Chiaki Kuriyama (栗山 千明 Kuriyama Chiaki?, born October 10, 1984) is a Japanese actress, singer and model. She is best known in the West for her roles in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, Volume 1 (2003) and the Japanese film Battle Royale (2001).
Biography
She was born in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki. Chiaki was a popular model during Japan's child model boom in the mid-1990s. In 1997, she appeared in the photobooks Shinwa-Shōjo (Girl of Myth) and Shōjokan (Girl's Residence), photographed by Kishin Shinoyama. Shinwa-Shōjo became a best-seller but, as it contained some nudity, was discontinued by the publisher in 1999 after the institution of new anti–child pornography laws. She also posed as a model for the child fashion magazines Nicola (1997–2001) and Pichi Lemon (1996–2001).
She first achieved widespread recognition as an actress in Japan for her starring roles in the horror films Shikoku (1999) and Ju-on (2000). Chiaki also appeared in the action film Battle Royale (2000) as Takako Chigusa.
Following feature appearances on several notable Japanese television programs (including Rokubanme no Sayoko), Chiaki made her Hollywood debut in director Quentin Tarantino's 2003 film Kill Bill, Volume I as Gogo Yubari, the schoolgirl bodyguard of yakuza boss O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu). Chiaki's lines in the film were all in Japanese (except for four words, "hi", "bingo", "Black" and "Mamba"). She has stated that she is in the process of learning English and hopes to play more English-language roles in the future.
Chiaki's other film appearances include major roles in the samurai drama Azumi 2: Death or Love and Takashi Miike's Yōkai Daisensō.
In 2010, she released the CD single "Ryūsei no Namida" on DefStar Records as "CHiAKi KURiYAMA". The song was used as the first ending theme for Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. This single was followed by three others under her name as traditionally written in Japanese: "Kanōsei Girl", "Cold Finger Girl", and "Oisihi Kisetsu/Ketteiteki Sanpunkan"; "Cold Finger Girl" was used as the opening for the anime adaptation of Level E. She followed the singles with an album, Circus, in 2011.
Discography
Singles
"Ryūsei no Namida" (流星のナミダ?, "Meteor's Tears") (February 24, 2010) - Gundam Unicorn episode one theme song (as CHiAKi KURiYAMA)
"Kanōsei Girl" (可能性ガール Kanōsei Gāru?, "Probable Girl") (November 17, 2010) - Yorinuki Gin Tama-san third opening theme, produced by Tomoyasu Hotei
"Cold Finger Girl" (コールドフィンガーガール Kōrudo Fingā Gāru?) (January 26, 2011) - Level E opening theme, produced by Kenichi Asai
"Oishii Kisetsu/Ketteiteki Sanpunkan" (おいしい季節/決定的三分間?, "Tasty Season/Between One-Third of the Decision") (March 2, 2011) - produced by Ringo Sheena
"Tsuki no Shouzou" (月夜の肖像?, "Portrait of the Moon") (November 23, 2011) - Himitsu Chouhouin Erika Starring Chiaki Kuriyama as Takahashi Erika (Ending Theme)
Albums
Circus (March 16, 2011)
Filmography
TV Series
Nacchan Ka (1998)
