Aya Ueto
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese actress, singer, model, tarento
, and occasional radio personality. Born in Nerima, Tokyo
, Ueto was discovered when she participated in the 7th Japan Bishōjo Contest
, where she won the special jury prize. At the age of thirteen, Ueto made her acting debut, in the film Satsujinsha: Killer of Paraiso (1999), and she and fellow Japan Bishōjo Contest participants, Mami Nejiki, Mai Fujiya, and Manami Nishiwaki, formed the unsuccessful idol
group Z-1
. In 2002, after their disbandment, Ueto continued her music career as a solo artist, under the record label Pony Canyon
, where she debuted with the single "Pureness
."
Ueto's breakthrough came when she was cast as a high school student suffering from gender identity disorder
(GID), in the sixth season of the long-running TBS
drama 3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei
. Her critically acclaimed performance led to several leading roles and endorsements, eventually establishing herself as one of Japan's most recognizable faces. As one of Japan's most ubiquitous celebrities, Ueto constantly appears on billboards, shop windows and train adverts, and has held the annual title of CM
Queen five times since 2004.
She has also ventured onto the big screen, in the lead role in Ryuhei Kitamura
's blockbuster Azumi (2003), which earned her a nomination for a Japan Academy Award for Best Actress
, its sequel, Azumi 2: Death or Love
(2005), and the upcoming film adaption of Thermae Romae
(2012).
, Tokyo to an Hokkaidan
father and an Okinawan
mother. Her parents divorced shortly after Ueto's debut. She has two brothers; Shun, two years older, and Makoto, sixteen years older. Despite growing up in a relatively poor household, Ueto studied piano, modern ballet, swimming and gymnastic. She did not have ambitions to become an entertainer; she wanted to become a pre-school teacher. However, after hearing about one of her friends' experience as an extra
on a TV drama
, she decided she too "wanted to appear on TV." Unbeknownst to her daughter, Ueto's mother entered her into the 7th Japan Bishōjo Contest.
Aged only twelve, Ueto won the special jury prize at the contest. She revealed later on that her real motivation for doing well was to "win the two million yen cash prize to buy a house for her family," however because what she won was an ad hoc prize decided that day, there was no monetary reward. After her discovery, she joined the talent agency Oscar Promotion and began acting and singing lessons. In July 1998, Ueto joined the idol
group Z-1
. The group landed a regular spot on the variety shows Kaishingeki TV! Utaemon and The Yoru mo Hippare, and debuted on Toshiba EMI a year later with the single "Vibe!" In 1999, Ueto obtained her first role in the film Satsujinsha: Killer of Paraiso, in which her lines were entirely in English.
. The drama garnered strong ratings and gave Ueto her then biggest exposure yet. In 2001, Ueto appeared on the annual Victor
Kōshien poster, which, in the past, kick-started the careers of Noriko Sakai
and Miho Kanno
. Later that year, she was cast in the role of Nao Tsurumoto, a student suffering from gender identity disorder
(GID), in the sixth season of the TBS
drama 3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei
. The role propelled her to stardom and earned her a Golden Arrow Award
for Best Newcomer.
In January 2002, it was announced that Ueto would continue her music career as a solo artist under Pony Canyon subsidiary label, Flight Master. During her summer break from school, she appeared in a 5-episode arc of the long-running drama Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari, and starred alongside Akiko Yada and Hiroshi Abe
in the TBS drama My Little Chef. Ueto released her first solo single, "Pureness," in August 2002. The song debuted at number 4 on the Oricon
Weekly Singles chart, making it the first debut single by a female artist with no commercial tie-in
to enter the top five in three years. In between filming her first feature film, Azumi, Ueto released her second single, "Kizuna," and launched Seventeen's Map, a radio show on Nippon Hōsō
. The program would go on to last four-and-a-half years, changing names after each of her birthdays to Eighteen's Road, Nineteen's Nine, Hatachi ni High Touch!, and 21 Peace!.
In early 2003, Ueto starred in a remake of the 1993 drama Kōkō Kyōshi, alongside Naohito Fujiki
. She released her third single, "Hello
," followed by her first studio album, Ayaueto
. In April 2003, it was revealed that Ueto had taken a leave of absence from school to focus on her career. In a 2007 interview, she stated that, at the time, she was only getting two hours of sleep, trying to juggle work and school. In May 2003, Ueto launched her first tour, Ueto Aya First Live Tour Pureness 2003, released a fourth single, "Message/Personal
," and Azumi opened nationwide. Ueto won several awards for her performance in Azumi. She swooped the Newcomer of the Year category of the Élan d'Or Award
s, Japan Movie Critic Awards, Japanese Academy Awards, and Golden Arrow Awards; becoming the only actress to win two consecutive Golden Arrows for Newcomer of the Year. Ueto received a nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
at the Japanese Academy Awards and won the Popularity Award. In July 2003, Ueto landed her first TV leading role in the TBS drama Hitonatsu no Papa e, for which her fifth single, Kanshō
, served as theme song. Despite low ratings, the single was well received on the charts, peaking at number 9.
In January 2004, Ueto starred as Hiromi Oka in the live-action adaption of the popular manga
Ace wo Nerae!. The drama earned her a The Television Drama Academy Award for Best Lead Actress. Ueto's seventh single, "Ai no Tameni.," served as theme song for the drama and became her best-selling single. In March 2004, Message
was released and became her best-selling album. In December 2004, Ueto released her third studio album, Re.
, starred alongside Ryūnosuke Kamiki
in the film adaption of Risa Wataya
's award-winning novel, Install, which premiered at the 17th Tokyo International Film Festival
, and performed as top-batter at the 55th Kōhaku Uta Gassen
. With eighteen advertising contracts for sixteen companies, Ueto was crowned CM Queen of 2004.
In 2005, Ueto appeared in the NHK
taiga drama
Yoshitsune, portrayed twin sisters in a remake of the drama Koto
, and starred in the sequel to Azumi, Azumi 2: Death or Love
. In April 2005, she starred in the TV Asahi
-produced live-action adaption of another popular manga, Attack No. 1
. "Yume no Chikara
," the theme song for the drama, became her ninth top ten single. Ueto next starred in two TV movies produced to commemorate TBS' 50th anniversary: Misora Hibari Tanjō Monogatar, a Misora Hibari biopic co-starring Izumi Pinko
, and Nada Sōsō, Kono Ai ni Ikite, co-starring Hitomi Kuroki
. She launched her second tour, Ueto Aya Live Tour 2005: Genki Hatsu Ratsū?, released her twelfth single, "Kaze wo Ukete
," and first remix album, Uetoayamix
. Ueto was appointed mascot girl for the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship
and covered the tournament as a special presenter for NTV.
and made a guest appearance as herself in the anime Meitantei Conan
, for which she was chosen as special supporter. She released her thirteenth single, "Egao no Mama de
," followed by her fourth studio album, License. Ueto starred in Celeb, the first episode of the drama adaption of the cell phone novel Tsubasa no Oreta Tenshitachi. Her episode was the highest rated of the series. The drama marked Ueto's first appearance on a Fuji TV drama in six years, since Namida wo Fuite (2000). She starred alongside Ryo Nishikido
in a modern-day remake of the 1970 drama, Attention Please
, which became her most successful drama to date. It spawned two specials: Attention Please: Yōko, Hawaii ni Tobu (2007) and Attention Please: Sydney, Australia (2008). Ueto next starred in the Yukihiko Tsutsumi
-directed comedy, Shimokita Sundays. The drama failed to capture audiences and was one of the worst-rated of the summer. In September 2006, Ueto released her first compilation album, Best of Uetoaya: Single Collection, which peaked at number 5. In December 2006, she hosted the 32nd Radio Charity Musicthon and acted as special presenter for NTV's coverage of the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup.
