November 4, 1981 · Nishiyoshino, Nara, Japan
The Nara-born actress got an early start in the much praised and oft discussed The Taste of Tea before staying with the profession and graduating to adult roles. Before that, however, the youngest of four sisters had debuted in Suzaku after, legend has it, director Naomi Kawase spotted her cleaning shoe boxes at her junior high school. She has won several awards since.
