Product Code Database
born 12 January 1976 is a Japanese actress and singer who began her professional career as a member of the girl group Sakurakko Club. Nakatani focused on acting after her departure from the band, making her debut on the popular television drama Under the Same Roof.
She relaunched her music career under the tutelage of producer Ryuichi Sakamoto in 1996, releasing three albums: Shokumotsu Rensa (1996), Cure (1997) and Shiseikatsu (1999). Her best-known songs include "Mind Circus" and "Suna no Kajitsu", which peaked at number ten on the Oricon charts.
As an actress, Nakatani has received six Japan Academy Awards for her roles in When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2002) , Memories of Matsuko (2006), and Zero Focus (2009), among others. She is most known internationally for her role as Mai Takano in the Japanese horror film franchise Ring. Nakatani played Jun Shibata on the television drama Keizoku, which spawned a special and a film.
In 2005, she co-starred in Kiyoshi Kurosawa's horror film Loft with Etsushi Toyokawa, and portrayed the love interest Hermes in Densha Otoko.
For her performance in the title role of Matsuko Kawajiri in Tetsuya Nakashima's 2006 film Memories of Matsuko, she won the Best Actress award at the 31st Hochi Film Award, the Asian Film Award for Best Actress, and the Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.
Nakatani appeared in François Girard's Silk. She co-starred in Isshin Inudo's Zero Focus with Ryōko Hirosue and Tae Kimura.
As a singer, she collaborated several times with Ryuichi Sakamoto from 1996 to 2001.
As a spokesperson and model, she has appeared in several promotion campaigns, including over 70 television commercials for Ito En's Oi Ocha green tea. Nakatani speaks Japanese, French, and English.
In 2018, Nakatani announced her marriage to German musician Thilo Fechner, a viola player with the Vienna Philharmonic.
| 1st | 21 May 1997 | Butterfish | DVD, VHS |
| 1st | 21 August 1998 | Completeness | DVD, VHS |
| 2nd | 25 October 2000 | Kowareta Kokoro | VHS |
| 3rd | 27 February 2002 | Air Pocket | VHS |
|
|
