Japanese movie stars born in 1966
Here are 18 famous actresses from Japan were born in 1966:
Makiko Esumi
Makiko Esumi (December 18, 1966 Izumo-) also known as Makiko Hirano is a Japanese actor, writer, model, essayist, lyricist and volleyball player.
Makiko Esumi began her career as a model before transitioning into acting. She made her acting debut in 1994 in the drama series "Hana no Ran". Esumi gained widespread recognition for her role in the 1996 drama series "Koi wo Nannen Yasundemasu ka?" which earned her a Best Actress award at the Television Drama Academy Awards. She has acted in numerous dramas and movies, including the popular film "Shall We Dance?".
In addition to her acting career, Esumi has also pursued a career in writing. She has published several books, including a collection of essays and a novel. Esumi is also a volleyball player and has played for both the Japanese national team and a professional team in Japan.
As a lyricist, Esumi has contributed to several singles and albums. She has also released her own albums as a singer. Esumi continues to be an active and multi-talented figure in the Japanese entertainment industry.
Read more about Makiko Esumi on Wikipedia »
Naomi Zaizen
Naomi Zaizen (January 10, 1966 Oita-) is a Japanese actor.
She began her acting career in 1985, starring in the television drama series "Double Cast". Zaizen appeared in several other popular dramas throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including "Abunai Deka" and "Kono yo no Hate". She also starred in several films, such as "Gunhed" and "Jigoku no Banken: Akai Megane". In addition to her acting career, Zaizen has also worked as a singer and voice actress. She is known for providing the voice of Hanae Ichinose in the anime film "Red Spectacles".
Read more about Naomi Zaizen on Wikipedia »
Akiko Matsumoto
Akiko Matsumoto (March 8, 1966 Takamatsu-) also known as Matsusmoto Akiko, 松本 明子 or まつもと あきこ is a Japanese actor and tv personality.
She began her career in show business in the early 1990s as a fashion model and commercial actor. Matsumoto gained popularity in the 2000s through various TV dramas and variety show appearances, showcasing her witty and down-to-earth personality. She has also worked as a voice actor for anime and video games, and as a radio DJ. In addition to her entertainment career, Matsumoto is an accomplished author, having published several books on cooking and interior design. She is known for her love of cats and frequently incorporates them into her work.
Read more about Akiko Matsumoto on Wikipedia »
Yūko Minaguchi
Yūko Minaguchi (June 26, 1966 Bunkyō-) also known as Minaguchi, Yuko, Tomoko Ôtani, Minaguchi Yūko, Yuko Minaguchi or Tomoko Minaguchi is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
She is best known for her roles in popular anime series, including Videl in Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Saturn in Sailor Moon, and Suu in Clover. Minaguchi has also voiced characters in video games such as Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy X. In addition to voice acting, she has also appeared in various Japanese drama series and films. Minaguchi has won several awards for her voice acting work, including the Best Supporting Actress Award at the 13th Japanese Academy Awards for her role in the film "Shonben Rider".
Read more about Yūko Minaguchi on Wikipedia »
Narumi Yasuda
Narumi Yasuda (November 28, 1966 Bunkyō-) otherwise known as 安田成美, Narumi Kinashi, きなし なるみ, Kinashi Narumi, 木梨 成美, やすだ なるみ or Yasuda Narumi is a Japanese actor and singer.
She began her acting career in the 1980s and rose to fame in the 1990s through her roles in popular television dramas and films. In addition to her acting career, Narumi has also released several albums and singles as a singer, showcasing her versatile talents. She has won several awards for her acting, including the Best Actress award at the 25th Japan Academy Prize for her performance in the film "Kamikaze Taxi". Narumi continues to be a prominent figure in the Japanese entertainment industry and is widely regarded as one of the most talented and versatile actresses of her generation.
Read more about Narumi Yasuda on Wikipedia »
Hiroko Mita
Hiroko Mita (January 27, 1966 Shimogyō-ku, Kyoto-) is a Japanese actor.
