Ryōko Hirosue | |
|---|---|
広末 涼子 | |
_(cropped).jpg) Hirosue in 2022 | |
| Born | (1980-07-18)18 July 1980 (age 45) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1994–2023, 2024–2025 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | Warner Music Japan |
Musical artist | |
Ryōko Hirosue (広末 涼子,Hirosue Ryōko; born 18 July 1980)[1] is a Japanese actress and singer, best known to international audiences for her roles in theLuc Besson-producedWasabi (2001) and theAcademy Award-winning Japanese filmDepartures (2008). She also starred in the 2008 comedy seriesYasuko to Kenji.
Hirosue was born inYokohama,Kanagawa Prefecture[2] and grew up inKōchi city,Kōchi prefecture,Japan.[3] She joined the "P&G" cosmetic model competition at age 14 and made her television debut the following year singing on the program, TK Music Camp. She made her television drama debut and is well known for her work as a spokesmodel forNTT DoCoMo. She studied atWaseda University but did not graduate.[4]
Hirosue made her television debut in 1995 at age 15 inFuji TV'sHeart ni S. She was also named "Best Newcomer" at the 10th Television Drama Academy Awards the same year when she starred in Fuji TV's comedy seriesShota no Sushi. In 1997, she appeared in the finale of medical dramaHoshi no Kinka and the special episode ofOdoru Daisousasen before making her breakthrough performance in Fuji TV's comedy seriesBeach Boys, where she was awarded "Best Supporting Actress" at the 14th Television Drama Academy Awards. Hirosue also made her film debut in the same year when she appeared in20-seki Nostalgia which won her critical acclaim. She was awarded the Sponichi Grand Prize New Talent Award at theMainichi Film Awards, Best New Talent at theYokohama Film Festival and perhaps most importantly, the Newcomer of the Year award at the 21stJapanese Academy Awards.
In 1998, Hirosue reprised her role in the special episode ofBeach Boys while also appearing in four other television dramas in the same year. In 1999, she returned to the big screen inPoppoya andHimitsu. Her performances in both films won her much praise from award-giving bodies of Japan and she received two nominations at the 23rd Japanese Academy Awards for Best Actress (forHimitsu) and Best Supporting Actress (forPoppoya). Her international profile also increased when she received the Best Actress prize for her performance inHimitsu at the 30thSitges - Catalan International Film Festival.
She returned prominently to television in 2000 playing Yuki Katase in the dramaSummer Snow, which won 5 awards at the 26th Television Drama Academy Awards including "Best Supporting Actress" and "Best Drama" before showing off her comedic chops inTBS'sOyaji. The latter role again won her "Best Supporting Actress" at the 27th awards ceremony.
In 2001, Hirosue made her international film debut in the French FilmWasabi written byLuc Besson and directed byGérard Krawczyk. Not being able to speak French for her role, she had to learn her lines phonetically. She also reunited for the fourth time on television with her frequent co-starYutaka Takenouchi (they starred together inLong Vacation,Beach Boys andSeikimatsu no Uta) in Fuji TV's romantic comedy seriesDekichatta Kekkon, starring as an expectant couple who did not know each other well before their one-night stand leading to the planning of ashotgun wedding. The series also starredHiroshi Abe who won Best Supporting Actor at the 30th Television Drama Academy Awards.
In 2002, Hirosue appeared in the filmRenai Shashin and the low-rated television dramaAi Nante Irane Yo, Natsu before capping the year in the family drama seriesOtousan. She reunited with herSummer Snow lead co-star,Tsuyoshi Dōmoto, in 2003's romance seriesMoto Kare. Her portrayal as the initially flippant ex-girlfriend, Makoto Saeki, won her "Best Supporting Actress" yet again at the 38th Television Drama Academy Awards.
Hirosue married model Takahiro Okazawa on 17 January 2004 and gave birth to her son on 10 April 2004. They later divorced in March 2008.[5] Her marriage and new motherhood decreased her workload and she only made one appearance in 2004 in the filmHana and Alice and one appearance on 2005's Fuji TV's romance dramaSlow Dance.
Hirosue returned to film and television in 2006 by appearing in three television dramas, a TV movie and a film. In 2007, she co-starred for the third time withHiroshi Abe (her fellow actor inDekichatta Kekkon andHaruka Naru Yakusoku) in the filmBubble Fiction: Boom or Bust. She also appeared in two TV movies,Mama ga Ryori o Tsukuru Wake, broadcast by Fuji TV, andLong Wedding Road!, which was broadcast by TBS. Hirosue also made a guest appearance in the third episode, "Rattles", of the detective seriesGalileo.
She had a supporting role inNTV's comedy seriesYasuko to Kenji in 2008.
She portrayed Mika Kobayashi oppositeMasahiro Motoki in the 2008 Japanese filmDepartures, which won the81st Academy AwardsBest Foreign Language Film.[6]
In 2009, she is starring in the remake of the mystery filmZero Focus[7] and the adaptation to film of the novelVillon's Wife byOsamu Dazai.[8]
She co-starred in the 2010 filmFlowers withYū Aoi,Kyōka Suzuki,Yūko Takeuchi,Rena Tanaka andYukie Nakama.[9]
in 2026, Hirose started Fuji TV seriesNaomi and Kaneko is based Hideo Okuda's novel with same name.
