新澳门开奖结果

Top 30 Japanese Actresses

*Originally published by Lilian in May 2020 and updated by Vanessa R in April 2023 and Updated by Diana K in May  2024

Japanese culture is quite popular and stands out among others globally.

Famously known for martial art, strong beer, Kobe beef, and Haruki Murakami among other things.

Most famous is their animation anime which is not only popular in Japan but also all over the world.

With that comes talented actresses that are not only skilled but beautiful as well.

These actresses have been nominated bagged the best academy awards in the world; making Japan an acting powerhouse.

Here are the top 15 Japanese actresses.

1. Suzu Hirose

By Georges -wikimedia

Suzu Hirose is a 22-year-old Japanese actress and model. Her real name is Ooishi Suzuka.

She was active in sports while high school but switched to modelling for Japan鈥檚 Seventeen Magazine and in several commercials too.

This came about after she accompanied her sister who also modelled for the same magazine.

A few years later she made her first feature in a Japanese movie called Umimachi Diary.

This 2015 film went on to win several nominations in Japan; she won Newcomer of The Year award and the film got to be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.

She has been part of other blockbuster films such as Hirokazu Korea, the third murder,

She has built her name so well to become the most creative corporate advertiser in Japan.

2. Yui Aragaki

Yui Aragaki is another multi-talented Japanese actress, who wears other feathers on her hat; modelling, a singer and part-time radio show host.

She has other hobbies that include cleaning, graffiti and sleeping.

Yui has featured in several movies both on big and small screens. She was the lead in a television series legal high that required her to change her looks to perfectly fit the character.

Her most famous works were the 2016 Nigeru Wa Haji Daga, Yaku Ni Tatsu which became very popular in Japan.

In 2017, she won the Tokyo Drama Awards for her role in the series. Yui cites reading manga and karaoke as favourite pastimes. She is signed by Lespros agency.

Yui has won more than five awards, among them the newcomer awards for movies she featured in like waruboro, Tokyo serendipity, code blue: doctor Heli Kinkyuu Kyuumei, fure shojo, ballad, and sky love.

She has also worked on her music career and released several singles and an album.

3. Erika Toda

By Ogiyoshisan -wikimedia

Erika Toda is known as a fearless and very talented actress in Japan. She is ranked among the highly regarded Japanese celebrities in the film industry and on social media too.

She was born in Kobe in 1988 and made her debut in the movie scene in the year 2000.

When she is not on set acting, Erika is modelling something she has done since she was 13 years old.

She has appeared in several movies and serials as the leading actor and as a supporting act too.

Some of her popular films include the Sci-fi thriller sequels Death Note, the action Amalfi: Megami No 50-Byou and Hankyu Densha among many others.

These roles earned her a reputation of the spontaneous actress that is comfortable with any role on set.

4. Mirei Kiritani

Mirei Kiritani is a 29-year-old Japanese actress, model, and news anchor.

Her acting career started back in 2006 when she appeared on both big and small screens.

Mirei is also a television anchor and worked for NTV news zero from 2012 to 2018.

Like most actresses in Japan, Mirei as a model for the Seventeen Magazine before becoming an actress.

She was also listed among the 100 Most Beautiful Faces on TC Candler鈥檚 list.

Mirei is also a singer who released a single called Sweet & Bitter in 2012.

She won the Nail Queen 2014 Award at the Tokyo Nail Expo and is popularly known for her roles in Joshi Zu, Koisuru Vampire, Heroine Shikkaku and Sukinahito ga Iru Koto.

5. Keiko Kitagawa

The next actress is Kitagawa Keiko who is a former model. She modelled exclusively for the Japanese Seventeen magazine from late 2003 to mid-2006.

Her first acting role was in the television shows Sailor Mars in the Sailor Moon live-action and Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon between 2003 and 2004.

It after these successes that she quit modelling and gave her full focus to acting.

She has made appearances in several films such as The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift in 2006 and Handsome Suit in 2008.

Keiko also had leading roles in the television drama Mop Girl in 2007, Homeroom on the Beachside in 2008, Buzzer Beat in 2009, Lady Saigo no Hanzai Profile in 2011, and Akumu-chan in 2012.

6. Kyoko Fukada

By Megapixie – wikimedia

Fukada Kyoko was born in Kita Ward, Tokyo, Japan. She is both an actress and a singer.

She went to school in Horikoshi high school in Nakano. This school is known to produce students who end up being the best creatives and celebrities in Japan.

Fukada鈥檚 first appearance onset was in the television drama sore ga kotae da! In 1997.

Then in 1999, she got to feature in the film Ring 2 as Kanae Sawaguchi.

Fukada won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Newcomer for Shisha No Gakuensai in 2000.

