Chiaki Kuriyama (栗山 千明, Kuriyama Chiaki, born October 10, 1984) is a Japanese actress, singer, and model. She is best known in the West for her roles as Takako Chigusa in Kinji Fukasaku's 2000 film Battle Royale and Gogo Yubari in Quentin Tarantino's 2003 film Kill Bill: Volume 1.
Life and career
She was born in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki. Kuriyama was a popular model during Japan's child model boom in the mid-1990s. In 1997, she appeared in the photobooks Shinwa-Shōjo (Girl of Myth) and Shōjokan (Girl's Residence), photographed by Kishin Shinoyama. Shinwa-Shōjo became a best-seller but, as it contained some nudity, was discontinued by the publisher in 1999 after the institution of new anti–child pornography laws. She also posed as a model for the child fashion magazines Nicola (1997–2001) and Pichi Lemon (1996–2001).
She first achieved widespread recognition as an actress in Japan for her starring roles in the horror films Shikoku (1999) and Ju-on (2000). Chiaki also appeared in the 2000 action film Battle Royale as Takako Chigusa.
Following feature appearances on several notable Japanese television programs (including Rokubanme no Sayoko), Kuriyama made her Hollywood debut in director Quentin Tarantino's 2004 film Kill Bill: Volume 1 as Gogo Yubari, the schoolgirl bodyguard of yakuza boss O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu). Kuriyama's other film appearances include major roles in the ninja drama Azumi 2: Death or Love and Takashi Miike's Yōkai Daisensō.
In 2010, she released the CD single "Ryūsei no Namida" on DefStar Records under the artist name "CHiAKi KURiYAMA". The song was used as the first ending theme for Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. This single was followed by three others under her name as traditionally written in Japanese: "Kanōsei Girl", "Cold Finger Girl", and "Oishii Kisetsu" / "Ketteiteki Sanpunkan"; "Kanōsei Girl" was used as the third opening theme for Yorinuki Gin Tama-san and "Cold Finger Girl" was used as the opening for the anime adaptation of Level E. She followed the singles with an album, Circus, in 2011.
Nacchan Ka (1998)Kowai Dowa - Oyayubihime (1999) as SayakoRokubanme no Sayoko (2000) as Sayoko TsumuraMPD Psycho as Mao Tōju (2000)Himitsu Kurabu o-daiba.com (2000) as Kazumi NaruseKabushiki Kaisha o-daiba.com (2000) as Kazumi NaruseR-17 (2001) as Saori MaruyamaJyooubachi (2006) as Tomoko/Kotoe DaidojiWoman's Island (2006) as Rei FujishimaHaru, Barneys de (2006) as Sakurai SaeKakure Karakuri (2006) as Karin HanayamaHagetaka (2007) (TV) as Yuka MishimaTokkyu Tanaka 3 Go (2007) as Terumi MeguroAshita no Kita Yoshio (2008) as Rika HasegawaLoss Time Life (2008) as Ayaka KurosakiSirius no Michi (2008) as Yuka HiranoAtami no Sosakan (2010) as Sae KitajimaRebound (2011) as Hitomi MimuraTsukahara Bokuden (2010) as MahiroHimitsu Chohoin Erika (2011) as Erika TakahashiCarnation (2011–2012) as Natsu YoshidaAtaru (2012) as Maiko EbinaJikken Keiji Totori (2012) as MakorinAtaru Special: New York kara no Chōsenjō (2013) as Maiko EbinaHaitatsu Saretai Watashitachi (2013) as Yu OkueKaibutsu (2013) as Emi