Mao Inoue
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Mao Inoue 井上 真央 | |
---|---|
Born | Yokohama, Japan | January 9, 1987
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1992–present |
Agent | UN et NEUF |
Mao Inoue (born January 9, 1987) is a Japanese actress. She debuted as an actress when she was five years old. She is best known to Japanese television drama audiences as Akane Imai (今井 茜, Imai Akane) in Kids War (キッズ・ウォー, Kid's War), as Makino Tsukushi in the popular Hana Yori Dango series,[1][2] and as Sugi Fumi (ja) in the 54th taiga drama Hana Moyu.
Career[]
Dramas and films[]
Inoue Mao started her career as an actress when she was five years old. She has been in many dramas since then. The viewers took notice of her in the series Kids War which ran successfully from 1999 to 2003. In 2005, Mao took the lead role in the drama adaptation of the popular manga Hana Yori Dango, with Arashi member Matsumoto Jun, Shun Oguri, Shota Matsuda and Tsuyoshi Abe. Mao was awarded Best Actress by Television Drama Academy in the same year that the drama was aired.
In 2006, she co-starred in her first film: Check It Out, Yo! with Hayato Ichihara, Yūta Hiraoka, and Tasuku Emoto. The film was in theaters April 22, 2006.
In early 2007, Hana Yori Dango Returns aired and was better-received than the first season. In the same year, Inoue co-starred in the drama First Kiss with Check It Out, Yo! co-star Yūta Hiraoka. Her performances led to her the lead role in the drama special Hanaikusa as a maiko-turned-geisha.
In 2008, she played the lead role in a drama special Anmitsu Hime as a princess, followed by Anmitsu Hime 2 in the following year, where she sang the theme song with Shoko Nakagawa. After the success of the two Hana Yori Dango dramas, a film was announced in August 2007, just months after the end of the 2007 sequel. It was Inoue's first starring role in a film.[3] The film was released on June 28, 2008. It topped the box office Japan for several weeks and became the second fastest earning film in 2008. It was also successful in many parts of Asia, bringing the name "10 billion yen actress" to Inoue Mao.
Mao stepped back from acting to concentrate on her studies. Following her graduation from Meiji University in March 2009, she started filming for the film adaptation of the manga Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu, in which she shared the lead with Masaki Okada; it was released in theaters in October 2009. In April of the following year, My Darling is a Foreigner was released in theaters in with Inoue starring opposite Jonathan Sherr.
Three years after her last drama, she reunited with Hana Yori Dango co-star Shun Oguri for the drama Jūi Dolittle (獣医ドリトル, Veterinarian Dolittle), which began airing in October 2010.[4] She also starred in the 84th asadora drama Ohisama (おひさま, The Sun), portraying a young woman who lived through World War II in Nagano prefecture[5] It was planned to air from March 28, 2011, to September 24, 2011, but it was delayed due to the earthquake and tsunami. It started to air on April 4, 2011. For her role, she won "Best Actress" in the 70th The Television Drama Academy Awards.
In February 2011, Mao costarred in a film starring Yutaka Takenouchi, called Taiheiyou no kiseki ~Fox to yobareta otoko (Oba: Miracle in the Pacific), about World War II holdout Captain Sakae Oba. Filming took place in Thailand. It was also announced in late September 2010 that Inoue Mao would star in the film Youkame no Semi which was released in April 2011.[6] Both films were successful at the box office. In Youkame no Semi (literally “eighth day cicada” but known in English as Rebirth, her portrayal of a daughter with a difficult past earned her several film awards, including her first "Best Starring Actress" Award in the 35th Japan Film Academy Awards.[7] The film also won nine other awards that year.
Inoue Mao was chosen to chair the Red team in the New Year's Eve Singing Contest Kōhaku Uta Gassen 2011. This team became the first female-led Red team to win the Kōuhaku Uta Gassen in seven years.