Kowai Douwa - Oyayubihime (1999) as Sayako
Rokubanme no Sayoko (2000) as Sayoko Tsumura
Taju Jinkaku Tantei Saiko as Amamiya Kazuhiko no Kikan (2000)
Himitsu Kurabu o-daiba.com (2000) as Kazumi Naruse
Kabushiki Kaisha o-daiba.com (2000) as Kazumi Naruse
R-17 (2001) as Saori Maruyama
Jyooubachi (2006) as Tomoko/Kotoe Daidoji
Woman's Island (2006) as Rei Fujishima
Haru, Barneys de (2006) as Sakurai Sae
Kakure Karakuri (2006) as Karin Hanayama
Hagetaka (2007) (TV) as Yuka Mishima
Tokkyu Tanaka 3 Go (2007) as Terumi Meguro
Ashita no Kita Yoshio (2008) as Rika Hasegawa
Loss Time Life (2008) as Ayaka Kurosaki
Sirius no Michi (2008) as Yuka Hirano
Atami no Sousakan (2010) as Sae Kitajima
Rebound (2010) as Mimura Hitomi
Tsukahara Bokuden (2010) as Mahiro
Himitsu Chouhouin Erika (2010) as Takahashi Erika
Carnation (2011–2012) as Natsu Yoshida
Films
Toire no Hanako-san (1995)
Gonin (1995) as Ogiwara's daughter
Shikoku (1999) as Sayori Hiura
Kamen Gakuen (2000) as Reika Dojima
Battle Royale (2000) as Takako Chigusa - Girl #13
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) as Gogo Yubari
Itsuka 'A' Torein ni Notte (2003) as Yuki Noguchi
Ju-on as Mizuho
Kagen no Tsuki (2004) as Mizuki Mochizuki
MAIL (2005) as Mikoto
Azumi 2: Death or Love (2005) as Kozue
Into the Sun (2005) as Ayako
The Great Yokai War (2005) as Agi
Scrap Heaven (2005) as Saki Fujimura
Kisarazu Cats Eye: World Series (2006) as Ayako Sugimoto
Ekusute (2007) as Yuko Mizushima
Tengu Gaiden (2007) as Amaya
KIDS (2008) as Shiho
GS Wonderland (2008) as Miku
Komori Kachou no Yuuga na Hibi (2008)
Kamogawa Horumo (2009) as Fumi
Hagetaka: The Movie (2009) as Yuka Mishima
Neck (2010) as Eiko Akasaka
[edit]Voice roles
Eden's Bowy (1999) as Konyako Persia
The Sky Crawlers (2008) (voice) as Midori Mitsuya
Video games
Ryū ga Gotoku Of the End (2011) as Asagi
TV commercials/advertisements
IZZUE (clothing brand)
Shiseido Maquillage (fashion make-up)
Panasonic P901iS/P902iS/P903i Cellphone
Ecko Unlimited (Marc Ecko clothing brand)
Morinaga Aloe yogurt (Japanese dairy products)
Clorets (mint chewing gum)
JA Bank Mie Prefecture (Japanese Company)
Glico 和ごころ (wagokoro) (Japanese Confectionery Company)
Photobooks
Namaiki! Photo:Kishin Shinoyama.Text:Akio Nakamori.(ISBN 4-10-326205-2,1996).
Tenshi/angel(天使) Photo:Mitsuo Kawamoto.(ISBN 4-09-680821-0,1996).
Sinwa-Shoujo.(神話少女） Photo:Kishin Shinoyama. Text:Akio Nakamori.(ISBN 4-10-326207-9,1997)
Shoujokan(少女館) Photo:Kishin Shinoyama. (ISBN 4-10-326209-5,1997)
Shikoku nite （死国にて)(ISBN 4-04-904318-1,1999)
Kuriyama Chiaki ACCESS BOOK (栗山千明ACCESS BOOK)(ISBN 4-04-853047-X,1999)
Princess (プリンセス 栗山千明×蜷川実花）Photo:Mika Ninagawa.(ISBN 4-06-352725-5,2004)
digi+KISHIN DVD:Chiaki Kuriyama. Image Film by Kishin Shinoyama.(ASIN B0001LNO7O,2004)
digi+Girls kishin NO.4 Kuriyama Chiaki (digi+Girls kishin NO.4 栗山 千明) Photo:Kishin Shinoyama. (ASIN: 4255002797, 2004)
Car girl Photo:Kishin Shinoyama. (ISBN 4-584-17094-0,2004)
Awards
2003 MTV Movie Awards: Best Fight (Kill Bill: Vol. 1)
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