She is best known for her roles in the films "Tampopo" (1985) and "The Discarnates" (1988). Mita began her acting career in the 1980s and has since appeared in numerous films, television dramas, and stage productions. She has won several awards for her performances, including the Best Supporting Actress award at the Yokohama Film Festival for her work in "The Discarnates". In addition to her acting career, Mita has also worked as a television presenter and a voice actress. She is regarded as one of the most versatile and talented actors in Japan's entertainment industry.
Read more about Hiroko Mita on Wikipedia »
Yoko Moriguchi
Yoko Moriguchi (August 5, 1966 Hino-) also known as Yôko Nada, Moriguchi Yōko or Yôko Moriguchi is a Japanese actor.
She began her career in show business in the early 1980s, making her debut as a voice actress in the anime series "Cat's Eye". In the years that followed, she appeared in numerous TV dramas, films, and stage productions, earning critical acclaim for her performances. Moriguchi is particularly known for her work in horror movies, having appeared in several films in the genre during the 1990s and early 2000s. In addition to acting, she has also worked as a dubbing artist, lending her voice to the Japanese versions of foreign films such as "The Bourne Identity" and "Memoirs of a Geisha". Moriguchi has won several awards for her work, including the Best New Actress award at the 10th Japan Academy Awards in 1987.
Read more about Yoko Moriguchi on Wikipedia »
Itsumi Osawa
Itsumi Osawa (March 23, 1966 Sapporo-) also known as Itsumi Ohsawa, Itsumi Oosawa or Itsumi Ôsawa is a Japanese actor.
Osawa studied at Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music and began her acting career in the late 1980s. She is best known for her role in the television drama "Asuka" and has appeared in numerous other television dramas, films, and stage productions. In addition to acting, Osawa is also a singer and has released several albums. She has been nominated for numerous awards for her acting, including the Japan Academy Prize for Best Supporting Actress in the film "Chiisai ouchi" (2015).
Read more about Itsumi Osawa on Wikipedia »
Nanaho Katsuragi
Nanaho Katsuragi (December 20, 1966 Nagoya-) a.k.a. Katsuragi Nanaho is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
She started her career as a voice actor in the mid-1980s and has since voiced many memorable characters in anime, such as Akane Tendo in "Ranma ½" and Yumi Omura in "Chibi Maruko-chan". Katsuragi has also appeared in live-action TV dramas and films, including "The Reason I Can't Find My Love" and "I Am a Hero". In addition to her acting work, Katsuragi has also lent her voice to various video games, such as the "Soulcalibur" series and "Street Fighter Alpha 3". Katsuragi is known for her versatile voice range and ability to bring depth to her characters.
Read more about Nanaho Katsuragi on Wikipedia »
Yumi Morio
Yumi Morio (June 8, 1966 Sugamo-) also known as Morio Yumi, Kawai Yumi or Yumi Kawai is a Japanese voice actor and actor.
She is affiliated with Aoni Production and has provided voices for various anime, video games and films. Some of her notable roles include Hidemi Hondou in Detective Conan, Ayase Hanabi in Flower of Evil, and Tomiko Asahina in From the New World. In addition to her voice acting work, Yumi has also appeared in various live-action dramas and films, such as Love Letter and Ningen no Shometsu. She has received several awards for her voice acting work, including the Best Supporting Actress Award at the 5th Seiyu Awards in 2011.
Read more about Yumi Morio on Wikipedia »
Yū Hayami
Yū Hayami (September 2, 1966 Atami-) also known as 早見 優, はやみ ゆう, 舘野 一美, たての かずみ, 井上 一美, いのうえ かずみ, 福田 一美, ふくだ かずみ, Hayami Yu, Tateno Kazumi, Kazumi Tateno, Inoue Kazumi, Kazumi Inoue, Fukuda Kazumi or Kazumi Fukuda is a Japanese singer and actor.