In 2007, Ueto starred in the two-part Yoshiko Ōtaka
biopic, Ri Kouran. In March 2007, Ueto released "Way to Heaven
," her first single in over a year, and made a guest appearance in the eighth season finale of the TBS drama Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari. In April 2007, Ueto was cast in a remake of the Korean drama Hotelier, which recorded low ratings. The theme song, "Namida no Niji
," was released in May 2007. The single marked Ueto's first foray into songwriting. In an interview with Oricon Style, she revealed that the reason she insisted on not writing her own lyrics until then was because she felt "shy" about "opening herself completely" to her audience. Ueto held her third tour, Ueto Aya Best Live Tour 2007 Never Ever, in the summer of 2007. At the release event of the concert DVD, she stated that the tour refreshed her after a year of ups and downs. Ueto next starred alongside Hideaki Itō
in the TBS period piece Wachigaiya Itosato, and alongside Yō Ōizumi
in the Fuji TV drama, Abarenbō Mama, which was well received by critics and audiences alike.
runway show, where she modeled for Emanuel Ungaro
. In October 2008, Ueto next starred in her ninth TV drama leading role in the Fuji TV comedy Celeb to Binbō Taro, alongside Shūchishin
member, Yūsuke Kamiji
. Ueto attended the premiere of Saki Fukuda
's first feature film Sakura no Sono
, in which she makes a supporting appearance, at the 21st Tokyo International Film Festival. In December 2008, Ueto hosted two of the year's biggest festivities: the M-1 Grand Prix
and 50th Japan Record Awards
. She hosted the former for the third consecutive year.
In January 2009, Ueto launched her first wedding dress collection, in collaboration with bridal shop Joyful Eli, entitled U Aya Ueto Dresses. While she has designed her own tour merchandise in the past, namely the T-shirt line Buddy in 2005, U marks Ueto's first official foray into fashion design. A second collection was announced in July 2009. In April 2009, she starred alongside SMAP
leader Masahiro Nakai
in her first Getsuku
drama, Konkatsu!. Ueto next co-starred with Hayato Ichihara in the Shunji Iwai
-produced CG animation
film, Baton, created in commemoration of the Port of Yokohama
's 150th anniversary. The film, reunited her with Azumi director Ryuhei Kitamura
. In June 2009, after a two year hiatus, Ueto resumed her singing career by releasing the Kohmi Hirose
-produced single "Smile for...," followed by her fifth studio album, Happy Magic: Smile Project
. In November 2009, Ueto co-starred with Tetsuya Watari
in the Sugako Hashida-written and Fukuko Ishii-produced TV movie, Kekkon.
In 2010, Ueto launched her third and fourth wedding dress collections, starred alongside Kin'ya Kitaōji
in the Fuji TV drama Zettai Reido
, and made a cameo appearance in Shun Oguri
's directorial debut, Surely Someday. In August 2010, Ueto co-starred with Masaaki Uchino for the first time since Ace o Nerae! (2004) in her first NHK drama leading role, Jūnensaki mo Kimi ni Koishite. In September 2010, Ueto portrayed blind singer-songwriter Satoko Tatemichi in the TV movie Ai wa Mieru. Ueto next co-starred with Yutaka Takenouchi in her second Getsuku drama, Nagareboshi. The drama was very well received by critics and audiences alike and was the second best rated of the fall season. Ueto was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix
and won the Television Drama Academy Award for her role in Nagareboshi. Boasting advertising contracts with 13 different companies, Ueto was crowned CM Queen for a second consecutive year, making it the fifth time she has held the title.
In February 2011, Ueto launched her fifth wedding dress collection. In July 2011, Ueto reprised the role of detective Izumi Sakuragi for a second season of Zettai Reido. Ueto was confirmed to appear in the series finale of the long-running drama Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari, scheduled to air in September 2011. She will also star alongside Hiroshi Abe for the first time in ten years, since My Little Cheff (2002), in the film adaptation of Thermae Romae
(2012). Filming started in Rome on March 14 and is expected to finish in early May.
Tarento
is a Japanese rendering of the English word "talent" and is used as a catch-all term for mass media personalities who regularly appear on television. Detractors of the phenomenon have referred to it in an English sense as "famous just for being famous" because many that fall into this career line...
, and occasional radio personality. Born in Nerima, Tokyo
Nerima, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it calls itself Nerima City.As of August 1, 2007, the ward has an estimated population of 703,005 , and a density of 14,443 persons per km². 12,897 foreign residents are registered in the ward. 18.4% of the ward's population is over the...
, Ueto was discovered when she participated in the 7th Japan Bishōjo Contest
Japan Bishojo Contest
The is a beauty contest and audition contest name that has been held every year since 1987 in Oscar Promotion, and is the sister pageant of the Japan Beautiful Girl Contest. When a bishōjo wins the Japanese Girl pageant, the first runner-up becomes Japan Bishojo Contest...
, where she won the special jury prize. At the age of thirteen, Ueto made her acting debut, in the film Satsujinsha: Killer of Paraiso (1999), and she and fellow Japan Bishōjo Contest participants, Mami Nejiki, Mai Fujiya, and Manami Nishiwaki, formed the unsuccessful idol
Japanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
group Z-1
Z-1 (band)
Z-1 was a Japanese idol quartet signed under Toshiba EMI from 1999 to 2002. The name Z-1 signifies the last super stars of the 20th century and the first of the 21st....
. In 2002, after their disbandment, Ueto continued her music career as a solo artist, under the record label Pony Canyon
Pony Canyon
is a Japanese company, established on October 1, 1966 , which publishes music, DVD and VHS videos, movies and video games. It is a subsidiary of Japanese Media Group, Fujisankei Communications Group.-History:...
, where she debuted with the single "Pureness
Pureness
"Pureness" is the first solo single by Japanese recording artist Aya Ueto. It was released on August 28, 2002 as the first single from Ueto's debut studio album Ayaueto.- Background :...
."
Ueto's breakthrough came when she was cast as a high school student suffering from gender identity disorder
Gender identity disorder
Gender identity disorder is the formal diagnosis used by psychologists and physicians to describe persons who experience significant gender dysphoria . It describes the symptoms related to transsexualism, as well as less severe manifestations of gender dysphoria...
(GID), in the sixth season of the long-running TBS
Tokyo 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 ....
drama 3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei
Kinpachi-sensei
is a Japanese television drama.Kinpachi-sensei is the story of a 3rd year junior high school class in Japan; its teacher is Kinpachi Sakamoto , played by Tetsuya Takeda...
. Her critically acclaimed performance led to several leading roles and endorsements, eventually establishing herself as one of Japan's most recognizable faces. As one of Japan's most ubiquitous celebrities, Ueto constantly appears on billboards, shop windows and train adverts, and has held the annual title of CM
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
Queen five times since 2004.
She has also ventured onto the big screen, in the lead role in Ryuhei Kitamura
Ryuhei Kitamura
-External links:*...
's blockbuster Azumi (2003), which earned her a nomination for a Japan Academy Award for Best Actress
Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
The of the Japan Academy Prize is one of the annual Awards given by the Nippon Academy-sho association .-List of winners:-External links:* - **...
