Takako Matsu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Takako Matsu
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|---|---|
| 松 たか子 | |
| Born |
Takako Fujima
June 10, 1977 Tokyo, Japan
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1993–present |
| Agent |
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| Spouse(s) |
Yoshiyuki Sahashi
(m. 2007) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Matsumoto Hakuō I (grandfather) Nakamura Kichiemon I (grandfather) Nakamura Kichiemon II (uncle) Matsumoto Kōshirō X (older brother) Kio Matsumoto (sister) Sonoko Fujima (sister-in-law) Ichikawa Somegorō VIII (nephew) Mio Matsuda (niece) Ichikawa Danjūrō XIII (cousin) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | J-pop |
| Associated acts | Sayaka Kanda, Pierre Taki, Shunsuke Takeuchi |
Takako Matsu, whose real name is Takako Fujima, was born on June 10, 1977. She is a famous Japanese actress and a pop singer. She is known for her roles in many popular TV shows and movies, and also for her beautiful singing voice.
Contents
About Takako Matsu's Life
Takako Matsu comes from a family with a long history in Japanese performing arts. Her family includes well-known buyō (traditional Japanese dance) and kabuki (a type of Japanese theater) actors. Her father, Matsumoto Hakuō II, her uncle, and her older brother are all part of this artistic tradition.
She chose the stage name "Matsu" to honor her family's legacy. On December 28, 2007, she married Yoshiyuki Sahashi, who is a guitarist and music producer. They have one child, a daughter born on March 30, 2015.
Takako Matsu's Career Journey
Takako Matsu started her acting career on stage in 1993. Her first big performance was in a play called Ninjō-banashi: Bunshichi Mottoi at the famous Kabuki-za theater. Soon after, she began acting on television. Her first TV role was in the NHK drama Hana no Ran.
She became very well-known after starring in the hit drama Long Vacation. Even though it was a supporting role, the show's huge success helped her become a recognized actress.
Music and Hosting
In 1996, Takako Matsu hosted the 47th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, a very popular music show in Japan. This was also the year she started her music career with her first song, "Ashita, Haru ga Kitara". She later returned to the Kōhaku Uta Gassen as a singer. She once shared that she started singing after a director heard her at karaoke and suggested she record a song. She took the chance, even though she wasn't very confident at first.
Big Roles and Awards
Takako Matsu continued to star in many successful TV dramas. She had a leading role in Love Generation and later in Hero. She also wrote a photo essay book called Matsu no Hitorigoto.
Her acting skills were recognized with major awards. She won Best Actress at the 29th Hochi Film Award and was nominated for the 28th Japan Academy Prize for her role in the movie The Hidden Blade. She also won Best Actress at the 34th Hochi Film Awards and 22nd Nikkan Sports Film Awards for Villon's Wife.
In 2006, she reunited with actor Takuya Kimura for a special episode of Hero. She also continued her music career, releasing albums like Cherish You.
Recent Work
In 2020, Takako Matsu was part of a special performance at the 92nd Academy Awards. She joined Idina Menzel and other international voice actresses to sing "Into the Unknown" from the movie Frozen II. Each actress sang a line in a different language, showing how popular the song is around the world.
She continues to act in films and TV dramas. In 2021, she starred in the popular TV series My Dear Exes, playing the lead character Towako Omameda.
Movies and TV Shows
Takako Matsu has been in many movies and TV dramas. Here are some of her notable works:
Movies
- 1997: Tokyo Fair Weather as Mizutani
- 1998: April Story as Uzuki Nireno (Lead role)
- 2004: The Hidden Blade as Kie
- 2007: Hero as Maiko Amamiya
- 2009: Villon's Wife as Sachi (Lead role)
- 2010: Confessions as Yuko Moriguchi (Lead role)
- 2012: Dreams for Sale as Satoko Ichizawa (Lead role)
- 2014: The Little House as Tokiko Hirai (Lead role)
- 2019: Masquerade Hotel as Maki Nagakura
- 2020: Last Letter as Yuri Kishibeno (Lead role)
TV Dramas
- 1994: Hana no Ran as Tsubaki
- 1996: Long Vacation as Ryoko Okusawa
- 1997: Love Generation as Riko Uesugi (Lead role)
- 2001: Hero as Maiko Amamiya
- 2017: Quartet as Maki Maki (Lead role)
- 2021: My Dear Exes as Towako Omameda (Lead role)
Voice Acting
Takako Matsu is also the Japanese voice for Elsa in the popular Disney movie Frozen and its sequels.
- 2013: Frozen as Elsa
- 2019: Frozen II as Elsa
- 2019: Kingdom Hearts III (video game) as Elsa
Theater Performances
Takako Matsu has a strong background in theater. She has performed in many plays and musicals.
- Ninjō-banashi: Bunshichi Mottoi (1993)
- Man of La Mancha (1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2009)
- Hamlet (1995, 1998) as Ophelia
- The Good Person of Szechwan (1999, 2001)
- Wuthering Heights (2002) as Catherine Earnshaw
- Mozart! (2002) as Constanze Mozart
- Miss Saigon (2004) as Kim
- Jane Eyre (2009, 2012) as Jane Eyre
- Twelfth Night (2011) as Sebastian/ Viola
Awards and Recognitions
Takako Matsu has received many awards for her acting and singing.
- 1997: Elan d'or Awards - Newcomer of the Year
- 1997: Hochi Film Awards - Best New Artist for Tokyo Fair Weather
- 2004: Hochi Film Awards - Best Actress for The Hidden Blade
- 2009: Hochi Film Awards - Best Actress for Villon's Wife
- 2009: Nikkan Sports Film Awards - Best Actress for Villon's Wife
- 2010: Japan Academy Film Prize - Best Actress for Villon's Wife
- 2013: Yokohama Film Festival - Best Actress for Dreams for Sale
- 2017: Confidence Award Drama Prizes - Best Actress for Quartet
Music Albums
Takako Matsu has released several studio albums and compilation albums.
- Sora no Kagami (1997)
- Ai no Tobira (1998)
- Itsuka, Sakura no Ame ni... (2000)
- A Piece of Life (2001)
- Home Grown (2003)
- Harvest Songs (2003)
- Bokura ga Ita (2006)
- Cherish You (2007)
- Time for Music (2009)
- Ashita wa Doko kara (2017)
See also
In Spanish: Takako Matsu para niños
