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Ko Shibasaki
柴咲 コウ
Ko Shibasaki 20200527 728 2.png
Shibasaki in 2020
Born
Yukie Yamamura (山村 幸恵)

(1981-08-05) 5 August 1981 (age 43)
Toshima, Tokyo, Japan
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active 1998–present
Musical career
Genres Pop
Instruments Vocals
Labels
  • Victor Entertainment
  • Stardust Promotion
Associated acts

Ko Shibasaki (born August 5, 1981) is a famous Japanese actress and singer. She has appeared in many TV shows, movies, and commercials. Her talent agency is called Stardust Promotion.

About Ko Shibasaki

Her Acting Career

Hiroyoshi Sasagawa and Ko Shibasaki 20180706
Shibasaki became a Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment in 2018.

Ko Shibasaki started her acting career in 2000. One of her first big roles was as Mitsuko Souma in the movie Battle Royale.

She also received great praise for her role as Tsubaki Sakurai in the 2001 film Go. For this movie, she won several important awards, including the Best Supporting Actress Award from the Japanese Academy.

In 2013, Ko Shibasaki acted in her first American movie, 47 Ronin. This film starred Keanu Reeves and was based on a famous Japanese story about samurai loyalty and revenge. It was the first time this legend was made into an English-language movie.

In 2017, she played the main character, Ii Naotora, in a popular Japanese TV series called Naotora: The Lady Warlord. Before filming, Ko Shibasaki even visited Naotora's grave to learn more about the historical figure.

Her Music Career

Ko Shibasaki and Shinjiro Koizumi 20191220
Ko Shibasaki talking with Shinjiro Koizumi in 2019.

Ko Shibasaki is also a talented singer. She is part of two music groups:

She released her first song, "Trust My Feelings," in 2002. But she became really well-known for her second song, "Tsuki no Shizuku." This song was used in the movie Yomigaeri.

Even though she doesn't create the music herself, Ko Shibasaki writes the words (lyrics) for most of her songs. Many of her songs have been used as theme songs for movies, TV shows, and commercials. For example, her song "Lover Soul" was the ending theme for the TV drama Otomen.

Her song "Another World" was also used in the live-action drama Mirai Nikki - Another:World in 2011.

In 2015 and 2016, she released two albums where she sang cover versions of other artists' songs. These albums were called Kou Utau and Zoku Kou Utau.

Movies and TV Shows

Movies

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Battle Royale Mitsuko Souma
2001 Go Tsubaki Sakurai
2003 One Missed Call Yumi Nakamura Main role
2004 Crying Out Love in the Center of the World Ritsuko Fujimura
2006 Star Reformer Aki Ninomiya
2007 Dororo Dororo
2008 Suspect X Kaoru Utsumi
Shaolin Girl Rin Main role
2013 47 Ronin Mika American film
Sue, Mai & Sawa: Righting the Girl Ship Yoshiko Morimoto Main role
2014 Over Your Dead Body Miyuki Gotō, Oiwa
2016 Nobunaga Concerto Kichō
2020 State of Emergency
2021 Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai Oyuki
Child of Kamiari Month Yayoi Hayama (voice)
2022 Silent Parade Kaoru Utsumi
xxxHolic Yuko Ichihara Main role
Phases of the Moon Kozue Osanai
The Three Sisters of Tenmasou Inn Izuko
Dr. Coto's Clinic 2022 Ayaka Gotō
2023 The Boy and the Heron Kiriko (voice)
Don't Call it Mystery: The Movie Yura Akamine
2024 Serpent's Path Sayoko Main role; French-Japanese film
2025 The Brightest Sun Yuki

Television Shows

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi Yuki Mizashita
2003 Good Luck!! Ayumi Ogawa
2003–06 Dr. Coto's Clinic Ayaka Hoshino 2 seasons
2004 Orange Days Sae Hagio Main role
2007 Galileo Detective Kaoru Utsumi
2010 Wagaya no Rekishi Masako Yame Main role; miniseries
2011 The Diplomat Kosaku Kuroda Rikako Ogaki
2013 Andō Lloyd: A.I. knows Love? Asahi Ando
2014 Nobunaga Concerto Kichō
2015 Maru Maru Tsuma Hikari Main role
2017 Naotora: The Lady Warlord Ii Naotora Main role; Taiga drama
2018 Dele Akina Sawatari Episode 5
2020 Yell Tamaki Futaura Asadora

Voice Acting (Dubbing)

Ko Shibasaki has also lent her voice to characters in movies:

Music Albums and Songs

Ko Shibasaki has sold over 4 million singles!