, its sequel, Azumi 2: Death or Love
Azumi 2: Death or Love
is the sequel to the Japanese film Azumi based on the manga series by Yū Koyama.- Plot :Azumi 2 continues shortly after the end of the previous film with Aya Ueto returning in the title role of a young assassin charged with keeping the nation from falling into a new civil war.Azumi and her only...
(2005), and the upcoming film adaption of Thermae Romae
Thermae Romae
is a Japanese manga series by Mari Yamazaki. It won the 3rd Manga Taishō and the Short Story Award at the 14th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. Fuji TV has announced it is producing a live-action film adaptation of the manga. It will be released in 2012....
(2012).
1985–1999: Early life and career
Aya Ueto was born in NerimaNerima, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it calls itself Nerima City.As of August 1, 2007, the ward has an estimated population of 703,005 , and a density of 14,443 persons per km². 12,897 foreign residents are registered in the ward. 18.4% of the ward's population is over the...
, Tokyo to an Hokkaidan
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
father and an Okinawan
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
mother. Her parents divorced shortly after Ueto's debut. She has two brothers; Shun, two years older, and Makoto, sixteen years older. Despite growing up in a relatively poor household, Ueto studied piano, modern ballet, swimming and gymnastic. She did not have ambitions to become an entertainer; she wanted to become a pre-school teacher. However, after hearing about one of her friends' experience as an extra
Extra (actor)
A background actor or extra is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background...
on a TV drama
Japanese television drama
, also called , are a staple of Japanese television and are broadcast daily. All major TV networks in Japan produce a variety of drama series including murder romance, comedy, detective stories, horror, and many others...
, she decided she too "wanted to appear on TV." Unbeknownst to her daughter, Ueto's mother entered her into the 7th Japan Bishōjo Contest.
Aged only twelve, Ueto won the special jury prize at the contest. She revealed later on that her real motivation for doing well was to "win the two million yen cash prize to buy a house for her family," however because what she won was an ad hoc prize decided that day, there was no monetary reward. After her discovery, she joined the talent agency Oscar Promotion and began acting and singing lessons. In July 1998, Ueto joined the idol
Japanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
group Z-1
Z-1 (band)
Z-1 was a Japanese idol quartet signed under Toshiba EMI from 1999 to 2002. The name Z-1 signifies the last super stars of the 20th century and the first of the 21st....
. The group landed a regular spot on the variety shows Kaishingeki TV! Utaemon and The Yoru mo Hippare, and debuted on Toshiba EMI a year later with the single "Vibe!" In 1999, Ueto obtained her first role in the film Satsujinsha: Killer of Paraiso, in which her lines were entirely in English.
2000–2005: Breakthrough and solo debut
In 2000, Ueto portrayed the supporting role of Momo Fuchigami in the Fuji TV drama Namida o Fuite, starring Yōsuke EguchiYōsuke Eguchi
is a Japanese poet, actor and singer, who most recently starred in 2009 Japanese film Goemon. Since 1986, he as appeared in a number of television series and movies. He is married to the actress and pop star Chisato Moritaka, with whom he has a son and a daughter....
. The drama garnered strong ratings and gave Ueto her then biggest exposure yet. In 2001, Ueto appeared on the annual Victor
JVC
, usually referred to as JVC, is a Japanese international consumer and professional electronics corporation based in Yokohama, Japan which was founded in 1927...
Kōshien poster, which, in the past, kick-started the careers of Noriko Sakai
Noriko Sakai
is a Japanese pop singer and actress. She was born in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. She married in 1998, and divorced on July 31, 2010. She and Yūichi have one son, born in 1999. She is particularly popular in Hong Kong and Taiwan...
and Miho Kanno
Miho Kanno
is a Japanese actress and J-Pop singer. Her nickname is Kanchan . She was born in Sakado, Saitama, Japan.- Biography :In 1992, Kanno made her debut as a member of a group called Sakurakko Kurabu Sakura Gumi after passing the orientation for the TV variety show Sakurakko Kurabu...
. Later that year, she was cast in the role of Nao Tsurumoto, a student suffering from gender identity disorder
Gender identity disorder
Gender identity disorder is the formal diagnosis used by psychologists and physicians to describe persons who experience significant gender dysphoria . It describes the symptoms related to transsexualism, as well as less severe manifestations of gender dysphoria...
(GID), in the sixth season of the TBS
Tokyo 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 ....
drama 3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei
Kinpachi-sensei
is a Japanese television drama.Kinpachi-sensei is the story of a 3rd year junior high school class in Japan; its teacher is Kinpachi Sakamoto , played by Tetsuya Takeda...
. The role propelled her to stardom and earned her a Golden Arrow Award
Golden Arrow Award
A Golden Arrow Award was an accolade presented by the members of the Japan Magazine Publishers Association to recognize excellence in domestic media, such as in film, television, and music.The 1st Golden Arrow Awards were held on March 17, 1964...
for Best Newcomer.
In January 2002, it was announced that Ueto would continue her music career as a solo artist under Pony Canyon subsidiary label, Flight Master. During her summer break from school, she appeared in a 5-episode arc of the long-running drama Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari, and starred alongside Akiko Yada and Hiroshi Abe
Hiroshi Abe (actor)
is a Japanese model and actor.He began his career as a model, but he successfully made the transition to acting, becoming one of the most regularly visible presences in Japanese media. He is a 1988 graduate of Chuo University.-Career:...
in the TBS drama My Little Chef. Ueto released her first solo single, "Pureness," in August 2002. The song debuted at number 4 on the Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
Weekly Singles chart, making it the first debut single by a female artist with no commercial tie-in
Tie-in
A tie-in is an authorized product based on a media property a company is releasing, such as a movie or video/DVD, computer game, video game, television program/television series, board game, web site, role-playing game or literary property...
to enter the top five in three years. In between filming her first feature film, Azumi, Ueto released her second single, "Kizuna," and launched Seventeen's Map, a radio show on Nippon Hōsō
Nippon Broadcasting System
, or JOLF, is a Japanese radio station in Tokyo. Together with Nippon Cultural Broadcasting it is a flagship station of the National Radio Network...
. The program would go on to last four-and-a-half years, changing names after each of her birthdays to Eighteen's Road, Nineteen's Nine, Hatachi ni High Touch!, and 21 Peace!.
In early 2003, Ueto starred in a remake of the 1993 drama Kōkō Kyōshi, alongside Naohito Fujiki
Naohito Fujiki
is a Japanese actor and singer.- Singles :# [1999.07.07] 世界の果て ～the end of the world～# [1999.11.17] 虹 ～waiting for the rainbow～# [2000.07.19] パーフェクトワールド # [2000.11.01] コズミックライダー # [2001.04.18] 2 HEARTS# [2001.08.01] anon...
. She released her third single, "Hello
Hello (Aya Ueto song)
"Hello" is the third single by Japanese recording artist Aya Ueto. It was released on February 26, 2002 as the third and final single from Ueto's debut studio album Ayaueto.- Overview :...
," followed by her first studio album, Ayaueto
Ayaueto
-Charts and sales:...
. In April 2003, it was revealed that Ueto had taken a leave of absence from school to focus on her career. In a 2007 interview, she stated that, at the time, she was only getting two hours of sleep, trying to juggle work and school. In May 2003, Ueto launched her first tour, Ueto Aya First Live Tour Pureness 2003, released a fourth single, "Message/Personal
MESSAGE/PERSONAL
"Message/Personal" is a double A-side single by Japanese pop singer Aya Ueto. It was released on May 14, 2003 as the first single from her second album Message and is her fourth single overall.- Background :...
