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Yū Aoi

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Yū Aoi
蒼井 優
Aoi at the 2017 Tokyo International Film Festival
Born
Yū Natsui

(1985-08-17) August 17, 1985 (age 39)
Kasuga, Fukuoka, Japan
Other namesYu Yamasato (After marriage)
Occupations
Years active1999–present
AgentItoh Co.
Spouse
​
(m. 2019)​
Children1
Websitewww.itoh-c.com/artist/aoi/

Yu Aoi (蒼井 優, Aoi Yū, born August 17, 1985) is a Japanese actress and model. She made her film debut as Shiori Tsuda in Shunji Iwai's 2001 film All About Lily Chou-Chou. She subsequently portrayed Tetsuko Arisugawa in Hana and Alice (2004), also directed by Iwai, Kimiko Tanigawa in the hula dancing film Hula Girls and Hagumi Hanamoto in the 2006 live-action adaptation of the Honey and Clover manga series.

She has won numerous awards for her performances on screen, including the Japan Academy Prize and Kinema Junpo Awards for best supporting actress in 2007 for Hula Girls and Rookie of the Year for continued performances in the field of Films in Media and Fine Arts by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan in 2009.[1]

Early life

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Aoi was born on August 17, 1985, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. She moved to Tokyo in junior high school and lived in Kasai, Edogawa ward.[2]

Career

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Early career

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Yu Aoi made her stage debut as Polly in the 1999 rendition of Annie, followed by her appearance as a regular on TV Tokyo's Oha Suta (The Super Kids Station) in 2000. A year later, she debuted in Shunji Iwai's All About Lily Chou-Chou playing Shiori Tsuda alongside Hayato Ichihara, Shugo Oshinari, Miwako Ichikawa, and Ayumi Ito. Aoi would later work in Ao to Shiro de Mizuiro and Gaichu with friend Aoi Miyazaki. With her first roles on the small and big screen came TV commercials and endorsements for Sony, Yamaha, DoCoMo, Toshiba and Coca-Cola.

In 2003, commemorating the 30th anniversary of Kit Kat in Japan, Shunji Iwai shot a series of short films starring Yu Aoi and Anne Suzuki, which later was expanded into the feature film called Hana & Alice, which earned Aoi the Best Actress award at the Japanese Professional Movie Award.[3]

2005–2007

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In 2005, Aoi played her first lead on the big screen in Letters from Kanai Nirai, which was sold in Korea with the alternate title of Aoi Yu's Letter due to her popularity. She also had supporting roles in the Satoshi Miki film Turtles Swim Faster than Expected starring Juri Ueno, and Yamato with Shido Nakamura and Kenichi Matsuyama. This supporting role would earn her one of her double-nomination as Best Supporting Actress at the 2007 Japanese Academy Award.[4] She won against herself for her work as Kimiko Tanikawa in the Japanese hit Hula Girls, which was sent to the Academy Awards as the Japanese official selection that year.

To this date, her role as the hula dancing girl from small town Iwaki remains her most successful role yet, earning her a dozen awards as Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress,[5] alongside her other smaller roles that year as Hagu in Honey & Clover, and Kana Sato in the Shunji-Iwai-produced and Nirai-Kanai-directed Rainbow Song. Aoi also lent her voice to play Shiro in the animated film Tekkon Kinkreet, the adaptation to the Taiyō Matsumoto manga, Black and White, directed by Michael Arias.

During these years, she made commercials for Nintendo, Canon, Shiseido Cosmetics, Shueisha Publishing, Kirin Beverage and continued endorsing DoCoMo. Aoi also released two photobooks with Yoko Takahashi as photographer, and distributed by Rockin'on: Travel Sand in 2005 and Dandelion in 2007.