She sings too and had her first album Dear and single the last fruit released in 1999.

In 2002 Fukada starred in the film haunting dolls and became even more famous from the movie Kamikaze girls in 2004.

Fukada won the award for Best Actress at the Yokohama Film Festival for her role in Kamikaze girls.

She has appeared in several television commercials as well as other popular television series.

Fukada can play the Piano and clarinet.

7. Juri Ueno

Juri Ueno is a 33-year-old Japanese actress who began her career in the Japanese entertainment industry in the year 2002 with a role in the television show Seizon.

Her first big role was in the film, Swing Girls in 2004. The show was a comedy and drama combination of young high school girls.

In 2005 she won the Newcomer of the year prize at the Japanese Academy for her role in the above television show.

The year 2007 saw another prestigious award come her way; the best leading actress at the 51^st television and drama academy awards. In 2008, she won the best-supporting actress at the Nikkan Sports Drama Grand and 57^th Television Drama Academy Awards.

She received lots of praise for her role as Tomoko Suzuki and won accolades. Another notable role of hers is in the film series Nodame Cantabile as Noda Megumi.

8. Kanna Hashimoto

By F煤 b贸 zh艒ng – wikimedia

Born on February 3, 1999, Kanna is a Japanese actress and former singer.

She started in the entertainment industry as a member of the Japanese idol girl group Rev. from DVL.

In 2011, Kanna appeared in the movie I Wish.

She has appeared in several films that had live-action adaptations of popular manga and anime series.

2013 saw her become famous after her photo went viral on social media; she was praised by many for her beauty.

She was voted as the cutest idol in both the men鈥檚 choices and women鈥檚 choices in 2015.

Later that same year, Kanna played the role of a robot in the film assassination classroom.

She featured as teenage alien girl Kagura in the Gintama live-action film in 2017 and a sequel film in 2018.

9. Mikako Tabe

Mikako Tabe is another talented 29-year-old Japanese actress from Tokyo. Other than acting, she is also part of the Sailor Moon musicals.

She started her acting career in the early 2000s and has appeared in several short films, dramas, plays, and animations.

At the age of 13, she featured in the television drama Riyu in 2004.

She was awarded the Blue Ribbon Award for the Best Newcomer from the television shows Hinokio and Aozora no yukue.

Mikako has won every single award she鈥檚 been nominated for proof for her talent and competence as an entertainer.

Her hobbies include a lot of sports and music. She is bilingual; speaks both Japanese and English.

10. Ayami Nakajo

Another talented young actress and last on the list is Ayami Nakajo from in Osaka.

Her mother is Japanese and her father British. Like most of the actresses in her country, Ayami began her career as a model. She won the Grand Prix in the miss seventeen contest in 2011.

Her acting career took off in 2012 with a television role in Miss Double-faced Teacher.

This led to her first leading role in her very first film called Fatal Frame.

In 2018, she won the 41st Japan Academy Prize in the Newcomer of the Year category for her role as Ayano Tamaki in Let鈥檚 Go, Jets!

She speaks English, plays the violin and loves swimming.

11. Kasumi Arimura

Kasumi Arimura by Ogiyoshisan from

The date of Kasumi Arimura’s birth is February 13, 1993. This stunning young girl is well-known for her roles in Rurouni Kenshin, Amachan, Strobe Edge, and Flying Colors. She is a decent actor for her age group. Her adorable features make it clear that she is a younger version of Nagasawa Masami.

12. Hikari Mitsushima

Mitsushima Hikari by Dick Thomas Johnson from

On November 30, 1985, Hikari Mitsushima was born. She is a Japanese singer and actor. Although she started out as a pop singer, she later became a movie star. She began her music career as an idol singer in 1997.

She made her acting debut the same year in Rebirth of Mothra II. She is most recognized for her roles in the Sion Sono comedy-drama Love Exposure (2008) and the manga-based thriller Death Note (2006). Her performance in the latter attracted critical acclaim and earned her several honours.

13. Nanao Arai

On October 28, 1988, Nanao Arai was born. She is a Japanese actress and model who works with Platinum Production. In the magazine in 2009, she began her career as a model and race queen.

She was a fashion model for Non-no and won the Miss TGC of Tokyo Girls Collection and the 2010 Sanai Mizugi Image Girl. She was hired exclusively by the magazine Ginger in 2011 to be its face.

Nanao gained notoriety from her exploits as a tarento. She performed in a number of fashion publications, television advertisements, plays, and various programs in addition to developing a wide range of stage activities.

14. Yuna Taira

Born on November 12, 1998, Yuna Taira. When her mother and grandmother submitted an application for her to appear in the movie I Wish, she was a sixth-grader in elementary school. She performed well in the audition, making her acting debut. She frequently appeared in R no Hsoku on NHK Educational TV in 2011.