," and Azumi opened nationwide. Ueto won several awards for her performance in Azumi. She swooped the Newcomer of the Year category of the Élan d'Or Award
Élan d'or Award
The are presented annually by the All Nippon Producers Association to recognize outstanding achievements in domestic motion pictures and television....
s, Japan Movie Critic Awards, Japanese Academy Awards, and Golden Arrow Awards; becoming the only actress to win two consecutive Golden Arrows for Newcomer of the Year. Ueto received a nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
The of the Japan Academy Prize is one of the annual Awards given by the Nippon Academy-sho association .-List of winners:-External links:* - **...
at the Japanese Academy Awards and won the Popularity Award. In July 2003, Ueto landed her first TV leading role in the TBS drama Hitonatsu no Papa e, for which her fifth single, Kanshō
Kansho/MERMAID
-Credits and personnel:* Pipeline Project – songwriter, arranger, producer* Yasuyuki Hara – engineering* Akira Sato - engineering, audio mixing* Shingo Nishimura - production coordinator...
, served as theme song. Despite low ratings, the single was well received on the charts, peaking at number 9.
In January 2004, Ueto starred as Hiromi Oka in the live-action adaption of the popular manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
Ace wo Nerae!. The drama earned her a The Television Drama Academy Award for Best Lead Actress. Ueto's seventh single, "Ai no Tameni.," served as theme song for the drama and became her best-selling single. In March 2004, Message
Message (Aya Ueto album)
-Charts and sales:...
was released and became her best-selling album. In December 2004, Ueto released her third studio album, Re.
Re.
-Charts and sales:...
, starred alongside Ryūnosuke Kamiki
Ryunosuke Kamiki
is a Japanese actor and voice actor.-Biography:When he was 2 years old, his mother enrolled him in Central Group, a talent agency specialising in representing babies and children, and that was the start of his career in acting....
in the film adaption of Risa Wataya
Risa Wataya
is a female Japanese novelist from Kyoto.-Life:She rose to fame in 2003 upon receiving the Akutagawa Prize for her short novel Keritai Senaka , while at Waseda University. The prize was shared between Wataya and Hitomi Kanehara, another young, female author...
's award-winning novel, Install, which premiered at the 17th Tokyo International Film Festival
Tokyo International Film Festival
Tokyo International Film Festival is a film festival established in 1985. The event was held biannually from 1985 to 1991 and annually thereafter...
, and performed as top-batter at the 55th Kōhaku Uta Gassen
Kohaku Uta Gassen
, more commonly known as simply Kōhaku, is an annual music show on New Year's Eve produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK and broadcast on both television and radio, nationally and internationally by NHK's networks and some overseas broadcasters which bought the program...
. With eighteen advertising contracts for sixteen companies, Ueto was crowned CM Queen of 2004.
In 2005, Ueto appeared in the NHK
NHK
NHK 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....
taiga drama
Taiga drama
is the name NHK gives to the annual, year-long historical fiction television series it broadcasts in Japan. Beginning in 1963 with the black-and-white Hana no Shōgai, starring kabuki actor Onoe Shōroku and Takarazuka star Awashima Chikage, the network has hired a producer, director, writer, music...
Yoshitsune, portrayed twin sisters in a remake of the drama Koto
The Old Capital
The Old Capital is a novel by Yasunari Kawabata originally published in 1962. It was first translated into English in 1987 by J. Martin Holman...
, and starred in the sequel to Azumi, Azumi 2: Death or Love
Azumi 2: Death or Love
is the sequel to the Japanese film Azumi based on the manga series by Yū Koyama.- Plot :Azumi 2 continues shortly after the end of the previous film with Aya Ueto returning in the title role of a young assassin charged with keeping the nation from falling into a new civil war.Azumi and her only...
. In April 2005, she starred in the TV Asahi
TV 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....
-produced live-action adaption of another popular manga, Attack No. 1
Attack No. 1
is a Japanese manga series by Chikako Urano. It also became the first televised female sports anime series in the shōjo category.The anime is an adaptation of Chikako Urano's 1968 volleyball manga serialized in Weekly Maragaret Magazine under the same name. Chikako was considered one of the...
. "Yume no Chikara
Yume no Chikara
is the eleventh single by Japanese recording artist Aya Ueto. It was released on June 8, 2005 as the first single from Ueto's fourth studio album License.- Overview :...
," the theme song for the drama, became her ninth top ten single. Ueto next starred in two TV movies produced to commemorate TBS' 50th anniversary: Misora Hibari Tanjō Monogatar, a Misora Hibari biopic co-starring Izumi Pinko
Izumi Pinko
September 11, 1947 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actress and singer.- Television :* Chichi yo, Anata wa Erakatta * Tonari no Shibafu as Takahira Shino * Kurobe no Taiyo as Kuramatsu Tsuru...
, and Nada Sōsō, Kono Ai ni Ikite, co-starring Hitomi Kuroki
Hitomi Kuroki
Hitomi Kuroki is a Japanese actress. Her real name is Shoko Ichiji née Egami ....
. She launched her second tour, Ueto Aya Live Tour 2005: Genki Hatsu Ratsū?, released her twelfth single, "Kaze wo Ukete
Kaze wo Ukete
is the twelfth single by Japanese recording artist Aya Ueto. It was released on August 3, 2005 as the second single from Ueto's fourth studio album License...
," and first remix album, Uetoayamix
UETOAYAMIX
Uetoayamix is a remix album by Japanese pop singer Aya Ueto. It was released on August 24, 2005 on Flight Master.-Background:The album was initially scheduled for release on March 2, 2005 but was eventually postponed. The original plans to include a bonus DVD and 20-page booklet were also scrapped...
. Ueto was appointed mascot girl for the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship
2005 FIFA Club World Championship
-Quarter-finals:-----Semi-finals:-----Fifth Place:-Third Place:-Final:-Scorers: 2 goals Amoroso Peter Crouch Mohammed Noor Alvaro Saborio...
and covered the tournament as a special presenter for NTV.
2006–2007: Intermingling success and struggles
In 2006, Ueto attended her Coming of Age ceremony, acted as special presenter for NTV's coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympics2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
and made a guest appearance as herself in the anime Meitantei Conan
Case Closed
Case Closed, known as in Japan, is a Japanese detective manga series written and illustrated by Gosho Aoyama. The series is serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday since February 2, 1994, and has been collected in 73 tankōbon volumes as of September 2011...
, for which she was chosen as special supporter. She released her thirteenth single, "Egao no Mama de
Egao no Mama de
is the thirteenth single by Japanese recording artist Aya Ueto. It was released on February 15, 2006 as the third and final single from Ueto's fourth studio album License.- Overview :...
," followed by her fourth studio album, License. Ueto starred in Celeb, the first episode of the drama adaption of the cell phone novel Tsubasa no Oreta Tenshitachi. Her episode was the highest rated of the series. The drama marked Ueto's first appearance on a Fuji TV drama in six years, since Namida wo Fuite (2000). She starred alongside Ryo Nishikido
Ryo Nishikido
is a Japanese actor and singer. He is a member of the Johnny & Associates boy band Kanjani Eight and was a member of boy band NEWS.- Biography :Ryo Nishikido was born in Hyogo on November 3, 1984 and raised in Osaka. He made his major debut in 2004 as an actor and a singer. Nishkido belongs to two...
in a modern-day remake of the 1970 drama, Attention Please
Attention Please
is a manga by Chieko Hosokawa about the training of flight attendants for Japan Airlines originally serialized in Shōjo Friend from Kodansha beginning in 1970. Tokyo Broadcasting System adapted a TV drama from the manga in 1970. Thirty-six years later, Fuji TV produced a new drama series in 2006...