Studio Albums

List of studio albums
Title Release Date Highest Chart Position
Mitsu () February 11, 2004 2
Hitori Asobi (ひとりあそび) December 14, 2005 6
Kiki (嬉々♥) April 25, 2007 3
Love Paranoia November 18, 2009 2
Circle Cycle May 18, 2011 3
Lyrical Wonder (リリカル*ワンダー) December 12, 2012 20
Ko Utau (こううたう) June 17, 2015 12
Zoku Ko Utau (続こううたう) July 20, 2016 10

Compilation Albums

List of compilation albums
Title Release Date Highest Chart Position
Single Best March 12, 2008 1
The Back Best March 12, 2008 3
Love&Ballad Selection June 30, 2010 9

Extended Plays (EPs)

List of extended plays
Title Release Date Highest Chart Position
Hitotsuboshi: Galileo Collection 2007–2022
(ヒトツボシ ~ガリレオ Collection 2007-2022~)
September 14, 2022 1
Kyo-en (響宴) November 27, 2024 31

Singles

Title Release Date Peak Chart Position Album
"Trust my feelings" July 24, 2002 50 Single Best
"Tsuki no Shizuku" (月のしずく) - as Rui January 15, 2003 1 Mitsu
"Nemuri Renai Yoru wa Nemuri Ranai Yume o" (眠レナイ夜ハ眠ラナイ夢ヲ) June 4, 2003 7 Mitsu
"Omoide Dakede wa Tsurasugiru" (思い出だけではつらすぎる) September 3, 2003 9 Mitsu
"Ikutsuka no Sora" (いくつかの空) January 14, 2004 10 Mitsu
"Katachi Aru Mono" (かたち あるもの) August 11, 2004 2 Single Best
"Glitter" February 16, 2005 6 Hitori Asobi
"Sweet Mom" October 5, 2005 3 Hitori Asobi
"Kage" (影) February 15, 2006 2 Kiki
"Invitation" August 9, 2006 9 Kiki
"Actuality" December 6, 2006 20 Single Best
"at home" February 21, 2007 24 Kiki
"Hito Koi Meguri" (ひと恋めぐり) March 28, 2007 8 Kiki
"Prism" (プリズム) May 30, 2007 20 Single Best
"Kiss Shite" (KISSして) - as Koh+ November 21, 2007 3 Single Best
"Yoku Aru Hanashi: Mofuku no Onna-hen" (よくある話 〜喪服の女編〜) June 4, 2008 6 Love Paranoia
"Saiai" (最愛) - as Koh+ October 1, 2008 5 Love Paranoia
"Taisetsu ni Suru yo" (大切にするよ) March 4, 2009 16 Love Paranoia
"Love Soul" (ラバソー 〜lover soul〜) September 16, 2009 3 Love Paranoia
"Honto dayo" (ホントだよ) April 4, 2010 8 Love&Ballad Collection
"Euphoria" November 3, 2010 15 Circle Cycle
"Mukei Spirit" (無形スピリット) February 9, 2011 12 Circle Cycle
"Wish" April 20, 2011 12 Circle Cycle
"Strength" March 14, 2012 26 Lyrical Wonder
"Another World" June 13, 2012 12 Lyrical Wonder
"My Perfect Blue/Yukuyuku wa" (My Perfect Blue/ゆくゆくは) October 31, 2012 28 Lyrical Wonder
"Love Searchlight" (ラブサーチライト) April 16, 2014 22
"Aoi Hoshi" (蒼い星) August 27, 2014 36
"Yasei no dōmei" (野性の同盟) November 25, 2015 38

DVDs

  • Kō Shibasaki Single Clips (2004)
  • Kō Shibasaki Invitation Live (2007)
  • Live Tour 2008 -1st- DVD (2008)

Awards and Recognition

Movie Awards

For her role in the 2001 movie Go, Ko Shibasaki won many awards:

Award Ceremony Award Result
Japan Academy Film Prize Best Supporting Actress, Newcomer of the Year Won
Kinema Junpo Best 10 Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Won
Hochi Film Award Best Supporting Actress Won
Yokohama Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Won
Blue Ribbon Awards Best New Artist Won
Nikkan Sports Film Award Best New Artist Won
Mainichi Film Award Sports Nippon Grand Prix Newcomer of the Year Won
Tokyo Sports Film Award Best New Artist Won
Japan Film Critics Awards Best New Artist Won
Takasaki Film Festival Best New Actress Won

For her role in the 2005 movie House of Himiko:

Award Ceremony Award Result
Fumiko Yamaji Awards Best Actress Won
Osaka Film Festival Best performance by an actress in a leading role Won

Other Awards

Award Ceremony Award Result
Elan d'or Awards Newcomer of the Year Won

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Kō Shibasaki para niños

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