15. Meisa Kuroki

May 28, 1988, saw the birth of Meisa Kuroki. She is an Okinawan singer, actor, and model. She is signed to Sony Music Japan and is represented by the firm Sweet Power. In 2004, she made her acting debut.

She has worked as a model for numerous publications, including the well-known Japanese fashion magazine JJ, and she currently represents Epson and Giorgio Armani in Japan. She has made several appearances in television dramas, advertisements, movies, and theatrical performances.

16. Nanao Arai

Platinum Production has a connection with the model and actress Nanao Arai. As a model who also worked as a ring girl and race queen, she began her career in 2009. At the Tokyo Girls Collection fashion show, she received the title of Miss TGC. Along with being a fashion model for Non-no magazine, she was named the 2010 Sanai Mizugi Image Girl.

She started working exclusively as a model for Ginger magazine in 2011. The 2011 television programme Urero Mikakunin Shjo was when she made her acting debut. She performed vocal performances for the anime movie Beautiful Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal: The Movie in 2021.

17. Marie Iitoyo

Actress and fashion model Marie Iitoyo. Tada, Kimi wo Aishiteru, Kyo no Kira-kun, and Ankoku Joshi are some of her most well-known roles from Mars. Since 2019, Iitoyo has exclusively modelled for the Japanese magazine Oggi. She additionally played Megumi Nishidome in the drama Hana Nochi Hare from 2018. The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes, and Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King are a few anime movies in which Iitoyo has provided voice acting.

18. Yuna Taira

At her successful audition for a part in the movie I Wish, Yuna Taira was in sixth grade. With the NHK Educational TV programme R no Hsoku in 2011, she made frequent appearances. Scarecrow and Racket: Aki and Tamako’s Summer Vacation, a 2015 movie, gave Taira her debut main role. Likewise, an actress is her older sister, Airi Taira.

19. Sayaka Isoyama

Sayaka Isoyama is an actress, sports writer, and a gravure idol. The Lifika talent agency is in charge of representing her. Ibaraki Prefecture Hokota Second High School is where Isoyama received her diploma. Isoyama began her career as an actress in the 2005 movie Miss Machiko, in which she played the title role. She appeared on television for the first time in the 2022 season of The 13 Lords of the Shogun.

20. Meisa Kuroki

An Okinawan actress, model, and singer by the name of Satsuki Shimabukuro is better known by her stage name Meisa Kuroki. In 2004’s Medaka, she began her career as an actress. She has posed for the well-known Japanese fashion magazine JJ and serves as the country’s ambassador for Giorgio Armani and Epson.

21. Haruna Kawaguchi

Haruna Kawaguchi is a rising star.  Though only 29 years old, she has already made her mark in films, TV dramas, modeling, and even hosting major events. She grew up fishing and dreaming of becoming an actress in the remote Goto Islands.

Her big break came by winning a modelling contest at age 12. Since then, she has portrayed a range of roles – from a wealthy student in Ouran High School Host Club (2002-10) to a sister in the slice-of-life drama Chimudondon (2022).

Kawaguchi’s talents extend beyond acting too. With over 700,000 YouTube subscribers she is a social media influencer. Her relatable charm and versatility makes this humble island girl seems destined for even bigger things. Japan’s entertainment world has an inspiring new leading lady.

22. Mao Inoue

Mao Inoue has been gracing Japanese screens since the  age of five. Even from her childhood role in the popular Kids War series, there was something magnetic about this actress. As she blossomed into a young woman, Inoue truly came into her own with the iconic lead role of Makino Tsukushi in the game-changing Boys Over Flowers (2005) dramas. 

She possessed a rare ability to make her audience feel every flicker of emotion. Inoue’s talent continued to shine as her career catapulted with acclaimed films like the tear-jerker Rebirth (2011) and the sweeping war epic Oba: Miracle in the Pacific (2011).

While some criticize her recent work in Burning Flower(2015), may be because Inoue simply has a more subtle, understated style that doesn’t grab mainstream audiences like her earlier  roles. An actress of remarkable versatility, Mao Inoue will undoubtedly continue captivating us for decades to come.

23. Aoi Miyazaki

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Aoi Miyazaki is a talented Japanese actress who started her entertainment career at the tender age of four. Though she began with minor roles in commercials and TV shows, her big break came at fourteen in the film Eureka (2000). Miyazaki has worked with top directors like Shinji Aoyama on movies selected for major festivals like Cannes.