, which became her most successful drama to date. It spawned two specials: Attention Please: Yōko, Hawaii ni Tobu (2007) and Attention Please: Sydney, Australia (2008). Ueto next starred in the Yukihiko Tsutsumi
Yukihiko Tsutsumi
is a Japanese television and film director. He began directing commercials and music promotion videos as an employee of Nihon Television. After spending time abroad, he returned and started his own production company, Crescendo, from which he works independently...
-directed comedy, Shimokita Sundays. The drama failed to capture audiences and was one of the worst-rated of the summer. In September 2006, Ueto released her first compilation album, Best of Uetoaya: Single Collection, which peaked at number 5. In December 2006, she hosted the 32nd Radio Charity Musicthon and acted as special presenter for NTV's coverage of the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup.
In 2007, Ueto starred in the two-part Yoshiko Ōtaka
Yoshiko Otaka
, is a China-born Japanese actress and singer who made a career in China, Japan, Hong Kong, and the United States. By the 1940s, she became one of the Seven great singing stars...
biopic, Ri Kouran. In March 2007, Ueto released "Way to Heaven
Way to Heaven
"Way to Heaven" is the fourteenth single by Japanese recording artist Aya Ueto. It was released on March 14, 2007. "Way to Heaven" was included on the standard edition of Ueto's fifth studio album Happy Magic: Smile Project...
," her first single in over a year, and made a guest appearance in the eighth season finale of the TBS drama Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari. In April 2007, Ueto was cast in a remake of the Korean drama Hotelier, which recorded low ratings. The theme song, "Namida no Niji
Namida no Niji/SAVE ME
is the fifteenth single by Japanese recording artist Aya Ueto. It was released on May 30, 2007.- Overview :"Namida no Niji" was included on the standard edition of Ueto's fifth studio album Happy Magic: Smile Project. It served as theme song for the TV Asahi drama Hotelier, starring Ueto herself...
," was released in May 2007. The single marked Ueto's first foray into songwriting. In an interview with Oricon Style, she revealed that the reason she insisted on not writing her own lyrics until then was because she felt "shy" about "opening herself completely" to her audience. Ueto held her third tour, Ueto Aya Best Live Tour 2007 Never Ever, in the summer of 2007. At the release event of the concert DVD, she stated that the tour refreshed her after a year of ups and downs. Ueto next starred alongside Hideaki Itō
Hideaki Ito
-Personal information:He was born in Gifu and has a younger sister. He enjoys riding, diving, skiing, and snowboarding in his spare time.-Television shows:* Dessin * Odoru Daisousasen * Boy Hunt...
in the TBS period piece Wachigaiya Itosato, and alongside Yō Ōizumi
Yo Oizumi
is a TV personality and a stage actor based in Hokkaidō. He was born in Ebetsu and has been living in Sapporo since 1984.He first made a name in Hokkaidō-based TV variety series called “Suiyō Dōdeshō” and has been actively appearing on various media programs in Hokkaidō since then...
in the Fuji TV drama, Abarenbō Mama, which was well received by critics and audiences alike.
2008–present
In 2008, Ueto won the Asakusa Entertainment Newcomer Prize, which is awarded to the most prominent entertainers based in Tokyo. She starred in her first NTV drama, Hokaben. In August 2008, Ueto became the first actress to ever appear on official postage stamps by releasing an original set with photos taken from her 2007 tour. She made a secret guest appearance at the 2008 Kobe CollectionKobe Collection
The is a fashion event that has been held in Kobe, Japan and other cities during spring and autumn every year since 2002; over 30 brands have participated...
runway show, where she modeled for Emanuel Ungaro
Emanuel Ungaro
Emanuel Ungaro is a French fashion designer.-Early life:Ungaro's Italian father fled to France from Francavilla Fontana of Brindisi province because of the fascist uprising in Italy...
. In October 2008, Ueto next starred in her ninth TV drama leading role in the Fuji TV comedy Celeb to Binbō Taro, alongside Shūchishin
Shuchishin
is a Japanese idol vocal group formed as part of the variety show Quiz! Hexagon II produced by Fuji Television Network Incorporated. Originally meant to be a joke group, the trio has released singles that have hit the top 10 on both the Oricon and the Billboard Japan Hot 100 Singles...
member, Yūsuke Kamiji
Yusuke Kamiji
is a Japanese actor, singer, and tarento. In the music world, he is known mononymously as .- Biography :Kamiji graduated from Yokohama Senior High School. He belonged to the baseball club while in school, and played catcher. He and Daisuke Matsuzaka played together for one year, and when Matsuzaka...
. Ueto attended the premiere of Saki Fukuda
Saki Fukuda
is a Japanese actress and singer.She appeared in the 2009 live action film Yatterman as Yatterman 2 "Ai-chan."-Dramas:* 3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi Sensei 7 * Donmai * Fushin no Toki...
's first feature film Sakura no Sono
Sakura no Sono
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akimi Yoshida. It was serialized from 1985 to 1986 in Hakusensha's manga magazine LaLa. The story focuses on individuals from a drama club that are putting on the play The Cherry Orchard....
, in which she makes a supporting appearance, at the 21st Tokyo International Film Festival. In December 2008, Ueto hosted two of the year's biggest festivities: the M-1 Grand Prix
M-1 Grand Prix
, was an annual Manzai competition planned by Shinsuke Shimada and run by Yoshimoto Kogyo. The supporter Asahi Broadcasting Corporation broadcast the final live throughout Japan via All-Nippon News Network in December.-The way to be the Champion:...
and 50th Japan Record Awards
50th Japan Record Awards
The 50th Annual Japan Record Awards took place at the New National Theatre in Shibuya, Tokyo, on December 30, 2008, starting at 6:30PM JST. The primary ceremonies were televised in Japan on TBS.- Awards winners :* Japan Record Award: - Ti Amo...
. She hosted the former for the third consecutive year.
In January 2009, Ueto launched her first wedding dress collection, in collaboration with bridal shop Joyful Eli, entitled U Aya Ueto Dresses. While she has designed her own tour merchandise in the past, namely the T-shirt line Buddy in 2005, U marks Ueto's first official foray into fashion design. A second collection was announced in July 2009. In April 2009, she starred alongside SMAP
SMAP
SMAP is a Japanese boy band formed by Johnny & Associates. While originally consisting of six members, the current group members are Masahiro Nakai, Takuya Kimura, Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori...
leader Masahiro Nakai
Masahiro Nakai
is a singer, actor and host for music events and variety shows such as the long-running music show Utaban. He is the leader of the Japanese idol group SMAP.-Early life:...
in her first Getsuku
Getsuku
is a Japanese abbreviation for , meaning Monday at 9 pm. This is traditionally the time when the most popular TV dramas air in Japan.-History:Fuji TV, one of the major broadcasting companies in Japan, started the pattern of airing the dramas it predicted would be most popular on Monday nights...
drama, Konkatsu!. Ueto next co-starred with Hayato Ichihara in the Shunji Iwai
Shunji Iwai
is a Japanese film director/video artist, writer and documentarian.-Life and career:Iwai was born in Sendai, Japan, Miyagi prefecture. He attended Yokohama National University, graduating in 1987....
-produced CG animation
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
film, Baton, created in commemoration of the Port of Yokohama
Port of Yokohama
The is operated by the Port and Harbor Bureau of the City of Yokohama in Japan. It opens onto Tokyo Bay. The port is located at a latitude of 35.27.–00°N and a longitude of 139.38–46°E. To the south lies the Port of Yokosuka; to the north, the ports of Kawasaki and Tokyo.-Facilities:Yokohama Port...
