Yukie Nakama

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Yukie Nakama
仲間由紀恵

Born Yukie Nakama (仲間由紀恵?)
October 30, 1979 (1979-10-30) (age 28)
Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

Yukie Nakama (仲間 由紀恵 Nakama Yukie, born October 30, 1979) is an Ryukyuan actress, singer and former idol. She was born in Urasoe, Okinawa, Japan as the youngest of five siblings. She is one of the rare few young Japanese celebrities that have been able to break free from their teeny-bopper image and emerge as one of the country's most popular and well-respected actresses. She respects Shizuka Kudō. She is close to Hitomi Shimatani and went to Los Angeles for a trip together.

She appeared in bit roles until she appeared in "Love & Pop (1998)". She was a 'gravure' (swimsuit photo book) idol for a few years until she got the lead role as Sadako for "Ring 0: Birthday (2000)", which gave her career a big break. She were sometimes referred to as the "First Lady Of Ringu.

Nakama afterwards starred in several TV Dramas, notably "Trick (2000)" which demonstrated her talent in comedic roles. The program was such a hit that it had two more seasons (Trick 2 (2002) and Trick 3 (2003)). However, the top-rating TV series "Gokusen (2002)", a live-action version of the popular manga (comics), established her as one of Japan's most bankable and popular actresses.

In 2008, Nakama has been filming I Want to Be a Shellfish (Watashi wa Kani ni Naritai), a post-WW2 war crimes trial drama based on the Tetsutaro Kato novel and directed by Katsuo Fukuzawa. It is a remake of the 1959 film of the same name that was scripted by Shinobu Hashimoto - who earlier co-wrote Seven Samurai with Akira Kurosawa. Masahiro Nakai is the co-star, and the music is by Joe Hisaishi.

She has also proven her bankability through commercial endorsements, such as Nissin, Glico, Lotte, Asahi, Shiseido and au by KDDI. Nakama is one the most watched celebrity endorsers, a regular face at billboards and subway stations, and has even served as a spokesperson for the Japanese Tax Agency and Japan Railways. She is managed by Production Ogi (Japanese celebrities are handled by talent agencies, and are rarely independent).

Contents

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Dramas

  • Mou gaman dekinai (1996)
  • Itazura na Kiss (1996)
  • Tomoko no Baai (1996)
  • Mokuyou no kaidan #15 (1997)
  • Dangerous Angel x Death Hunter (1997) (Episode 4 guest star)
  • Shiawase iro shashinkan (1997)
  • Odoru daisousasen saimatsu tokubetsu keikai (1997)
  • Kamisama mou sukoshi dake (1998)
  • Hashire koumuin! (1998)
  • Kimi to ita mirai no tame ni: I'll be Back (1999)
  • P.S. Genki desu, Shunpei (1999)
  • Nisennen no koi / Love 2000 (2000)
  • Trick (2000)
  • FACE: Mishiranu koibito (2001)
  • Ashita ga arusa (2001)
  • Uso Koi (2001)
  • Trick 2 (2002)
  • Gokusen (2002)
  • Night Hospital byouki wa nemuranai (2002)
  • Musashi (2003)
  • Gokusen Special Sayonara 3-nen D-gumi ... Yankumi namida no sotsugyoshiki (2003)
  • Kao (2003)
  • Satoukibi batake no uta / Songs from the Canefield (2003)
  • Trick 3 (2003)
  • Ranpo R (2004) (Episode 3 guest star)
  • Tokyo Wankei (2004)
  • Otouto (2004)
  • Gokusen 2 (2005)
  • Haru to Natsu (2005)
  • Trick TV Special (2005)
  • Komyo ga tsuji (2006)
  • NHK Taiga Drama "Kōmyō-ga-tsuji" (2006)
  • Satomi Hakenden (2006)
  • Erai Tokoro ni Totsuide Shimatta! (2007)
  • Himawari: Natsume masako 27 nen no shôgai to haha no ai (2007)
  • Joshi Deka (2007)
  • Gokusen 3 (2008)
  • I Want to be Shellfish (2008)(filming)

[edit] Movies

[edit] Anime

[edit] Video Games

  • Rockman X4, theme song performances, "Makenai Ai ga kitto aru" & "One More Chance" (1997)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Single

  • MOONLIGHT to DAYBREAK (1996)
  • トゥルー・ラブストーリー〜恋のように僕たちは〜 (1996) True Love Story theme song
  • 心に私がふたりいる／トレモロ (1997)
  • 負けない愛がきっとある/One More Chance (1997) Mega Man X4 OP & ED
  • 遠い日のメロディー／ヴィオラの夢 (1997) Haunted Junction
  • 青い鳥／晴れた日と日曜日の朝は (1998)
  • Birthday／I Feel You (2000) Ring 0: Birthday image song
  • 愛してる (Aishiteru) (2001)
  • 恋のダウンロード (Koi no Download) (2006) [as Yukie with Downloads]

[edit] Album

  • 遠い日のメロディー (1998)

[edit] Awards

Japanese Drama Academy Awards:

  • Spring 2002: Best Actress for Gokusen
  • Spring 2003: Best Actress for Kao
  • Fall 2003: Best Actress for Trick 3
  • Summer 2004: Best Dresser for Tokyo Wankei
  • Winter 2005: Best Actress for Gokusen 2

[edit] Trivia

  • In a 7,400 person poll on the Japanese website "LoopKai" Project, Nakama Yukie was voted the number 1 most well-received celebrity to have appeared in the Ring series.
  • Her singles Makenai Ai Ga Kitto Aru (負けない愛がきっとある) and One More Chance were used as the opening and ending theme songs (respectively) of Capcom's Rockman X4 for the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn.
  • Has worn over 7 different variations of Chinese traditional attire, cheongsam in the Trick series/special/movie in white, blue, green and red colors.
  • Makes a reference to her role as Sadako in the second Trick Movie.
  • Makes a reference to Akira Toriyama's Dragonball in Trick by pronouncing kamehameha, which is a fire ball energy attack performed in the anime.
  • Is a spokesperson for au KDDI cell phones and service
  • Was voted most viewed personality on Japanese television along with the governor of Tokyo Shintaro Ishihara.
  • Stated in an interview that her ideal man is a "City Hunter" type. She likes someone who is masculine, has a good sense of humor and tall.
  • She has been learning Okinawan dance, and her dancing is at the Shihandai (capacity to have a class to teach) level.
  • She has the license for a second class small ship pilot.
  • In 2005 and 2006 she was host for the Red Team at NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
  • It was rumored she stars Jun Kazama in the real movie Tekken, appearing in late 2009.

[edit] External links