Some of her most popular roles in the hit drama co-starring Mika Nakashima and the NHK series Atsuhime (2008). Miyazaki does humanitarian work raising awareness about poverty, global warming, and child exploitation. She has modelled for major brands. With awards and popular roles to her name by her mid-20s, Miyazaki’s acting skills and dedication shine through.  I have no doubt her best roles still lie ahead.

24. Mone Kamishiraishi

Another talent is Mone Kamishiraishi . From a young age, her talents shone bright – winning a special jury prize in the 2011 Toho Cinderella audition before making her acting debut on NHK. But Mone is more than just a pretty face on the screen. She can act, sing, and is even adept in classical ballet.  

That’s just par for the course for this multi-talented star. No wonder she rose to international fame after her leading role in the smash hit anime film Your Name (2016). With a range like that, the sky is the limit for Mone’s brilliant career.

25. Kaho

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Kaho has carved out an impressive acting career since being scouted as an elementary school student in Tokyo. The wide-eyed beauty transition from modelling gigs to critically acclaimed film roles was smooth. In her trophy cabinet are  major awards like the Hochi Film Award and Japan Academy Prize.

While early on she was typecast as the pure-hearted novice (not surprising given her angelic looks!), Kaho has since taken on more engaging characters across film, TV and streaming series.

Check out her standout performances in dramas like Tokyo Vampire Hotel (2017) and Foreboding (2017). Kaho has already achieved so much, we cannot wait to see what other transformative roles she will bring to life next.

26. Nana Komatsu

Though only in her late 20s, Nana Komatsu resume is heavy with accolades. She first rose to prominence in 2014 with her haunting lead performance in The World of Kanako, winning the prestigious Newcomer of the Year award from the Japan Academy. Since then, Komatsu has dazzled in films like Drowning Love (2016), My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday (2016) and the 2020 hit Threads: Our Tapestry of Love.

Her talents have even caught Hollywood’s eye, she made her English-language debut alongside Andrew Garfield in Martin Scorsese’s drama Silence (2016). The former Chanel ambassador seems destined for a long, illustrious career at the highest levels of cinema.

27. Riho Yoshioka

Riho Yoshioka is definitely one actress you need to keep your eye on. This Kyoto native is making major waves in the Japanese entertainment world. After her breakout role in the 2016 NHK drama Here Comes Asa (2015 -16), Yoshioka quickly became a rising star. Her raw talent and versatility earned her the coveted Newcomer of the Year award from the Japan Academy in 2019.

It was in recognition for her work in films like Blind (2019) and Parallel World Love Story ( 2019). Yoshioka’s talent range spans voice acting, TV, and major motion pictures. If her recent projects like Anime Supremacy (2022) and Ice Cream Fever (2023) are any indication, this young actress is just getting started!

28. Yuriko Ishida

The evergreen Yuriko Ishida is the iconic voice behind the fierce Princess Mononoke (1997) heroine San. But this accomplished Nagoya native has quite an impressive filmography beyond just lending her vocals to Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece. Ishida’s career took flight in the early 1990s, and she swiftly garnered acclaim for her ability to play diverse roles effortlessly.

From the endearing Sayaka in Boiling Point (1990) to the enigmatic Reiko in Kanojo ga Kekkon Shinai Riyu (1990), she seamlessly transitioned between characters, breathing life into each one with her signature portrayals. From the heartwarming Dekichatta Kekkon (2001) to The Tiger and Her Wings (2024) her versatility shines through, allowing her to tackle a wide range of roles with equal parts grace and grit.

29. Masami Nagasawa

, , via Wikimedia Commons

鈥婽he actress has captivated audiences with her versatile acting skills since she was just a child. This Shizuoka native first graced the silver screen at age 12, playing a psychic orphan in the sci-fi Pyrokinesis (2000). While still a teenager, she had already landed iconic roles like the tiny twin fairies in Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S (2003).

Her breakthrough came with Crying Out Love in the Center of the World (2004), earning her two major awards. From there, Nagasawa’s star continued rapidly rising. She portrayed a lovable princess in Hidden Fortress (2008), the voice of Umi in the 2011 From Up on Poppy Hill, and the lead in the romantic comedy Love Strikes (2011). Blockbusters, art-house films, and animated classics she has done it all.

30. Tao Tsuchiya

She has landed lead roles like the mischievous Misao in the popular Rurouni Kenshin films.  Tao fully immerses herself in every character, bringing depth and authenticity that resonates with audiences. Whether playing a carefree student in Orange (2015), a feisty police officer in Policeman and Me (2017), or the resilient Yuzuha in Alice in Borderland (2020- Present), her performances are always  captivating.  Tao has an impressive filmography. She has unmatched charisma and dedication to her craft. The future looks brilliantly bright for the radiant Tao Tsuchiya.