's 150th anniversary. The film, reunited her with Azumi director Ryuhei Kitamura
Ryuhei Kitamura
-External links:*...
. In June 2009, after a two year hiatus, Ueto resumed her singing career by releasing the Kohmi Hirose
Kohmi Hirose
is a J-pop singer-songwriter. She started piano lessons at the age of 4 and within a year was writing songs.-Biography:Asami Yonemitsu graduated from Fukuoka Jo Gakuin University and then Kunitachi College of Music in 1989. During her student days, she visited Los Angeles and decided to pursue a...
-produced single "Smile for...," followed by her fifth studio album, Happy Magic: Smile Project
Happy Magic: Smile Project
-Charts and sales:...
. In November 2009, Ueto co-starred with Tetsuya Watari
Tetsuya Watari
is a Japanese stage, film, and television actor. He made his screen debut in 1964, in Isamu Kosugi's .He is now the president of Ishihara Promotion.He has a younger brother, Tsunehiko Watase, who is also an actor.-Filmography:-External links:* *...
in the Sugako Hashida-written and Fukuko Ishii-produced TV movie, Kekkon.
In 2010, Ueto launched her third and fourth wedding dress collections, starred alongside Kin'ya Kitaōji
Kin'ya Kitaoji
is a Japanese actor.-Early life:He was born in Kyoto, son of famous jidaigeki film star Ichikawa Utaemon, and graduated from Waseda University School of Letters, Arts and Sciences Ⅱ in Tokyo.-Acting career:...
in the Fuji TV drama Zettai Reido
Zettai Reido
is a Japanese police procedural television drama. The first season, subtitled , was set in a fictional version of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department division that specializes in investigating cold cases, which is based on an actual division established in Japan in 2009. The first season aired...
, and made a cameo appearance in Shun Oguri
Shun Oguri
is a Japanese actor, director and voice actor.-Career:Born to a theater director father, Tetsuya Oguri, and having an actor brother, Ryo Oguri, Shun Oguri started his acting career quite early in his life...
's directorial debut, Surely Someday. In August 2010, Ueto co-starred with Masaaki Uchino for the first time since Ace o Nerae! (2004) in her first NHK drama leading role, Jūnensaki mo Kimi ni Koishite. In September 2010, Ueto portrayed blind singer-songwriter Satoko Tatemichi in the TV movie Ai wa Mieru. Ueto next co-starred with Yutaka Takenouchi in her second Getsuku drama, Nagareboshi. The drama was very well received by critics and audiences alike and was the second best rated of the fall season. Ueto was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix
Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix
The Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix is an award given by the Nikkan Sports newspaper to Japanese television dramas.-Best Drama:*1st: Love Generation*2nd: Great Teacher Onizuka*3rd: Beautiful Life*4th: Hero*5th: Antique...
and won the Television Drama Academy Award for her role in Nagareboshi. Boasting advertising contracts with 13 different companies, Ueto was crowned CM Queen for a second consecutive year, making it the fifth time she has held the title.
In February 2011, Ueto launched her fifth wedding dress collection. In July 2011, Ueto reprised the role of detective Izumi Sakuragi for a second season of Zettai Reido. Ueto was confirmed to appear in the series finale of the long-running drama Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari, scheduled to air in September 2011. She will also star alongside Hiroshi Abe for the first time in ten years, since My Little Cheff (2002), in the film adaptation of Thermae Romae
Thermae Romae
is a Japanese manga series by Mari Yamazaki. It won the 3rd Manga Taishō and the Short Story Award at the 14th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. Fuji TV has announced it is producing a live-action film adaptation of the manga. It will be released in 2012....
(2012). Filming started in Rome on March 14 and is expected to finish in early May.
Discography
- AyauetoAyaueto-Charts and sales:...
(2003) - MessageMessage (Aya Ueto album)-Charts and sales:...
(2004) - Re.Re.-Charts and sales:...
(2004) - License (2006)
- Happy Magic: Smile ProjectHappy Magic: Smile Project-Charts and sales:...
(2009)
Film
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satsujinsha: Killer of Paraiso | 1999 | Hikari | |
| Return to Never Land Return to Never Land Return to Never Land is a 2002 American animated film produced by DisneyToon Studios in Sydney, Australia and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film is a sequel to the 1953 film Peter Pan, based on J.M... |
2002 | Jane | Japanese voice |
| Azumi | 2003 | Azumi | Élan d'Or Award for Newcomer of the Year Élan d'or Award The are presented annually by the All Nippon Producers Association to recognize outstanding achievements in domestic motion pictures and television.... Golden Arrow Award for Newcomer of the Year Golden Arrow Award A Golden Arrow Award was an accolade presented by the members of the Japan Magazine Publishers Association to recognize excellence in domestic media, such as in film, television, and music.The 1st Golden Arrow Awards were held on March 17, 1964... Japan Academy Award for Most Popular Performer Japan Academy Award for Newcomer of the Year Japan Movie Critics Award for Newcomer of the Year Nominated—Japan Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role The of the Japan Academy Prize is one of the annual Awards given by the Nippon Academy-sho association .-List of winners:-External links:* - **... |
| Install | 2004 | Asako Nozawa | |
| Azumi 2: Death or Love Azumi 2: Death or Love is the sequel to the Japanese film Azumi based on the manga series by Yū Koyama.- Plot :Azumi 2 continues shortly after the end of the previous film with Aya Ueto returning in the title role of a young assassin charged with keeping the nation from falling into a new civil war.Azumi and her only... |
2005 | Azumi | |
| Ashita Genki ni Nāre | 2005 | Kayōko | Voice |
| Piano no Mori Piano no Mori is an ongoing manga by Makoto Isshiki, about Shuhei Amamiya, who transfers to Moriwaki Elementary filled with hope and ambition about his new life... |
2007 | Kai Ichinose | Voice |
| Speed Racer Speed Racer (film) Speed Racer is a 2008 American live action film adaptation of Tatsuo Yoshida's 1960s Japanese anime series of the same name, produced by Tatsunoko Productions. The film is written and directed by the Wachowskis... |
2008 | Trixie | Japanese voice |
| Sakura no Sono Sakura no Sono is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akimi Yoshida. It was serialized from 1985 to 1986 in Hakusensha's manga magazine LaLa. The story focuses on individuals from a drama club that are putting on the play The Cherry Orchard.... |
2008 | Rimi | |
| Baton | 2009 | Mikaru | |
| Astro Boy Astro Boy (film) Astro Boy, also called in Japan, is a 2009 computer-animated film loosely based on the long-running Japanese series of the same name by Osamu Tezuka. It was produced by Imagi Animation Studios, the animation production company of TMNT. The studio announced the project in September 2006... |
2009 | Atom Astro Boy (character) is a fictional character, and the main protagonist of the Astro Boy franchise. Created by Osamu Tezuka, the character was introduced in the 1951 Captain Atom manga... |
Japanese voice |
| Surely Someday | 2010 | Herself | |
| The Twilight Saga: Eclipse | 2010 | Bella Swan Bella Swan Isabella Marie "Bella" Swan is the fictional protagonist of the Twilight series, written by Stephenie Meyer. The Twilight series, consisting of the novels Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn, is primarily narrated from Bella's point of view... |
Japanese voice |
| Thermae Romae Thermae Romae is a Japanese manga series by Mari Yamazaki. It won the 3rd Manga Taishō and the Short Story Award at the 14th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. Fuji TV has announced it is producing a live-action film adaptation of the manga. It will be released in 2012.... |
2012 | Mami | post-production |
Television
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultraman Gaia Ultraman Gaia is a Japanese tokusatsu TV show and is the 13th show in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Mainichi Broadcasting System , Ultraman Gaia was aired on JNN TV stations from September 5, 1998 until August 28, 1999, with a total of 51 episodes.-Plot:Ultraman Gaia takes place in yet... |
