Kou Shibasaki
Background information
Born	August 5, 1981 (1981-08-05) (age 26)
Origin	Toshima, Tokyo, Japan
Genre(s)	J-pop
Occupation(s)	Singer & Actress
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Years active	2000 — Present
Label(s)	Universal Music Group Japan
Website	Official Kou Shibasaki Universal Music Site

Kou Shibasaki (柴咲 コウ, Shibasaki Kō^?), born Yukie Yamamura (山村 幸恵, Yamamura Yukie^?, born on August 5, 1981 in Toshima, Tokyo), is a Japanese singer and actress. is the 217th day of the year (218th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... Toshima (豊島区; -ku) is a special ward located in Tokyo, Japan. ...   , literally Eastern capital) is a unique subnational administrative region of Japan with characteristics of both a prefecture and a city. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... J-pop (or Jpop) is an abbreviation of Japanese pop. ... A singer is a musician who uses their voice to produce music. ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke whilst waiting between takes during location filming. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... is the 217th day of the year (218th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Toshima (豊島区; -ku) is a special ward located in Tokyo, Japan. ...   , literally Eastern capital) is a unique subnational administrative region of Japan with characteristics of both a prefecture and a city. ...

Career

She was discovered at 14 by a star agent, and worked in many TV shows and commercials. Her stage name is taken from the main character of Junko Kawakami's manga Golden Delicious Apple Sherbet.

She became famous outside Japan for her role in Battle Royale (2000), where she performed the cold-hearted Mitsuko Souma; her acting career took off with this movie, and now she is well known in East Asia. Battle Royale ) is a film released on December 16, 2000, in Japan — based on the novel of the same name — released on April 22, 1999, in Japan. ... Kou Shibasaki as Mitsuko Souma, in the film Battle Royale Mitsuko Souma ) is one of two main antagonists in the novel Battle Royale and the manga and film adaptations. ... East Asia Geographic East Asia. ...

Her performance in the movie Go earned her several awards, among which the Best Supporting Actress Award of Japanese Academy, the Houchi Movie Award, the Kinema Junpou Award. Go is a 2001 movie by Isao Yukisada, starring Yôsuke Kubozuka (Sugihara/Lee) and Kō Shibasaki (Tsubaki Sakurai). ...

In 2002, she started her singer career with her first single Trust My Feelings, but her singing skills were first recognized with her second single Tsuki no shizuku (used for the movie Yomigaeri), which was one of the best J-Pop hits of 2003. Up until now, most of her singles had became the theme songs for various popular films, dramas, as well as commercials. J-pop (or Jpop) is an abbreviation of Japanese pop. ...

Her highly anticipated second album turned out to be quite a flop compared to her first album. It lasted only 9 weeks and had a peak position of #5 while her first album earned a peak position of #2 and spent 68 weeks on the Oricon charts.^[1] Though in 2007, Shibasaki's third album Kiki♥, which was released on April 25, reached number one on the first day of release. Look up flop in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Oricon ), also known as Oricon Style, is a Japanese company which provides music industry-related information. ...

Other than acting and singing, Shibasaki is also well received for her participation in commercials for numerous products such as Epson printers, Glico Pocky's, Daihatsu vehicles, as well as the mineral water from France - Volvic. A four colour Epson Stylus C45 inkjet printer Epson is one of the worlds largest manufacturers of inkjet, dot-matrix and laser printers, scanners, desktop computers, business, multimedia and home theatre projectors, point of sale docket printers and cash registers, laptops, integrated circuits, LCD components and other associated electronic... Ezaki Glico (江崎グリコ) is a Japanese candy company. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Daihatsu is a Japanese manufacturer of cars, especially compact/small cars. ... Volvic is a commune of the Puy-de-Dôme département, in Auvergne, France. ...

In 2005, Shibasaki's acting career took a turning point and she began to be taken more seriously as an actress. She appeared in the independent Japanese film, Mazon Do Himiko. In this film, she plays Saori, an unhappy young woman whose father is gay. Saori meets her father's boyfriend, and he urges her to come and meet her dying father at a place called Maison Do Himiko, a place where several aging gay men live together. Still angry that her father abandoned her and mother when she was young, Saori hesitates but agrees on the condition she will be paid handsomely working as a maid. The film opened in various Asian markets earning critical acclaim.^{[citation needed]} With this role, Shibasaki cemented her place in Japanese film industry as a serious contender to lead. House of Himiko ), sometimes known in English as La Maison de Himiko (such as when it was shown at the Japanese film festival in Sydney in December 2006), is a Japanese film made in 2005. ... GAY can mean: Gay, a term referring to homosexual men or women The IATA code for Gaya Airport Category: ...