Yū Hayami began her career in the entertainment industry as a singer in the early 1980s, releasing her debut single "Futari" in 1982. She quickly gained popularity in Japan, earning the title of "Teen Queen" due to her youthful image and catchy pop songs.
In addition to her music career, Hayami also ventured into acting, appearing in numerous TV dramas and films throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She became known for her versatile acting skills, tackling a variety of roles ranging from sweet and innocent to dark and edgy.
Despite her success, Hayami took a break from the entertainment industry in the late 1990s to focus on her family. However, she made a comeback in 2011 with the release of her album "17 Currents," which received critical acclaim.
Today, Yū Hayami is still active in the entertainment industry, continuing to release music and make occasional appearances in TV dramas and films. She is widely regarded as one of Japan's most beloved and influential pop icons.
Read more about Yū Hayami on Wikipedia »
Tamlyn Tomita
Tamlyn Tomita (January 27, 1966 Okinawa-) also known as Tamlyn Naomi Tomita is a Japanese actor and singer.
She was born to a Japanese father and a Filipino mother, and spent much of her early childhood in Japan before moving to the United States. Tomita is best known for her film roles in "The Karate Kid Part II" and "Come See the Paradise," as well as her television appearances on shows like "The Joy Luck Club," "Babylon 5," and "24." In addition to her acting career, Tomita has also released several music albums and singles. She is also a founding member of the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition, which advocates for greater representation of Asian Americans in the media.
Read more about Tamlyn Tomita on Wikipedia »
Kyôko Koizumi
Kyôko Koizumi (February 4, 1966 Atsugi-) otherwise known as Koizumi Kyoko, Kyon Kyon, Kyon-kyon, Koizumi Kyôko, Kyōko Koizumi, Koizumi Kyōko or Kyoko Koizumi is a Japanese singer and actor.
Starting her career as a singer in the 1980s, Kyoko Koizumi's debut single "Doctor Y" became a huge hit and helped her gain popularity among Japan's youth culture. Over the years, she released many hit songs and albums that cemented her status as one of Japan's most popular singers of all time.
In addition to her successful music career, Kyoko Koizumi has also appeared in many popular Japanese TV dramas and movies. Her acting talent has earned her many awards, including the prestigious Best Actress award at the Japanese Academy Awards for her role in the movie "I Want to Be a Shellfish".
Beyond her entertainment career, Kyoko Koizumi is also known for her humanitarian work. She has supported various charities over the years, particularly those that help people affected by disasters and illnesses. In recognition of her philanthropic efforts, she was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2018 by the Japanese government.
Kyoko Koizumi continues to inspire people in Japan and beyond with her talent, kindness, and resilience in the face of life's challenges.
Read more about Kyôko Koizumi on Wikipedia »
Miho Nikaido
Miho Nikaido (April 3, 1966 Hokkaido-) a.k.a. Miho Nikaido Hartley, Miho Nikaidō or Nikaidō Miho is a Japanese actor.
Miho Nikaido is best known for her role in the controversial 1996 film "Tokyo Decadence" directed by Ryu Murakami. She started her acting career in the early 90s with appearances in the films "Doomed Love" and "Stranger Than Paradise". Apart from acting, Nikaido has also worked as a model, nightclub hostess, and a singer. She was married to musician and producer Anthony John Hartley and used the name Miho Nikaido Hartley after their marriage. Nikaido has been actively involved in promoting LGBTQ+ rights and has written about her own experiences in her blog and essays. She currently resides in New York City.
Read more about Miho Nikaido on Wikipedia »
Yuki Saitō
Yuki Saitō (September 10, 1966 Minami-ku, Yokohama-) also known as さいとう ゆき, 斉藤由貴, Saitō Yuki, Isarai Yuki, いさらい ゆき, 小井 由貴 or Yuki Isarai is a Japanese actor, singer-songwriter, essayist, poet and author.