Because of her performance in Oba: Miracle in the Pacific, she was chosen to star in the comedy Tug of War!,[8] which will be released in 2012.[needs update]
It was announced in May 2012 that Inoue Mao would play the lead role in a summer drama called Tokkan Tokubetsu Kokuzei Choushukan,[9] reuniting her with director Tsuna Hiichatta. The drama will air in July 2012.
She appeared alongside V6's member Junichi Okada and Haruma Miura in the war film Eien no Zero.[10] Filming started June 2012 and released in December 2013. The film topped the Japan Box Office for 8 consecutive weeks and broke box office records. The film also won The Audience Award at the Udine Far East Film Festival.
It was announced that she would reunite with few of her costars and her Tug of War! director in the comedy film King of Apology, which was released in September 2013.
In March 2014, Inoue appeared in a leading role in the mystery suspense film The Snow White Murder Case, directed by Yoshihiro Nakamura.[11]
June 2014, it was announced that Inoue would play the lead role of Sugi Fumi in the 2015 NHK taiga drama, Hana Moyu. As the series received historically low ratings during its run, Inoue took the blame for the low viewership, stating that "I am the starring actress, so it has to be from my lack of ability."[12][13]
On August 23, 2017, after a year and a half hiatus, Mao Inoue made a drama comeback in a Fuji TV drama in fall titled School Counselor. Broadcast began on October 17, 2017.[14]
In 2019, Inoue starred in a comedic and cinematic period film Talking the Pictures and the special 5-episode NHK drama titled Boy Torajiro. The next year, On January 8, 2021, her movie titled Angry Rice Wives on which the story was set during the 1918 Rice Riots, was released on various cinemas in Japan.
May 2021, it was confirmed that Inoue will have a full drama comeback in an NTV drama titled Pay To Ace alongside Yagira Yuya and Shigeaki Kato after one year of broadcast and filming delay. Broadcast will start on October 2021. It was announced that the drama series was originally scheduled to first air on July, 2020, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Print and television endorsements[]
Aside from acting in films, Inoue has been chosen to represent Mizuho Bank and Chocola BB Eisai series, NTT fleet West and Asahi Breweries's Asahi Direct Shot. Regarding Asahi Beer Direct shot, Inoue Mao is collaborating with Tomohisa Yamashita. She also appears on the covers of various magazines, such as Bomb, Steady, Weekly Shonen, among others.
Voice acting[]
In 2014, Inoue debuted as a voice actress, providing the voice of Apple Boy in one of the Anpanman films. The anime film was released in July 2014.
Her next voice project was the animated film 3DCG Rudolph and Ippaiattena. It was announced on 31 July 2015. The film was released on August 6, 2016.
Stage[]
Inoue Mao was cast in a butai (stage play) called MIWA in 2013.
A new stage play starring Inoue was announced called Anger. It ran from January to April 2016.
Personal life[]
Inoue Mao revealed in one show that her mother encouraged her to join performing acts to learn when she was at the age of 4. She was also learning music and arts. Acting wasn't her priority then but when she received her first fan letter, she decided to continue acting. Despite joining the show business at an early age, she also put priority to her school. In 2004, despite the rise of her popularity from the Kid's War series, she decided to put her acting on hold as she concentrated on graduating from University of Japan and enrolling at Meiji University. In 2005, at 18, Inoue enrolled in Meiji University, majoring in theater and literature; she chose Chinese as her second language elective. In her last year of college, she concentrated solely on her studies. In March 2009, she graduated from Meiji University.[15]
