Kaori Momoi

is a Japanese actress.

Life and career Momoi was born in Tokyo, Japan. At the age of 12, she traveled to London to study dance at the Royal Ballet Academy. After three years, she returned to Tokyo. She graduated from Japan's Bungakuza School of Dramatic Arts. In 1971, Momoi debuted in director Kon Ichikawa's Ai Futatabi (To Love Again).

As an actress, she has worked with directors including Akira Kurosawa (Kagemusha, 1980), Tatsumi Kumashiro (Seishun no Satetsu, 1974), Yoji Yamada (The Yellow Handkerchief, 1977 and Otoko wa Tsuraiyo, 1979), Shohei Imamura (Why Not?, 1981), Shunji Iwai (Swallowtail Butterfly, 1996), Jun Ichikawa (Tokyo Yakyoku, 1997), Mitani Koki (Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald, 1997), Yoshimitsu Morita (Like Asura, 2003) and Takashi Miike (Izo, Sukiyaki Western Django).

She performed in The Sun (2005) directed by Alexander Sokurov and appeared in director Rob Marshall's film Memoirs of a Geisha.

For her film performances in Japan, Momoi has won many awards. She has won the Japanese Academy Awards for Best Actress twice and Best Supporting Actress once and was selected Best Actress at the 1983 New York International Film Festival for her role in Giwaku (Suspicion).

Momoi has pursued various projects in producing, directing, screenwriting, and design in addition to her acting. She has also released 15 albums as a singer and is an essayist.

She won the award for best actress at the 7th Hochi Film Award for Giwaku.

Filmography

Film Year Film Role Notes Ref. 1971 To Love Again Momoyo 1974 Ryoma Ansatsu 1977 The Yellow Handkerchief Akemi Ogawa 1979 Tora-san, the Matchmaker HitomiKamisama No Kureta Akanbô Sayoko MorisakiJapanese: 神様のくれた赤ん坊 No More Easy Life Mariko 1980 Kagemusha Otsuyanokata Yūgure made Sugiko Emori 1981 Eijanaika Ine 1982 Suspicion Kumako Onizawa The Gate of Youth: Part 2 Kaoru1984Main ThemeKayoko Ise 1986 Final Take Empress Akiko Comic Magazine Herself 1988 Kimurake no Hitobito Noriko Kimura Tomorrow Tsuruko 1990 Ready to Shoot Ritsuko 1994 Like a Rolling Stone 1996 Swallowtail Butterfly Suzukino 1997 Welcome Back, Mr. McDonaldTakako NakauraBounce Ko GalsSaleswoman 1998 Daikaijū Tōkyō ni arawaru Kimie Tadokoro 2000 Crossfire Chikako Ishizu 2003 Like Asura 2004 Izo 2005 Memoirs of a Geisha Mother American film The Sun Empress Kojun Russian film 2006 Love and Honor Ine Hatano 2007 Sukiyaki Western Django Ruriko 2008 The Yellow Handkerchief Motel Owner American film Dreaming Awake The Ramen Girl Mamasan (scenes deleted)American film 2010 Hong Kong Confidential Amaya Latvian film 2014 Oki - in the middle of the ocean Oki American-Latvian film 2016 Greetings from Fukushima German film Magic Kimono Keiko Latvian-Japanese film Tales of Mexico Mexican film 2017 Ghost in the Shell Hairi Kusanagi American Film 2020 I Never Shot Anyone The Brightest Roof in the Universe

Television

Honours Medal with Purple Ribbon (2008) Kinuyo Tanaka Award (2015) Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette (2022)