Miki Nakatani

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.

Biography From 1998 to 1999, Nakatani starred in a trio of horror films – Ring, Rasen, and Ring 2 – followed by a lead role in Hideo Nakata's Chaos in 2000. That same year, she reprised her television role as Jun Shibata in the mystery film Keizoku.

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.

Filmography

Film Berlin (1995) – Kyoko Daishitsuren (1995) Ring (1998) – Mai Takano Spiral (1998) – Mai Takano Ring 2 (1999) – Mai Takano Chaos (2000) – Satomi Tsushima Keizoku (2000) – Jun Shibata When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2003) – Nui River of First Love (2004) – Satuki Kato The Hotel Venus (2004) – Wife Rikidozan (2004) – Aya Strings (2004) – Zita Thirty Lies or So (2004) – Takarada Train Man (2005) – Hermes Loft (2005) – Reiko Hatuna Dead Run (2005) – Akane Memories of Matsuko (2006) – Matsuko Kawajiri Christmas on 24 July Avenue (2006) – Sayuri Honda Silk (2007) – Madame Blanche Happy Ever After (2007) – Yukie Morita Flavor of Happiness (2008) – Takako Yamashita Zero Focus (2009) – Sachiko Sweet Little Lies (2010) Hankyu Railways: A 15-Minute Miracle (2011) – Shoko Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo (2011) – Shikibu Murasaki Himawari & Puppy's Seven Days (2013) Real (2013) – Eiko Aihara The Kiyosu Conference (2013) – Nene Ask This of Rikyu (2013) – Souon The World of Kanako (2014) – Rie Azuma A Stitch of Life (2015) First Gentleman (2021) – prime minister Rinko Sōma The Legend and Butterfly (2023) – Kagamino

Television Under the Same Roof (1993) – Aiko Mifune Oda Nobunaga (1998) – No-Hime Woman Doctor (1999) Unsolved Cases (1999) – Jun Shibata Eien no Ko (2000) – Yuki Kusaka Manatsu no Merry Christmas (2000) – Haru Hoshino Prince Shotoku (2001) – Tojiko no Iratsume R-17 (2001) Otosan (2002) Believe (2002) Jin (2009) – Miki Tomonaga/Nokaze Beautiful Rain (2012) – Akane Nishiwaki Gunshi Kanbei (2014) – Teru Ghostwriter (2015) – Risa Tono IQ246 (2016) – Tomomi Morimoto Kataomoi (2017) Followers (2020) – Limi Nara Giver Taker (2023) - Itsuki Kurasawa One Day: Wonderful Christmas Ado (2023) - Kikyo Kurauchi

Discography

Albums Studio albums All produced by Ryuichi Sakamoto Title Album details Peak chart positions JPNOricon Released: 4 April 1996 Label: For Life Formats: CD, digital download, streaming5 Cure Released: 4 April 1997 Label: For Life Formats: CD, digital download, streaming7 Released: 10 November 1999 Label: Warner Music Japan Formats: CD11

Remix albums Title Album details Peak chart positions JPNOricon Released: 4 April 1997 Label: For Life Formats: CD -

Compilation albums Title Album details Peak chart positions JPNOricon Released: 21 August 1998 Label: For Life Formats: CD18 Pure Best Released: 27 August 2001 Label: For Life Formats: CD - Miki Released: 12 November 2001 Label: Warner Music Japan Formats: CD50

Singles

Videography Live albums No. Release Title Formats 1st 21 May 1997 Butterfish DVD, VHS

Video-clip albums No. Release Title Formats 1st 21 August 1998 Completeness DVD, VHS 2nd 25 October 2000 Kowareta Kokoro VHS 3rd 27 February 2002 Air Pocket VHS