Aki Maeda

is a Japanese actress and singer. She has an older sister named Ai Maeda.

She is perhaps best known in the west for her role as Noriko Nakagawa in the controversial 2000 film Battle Royale, which she reprised for its sequel Battle Royale II: Requiem. She graduated from Hosei University in 2008.

Filmography

Films Gamera 2: Attack of Legion (1996) School Ghost Stories 3 (1997), Mayuko Fujii Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris (1999), young Ayana Hirasaka Saikano (2006) Aokigahara (2012) Kawa no Nagare ni (2021) Frontline: Yokohama Bay (2025) The Specials (2026), Riko Four Outs (2026), Michiko Yagami

Television Aoi Tokugawa Sandai, Sadako (2000) Fūrin Kazan, Ritsu (2007) Gochisōsan, Sakurako Muroi (2013) Shinya Shokudō, Sachiko's Sister (2014) Kuroshoin no Rokubei (2018), Tenshō-in Atsuhime The Return (2020)

Anime Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-san, Comet (2001) The Cat Returns, Yuki (2002)

Discography

Studio albums 1999: Winter Tales 2000: Boys be... original soundtrack 2005: we are PARAN MAUM -- Paran Maum (as drummer) 2005: Linda Linda Linda original soundtrack (as drummer of Paran Maum)

Singles 1999: Gomen Ne 2000: Daijōbu (part of the Boys be... original soundtrack) 2000: Genki no SHOWER (This song can also be found on the original Japanese Yu-Gi-Oh! anime soundtrack.)

Awards 2001: Newcomer of the Year, Awards of the Japanese Academy: Battle Royale