IshikawaJikken Keiji Totori 2 (2013) as MakorinShikeidai no 72 Jikan (2013) as Tōko NatsukiTeam Batista 4: Rasen Meikyū (2014) as Sumire SakuranomiyaAlice no Toge (2014) as Miwa HoshinoSatsujin Hensachi 70 (2014) as Sana NishiuraDr. Nâsu eido (2014) as Kotomi HayashiTime Taxi (2014) as Misora ShibayamaAlgernon ni Hanataba wo (2015) as Haruka MochizukiHEAT (2015) as Sakura AzumiNobunaga Moyu (2016) as Kajūji HarukoFukigen na Kajitsu (2016) as Mayako MizukoshiCopy Face (2016)Toire no Hanako-san (1995) as Little ChildGonin (1995) as Ogiwara's daughterShikoku (1999) as Sayori HiuraKamen Gakuen (2000) as Reika DojimaJu-on: The Curse (2000) as Mizuho TamuraBattle Royale (2000) as Takako Chigusa - Girl #13Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) as Gogo YubariItsuka 'A' Torein ni Notte (2003) as Yuki NoguchiKagen no Tsuki (2004) as Mizuki MochizukiMail (2005) as MikotoAzumi 2: Death or Love (2005) as KozueInto the Sun (2005) as AyakoThe Great Yokai War (2005) as AgiScrap Heaven (2005) as Saki FujimuraKisarazu Cats Eye: World Series (2006) as Ayako SugimotoExte (エクステ, Ekusute) (2007) as Yuko MizushimaTengu Gaiden (2007) as AmayaKids (2008) as ShihoGS Wonderland (2008) as Miku OnoKomori Seikatsu Kojo Club (2008) as ShizueKamogawa Horumo (2009) as Fumi KusunokiHagetaka: The Movie (2009) as Yuka MishimaNeck (2010) as Eiko AkasakaGhostwriter Hotel (2012) as Naoko UtsumiGekijouban SPEC: Ten (2012) as Satoko AoikeToshokan Sensō (2013) as Asako ShibasakiGekijouban SPEC: Kurôzu - Zen no hen (2013) as Satoko AoikeGekijouban SPEC: Kurôzu - Kou no hen (2013) as Satoko AoikeAtaru the First Love & the Last Kill (2013) as Maiko EbinaTeam Batista Final: Kerberos no Shōzō (2014) as Sumire SakuranomiyaTanemaku tabibito: Kuni umi no sato (2015) as Keiko KannoHimitsu – Top Secret (2016) as Yukiko MiyoshiBlade of the Immortal (film) (2017) as HyakurinEden's Bowy (1999) as Konyako PersiaThe Sky Crawlers (2008) (voice) as Midori MitsuyaDragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker (2012) as Cassandra PentaghastThe Expendables 2 (Japanese dub) (2012) as Maggie Chan (Yu Nan)Star Trek Into Darkness (Japanese dub) (2013) as Uhura (Zoe Saldana)Ryū ga Gotoku of the End (2011) as Misuzu AsagiShadows of the Damned (2011) as PaulaDogen's adventure (2008)Coast of Utopia (2009)Midnight in Bali (2017) Namaiki! Photo: Kishin Shinoyama.Text:Akio Nakamori. (ISBN 4-10-326205-2,1996)Tenshi/angel (天使) Photo: Mitsuo Kawamoto. (ISBN 4-09-680821-0,1996).Sinwa-Shoujo (神話少女）Photo: Kishin Shinoyama. Text:Akio Nakamori.(ISBN 4-10-326207-9,1997)Shoujokan (少女館)Photo: Kishin Shinoyama. (ISBN 4-10-326209-5,1997)Shikoku nite (死国にて)(ISBN 4-04-904318-1,1999)Kuriyama Chiaki ACCESS BOOK (栗山千明ACCESS BOOK)(ISBN 4-04-853047-X,1999)Princess (プリンセス 栗山千明×蜷川実花）Photo: Mika Ninagawa. (ISBN 4-06-352725-5,2004)digi+KISHIN DVD:Chiaki Kuriyama. Image Film by Kishin Shinoyama. (ASIN B0001LNO7O,2004)digi+Girls kishin NO.4 Kuriyama Chiaki (digi+Girls kishin NO.4 栗山 千明) Photo: Kishin Shinoyama. (ASIN: 4255002797, 2004)Car girl Photo: Kishin Shinoyama. (ISBN 4-584-17094-0,2004)Emergence Uka (羽化) Photo: Chikashi Kasai. (ISBN 4-02-331332-7,2014)
