaudits for her voiceover role in the highly acclaimed manga, Black Jack
Black Jack (manga)
is a manga written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka in the 1970s, dealing with the medical adventures of the title character, doctor Black Jack....
(2005). Also in 2005, Aya played the title character Haruka in the highly successful Japanese television drama Haruka 17
Haruka 17
is a seinen manga by Sakuya Yamazaki which was serialized by Kodansha in Weekly Morning from 2004 to 2006. It was adapted into a live-action TV drama which aired on TV Asahi in 2005.- Cast :* Aya Hirayama - Haruka Miyamae...
. Her success has earned her leading television roles and anime voiceovers as well as significant movie parts that have seen Aya become one of the most sought after young talents in Japanese cinema and television.
Film
- WaterboysWaterboys (film)is a 2001 comedy film written and directed by the Japanese film director Shinobu Yaguchi, about five boys who start a synchronized swimming team at their high school...
(2001) - Lovers' KissLovers' Kissis a 2003 Japanese romance movie based on a manga by Akimi Yoshida. This is a youth movie of six teenagers whom it is focused on, taking place in Kamakura.The themes of homosexuality and sexual trauma are the main focus of the story....
(2003) - Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae HashutsujoKochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo, full title , is a long-running comedy manga by Osamu Akimoto. It has been continuously serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since September 1976, with over 1700 chapters published, making it the longest-running manga series in history...
THE MOVIE 2 (2003) - Fighter in the WindFighter in the WindFighter in the Wind is a 2004 South Korean film. It is based on the Japanese book Karate Baka Ichidai which is an account of karate competitor Choi Yeung-Eui who went to Japan after World War II to become a fighter pilot but found a very different path instead...
(2004) - Black JackBlack Jack (manga)is a manga written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka in the 1970s, dealing with the medical adventures of the title character, doctor Black Jack....
(2005) voice - Backdancers!Backdancers!Backdancers! is a Japanese film released in Japan in September 2006.The movie stars popular J-pop singer and dancer Hiroko Shimabukuro , of the group SPEED.-Plot summary:...
(2006) - The Incite MillThe Incite Millis a 2010 Japanese psychological thriller directed by Hideo Nakata. The movie is based on Yonezawa Honobu's novel "The Incite Mill".-Plot:Ten people are promised a dream job that pays 112,000 Yen per hour, no experience or qualifications necessary...
(2010)
Television
- Gokusen 3 (Nippon TelevisionNippon Televisionis a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
, 2008) [Manga/Anime] voice - Hataraki ManHataraki Manis a manga by Moyoco Anno, serialised in the seinen magazine Morning. It has been adapted into a TV anime, which screened in Japan from October to December 2006 and a drama that aired from October 2007 to December 2007. The story centres on 28-year old Hiroko Matsukata, editor at the magazine...
(Nippon TelevisionNippon Televisionis a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
, 2007) [Manga/Anime] voice - Haruka 17Haruka 17is a seinen manga by Sakuya Yamazaki which was serialized by Kodansha in Weekly Morning from 2004 to 2006. It was adapted into a live-action TV drama which aired on TV Asahi in 2005.- Cast :* Aya Hirayama - Haruka Miyamae...
(TV AsahiTV Asahi, also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network....
, 2005) - Mystery Minzoku Gakusha Yakumo Itsuki (TV AsahiTV Asahi, also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network....
, 2004) - Gekidan Engimono Unlucky Days - Natsume no Mousou as Miki (Fuji TelevisionFuji Televisionis a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
, 2004) - Renai Shousetsu (WOWOWWOWOWWOWOW was the first private satellite broadcasting and pay TV station in Japan. It has its headquarters on the 21st floor of the Akasaka Park Building in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo...
, 2004) - Dan Doh!! (TV TokyoTV Tokyois a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime...
, 2004) [Manga/Anime] voice - Kaettekita Locker no Hanako-san (NHKNHKNHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
, 2003) - Boku no Mahou Tsukai (Nippon TelevisionNippon Televisionis a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
, 2003, ep3) - Itsumo Futari de (Fuji TelevisionFuji Televisionis a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
, 2003) - Locker no Hanako-san (NHKNHKNHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
, 2002) - Ginza no Koi (Nippon TelevisionNippon Televisionis a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
, 2002) - Fighting GirlFighting GirlThe Fighting Girl is a Japanese television drama starring Kyoko Fukada. Fukada plays Sayoko, a tough, 19-year-old with ambition, energy and nowhere to direct it. Her father clearly favors her blind 16-year-old sister. Junior college is unstimulating...
(Fuji TelevisionFuji Televisionis a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
, 2001) - Hatachi no Kekkon (Tokyo Broadcasting SystemTokyo Broadcasting System, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
, 2000) - Rinjin wa Hisoka ni warau (Nippon TelevisionNippon Televisionis a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
, 1999) - Tengoku no Kiss (Nippon TelevisionNippon Televisionis a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
, 1999)