Filmography[]
Television dramas[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1992 | Gakkō ga Abunai! | Mami Asakura | ||
Itsumitemo Haran Banjō | Midori Satsuki | |||
Tsubusareta Kao! Zankoku na Shashin | ||||
1993 | Kokoro no Tabi Series | |||
1994 | Kagishi | |||
Mayonaka no Jōkyaku | ||||
Ninja Sentai Kakuranger | Tsuruhime/Ninja White as a young child | |||
1995 | Tōryanse | |||
Kura | ||||
1996 | Genki o Ageru | Maiko Nitani | ||
Asahi ni Wakare no Seppun o | ||||
1997 | Abarenbō Shōgun VII | Sayo | Episode 17 guest appearance | |
Mito Kōmon 25th Series | Episode 14 guest appearance | |||
Terakoya Yume Shinan | ||||
Kin no Tamago | Episode 3 guest appearance | |||
Shin Hanshichi Torimonochō | ||||
Gourmet Mystery Onna Shutchō Ryōrinin ga Iku! | ||||
1998 | Tōyama no Kinsan vs Onna Nezumi | Tonbo | Episode 8 guest appearance | |
Hi no Ryōsen | ||||
1999 | Kai | Ayako Tomita | ||
Kids War Zaken na yo | Akane Imai | |||
2000 | Kids War 2 Zaken na yo | Akane Imai | ||
Otōsan | Yū Ōmura | |||
2001 | Kids War 3 Zaken na yo | Akane Imai | ||
2002 | Kids War Special Zaken na yo | Akane Imai | ||
Kids War 4 Zaken na yo | Akane Imai | |||
Kids War Special Ai Koso Subete da! Zaken na yo | Akane Imai | |||
2003 | Kids War 5 Zaken na yo | Akane Imai | Lead role | |
Kids War Special Kore de Final! Zaken na yo | Akane Imai | |||
2004 | Home Drama | Shōko Nagamine | ||
2005 | Kyūmei Byōtō 24 Ji | |||
Hana Yori Dango | Makino Tsukushi | Lead role | ||
Grave of the Fireflies | Natsu Sawano | TV movie | ||
2007 | Hana Yori Dango Returns | Makino Tsukushi | Lead role | |
Ōsama no Shinzō | Sakura Kariya | |||
First Kiss | Mio Fukunaga | Lead role | ||
Hanaikusa | Mineko Iwasaki | Lead role | ||
2008 | Anmitsu Hime | Anmitsu Hime/Tokoroten | Lead role | |
2009 | Anmitsu Hime 2 | Anmitsu Hime/Tokoroten | Lead role | |
Karei naru Spy | Ami Yoshizawa | Episode 1 guest appearance | ||
Kinkyu Special Kyumei Byoto 24-ji Kyumei Kusush | Episode 4 guest appearance | |||
Tengoku de Kimi ni Aetara | Natsuko Nonogami | Television special | ||
Yonimo Kimyō na Monogatari: Aki no Tokubetsuhen | Kanako Okazaki | Lead role | ||
2010 | Mominoki wa Nokotta | Uno | ||
Veterinarian Dolittle | Asuka Tashima | |||
2011 | Ohisama | Yōko Sudō | Lead role, asadora | |
2012 | Gooko's Life | Suzumiya Miki | Lead role | |
2013 | Paji | Momo | Special appearance | |
2015 | Hana Moyu | Sugi Fumi | Lead role, Taiga drama | |
2017 | School Counselor | Hinata Aizawa | Lead role | |
2018 | When a Tree Falls | Mitsue Kayama | Lead role, TV movie | |
2019 | Shōnen Torajirō | Mitsuko Kuruma | Lead role, miniseries | |
TBA | Pay to Ace | Mai Sakura | [16] |
Films[]
Year | Title | Role | Director(s) | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | Check It Out, Yo! | Yui Haebaru | Rieko Miyamoto | [17] | |
2007 | Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro | Mika Miura | Katsuhide Motoki | [18] | |
Kaidan | Hideo Nakata | [19] | |||
2008 | Hana Yori Dango Final | Makino Tsukushi | Yasuharu Ishii | Lead role | [20] |
2009 | I Give My First Love to You | Mayu Taneda | Takehiko Shinjō | Lead role | [21] |
2010 | My Darling Is a Foreigner | Saori | Kazuaki Ue | Lead role | [22] |
Surely Someday | Shōko Gotō | Shun Oguri | [23] | ||
2011 | Oba: The Last Samurai | Chieko Aono | Hideyuki Hirayama | [24] | |
Rebirth | Erina | Izuru Narushima | Lead role | [25] | |
2012 | Tug of War! | Nishikawa Chiaki | Nobuo Mizuta | Lead role | [26] |
2013 | The Eternal Zero | Miyabe Matsuno | Takashi Yamazaki | [27] | |
King of Apology | Noriko Kuramochi | Nobuo Mizuta | [28] | ||
2014 | The Snow White Murder Case | Miki Shirono | Yoshihiro Nakamura | Lead role | [29] |
Go! Anpanman: Apple Boy and the Wishes For Everyone | Apple Boy (voice) | Jun Kawagoe | [30] | ||
