Keiko Kitagawa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Keiko Kitagawa
北川 景子
Kitagawa at the Tokyo International Film Festival in October 2015
Born	(1986-08-22) August 22, 1986 (age 38) Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan
Alma mater	Meiji University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2003–present
Agent	Stardust Promotion
Height	1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Spouse(s)	Daigo ​ (m. 2016)​
Children	2

Keiko Kitagawa (北川 景子, Kitagawa Keiko, born August 22, 1986) is a famous Japanese actress. She started her career as a model for the Japanese magazine Seventeen from 2003 to 2006.

Her first acting role was playing Sailor Mars in the live-action TV show Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (2003–2004). After acting in the film Mamiya Kyōdai, she decided to focus more on acting. She has been in many films, including The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006). She has also played main characters in popular TV dramas like Mop Girl (2007) and Buzzer Beat (2009).

Early Life and Education

Keiko Kitagawa was born on August 22, 1986, in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. She grew up in the city of Kobe. When she was young, she experienced the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995. This event was very sad for her, and she lost many friends.

As a child, Keiko dreamed of becoming a doctor. However, by the time she was in high school, she wasn't sure what she wanted to do. Around this time, a talent agency discovered her. She decided to try working in the entertainment world. Her parents first said no, but then they agreed. They had two rules for her: she had to make progress within a year, and she had to finish her studies at university. Keiko kept her promise and graduated from Meiji University in Tokyo in March 2009.

Becoming an Actress

Soon after joining the talent agency, Keiko was chosen to be both a model and an actress. In 2003, she became "Miss Seventeen," which led to her modeling for the Japanese magazine Seventeen. She worked there until 2006.

Her acting career began when she played Rei Hino in the live-action TV series Sailor Moon. Her first important movie role was in Mamiya Kyōdai. The director of that film, Yoshimitsu Morita, inspired her to focus on acting instead of modeling.

She started by acting in movies, taking lead roles in films like Cherry Pie and Dear Friends. In late 2007, she got her first main role in a TV drama called Mop Girl. In 2008, she played the main female character in Homeroom on the Beachside, a popular TV show.

Keiko moved to Tokyo when she started her career and has lived there ever since. She even traveled to California to film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. She also went back to California in 2006 to study English for a few months.

Life and Hobbies

Keiko Kitagawa has said that she enjoys staying at home. She likes to watch DVDs, listen to music, and read books. When asked what she would do if the world was ending tomorrow, she simply said she would "read books." She is managed by Stardust Promotion, a well-known talent agency.

Family Life

In 2016, Keiko Kitagawa married the singer-songwriter Daigo. That same year, she won an award for Best Actress for her role in the TV show Ie Uru Onna.

On April 22, 2020, Keiko announced that she was expecting her first child. She gave birth to a daughter on September 7, 2020. Later, on September 25, 2023, Keiko and Daigo shared that they were expecting their second child. Their son was born on January 31, 2024.

Selected Works

Keiko Kitagawa has appeared in many films and TV shows. Here are some of her notable works:

Films

• The Mamiya Brothers (2006)
• The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) – This was an American film.
• Cherry Pie (2006) – She played a main role.
• Dear Friends (2007) – She played a main role.
• The Handsome Suit (2008)
• After the Flowers (2010) – She played a main role.
• Paradise Kiss (2011) – She played a main role.
• Magic Tree House (2012) – She voiced the character Jack.
• The After-Dinner Mysteries (2013) – She played a main role.
• I Just Wanna Hug You (2014) – She played a main role.
• Hero (2015)
• Let Me Eat Your Pancreas (2017)
• Stolen Identity (2018) – She played a main role.
• The Promised Neverland (2020)
• First Love (2021) – She played a main role.
• Anpanman: Dororin and the Transforming Carnival (2022) – She voiced the character Dororin.
• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie (2023) – She voiced Sailor Cosmos.

Television Dramas

• Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (2003–2004) – Her first big role as Sailor Mars.
• Mop Girl (2007) – She played the main character.
• Buzzer Beat (2009) – She played the main character.
• Hostess with a Pen (2010) – A TV film where she played the main role.
• The After-Dinner Mysteries (2011) – She played the main character.
• My Little Nightmare (2012) – She played the main character.
• Hero (2014)
• Detective versus Detectives (2015) – She played the main character.
• Your Home is My Business! (2016–2019) – She played the main character for two seasons.
• Segodon (2018) – A historical drama where she played Atsuhime.
• What Will You Do, Ieyasu? (2023) – Another historical drama where she played two roles, Oichi and Yodo-dono.
• Themis's Law School Classroom (2023) – She played the main character.

Awards and Recognition

Keiko Kitagawa has received awards for her acting. In 2015, she won the Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year for her overall work. In 2018, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 41st Japan Academy Film Prize for her role in The Last Shot in the Bar.

Images for kids

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  Keiko Kitagawa at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2015.

See also

In Spanish: Keiko Kitagawa para niños