Yu Natsui also known as Yû Aoi is a Japanese actress, voice actress, model and TV personality who has become a beloved tour de force in Japan and beyond. Aoi was best known for her roles in films All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001), Hana and Alice (2004), Honey & Clover (2006), Hula Girls (2006), Rainbow Song (2006), Welcome to the Quiet Room (2007), Vampire (2011)[1] and Rurouni Kenshin (2012).
She has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Japan Academy Prize for best-supporting actress in 2007, for her portrayal of Kimiko Tanigawa in Hula Girls, for which she was critically acclaimed. Her role as White (Shiro) in Tekkon Kinkreet was the first time she did a voice over for an anime.
Early Life
Aoi Yu, born Natsui Yu in Kasuga, Fukuoka, which is a de facto suburb of Fukuoka City. She was graduated from Horikoshi Gakuen High School. Since elementary school, Yu Aoi has been a member of Itoh Company Group (talent agency).
Career
In 1999, at the age of 14, she made her stage debut as Polly in the musical production of Annie where she was picked from among hundreds of candidates at a 1999 audition while being only fourteen years old. A year later, she debuted in Shunji Iwai’s All About Lily Chou-Chou playing Shiori Tsuda alongside Hayato Ichihara, Shugo Oshinari, Miwako Ichikawa, and Ayumi Ito.
She made her film debut as Shiori Tsuda in Shunji Iwai’s 2001 film All About Lily Chou-Chou.
In 2003, commemorating the 30th anniversary of Kit Kat in Japan, Shunji Iwai shot a series of short films starring Yu Aoi and Anne Suzuki, which later was expanded into the feature film called Hana & Alice, which earned Aoi the Best Actress award at the Japanese Professional Movie Award.
In 2005, Aoi played her first lead on the big screen in Letters from Kanai Nirai, which was sold in Korea with the alternate title of Aoi Yu’s Letter due to her popularity.
Aoi began 2008 with the release of Don’t Laugh at My Romance, which earned her a nomination as Best Supporting Actress at the Asian Film Awards 2009.
Awards
She has won many awards for her performances on screen, including the Japan Academy Prize and Kinema Junpo Awards for best supporting actress in 2007 for Hula Girls and Rookie of the Year for continued performances in the field of Films in Media and Fine Arts by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan in 2009.
Profile
- Birth Name: Yu Natsui
- Other Names: Yu Aoi (蒼井 優), Yuchan
- Born: August 17, 1985
- Star Sign: Leo
- Birth Place: Kasuga, Fukuoka, Japan
- Height: 5 feet 3 inches
- Education: Graduated from Horikoshi Gakuen High School & attended Nihon University, College of Art.
- Profession: Actress, Model
- Citizenship: Japan
- Language: Japanese
Filmography of Yû Aoi
Cinema
- Ganbappe fura gâruzu! Fukushima ni ikiru kanojotachi no ima (Fukushima Hula Girls) (2012)
- Vampire (2011)
- Redline (2011)
- Flowers (2010)
- The Lightning Tree (Raiou) (2010)
- Honokaa Boy (2009)
- Tokyo! (2008)
- Hyakuman-en to nigamushi onna (One Million Yen Girl) (2008)
- Hito no sekkusu o warauna (Don’t Laugh at My Romance) (2008)
- Kame wa igai to hayaku oyogu (Turtles Swim Faster Than Expected) (2008)
- Miyori no Mori (2007)
- Sex Is No Laughing Matter (2007)
- Quiet room ni yôkoso (Welcome to the Quiet Room) (2007)
- Hula Girls (Hula garu) (2006)
- Niji no megami (Rainbow Song) (2006)
- Hachimitsu to Clover (Honey & Clover) (2006)
- Tekon Kinkurîto (Tekkonkinkreet) (2006)
- Mushishi (Bugmaster)(2006)
- Nirai kanai kara no tegami (Letters from Kanai Nirai) (2005)
- Umineko, (Sea Cat)(2004)
- Hana & Alice(2004)
- Tetsujin niju-hachigo,(2004)
- All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001)
TV drama
- Ao to Shiro to Mizuiro (2001) as Kimiko Shiina
- Ukiwa – Shonen-tachi no Natsu (2002) as Miyuki Yamashita
- Shin Zukkoke Sanningumi (2002)
- Kokokyoshi (2003)
- Engimono (2003)
- 14kagetsu (2003)
- Ichiban taisetsu na Deto Tokyo no Sora- Shanghai no Yume (2004)
- Yo ni mo Kimyo na Monogatari: Kako kara no Nikki (2004)
- Nanako to Nanao (2004)
- Tiger & Dragon (2005)
- Nijuyon no Hitomi (2005)
- Dr. Koto Shinryojo 2006 (2006)
- Aoi Yu × Yottsu no Uso Camouflage (2008)
- Osen (2008)
- Ryomaden (2010)
External Links
More Info: Wiki | IMDb | Rotten Tomatoes | JMDb