2016 | Rudolf the Black Cat | Rudolf (voice) | Kunihiko Yuyama and Motonori Sakakibara | Lead role | [31] |
2018 | Yakiniku Dragon | Rika | Wui-Sin Chong | Lead role | [32] |
2019 | Talking the Pictures | Kotoe Tachibana | Masayuki Suo | [33] | |
2020 | I Never Shot Anyone | Karuta Fukuhara | Junji Sakamoto | [34] | |
2021 | Angry Rice Wives | Ito Matsuura | Katsuhide Motoki | Lead role | [35] |
TBA | Tojikometa Toiki | Yūko | Shin'ichi Sugita | Lead role | [36] |
Documentaries[]
- 2011: The Message of Life 100 Years Old Shigeaki Hinohara - Narration
- 2012: Nadeshiko Japan-30 Years of Japanese Women's Football - Narration
- 2012: Bright Woman- Featured in the documentary - Inoue Mao
- 2012: The Passion Continent - Interview with Oda Kazumasa
- 2013: Goal of a 13 Year Old. Even Kids Have Dreams - Narration
- 2014: NHK Special - "Takashi Yanase" Anpanman Life - Narration
Variety[]
- 2011: Kouhaku Uta Gassen- MC
- 2013: 36th Japanese Film Academy Awards- MC
- 2014: "JAPAN project Ikegami Akira"- Guide
- 2014: Kouhaku Uta Gassen- Judge
Stage[]
- 2002: Higuchi Ichiyō
- 2013: MIWA
- 2016: Anger
PV appearances[]
- 2007: Kazumasa Oda- "Kokoro"
- 2008-09: Amnitsu Hime PV-Inoue Mao "Diamonds"
Endorsements[]
- Asahi Cream Brown Rice Bran
- Lipovitan
- PUMA Playtime
- Asahi Breweries Asahi Direct Shot (2012 ~ present)
- Sega Saturn Segata Sanshiro Christmas commercial (1996)
- Glico Ice [real] (2010 ~ present)
- NTT West FLET (2010 ~ present)
- Mizuho Bank (2006 ~ present)
- Eisai's Chocola BB [Series]
- Panky (2007 ~ present)
- KAGOME (2007 ~ present)
- Dralion (2006 ~ present)
- Kateikyoushi no Try (2006 ~ 2007)
- Shirakabe Gura Mio Sparkling (2016 ~ )
Awards and nominations[]
Television and film[]
Year | Organization | Award | Work(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | 47th Television Drama Academy Awards | Best Actress | Hana Yori Dango | Won |
2007 | 10th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix | Best Actress | Hana Yori Dango Returns | Won[37] |
16th Hashida Awards | Best Newcomer | Won[38] | ||
MTV Student Voice Awards | Best Actress | Won[39] | ||
54th Television Academy Drama Awards | Best Actress | First Kiss | Nominated | |
2008 | Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | Best Actress | Hana Yori Dango Returns | Won |
2010 | Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Fall) | Best Supporting Actress | Veterinarian Dolittle | Nominated |
2011 | 3rd TAMA Film Award | Best Emerging Actress | Miracle in the Pacific | Won |
35th Fumiko Yamaji Award Film Awards | Newcomer Actress | Rebirth | Won | |
26th Nikkan Sports Film Award | Best Newcomer | Rebirth, Miracle in the Pacific | Won | |
TV Navi | Best Actress | Ohisama | Won | |
70th Television Drama Academy Awards | Best Actress | Won | ||
2012 | 36th Elan d'or Awards | Newcomer of the Year | Herself | Won |
35th Japan Academy Film Prize | Best Actress | Rebirth | Won | |
Japan Film Festival Theater Staff | Best Actress | Won | ||
16th Nikkan Sport Grand Prix | Best Actress | Tokkan | Nominated | |
2015 | 38th Japan Academy Film Prize | Best Actress | The Snow White Murder Case | Nominated |
2019 | 61st Blue Ribbon Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Yakiniku Dragon | Nominated |
Other awards[]
- 2007 Nail Queen Actress Category
- 2009 22nd Japan Best Dressed Eyes Awards
- 2011 Fountain Pen Award
References[]
- ^ 主演女優賞 (in Japanese). The Television. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- ^ "Oguri, Inoue win Hashida Awards". Tokyograph. 11 May 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- ^ ""Hana Yori Dango" movie to open next summer". Tokyograph. 17 August 2007. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- ^ "Shun Oguri, Mao Inoue reunite in "Veterinarian Dolittle" drama". Tokyograph. 23 August 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Mao Inoue to shine in 84th Asadora". Tokyograph. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Mao Inoue stars in "Youkame no Semi" movie adaptation". Tokyograph. 29 September 2010. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