In 2006, the young actress took the role as Dororo in the Japanese film, Dororo along with Satoshi Tsumabuki (her co-actor from the drama Orange Days. The film made a sensation in Japan, and became the top box office for nearly six weeks. Right after the filming of Dororo, Shibasaki participated in two more movies in 2007 including Maiko Haaan!!!! and the sequel of Shaolin Soccer, Shaolin Girl, which is scheduled to be screened in 2008. Dororo ) is a manga series from the well-known Japanese mangaka Osamu Tezuka in the late 1960s. ... Satoshi Tsumabuki (妻夫木聡 Tsumabuki Satoshi; born 13 December 1980) is a Japanese actor. ... Orange Days is a dorama series that aired in Japan on TBS in 2004. ... Shaolin Soccer is a 2001 Hong Kong comedy film directed by acclaimed Hong Kong comedian, actor and director, Stephen Chow. ...

Shibasaki's first Christmas song, actuality, was released in December 2006. "at home" was released later on February 21, 2007. Both failed to reach top 10 on the Oricon charts. "Hito Koi Meguri", released on March 28, 2007, reached number 8 on the charts. It became her first single to reach top 10 since "invitation". Currently, she had complete the filming of Shaolin Girl and is preparing for her live concert, the "Kou Shibasaki Premium Live" scheduled for August 3rd and 5th in Osaka and Tokyo. Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. ...

Selected filmography

Movie

Battle Royale ) is a film released on December 16, 2000, in Japan — based on the novel of the same name — released on April 22, 1999, in Japan. ... Kou Shibasaki as Mitsuko Souma, in the film Battle Royale Mitsuko Souma ) is one of two main antagonists in the novel Battle Royale and the manga and film adaptations. ... Hey Donna, stay in school! from: Hatake Kakashi ... Go is a 2001 movie by Isao Yukisada, starring Kubozuka Yōsuke (Sugihara/Lee), Kō Shibasaki (Tsubaki Sakurai), and Ren Osugi (taxi driver). ... Chakushin Ari 着信アリ (also known as One Missed Call) is a J-Horror movie directed by Takashi Miike. ... Socrates in Love, also known as Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World (Japanese title: Sekai no Chūshin de, Ai wo Sakebu, 世界の中心で、愛をさけぶ) is a Japanese novel written by Kyoichi Katayama (片山恭一). It was published by Shogakukan in April 2001. ... We dont have an article called Maison de Himiko Start this article Search for Maison de Himiko in. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ... Nihon Chinbotsu (Japan Sinks) is the title in Japanese of a 1973 science-fiction novel by Sakyo Komatsu either of two film adaptations of the above made in 1973 and 2006. ... Dororo ) is a manga series from the well-known Japanese mangaka Osamu Tezuka in the late 1960s. ... Winter is a Malayalam film starring Jayaram, Bhavana released in the year 2006. ...

Television

Good Luck!! is a 2003 Japanese television drama produced by TBS. Starring Takuya Kimura and Kō Shibasaki, Good Luck!! topped the Japanese drama ratings with a whopping 35% viewership in 2003. ... Orange Days is a dorama series that aired in Japan on TBS in 2004. ... Dr. Kotō Shinryōjo lit. ...

Discography

Shibasaki's third studio album, Kiki♥ released April 2007.

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Albums

1. 蜜 (Mitsu) (February 11, 2004)
2. ひとりあそび (Hitori Asobi) (December 14, 2005)
3. 嬉々♥ (Kiki♥) (April 25, 2007)

February 11 is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Singles

1. Trust my feelings (July 24, 2002)
2. 月のしずく (Tsuki no Shizuku) (as RUI) (January 15, 2003)
3. 眠レナイ夜ハ眠ラナイ夢ヲ (Nemurenai Yoru wa Nemuranai Yume wo) (June 4, 2003)
4. 思い出だけではつらすぎる (Omoide Dake de wa Tsurasugiru) (September 3, 2003)
5. いくつかの空 (Ikutsuka no Sora) (January 14, 2004)
6. かたちあるもの (Katachi Aru Mono) (August 11, 2004)
7. Love Affair, Powdered Snow (色恋粉雪 Irokoi Konayuki) (2005)
8. Glitter (February 16, 2005)
9. Sweet Mom (October 5, 2005)
10. 影 (Kage) (February 15, 2006)
11. invitation (August 9, 2006)
12. actuality (December 6, 2006)
13. at home (February 21, 2007)
14. ひと恋めぐり (Hitokoi Meguri) (March 28, 2007)
15. プリズム (Prism) (May 30, 2007)
16. お・ま・えローテンションガール (O.ma.e Low Tension Girl) (as Group Damashii ni Shibasaki Kou ga) (June 13, 2007)

is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 4 is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 278th day of the year (279th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 6 is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 87th day of the year (88th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 150th day of the year (151st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

References

External links

• Official Kou Shibasaki Universal Music Site
• Kou Shibasaki Official Site
• Kou Shibasaki - Unofficial Fansite (in English and French)
• Kou Shibasaki Unofficial Forum (in English)
• Kou Shibasaki Fandom
• Shibasaki Kou at the Internet Movie Database
• "Viewers flip the bird at sign language snafu", Mainichi Shimbun, May 7, 2004. Retrieved on 2007-04-29. (in English)