Aoi Miyazaki

Aoi Miyazaki (宮崎 あおい, Miyazaki Aoi?, born November 30, 1985) is a Japanese actress. She is best known for her pure image and roles such as in Nana and Virgin Snow. Her brother Masaru Miyazaki is an actor, and they starred together in the film Hatsukoi. She married Sosuke Takaoka on June 15, 2007, her partner since she was fifteen. She is close to Yū Aoi, Chiaki Kuriyama, Atsuko Sudo, Becky, and Marika Matsumoto.

# Name (romaji): Miyazaki Aoi
# Profession: Actress
# Birthdate: 1985-Nov-30
# Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
# Height: 163cm
# Star sign: Sagittarius
# Blood type: O
# Family: Older brother/actor Miyazaki Masaru and Husband/actor Takaoka Sousuke
# Talent agency: Hirata Office

Miyazaki was born in Tokyo, Japan. She started working in the entertainment industry at the age of four. Initially she appeared mostly in commercials, magazine advertisements, and as an extra in various television dramas. Miyazaki made her film debut in One Summer's Day at the age of fourteen.

When Miyzaki was 14, she began to draw international attention for her role as the survivor of a traumatic bus hijack in Shinji Aoyama's Eureka. The film won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Cannes Film Festival 2000, and resulted in her receiving the Best New Actress Award of the Japanese Professional Movie Awards. In 2003, she also made her musical debut in The Little Prince.

Later, she won Best Actress Awards in the Nantes Festival of the 3 Continents and the Cinemanila International Film Festival for her convincing performance in Harmful Insect. She teamed up with Aoyama again in Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?, an Un Certain Regard selection at Cannes 2005. Later in the same year, Aoi Miyazaki co-starred with Mika Nakashima in the mainstream & commercially successful Nana, which boosted her career to a new level of popularity.

On June 15, 2007 Aoi Miyazaki married long time boyfriend and actor Sousuke Takaoka. Her older brother is actor Masaru Miyazaki.

Beyond acting, Aoi Miyzaki has become a much sought after spokesperson and model. She has appeared in commercials for major corporations like Aflac, Tokyo Metro, and Olympus. In early 2008 Aoi Miyazaki was also selected as Emperio Armani's new print advertisement model.

With each year Aoi Miyazaki has taken a more prominent position in activism projects. In 2005, Aoi Miyazaki with older brother Masaru Miyazaki traveled to India to experience firsthand poverty stricken in that area and highlight those problems to their fans via their 2006 photobook Tarinai Peace. In 2006, the siblings traveled to Denmark & Finland to investigate global warming. Their experiences were then published in their 2007 photobook Love.Peace & Green Tarinai Peace2. More recently, in April, 2008, Aoi Miyazaki took part in the Gold Ribbon Walking event in Roppongi, Tokyo to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer. Her 2008 film Children of the Dark also addresses issues of child exploitation.[1]

In 2008, she won the Galaxy Individual Award for her performance in the NHK drama Atsuhime.

TV Shows

* Atsu-hime (NHK, 2008)
* Junjo Kirari (NHK, 2006)
* Chichi no Umi, Boku no Sora (NTV, 2004)
* Riyu (WOWOW, 2004)
* Chotto Matte Kami-sama (NHK, 2004)
* Shiawase No Shippo (TBS, 2002)
* Ao to Shiro de Mizuiro (NTV, 2001)
* Fure Fure Jinsei (YTV, 2001)
* R-17 (TV Asahi, 2001)
* Kabushiki Gaisha o-daiba.com (株式会社o-daiba.com) (Fuji TV, 2001)
* Himitsu Kurabu o-daiba.com (秘密倶楽部o-daiba.com) (Fuji TV, 2000-2001)
* Hatachi no Kekkon (TBS, 2000)
* Genroku Ryoran (NHK, 1999)

Movies

* Solanin (2010)
* The Summit: A Chronicle Of Stones to Serenity (2009)
* Shonen Merikensakku (2009)
* Kagehinata ni Saku (2008)
* Habu to Genkotsu (2007)
* Sad Vacation (2007)
* Hatsukoi no Yuki: Virgin Snow (2007)
* Tokyo Tower Okan to Boku to, Tokidoki Oton (2007)
* Tada, Kimi wo Aishiteru / Heavenly Forest (2006)
* Hatsu Koi (2006)
* su-ki-da (2006)
* Umi de no Hanashi (2006)
* NANA (2005)
* Eli, Eli, Rema, Sabachthani? / My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? (2005)
* Inu no Eiga Ne, Marimo (2005)
* Gimmy Heaven (2005)
* Amoretto (2004)
* Riyuu (2004)
* Aoi Kuruma (2004)
* Loved Gun (2004)
* Lovers' Kiss (2003)
* Tomie Saishusho (2002)
* Pakodate-jin (2002)
* Gaichu (2002)
* Eureka (2000)
* Swing Man (2000)
* Ano Natsu no Hi (1999)

Endorsements

* NTT Docomo (2005)
* Echika Ikebukuro Tokyo Metro (2008~)
* Aflac Insurance

Recognitions

* 45th Galaxy Awards: Individual Award
* 59th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Actress in Atsu-hime
* 12th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Oct to Dec 2008): Best Actress for Atsu-hime
* 12th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Jul to Sep 2008): Best Actress for Atsu-hime
* 50th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Actress in Junjo Kirari (2006)