Chiaki Kuriyama
Encyclopedia : C : CH : CHI : Chiaki Kuriyama
From age 11 Kuriyama saw work as a child model and minor television and film roles, including Toire no Hanako-san (1995).
Kuriyama first achieved widespread recognition in Japan for her starring roles in the horror movies Shikoku (1999) and Ju-on (2000). Later in 2000, she appeared in the action picture Battle Royale; although this movie featured an ensemble cast and allowed Kuriyama relatively little screen time.
After notable appearances in Japanese TV series including Rokubanme no Sayoko, she made her Hollywood debut in director Quentin Tarantino's 2003 Kill Bill, Volume I. In Kill Bill, Kuriyama played the part of 'Gogo Yubari'—a cartoonish, manriki wielding, teenage schoolgirl yakuza bodyguard of 'O-Ren Ishii'. Despite the movie's primarily English script, Kuriyama's dialogue was all in Japanese.
Despite her dimunitive size — fan sources indicate that she stands 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) tall and weighs 40 kg (88 lb) ([link]) — Kuriyama creates a distinctive onscreen presence through her ability to appear alternately, or in some cases simultaneously, winsome and menacing. Thus, her career, especially her Battle Royale and Kill Bill roles, can be seen as a variation on the violent yet feminine action-hero-cum-sex-symbol type popularized in the West by examples such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Tomb Raider.
Kuriyama's appearances include major roles in Azumi 2: Death or Love, a samurai drama, and Yōkai Daisensō, a monster movie from Takashi Miike, along with a cameo in the Steven Seagal vehicle Into the Sun.
Quotes
Complex Magazine (February/March 2004)
- "I've been playing these schoolgirl roles in all my movies. Every time I went to the set, it felt like I was going to school."
- "I loved playing Gogo [her role in Kill Bill], because the character's so extreme. And she's pretty close to my real character. Especially the fact that she liked her sword with a lot of accessories." (this quote is apparently in reference to accessorizing items such as cellphones)
- "Japan is very much a TV-centred entertainment industry. So when you talk about big stars in Japan, generally they are people who are on television. I work mostly in movies."
Filmography
Film and TV
- Scrap Heaven (2005)
- Yôkai daisensô (2005)
- *aka Hobgoblins & the Great Wall (literal English title)
- *aka The Big Spook War (USA)
- Into the Sun (2005) as Ayako
- (2005) as Kozue
- Kagen no tsuki (2004) as Mizuki
- *aka Last Quarter
- Itsuka 'A' torein ni notte (2003) as Noguchi, Yuki
- *aka Take the 'A' Train, Someday (International: English title)
- (2003) as Gogo Yubari
- "R-17" (2001) TV Series
- Batoru rowaiaru (2000) as Takako Chigusa - Girl #13
- *aka Battle Royale (International: English title)
- Tajuu jinkaku tantei saiko - Amamiya Kazuhiko no kikan (2000) (mini) TV Series
- *aka MPD Psycho
- *aka Multiple Personality Detective Psycho - Kazuhiko Amamiya Returns (Japan: English title)
- Ju-on (2000) (V) as Mizuho Tamura
- *aka Curse Grudge (USA)
- *aka Ju-on: The Curse (informal English title)
- Kamen gakuen (2000) as Reika Dojima
- Shikoku (1999) as Sayori Hiura
- Gonin (1995) as Ogiwara's daughter
- *aka The Five (USA)
- Toire no Hanako-san (1995)
- *aka School Mystery (USA)
Endorsing/advertising
(in no specific order):- Shiseido Maquillage (fashion make-up)
- Ecko Unlimited (clothes brand)
- JA Bank Mie (Japanese Company)
- Panasonic P901iS Cellphone
- Aloe Yogurt (Japanese dairy products)
- Clorets (mint chewing gum)
External links
- [Chiaki Kuriyama] at the Internet Movie Database
- [Chiaki Kuriyama bio] on Allmovie.Com
- [Official website] of Chiaki Kuriyama (in Japanese)
- [Chiaki Kuriyama Fansite and Fanbase]
- [120 Image Gogo Yubari Photo Gallery]
- [Chiaki Kuriyama Web]-(a fansite)
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.