Satsuki Shimabukuro (Japanese: 島袋 さつき, Shimabukuro Satsuki, Born on 28 May 1988 in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan), better known by her stage name Meisa Kuroki (Japanese: 黒木 メイサ, Kuroki Meisa), is a Japanese actress, model and singer. She is represented by the agency Sweet Power and is signed to Sony Music Japan. She made her acting debut in 2004.[1] She has modeled for the popular Japanese fashion magazine JJ, among others, and is the current Japanese representative for Epson and Giorgio Armani. She has appeared in numerous television dramas, commercials, films, and stage productions.

Meisa Kuroki
黒木 メイサ
Born
Satsuki Shimabukuro
島袋 さつき

(1988-05-28) 28 May 1988 (age 36)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • model
Years active2004–present
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Spouse
(m. 2012; div. 2023)
Children2

Kuroki released her debut single "Like This" in 2008, followed by the extended play Hellcat (2009). Her debut studio album, Magazine (2011) peaked at number six on the Oricon and featured her first top fifteen single, "LOL!". Kuroki is best known for the song "Wired Life", which served as an ending theme for the anime series Blue Exorcist. It was included on her second studio album, Unlocked (2012). Since its release, Kuroki has focused solely on her acting career.

Early life and career

edit

Kuroki was born Satsuki Shimabukuro in Okinawa, Japan.[2][failed verification] While in her second year of junior high school in Okinawa, Kuroki was discovered by a fashion scout and subsequently began modeling, initially modeling exclusively for the popular fashion magazine JJ. While studying at the Okinawa Actors School, from which she graduated in 2007, she was a member of the institution's B.B. Waves group.[citation needed] Kuroki is one-quarter Brazilian.[3]

Acting career

edit

Kuroki made her acting debut in February 2004 in the Kōhei Tsuka play Atami Satsujin Jiken: Pyonyang Kara Kita Onna Keiji (The Atami Murder Case.) Since her debut she has continued to perform in theater, notably in the Azumi stage productions in 2005 and 2006, the musical Endless Shock (2005), and most recently in Onna Nobunaga (2009) and Hiryuden 2010: Last Princess (2010). Kuroki made her television debut in 2004 in the Fuji TV drama, Medaka. She has played supporting roles in several high-rated and critically acclaimed drama series, including Haikei, Chichiue-sama (2007), Kaze no Garden (2008), and Shinzanmono (2010). Kuroki won the Television Drama Academy Award and TV Life Drama Grand Prix for Best Supporting Actress in 2009 for her role in the Fuji TV drama, Ninkyo Helper.[4][5] In 2006, she starred in Chakushin Ari: Final, the final installment of the Chakushin Ari franchise, for which she earned the Golden Arrow Award for Newcomer of the Year. In 2007 she appeared in Fumihiko Sori's CGI anime film Vexille. She also starred in Subaru, the live-action, film adaptation of the Masahito Soda manga, produced by Bill Kong, and Assault Girls, directed by Mamoru Oshii.[6] In 2010, Kuroki played the role of Yuki Mori in the live-action film Space Battleship Yamato, opposite Takuya Kimura. In 2011, Kuroki co-starred with Mikako Tabe in her first serial drama lead role in the TV Asahi drama Jiu: Keishicho Tokushuhan Sosakei.[7] In 2011, she also starred in the film "ANDALUCIA" by director Hiroshi Nishitani, who also shared roles with the acclaimed Hideaki Ito and Yuyi Oda. This film was shot at the legendary Toho Studios, where the iconic film Godzilla was filmed decades ago.

Music career

edit

Kuroki performed on the soundtrack of the 2007 film Crows Zero, in which she also appeared. On 21 June 2008, her debut song, "Like This", was released through the Sony Music Japan subsidiary label Studioseven Recordings. It soon was announced on 17 February 2009, that Kuroki's first EP, Hellcat, would be released on 8 April 2009.[8] Her second EP, Attitude, was released in January 2010. In January 2011 Kuroki released her first studio album, Magazine, which peaked at number 6 on the Oricon Weekly Albums chart. She also performed "Wired Life" for Ao no Exorcist as the second ending theme.[9]

Modeling

edit

In addition to her modeling work for the fashion magazines JJ and 25ans, Kuroki has released two photobooks, one of her own, Love Meisa, and a joint one, Missmatch, with her best friend and actress, Maki Horikita, photographed by Kishin Shinoyama. In 2009, Kuroki was chosen as the Japanese face of international fashion brand, Emporio Armani, and she also appeared in numerous events for the brand worldwide.[6][10] In 2010 Kuroki was chosen as the international face of French cosmetic brand, L'Oréal.[11]

Personal life

edit

On 2 February 2012, Kuroki married Jin Akanishi, a Japanese actor and pop singer best known for his work as part of the boy band KAT-TUN, and the following week, on 9 February, the media reported she was pregnant.[12][13] She gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Theia, on 23 September 2012 and their second child, a son, on 6 June 2017.[14][15] On 25 December 2023, Kuroki and Akanishi announced through their respective social media accounts that they were getting divorced.[16] The two promised to co-parent their two children.[16]