In 2007, she participated in the live-action adaptation of the manga series Mushishi alongside Joe Odagiri, as well as WOWOW's Don't Laugh at My Romance, Welcome to the Quiet Room with Yuki Uchida, and going back to the stage to play Desdemona in a rendition of Shakespeare's Othello. For these last two roles, Aoi lost 7 kg for her role as eating disorder patient, Miki.[citation needed]

2008–present

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Yu Aoi at the LG exhibition fair in 2009

Aoi began 2008 with the release of Don't Laugh at My Romance, which earned her a nomination as Best Supporting Actress at the Asian Film Awards 2009. She appeared in the experimental drama Camouflage (aka. Aoi Yu x 4 Lies), in which she collaborated with four different directors exploring the theme of lies. The series lasted for 12 episodes, and included work with Ryō Kase, Yoichi Nukumizu, Shoko Ikezu, Nobuhiro Yamashita, and Yuki Tanada.

A couple of months later, NTV signed Aoi to play her first TV leading role as Handa Sen in the live-action adaptation of Shota Kikuchi's manga series Osen, which aired until the end of June with ten episodes.

Next, Aoi released One Million Yen Girl written and directed by Camouflage director Yuki Tanada, and also released by WOWOW. This was her latest leading film role since Nirai Kanai in 2005. She briefly participated in the Japanese World-War-II-jury-themed film Best Wishes for Tomorrow, as well as the international Tokyo! - a three-short-film collection by Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, and Bong Joon Ho.

In 2009, The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan named Yu Aoi Rookie of the Year in the field of Films in Media and Fine Arts, citing her work in her film debut in All About Lily Chou Chou, until her work in One Million Yen Girl. Later that year, Aoi provided the voice of Ikechan in the film Ikechan and Me, a live-action adaptation of the picture book of the same name by Rieko Saibara, as well as playing supporting roles in Honokaa Boy and Yoji Yamada's Ototo. The following year Aoi starred in Ryūichi Hiroki's 2010 film The Lightning Tree.[6] She later appeared in Vampire,[7] Rurouni Kenshin,[8] and Kiyoshi Kurosawa's 2012 television drama Penance.[9]

Personal life

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Aoi married comedian Ryota Yamasato on June 3, 2019.[10] On February 10, 2022, they announced that she was pregnant with their first child and due in the summer.[11] On August 10, 2022, Yamasato revealed that Aoi had given birth to their daughter.[12]