- ^ "Youkame-no-semi-wins-in-10-categories-at-35th-japan-academy-prize". Tokyograph. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "Inoue-mao-stars-in-tug-of-war-comedy-by-director-mizuta-nobuo". Tokyograph. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
- ^ "Inoue-mao-to-star-as-tax-collector-in-new-drama-tokkan/". Tokyohive. 14 May 2012. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
- ^ "Okada-junichi-to-play-a-kamikaze-pilot-in-a-movie-eien-no-zero/". Tokyohive. 23 May 2012. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ 白ゆき姫殺人事件(2014). allcinema. Stingray. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ^ "Inoue Mao Takes The Blame For Low Taiga Ratings". Japan Bullet. Japan Bullet. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^ Brasor, Philip (30 January 2016). "NHK may need to rethink its 'taiga' formula". The Japan Times. The Japan Times Ltd. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^ "井上真央が「明日の約束」主演決定 「花燃ゆ」以来約2年ぶりの連ドラ". Livedoor ニュース (in Japanese). LINE Corporation. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^ "Mao Inoue, Keiko Kitagawa graduate from Meiji". Tokyograph. 28 March 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Pay to Ace". Nippon TV. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "チェケラッチョ!!". eiga.com. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "ゲゲゲの鬼太郎". eiga.com. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "怪談". eiga.com. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
- ^ "ダーリンは外国人". eiga.com. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "僕の初恋をキミに捧ぐ". eiga.com. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "ダーリンは外国人". eiga.com. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "シュアリー・サムデイ". eiga.com. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "太平洋の奇跡 フォックスと呼ばれた男". eiga.com. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- ^ "八日目の蝉". eiga.com. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "綱引いちゃった!". eiga.com. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "永遠の0". eiga.com. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "謝罪の王様". eiga.com. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "白ゆき姫殺人事件". eiga.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ "それいけ!アンパンマン りんごぼうやとみんなの願い". eiga.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
- ^ "ルドルフとイッパイアッテナ". eiga.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ "焼肉ドラゴン". eiga.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ "カツベン!". eiga.com. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ "一度も撃ってません". eiga.com. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
- ^ "井上真央主演「大コメ騒動」2021年に公開決定、米騒動の発端となった女たち描く". Natalie. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
- ^ "井上真央主演「閉じ込めた吐息」の製作決定、母娘だからこそ伝えられない感情描く". Natalie. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- ^ "Winners of 10th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix". Tokyograph. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Oguri, Inoue win Hashida Awards". Tokyograph. 2008-05-11. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Micro named Best Artist at Student Voice Awards". Tokyograph. 30 August 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
External links[]
- Official Site
- Inoue Mao Official Blog
- Mao Inoue at IMDb
- Mao Inoue at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- 1987 births
- Japanese child actresses
- Living people
- Asadora lead actors
- People from Yokohama
- Taiga drama lead actors
- Japanese actresses