Discography

edit

Albums

edit

Filmography

edit

Film

edit
Title Year Role Notes
Onaji Tsuki o Mite Iru 2005 Emi Sugiyama
Camus Nante Shiranai 2006 Rei
Chakushin Ari: Final 2006 Emiri Kusama Also known as One Missed Call: Final
Tada, Kimi o Aishiteru 2006 Miyuki Toyama
Taitei no Ken 2007 Botan
Vexille: 2077 Nihon Sakoku 2007 Vexille Voice
Crows Zero 2007 Ruka Aizawa
Subaru 2009 Subaru Miyamoto
Crows Zero 2 2009 Ruka Aizawa
Assault Girls 2009 Gray
Yazima Beauty Salon 2010 Raspberry
Space Battleship Yamato 2010 Yuki Mori
Andalucia: Megami no Hōfuku 2011 Yuka Shindō
Kirin no Tsubasa 2012 Ami Aoyama
Lupin III 2014 Fujiko Mine
Fist & Faith 2017 Chinese film

Television

edit
Title Year Role Notes
Medaka 2004 Asuka Yoshizumi
Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi 2004 Eriko Mitsuhashi Season 2, Episode 21
Koisuru Nichiyōbi: Bungaku no Uta 2005 Keiko Yokoyama Episode 1
Aru Ai no Uta 2006 Ruka Kashiwagi
Haikei, Chichiue-sama 2007 Naomi Karasawa
Byakkotai 2007 Sayoko Asai TV movie
Seitosho-kun 2007 Yūko Sonoi Episode 1
1-Pound no Fukuin 2008 Sister Angela
Tobira wa Tozasareta Mama 2008 Yuka Usui TV movie
Kaze no Garden 2008 Rui Shiratori
Dansō no Reijin: Kawashima Yoshiko no Shōgai 2008 Young Yoshiko Kawashima TV movie
Chance!: Kanojo ga Seikō Shita Riyū 2009 Saori Tamaki TV movie
Ninkyo Helper 2009–2011 Riko Yomogi 11 episodes
1 special
TV Life Drama Grand Prix for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—The Television Drama Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Saigo no Yakusoku 2010 Yuriko Niimi TV movie
Shinzanmono 2010–2011 Ami Aoyama 10 episodes
1 special
Iris 2010 Seung-hee Choi Japanese voice
Shiawase ni Narō yo 2011 Haruna Yanagisawa
Jiu: Keishichou Tokushuhan Sousakei 2011 Motoko Isaki
A Suffocatingly Lonely Death 2024 Asuka Gomi [17]

Theatre

edit
Title Year Role Notes
Atami Satsujin Jiken: Pyonyang Kara Kita Onna Keiji 2004 Tomoko Mizuno
Endless Shock 2005 Rika
Azumi: Azumi on Stage 2005 Azumi
Chōkyōshi 2005 Momo
Azumi: Azumi Returns 2004 Azumi
Itsu no Hi Ka Kimi Kaeru 2007 Lin
Akai Shiro, Kuroi Suna 2009 Princess Nadja
Onna Nobunaga 2009 Nobunaga Oda
Hiryuden 2010: Last Princess 2010 Michiko Kanbayashi

Accolades

edit

Awards

edit
Year Award Category Work(s) Result Ref.
2009 Elan d'or Awards Newcomer of the Year Herself Won [18]

Prizes

edit
Year Prize
2008 Bvlgari Brilliant Dream Award
2009 Miss Cotton USA Prize
2009 FEC Special Prize
2009 Ms. Lily Prize
2009 Forevermark Prize
2009 Fur of the Year Prize
2009 Shogakukan Dime Trend Woman of the Year Prize
2010 Clarino Bikyaku Prize
2010 Vogue Nippon Women of the Year
2010 Japan Jewelry Best Dresser Prize

References

edit
  1. ^ "5 Most Beautiful Japanese Models in 2016". top beautiful women. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  2. ^ Betros, Chris (4 June 2009). "Meisa Kuroki adds swordplay to her list of achievements ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion". Japantoday.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  3. ^ Poole, Robert Michael (4 June 2010). "Meisa gets high fives all round". Japan Times. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  4. ^ "年間ドラマ大賞決定! 主演男優賞はあのアイドルグループの彼!!". TV Life. Gakken. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  5. ^ "女組長がハマり役!? 黒木がド迫力の熱演". The Television. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Athletes Line Armani Front Row". WWD Fashion. 26 February 2009. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  7. ^ "Kuroki Meisa, Tabe Mikako co-star in suspense series "Jiu"". Tokyograph. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  8. ^ "Meisa Kuroki's first album dated for April". Tokyograph. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  9. ^ 2011年02月第1週の邦楽アルバムランキング情報 (in Japanese). Oricon. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  10. ^ 「エンポリオ アルマーニ」2009年日本の顔は黒木メイサ (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. 27 February 2009. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  11. ^ "Meisa Kuroki to become new face of L'Oreal Paris". Japan Today. 14 January 2010. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  12. ^ Contributing Staff Member (9 February 2012). "Jin Akanishi and Meisa Kuroki Confirm February 2nd Marriage". Anime News Networks. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  13. ^ "Kuroki reported pregnant 2 weeks after denying relationship with Akanishi". Asia One. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  14. ^ "赤西がメイサ出産立ち会い「神様に感謝」 - 芸能ニュース". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  15. ^ Inc1, Natasha. "赤西仁&黒木メイサ夫妻に長男誕生、明るい4人家族に". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 December 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ a b "赤西仁&黒木メイサが離婚「新たな形のパートナーシップを築いていきます」【報告全文】". ORICON NEWS. 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  17. ^ "降り積もれ孤独な死よの出演者・キャスト一覧". The Television. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  18. ^ エランドール賞歴代受賞者一覧 [List of Élan d'Or awardee] (in Japanese). All Nippon Producers Association. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
edit