Filmography

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Movies

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Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2001 All About Lily Chou-Chou Shiori Tsuda [13]
2002 Kinema Tōri no Hitobito Hikari
Harmful Insect Natsuko Yamaoka [14]
Hashire! Kettamashin: Wedding Kyosō Kyoku Lead Musical
2003 Worst by Chance Harada's girlfriend
1980 Rika Hashiba
2004 Hana and Alice Tetsuko "Alice" Arisugawa Lead role
Mask de 41 Haruka Kuramochi
Sea Cat Miya Noda
2005 Tetsujin 28: The Movie Mami Tachibana
Turtles Swim Faster Than Expected Kujaku Ogitani
Letters from Nirai Kanai Fuki Asato Lead role
Shining Boy & Little Randy Emi Murakami
Henshin Kei Hamura
Jukai Harumi
Yamato Taeko
2006 Honey and Clover Hagumi Hanamoto
Hula Girls Kimiko Tanikawa
Tekkon Kinkreet White (voice)
Rainbow Song Kana Sato
Sugar and Spice Cameo
2007 Mushishi Tanyu
Welcome to the Quiet Room Miki
2008 Sex Is No Laughing Matter En-Chan
Best Wishes for Tomorrow Kazuko Moribe
One Million Yen Girl Suzuko Sato Lead role
Tokyo! Pizza delivery girl Segment Shaking Tokyo
2009 Honokaa Boy Kaoru
Good Bye, My Secret Friend Ikechan (voice)
2010 About Her Brother Koharu Takano
Flowers Rin Lead role
The Lightning Tree Yū Lead role
Redline Sonoshee (voice)
2011 Patisserie Coin de rue Natsume Usuba Lead role
Vampire Mina
By Chance Traveler Lead role
2012 Fukushima Hula Girls Narration
Rurouni Kenshin Megumi Takani
2013 Tokyo Family Noriko Mamiya
Space Pirate Captain Harlock Miime (voice)
2014 Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno Megumi Takani
Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends Megumi Takani
Climbing to Spring Ai Takazawa [15]
2015 The Case of Hana & Alice Tetsuko "Alice" Arisugawa (voice) Lead role [16]
Journey to the Shore Tomoko
2016 Over the Fence Satoshi Tamura [17]
Japanese Girls Never Die Haruko Azumi Lead role
What a Wonderful Family! Noriko Mamiya
2017 What a Wonderful Family! 2 Noriko Hirata
Tokyo Ghoul Rize Kamishiro
Mixed Doubles Yo [18]
Birds Without Names Towako Lead role [19]
2018 What a Wonderful Family! 3: My Wife, My Life Noriko Hirata [20]
Penguin Highway Lady (voice) [21]
Killing Yū [22]
2019 Miyamoto Yasuko Nakano [23]
A Long Goodbye Fumi Higashi Lead role [24]
Children of the Sea Ruka's mother (voice) [25]
They Say Nothing Stays the Same A geisha [26]
2020 Romance Doll Sonoko Lead role [27]
Ora, Ora Be Goin' Alone Young Momoko [28]
Wife of a Spy Satoko Fukuhara Lead role [29]
2021 Rurouni Kenshin: The Final Megumi Takani [30]
2022 Dr. Coto's Clinic 2022 Mina Nakai Cameo [31]
2023 Sylvanian Families the Movie: A Gift from Freya Teri Chocolate (voice) [32]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2001 Ao to Shiro to Mizuiro Kimiko Shiina TV movie
2002 Ukiwa - Shōnen-tachi no Natsu Miyuki Yamashita TV movie
Shin Zukkoke Sanningumi Megumi
2003 High School Teacher Mami Ezawa [33]
Engimono Koyomi Mini-series
14 Months 17-year-old Yūko Igarashi
2004 Ichiban Taisetsu na Dēto Tokyo no Sora- Shanghai no Yume Kaori
Yo ni mo Kimyō na Monogatari: Kako kara no Nikki Yurie Kotajima Short drama
Nanako and Nanao: The Day They Became Sister and Brother Nanako Lead role; TV movie
2005 Tiger & Dragon Risa
Twenty-Four Eyes Kotoe Katagiri TV movie
2006 Dr. Coto's Clinic 2006 Mina Nakai [31]
2008 Camouflage Chika / Makoto/ Umeko / Suzuko Lead role
Osen Sen Handa Lead role
2010 Ryōmaden Omoto Taiga drama [34]
2012 Penance Sae Kikuchi Mini-series
2013 Galileo Season 2 Atsuko Kanbara Episode 8
Mottomo Tooi Ginga Akane Mini-series
2014 Mozu Season 2 Shiori Nanami
All About My Siblings Azusa
2015 Stitch! Perfect Memory Tila-3000 (voice) TV special [35]
2017 Dr. Rintarō Yumeno [36]
Hello, Detective Hedgehog Setsuko Kawai [37]
2018 Miyamoto kara Kimi e Yasuko Nakano [38]
2020 Wife of a Spy Satoko Fukuhara Lead role; TV movie [39]
2021 Shikatanakatta to Iute wa Ikan no desu Fusako Torii TV movie [40]
2023 Boogie Woogie Reiko Yamato Asadora [41]
2025 Asura Takiko Lead role [42]
TBA The Human Vapor Lead role [43]

Stage

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  • Zipang Punk: Goemon Rock III (2014), Silver Cat Eyes

