Keiko Kitagawa

Keiko Kitagawa at the opening ceremony of the 28th Tokyo International Film Festival

Keiko Kitagawa ( Japanese 北 川 景 子 , Kitagawa Keiko ; born August 22, 1986 in Hyogo Prefecture ) is a Japanese actress and model . From September 2002 to 2006 she was a permanent member of the "model cast" of the Japanese fashion magazine Seventeen . She became known for her role as Sailor Mars in the 49-part Japanese live-action series Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi .

Life

Keiko Kitagawa was born on August 22, 1986 in Hyogo Prefecture and grew up in Kobe . As a child, she wanted to be a doctor. In high school, however, she was unsure whether it was right for her. At around the same time, she was approached by a modeling agency and she decided to give the entertainment world a try. Her parents were against it at first, but then only gave their permission on condition that she quit within a year if she does not make any progress and continues her studies first. She graduated from Meiji University in Tokyo with a degree in commercial science in March 2009.

Keiko was very successful as a model and was voted Miss Seventeen 2003. Shortly thereafter, she got her first significant role as Rei Hino / Sailor Mars in the live-action TV series Sailor Moon . This started her acting career, which she wanted to focus on in the future.

More films and TV dramas followed, including Cherry Pie (lead role), Dear Friends (lead role), her first international role in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift , TV drama Mop Girl and Homeroom on the Beachside . But it wasn't until her female lead in the drama Buzzer Beat , alongside Tomohisa Yamashita , that she achieved her national breakthrough. For this she was named Best Actress by the Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix.

In February 2010 she was voted the most popular "Dorama Heroine" by Oricon Style .

In spring 2010 she worked in the movie Hana no Ito , where she acted as a swordsman Ito. "Matataki" was released in June 2010 and Shikeidai no Elevator in fall 2010.

From May to July 2010 she was seen alongside actor and singer Kimura Takuya in the dorama Tsuki no Koibito ~ Moon Lovers ~ .

Filmography (selection)

• 2006: Mamiya Kyōdai
• 2006: Mizu ni sumu hana
• 2006: The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
• 2006: Cherry Pie
• 2007: Heat Island
• 2007: Dear Friends
• 2007: Sono Toki ha Kare ni Yoroshiku
• 2007: Southbound
• 2007: Heat Island
• 2008: Handsome Suit
• 2009: Manatsu no Orion / Orion in Midsummer
• 2009: Watashi Dasuwa / It's On Me
• 2010: Hana no Ato / After The Flowers
• 2010: Matataki
• 2010: Shikeidai no Elevator / Elevator To The Gallows
• 2010: Paradise Kiss

TV Shows

• 2003–2005: Bishōjo Senshi Sailormoon ( 美 少女 戦 士 セ ー ラ ー ム ー ン Bishōjo Senshi Sērāmūn ; English Pretty Guardian Sailormoon )
• 2007: Mop Girl
• 2008: Taiyou to Umi no Kyoushitsu
• 2008: Homeroom on the Beachside
• 2009: Buzzer beat
• 2010: Hitsudan hostess
• 2010: Tsuki no Koibito ~ Moon Lovers ~
• 2011: LADY ~ Saigo no Hanzai Profile ~

DVD

• 2003–2005: Bishōjo Senshi Sailormoon Vol. 1–12
• 2004: Bishōjo Senshi Sailormoon: Kirari Super Live
• 2004: Bishōjo Senshi Sailormoon: Special Act
• 2005: Bishōjo Senshi Sailormoon: Act Zero
• 2006: Mizu ni sumu hana
• 2006: Mamiya Kyōdai
• 2006: The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
• 2007: Cherry Pie
• 2007: Dear Friends
• 2008: Sono Toki ha Kare ni Yoroshiku
• 2008: Southbound
• 2008: Heat Island
• 2009: Handsome Suit
• 2010: Orion in Midsummer
• 2010: Hana no Ato / After The Flowers
• 2010: Buzzer beat

Photo books

• 2006: STYLISH STREET BOOK "I've been to Hollywood!"
• 2007: Kitagawa Keiko Shashinshū Dear Friends
• 2008: Actress Make Up
• 2010: Actress Make Up II

CD

• 2004: Sakura Fubuki ("Cherry Blossom Storm") / Hoshi Furu Yoake ("Stars Fall at Dawn") as Rei Hino.

Web links

Commons : Keiko Kitagawa  - Collection of Images

• Official Blog (Japanese)
• Keiko Kitagawa in the Internet Movie Database (English)