Nakatani Miki

Japanese singer and actress Miki Nakatani was born on January 12, 1976, in Tokyo. She embarked on her entertainment career in 1991 as a member of the girl idol group Sakurakko Club. Shortly after that, she ventured as a solo artist, releasing the single "Anata ga Wakaranai" in 1993. That same year, she made her acting debut in the TV drama Hitotsu Yane no Shita. Over the years, Miki Nakatani established herself in both the music and film industries, participating in several high-profile projects. She released the highly successful single "MIND CIRCUS" in 1996, produced by renowned musician Ryuichi Sakamoto. Their collaboration, "Suna no Kajitsu," entered the Oricon Singles Chart's Top 10 in 1997, selling 330,000 copies. 1997 saw the release of the album Cure, which also featured production by the former Yellow Magic Orchestra member. Miki Nakatani also garnered attention for her roles in the successful horror movies Ring and Ring 2 in 1998 and 1999, respectively. Shiseikatsu, her final collaboration with Ryuichi Sakamoto, hit the shelves in 1999. In 2001, she released the single "エアーポケット." In 2005, she took on the role of Hermes in the film adaptation of Train Man. During this time, she won three Japan Academy Awards for her roles in the films When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2002), Memories of Matsuko (2006), and Zero Focus (2009). By 2011, she made her stage debut in the play Ryōjū, impressing audiences with her portrayal of three different characters. For this performance, she won the 46th Kinokuniya Theater Award. The following years found the versatile artist steering away from music and focusing on her acting career, starring in films such as The World of Kanako (2014), A Stitch of Life (2015), First Gentleman (2021), and The Legend and Butterfly (2023).