Awards and nominations

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Aoi receiving the New Artist Award from the Arts Encouragement Prize in 2019
Year Award Category Work(s) Result
2005 14th Japan Film Professional Awards Best Actress Hana and Alice Won
2006 31st Hochi Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Hula Girls, Honey and Clover Won
19th Nikkan Sports Film Awards[44] Best Newcomer Hula Girls Won
2007 26th Zenkoku Eiren Awards Best Supporting Actress Won
31st Elan d'or Awards Newcomer of the Year Herself Won
61st Mainichi Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Hula Girls, Rainbow Song, Honey and Clover Won
80th Kinema Junpo Awards Best Supporting Actress Won
49th Blue Ribbon Awards Best Actress Hula Girls, Honey and Clover Won
28th Yokohama Film Festival Best Actress Won
30th Japan Academy Film Prize Best Supporting Actress Hula Girls Won
Yamato Nominated
Newcomer of the Year Hula Girls Won
2009 3rd Asian Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Don't Laugh at My Romance Nominated
2010 35th Hochi Film Awards Best Actress The Lightning Tree Nominated
Best Supporting Actress About Her Brother Nominated
23rd Nikkan Sports Film Awards[44] Best Supporting Actress Won
2011 34th Japan Academy Film Prize Best Supporting Actress Nominated
5th Asian Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated
2014 37th Japan Academy Film Prize Best Supporting Actress Tokyo Family Nominated
8th Asian Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated
2017 42nd Hochi Film Awards Best Actress Birds Without Names Won
30th Nikkan Sports Film Awards[44] Best Actress Won
2018 39th Yokohama Film Festival Best Actress Won
60th Blue Ribbon Awards Best Actress Nominated
41st Japan Academy Film Prize Best Actress Won
91st Kinema Junpo Awards Best Actress Won
12th Osaka Cinema Festival Best Actress Won
12th Asian Film Awards Best Actress Nominated
2019 44th Hochi Film Awards Best Actress A Long Goodbye Nominated
32nd Nikkan Sports Film Awards Best Actress A Long Goodbye, Miyamoto Nominated
2020 74th Mainichi Film Awards Best Actress Miyamoto Nominated
Kinuyo Tanaka Award Herself Nominated
62nd Blue Ribbon Awards Best Actress A Long Goodbye Nominated
45th Hochi Film Awards Best Actress Wife of a Spy Nominated
33rd Nikkan Sports Film Awards Best Actress Nominated
2021 40th Zenkoku Eiren Awards Best Actress Won
75th Mainichi Film Awards Best Actress Nominated
63rd Blue Ribbon Awards[45] Best Actress Nominated
15th Asian Film Awards[46] Best Actress Won

References

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  2. ^ "蒼井優の、本気で買い物 in 福岡 | ブルータス". BRUTUS.jp (in Japanese). 2023-08-22. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
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  4. ^ 第30回日本アカデミー賞優秀作品 [The 30th Japan Academy Award] (in Japanese). Japan Academy Prize Association. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  5. ^ "Yû Aoi". IMDb. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  6. ^ Schilling, Mark (October 29, 2010). "Raiou (The Lightning Tree)". The Japan Times.
  7. ^ DeFore, John (January 26, 2011). "SUNDANCE REVIEW: Vampire". The Hollywood Reporter.
  8. ^ Lee, Maggie (October 29, 2012). "Rurouni Kenshin". Variety.
  9. ^ Fainaru, Dan (August 29, 2012). "Penance - Review - Screen". Screen International.
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  42. ^ "宮沢りえ×尾野真千子×蒼井優×広瀬すずが四姉妹に、昭和を代表する家族劇の傑作『阿修羅のごとく』是枝裕和監督が再ドラマ化". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  43. ^ "小栗旬×蒼井優が共演、片山慎三とヨン・サンホの日韓タッグでNetflix「ガス人間」制作". Natalie. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  44. ^ a b c "日刊スポーツ映画大賞 歴代受賞者・作品". Nikkan Sports. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  45. ^ "嵐・二宮和也主演の「浅田家!」が最多5部門でノミネート「第63回ブルーリボン賞」各部門候補を発表". The Chunichi Shimbun. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  46. ^ "The 15th Asian Film Awards Nominations Announced". Asian Film Awards Academy. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
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