1999 | Herself (Z-1) | Episode 46 |
| Namida o Fuite | 2000 | Momo Fuchigami | |
| Shijō Saiaku no Date | 2001 | Shiori | Episode 20 |
| Yome wa Mitsuboshi | 2001 | Mayu Shinjō | |
| 3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei Kinpachi-sensei is a Japanese television drama.Kinpachi-sensei is the story of a 3rd year junior high school class in Japan; its teacher is Kinpachi Sakamoto , played by Tetsuya Takeda... |
2001–2004 | Nao Tsurumoto | Season 6 Season 7, episode 11 Golden Arrow Award for Newcomer of the Year Golden Arrow Award A Golden Arrow Award was an accolade presented by the members of the Japan Magazine Publishers Association to recognize excellence in domestic media, such as in film, television, and music.The 1st Golden Arrow Awards were held on March 17, 1964... Hashida Award for Newcomer of the Year TV Life Drama Grand Prix for Newcomer of the Year Nominated—Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for Best Supporting Actress Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix The Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix is an award given by the Nikkan Sports newspaper to Japanese television dramas.-Best Drama:*1st: Love Generation*2nd: Great Teacher Onizuka*3rd: Beautiful Life*4th: Hero*5th: Antique... |
| Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari | 2002–2011 | Kana Kojima | Season 6, episodes 10-15 Season 8, episode 50 Season 10, series finale |
| My Little Chef | 2002 | Nazuna Kamosawa | |
| Kōkō Kyōshi 2003 | 2003 | Hina Machida | Nominated—Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for Best Supporting Actress Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix The Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix is an award given by the Nikkan Sports newspaper to Japanese television dramas.-Best Drama:*1st: Love Generation*2nd: Great Teacher Onizuka*3rd: Beautiful Life*4th: Hero*5th: Antique... |
| Hitonatsu no Papa e | 2003 | Marimo Mochizuki | Nominated—Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for Best Lead Actress Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix The Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix is an award given by the Nikkan Sports newspaper to Japanese television dramas.-Best Drama:*1st: Love Generation*2nd: Great Teacher Onizuka*3rd: Beautiful Life*4th: Hero*5th: Antique... |
| Satōkibi Batake no Uta | 2003 | Mie Hirayama | |
| Ace o Nerae | 2004 | Hiromi Oka | 9 episodes 1 special The Television Drama Academy Award for Best Lead Actress Nominated—Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for Best Lead Actress Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix The Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix is an award given by the Nikkan Sports newspaper to Japanese television dramas.-Best Drama:*1st: Love Generation*2nd: Great Teacher Onizuka*3rd: Beautiful Life*4th: Hero*5th: Antique... |
| Reikan Bus Guide Jikenbo | 2004 | Misaki Aoyama | Episode 3 |
| Yoshitsune Yoshitsune (TV series) is a Japanese television drama series originally broadcast between 9 January and 11 December 2005, with a three part special compilation being aired from 24 December to 25 December 2005... |
2005 | Utsubo | Nominated—Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for Best Supporting Actress Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix The Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix is an award given by the Nikkan Sports newspaper to Japanese television dramas.-Best Drama:*1st: Love Generation*2nd: Great Teacher Onizuka*3rd: Beautiful Life*4th: Hero*5th: Antique... |
| Koto | 2005 | Chieko Sada/Naeko | |
| Attack No. 1 Attack No. 1 is a Japanese manga series by Chikako Urano. It also became the first televised female sports anime series in the shōjo category.The anime is an adaptation of Chikako Urano's 1968 volleyball manga serialized in Weekly Maragaret Magazine under the same name. Chikako was considered one of the... |
2005 | Kozue Ayuhara | Nominated—Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for Best Lead Actress Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix The Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix is an award given by the Nikkan Sports newspaper to Japanese television dramas.-Best Drama:*1st: Love Generation*2nd: Great Teacher Onizuka*3rd: Beautiful Life*4th: Hero*5th: Antique... |
| Misora Hibari Tanjō Monogatari | 2005 | Young Kazue Katō Hibari Misora was an award-winning Japanese enka singer and actress. and was the first woman in Japan to receive the People's Honour Award, which was awarded posthumously for her notable contributions to the music industry. Misora recorded 1,200 songs, and sold 68 million records. After she died, consumer demand... |
|
| Nada Sōsō, Kono Ai ni Ikite | 2005 | Miki Oda | |
| Tsubasa no Oreta Tenshitachi | 2006 | Nanako Komine | Episode 1 |
| Attention Please Attention Please is a manga by Chieko Hosokawa about the training of flight attendants for Japan Airlines originally serialized in Shōjo Friend from Kodansha beginning in 1970. Tokyo Broadcasting System adapted a TV drama from the manga in 1970. Thirty-six years later, Fuji TV produced a new drama series in 2006... |
2006–2008 | Yōko Misaki | 11 episodes 2 specials Nominated—Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for Best Lead Actress Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix The Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix is an award given by the Nikkan Sports newspaper to Japanese television dramas.-Best Drama:*1st: Love Generation*2nd: Great Teacher Onizuka*3rd: Beautiful Life*4th: Hero*5th: Antique... |
| Meitantei Conan Case Closed Case Closed, known as in Japan, is a Japanese detective manga series written and illustrated by Gosho Aoyama. The series is serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday since February 2, 1994, and has been collected in 73 tankōbon volumes as of September 2011... |
2006 | Herself | Episode 437 |
| Shimokita Sundays | 2006 | Yuika Satonaka | |
| Ri Kouran | 2007 | Young Yoshiko Ōtaka Yoshiko Otaka , is a China-born Japanese actress and singer who made a career in China, Japan, Hong Kong, and the United States. By the 1940s, she became one of the Seven great singing stars... |
|
| Hotelier | 2007 | Kyoko Odagiri | |
| Wachigaiya Itosato | 2007 | Itosato | |
| Abarenbō Mama | 2007 | Ayu Kawano | Nominated—Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for Best Lead Actress Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix The Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix is an award given by the Nikkan Sports newspaper to Japanese television dramas.-Best Drama:*1st: Love Generation*2nd: Great Teacher Onizuka*3rd: Beautiful Life*4th: Hero*5th: Antique... |
| Hokaben | 2008 | Akari Dōmoto | |
| Celeb to Binbō Taro | 2008 | Alice Mitazono | Nominated—Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for Best Lead Actress Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix The Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix is an award given by the Nikkan Sports newspaper to Japanese television dramas.-Best Drama:*1st: Love Generation*2nd: Great Teacher Onizuka*3rd: Beautiful Life*4th: Hero*5th: Antique... |
| Konkatsu | 2009 | Haruno Hida | Nominated—Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for Best Supporting Actress Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix The Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix is an award given by the Nikkan Sports newspaper to Japanese television dramas.-Best Drama:*1st: Love Generation*2nd: Great Teacher Onizuka*3rd: Beautiful Life*4th: Hero*5th: Antique... |
| Kekkon | 2009 | Chikage Uehara | |
| Zettai Reido Zettai Reido is a Japanese police procedural television drama. The first season, subtitled , was set in a fictional version of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department division that specializes in investigating cold cases, which is based on an actual division established in Japan in 2009. The first season aired... |
2010–2011 | Izumi Sakuragi | 22 episodes 1 special Nominated—Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for Best Lead Actress Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix The Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix is an award given by the Nikkan Sports newspaper to Japanese television dramas.-Best Drama:*1st: Love Generation*2nd: Great Teacher Onizuka*3rd: Beautiful Life*4th: Hero*5th: Antique... (2011–2012) |