Saito began her career as an actor in the early 1980s and appeared in various TV dramas and films. She gained fame for her role in the popular TV series "Mama wa Idol" in 1987. She also released her debut single "Koi wa Honoo" the same year and has since released multiple albums and singles, showcasing her talents as a singer-songwriter.
Aside from her acting and music career, Saito is also known for her writing. She has published several essays, poetry collections, and novels, including "Tsugi no Toki wa Koushin!" and "Kaizokubaai" which were both awarded the Noma Prize for New Writers. In 2008, she also won the Women's Literature Prize for her novel "Kiki's Delivery Service".
Saito is known for her versatility as an artist and her ability to express deep emotions through her works. She is considered a pioneer in the Japanese entertainment industry for breaking the traditional mold of being just a performer and expanding her career to include various artistic endeavors.
Read more about Yuki Saitō on Wikipedia »
Kazue Itoh
Kazue Itoh (December 7, 1966 Seya-ku, Yokohama-) a.k.a. Nakagawa Kazue, Kazue Nakagawa or Kazue Itô is a Japanese actor and tarento.
She began her career in the entertainment industry as a model in the late 1980s before transitioning into acting. Her first major role was in the drama series "Tokyo Love Story" in 1991. She has since appeared in numerous dramas, movies, and variety shows, showcasing her versatility as an entertainer.
Itoh has also lent her voice to various anime series, most notably as the voice of Kosuke Ueki in "The Law of Ueki" and as the voice of Mitsuha's mother in the film "Your Name." In addition to her acting roles, she has also been a regular guest on talk shows and variety programs in Japan.
In recent years, Itoh has become known for her work as a commentator and analyst for figure skating competitions, demonstrating her passion for the sport. She has also been involved in many charitable activities, particularly those related to disaster relief efforts following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Read more about Kazue Itoh on Wikipedia »
Maiko Kawakami
Maiko Kawakami (February 5, 1966 Stockholm-) also known as 川上 麻衣子, Kawakami Maiko or かわかみ まいこ is a Japanese actor.
She was raised in Sweden and attended the Tokyo University of the Arts, where she majored in theater. Kawakami has appeared in numerous stage productions, films, and television dramas. She is best known for her roles in the films "Getting Any?" (1994) and "Vibrator" (2003), and the television dramas "Doctors' Affairs" (2015) and "Zenryoku Shissou" (2017). In addition to her acting career, Kawakami is also a writer and has published several books, including the novel "Cherry" (2000). She has received several awards for her work, including the Best Actress award at the Yokohama Film Festival for her role in "Vibrator".
Read more about Maiko Kawakami on Wikipedia »
Sayuri Kokushō
Sayuri Kokushō (December 22, 1966 Kanoya-) a.k.a. Sayuri Kokusho, Kokushou Sayuri, Sayuri Kokushou, Kokusho Sayuri, 国生 さゆり, こくしょうさゆり, こくしょう さゆり, Kokushou, Sayuri, 国生さゆり, 國生さゆり, こうだ さゆり, 甲田 さゆり or Sayuri Koda is a Japanese actor, singer and tarento.
She started her career in show business as a member of a local idol group before becoming a solo singer under the name Sayuri Kokusho. She released her debut single "Valentine Kiss" in 1986, which became a huge hit in Japan and earned her the title of "Queen of Valentine" due to its popularity during the Valentine's Day season. She went on to release many more successful singles and albums throughout the 80s and 90s.
Kokushō also pursued an acting career, starring in numerous television dramas and films, including the popular drama series "Tokyo Love Story". She has won several awards for her acting, including the Best Actress award at the 36th Blue Ribbon Awards for her performance in the film "Love Letter".
In addition to her singing and acting careers, Kokushō is also a popular personality on variety shows in Japan, known for her wit and humor. She has been a regular on the popular TV program "Utchan Nanchan no Urinari!" since the 90s.
Kokushō continues to be active in show business and is considered one of the most successful and respected entertainers in Japan.
Read more about Sayuri Kokushō on Wikipedia »