| Jūnen Saki mo Kimi ni Koishite | 2010 | Rika Onozawa | |
| Ai wa Mieru: Zenmō Fūfu ni Yadotta Chiisana Inochi | 2010 | Juri Tatematsu | |
| Nagareboshi Nagareboshi (TV series) is a Japanese television drama adapted from the Young Scenario Prize-winning screenplay Kurage Marriage by Motoko Usuda. The series aired on the Getsuku time-slot from October 18 to December 20, 2010 on Fuji TV. The drama's slogan was "Itsuwari no Ai Kara, Shinjitsu no Ai e"... |
2010 | Risa Makihara | Nominated—Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for Best Supporting Actress Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix The Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix is an award given by the Nikkan Sports newspaper to Japanese television dramas.-Best Drama:*1st: Love Generation*2nd: Great Teacher Onizuka*3rd: Beautiful Life*4th: Hero*5th: Antique... The Television Drama Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress |
Video games
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rogue Galaxy Rogue Galaxy is a science fiction role-playing video game developed by Level-5 and SCE Japan Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. The game was first released in Japan on December 8, 2005, and later in North America on January 30, 2007... |
2005 | Kisala | Voice |
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Film / Series | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix The Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix is an award given by the Nikkan Sports newspaper to Japanese television dramas.-Best Drama:*1st: Love Generation*2nd: Great Teacher Onizuka*3rd: Beautiful Life*4th: Hero*5th: Antique... |
Best Supporting Actress | 3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei Kinpachi-sensei is a Japanese television drama.Kinpachi-sensei is the story of a 3rd year junior high school class in Japan; its teacher is Kinpachi Sakamoto , played by Tetsuya Takeda... |
|
| 2002 | TV Life Drama Grand Prix | Newcomer of the Year | 3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei | |
| 2003 | Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Supporting Actress | Kōkō Kyōshi | |
| 2003 | Golden Arrow Award Golden Arrow Award A Golden Arrow Award was an accolade presented by the members of the Japan Magazine Publishers Association to recognize excellence in domestic media, such as in film, television, and music.The 1st Golden Arrow Awards were held on March 17, 1964... |
Newcomer of the Year | 3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei | |
| 2003 | Hashida Award | Newcomer of the Year | 3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei | |
| 2004 | Élan d'Or Award Élan d'or Award The are presented annually by the All Nippon Producers Association to recognize outstanding achievements in domestic motion pictures and television.... |
Newcomer of the Year | Azumi Azumi is a Japanese manga series created by Yū Koyama in 1994. The manga was originally published by Shogakukan and serialized in Big Comic Superior, and was later adapted to two feature films starring Aya Ueto, a video game and a stage play. Azumi received an Excellence Prize at the 1997 Japan Media... |
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| 2004 | Golden Arrow Award | Newcomer of the Year | Azumi | |
| 2004 | Japan Academy Award | Best Actress in a Leading Role Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role The of the Japan Academy Prize is one of the annual Awards given by the Nippon Academy-sho association .-List of winners:-External links:* - **... |
Azumi | |
| 2004 | Japan Academy Award | Most Popular Performer | Azumi | |
| 2004 | Japan Academy Award | Newcomer of the Year | Azumi | |
| 2004 | Japan Movie Critics Award | Newcomer of the Year | Azumi | |
| 2004 | Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Lead Actress | Hitonatsu no Papa e | |
| 2004 | Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Lead Actress | Ace o Nerae! | |
| 2004 | The Television Drama Academy Award | Best Lead Actress | Ace o Nerae! | |
| 2005 | Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Lead Actress | Yoshitsune Yoshitsune (TV series) is a Japanese television drama series originally broadcast between 9 January and 11 December 2005, with a three part special compilation being aired from 24 December to 25 December 2005... |
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| 2006 | Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Lead Actress | Attack No. 1 Attack No. 1 is a Japanese manga series by Chikako Urano. It also became the first televised female sports anime series in the shōjo category.The anime is an adaptation of Chikako Urano's 1968 volleyball manga serialized in Weekly Maragaret Magazine under the same name. Chikako was considered one of the... |
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| 2007 | Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Lead Actress | Attention Please Attention Please is a manga by Chieko Hosokawa about the training of flight attendants for Japan Airlines originally serialized in Shōjo Friend from Kodansha beginning in 1970. Tokyo Broadcasting System adapted a TV drama from the manga in 1970. Thirty-six years later, Fuji TV produced a new drama series in 2006... |
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| 2008 | Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Lead Actress | Abarenbō Mama | |
| 2009 | Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Lead Actress | Celeb to Binbō Taro | |
| 2010 | Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Supporting Actress | Konkatsu! | |
| 2011 | Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Lead Actress | Zettai Reido Zettai Reido is a Japanese police procedural television drama. The first season, subtitled , was set in a fictional version of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department division that specializes in investigating cold cases, which is based on an actual division established in Japan in 2009. The first season aired... |
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| 2011 | Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Supporting Actress | Nagareboshi Nagareboshi (TV series) is a Japanese television drama adapted from the Young Scenario Prize-winning screenplay Kurage Marriage by Motoko Usuda. The series aired on the Getsuku time-slot from October 18 to December 20, 2010 on Fuji TV. The drama's slogan was "Itsuwari no Ai Kara, Shinjitsu no Ai e"... |
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| 2011 | The Television Drama Academy Award | Best Supporting Actress | Nagareboshi | |
| 2012 | Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Lead Actress | Zettai Reido |
Prizes
| Year | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Japan Bishōjo Contest Japan Bishojo Contest The is a beauty contest and audition contest name that has been held every year since 1987 in Oscar Promotion, and is the sister pageant of the Japan Beautiful Girl Contest. When a bishōjo wins the Japanese Girl pageant, the first runner-up becomes Japan Bishojo Contest... Special Jury Prize |
| 2003 | Japan Jewelry Best Dresser Prize |
| 2004 | DVD and Video Data Best Talent Prize |
| 2004 | Nattō Queen Prize |
| 2004 | Triumph Triumph International Triumph International is an international underwear manufacturer. Founded in Heubach, Württemberg, Germany 1886 by the two families Spiesshofer & Braun. The first foreign subsidiary was established in Zurzach, Switzerland which... Little Devil Prize |
| 2005 | ACC CM Fesival Acting Prize |
| 2005 | Best Hair Prize |
| 2005 | Best Smile of the Year Prize |
| 2005 | Nail Queen Prize |
| 2006 | E-Line Beautiful Prize |
| 2006 | Miss Cotton USA Prize |
| 2007 | Good Teeth and Diet Prize |
| 2007 | Ear Jewelry Image Leader Prize |
| 2008 | ACC CM Festival Acting Prize |
| 2008 | ACC CM Festival Grand Prix |
| 2008 | Asakusa Entertainment Newcomer Prize |
| 2008 | Best Dresser Prize |
| 2009 | Exelco Diamond Award |
| 2009 | Kimono Prize |
| 2009 | Vogue Nippon Vogue (magazine) Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began... Women of the Year Prize |
| 2010 | Aomori Ringo Queen Prize |
| 2011 | Fur of the Year Prize |