In June 2023, in light of her affair incident, she announced that she would be retiring from the entertainment industry.[10]
In February 2024, she resumed her entertainment activities by leaving her agency and going independent.[11]
On April 8, 2025, Hirosue was arrested after causing a traffic accident on an expressway inShizuoka Prefecture and injuring a nurse at the hospital to which she had been transported.[12] On April 16, she was released from custody. Displaying signs of psychological instability,[13] Hirosue was admitted to a hospital in Tokyo on the same day. On May 2, her agency announced that she had been diagnosed withbipolar disorder andhyperthyroidism. She has suspended all entertainment activities and is currently receiving treatment under medical supervision.[14] In late July 2025NHK quoted sources saying that Hirosue and the nurse had reached an out-of-court settlement, while police voluntarily continued their investigation.[15][16]
She married Okazawa Takahiro in December 2003. The marriage ended in early 2008. On 9 October 2010 she marriedJun Izutsu [ja], a candle artist. They met inHaiti in March 2010 participating in earthquake relief efforts.[17][18] Her cousinKazuya Mimura [ja] is a former member of theHouse of Representatives in Japan.[19]
She has three children. She gave birth to her first son in April 2004. On 10 March 2011 she had her second son.[20][21] On 17 July 2015, she gave birth to her third child, a daughter.[22]
On 7 June 2023,Shūkan Bunshun reported that Hirosue was allegedly having an extramarital affair with marriedMichelin star chefShusaku Toba [ja] after being spotted entering theCerulean Tower Tokyo Hotel together.[23] This was later confirmed by Hirosue herself through her official social media account apologizing on the incident.[24] Her agency announced her divorce with Jun Izutsu on 26 July 2023. She holds custody of her three children as their guardian.[25]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Poppoya | Yukiko Sato | [26] | |
| Himitsu | Monami / Naoko | Lead role | [27] | |
| 2001 | Wasabi | Yumi Yoshimido | French film | [28] |
| 2007 | Bubble Fiction: Boom or Bust | Mayumi Tanaka | Lead role | [29] |
| 2008 | Departures | Mika Kobayashi | [30] | |
| 2009 | Zero Focus | Teiko Ubara | Lead role | [31] |
| Villon's Wife | Akiko | [32] | ||
| 2012 | Key of Life | Kanae Mizushima | [33] | |
| 2014 | Lingering Spirits | Yuko Kasahara | [34] | |
| Nutcracker Fantasy | Queen Morphia (voice) | [35] | ||
| Snow on the Blades | Shimura Setsu | [36] | ||
| 2015 | Hana's Miso Soup | Chie Yasutake | Lead role | [37] |
| 2017 | Mixed Doubles | Yayoi Yoshioka | [38] | |
| 2022 | The Confidence Man JP: Episode of the Hero | Namiko Nirayama | [39] | |
| The Hound of the Baskervilles: Sherlock the Movie | Roko Fukura | [40] | ||
| 2 Women | Shōko Shiraki | [41] | ||
| 2023 | Hard Days | Misako Kudō | [42] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Long Vacation | Takako Saito | [43] | |
| 1997 | Beach Boys | Makoto Izumi | [44] | |
| Sekai de Ichiban Papa ga Suki | Tami Nakamachi | [45] | ||
| 1998 | Summer Snow | Yuki Katase | [46] | |
| When the Saints Go Marching In | Arisu Tsuchiya | [47] | ||
| 1999 | Lipstick | Ai Hayakawa | [48] | |
| 2000 | Oyaji | Suzu | [49] | |
| 2001 | Shotgun Marriage | Chiyo Kotani | Lead role | [50] |
| 2003 | My Ex | Makoto Saeki | [51] | |
| 2005 | Slow Dance | Mino Koike | [52] | |
| 2007 | Galileo | Yayoi Kanzaki | Episode 3 | [53] |
| 2010 | Ryōmaden | Hirai Kao | Taiga drama | [54] |
| 2022 | Riding a Unicorn | Sachi Haneda | [55] | |
| 2023 | Ranman | Hisa Makino | Asadora | [56] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Bring Me My Chariot of Fire | Lee Soon-woo | [57][58][59] |
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| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 20th Century Nostalgia | Awards of the Japanese Academy: Newcomer of the Year | Won |
| 20th Century Nostalgia | Mainichi Film Concours: Sponichi Grand Prize New Talent Award | Won | |
| 20th Century Nostalgia | Yokohama Film Festival: Best New Talent | Won | |
| 20th Century Nostalgia | Osaka Film Festival: Best New Talent | Won | |
| 1999 | – | Nikkan Sports Film Awards: Best New Talent[60] | Won |
| 2000 | Himitsu | Sitges - Catalan International Film Festival: Best Actress | Won |
| Himitsu | Awards of the Japanese Academy: Best Actress | Nominated | |
| Poppoya | Awards of the Japanese Academy: Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
| 2008 | Departures | Awards of the Japanese Academy: Best Actress | Nominated |
| Departures | Yokohama Film Festival: Best Supporting Actress | Won | |
| 2009 | Zero Focus | Awards of the Japanese Academy: Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2013 | Key of Life | Blue Ribbon Awards: Best Supporting Actress | Won |
| 2022 | 2 Women andThe Hound of the Baskervilles | Nikkan Sports Film Awards: Best Supporting Actress[61] | Nominated |
| 2 Women | Hochi Film Awards: Best Supporting Actress[62] | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Mainichi Film Awards:Best Supporting Actress[63] | Nominated | |
| 2 Women andThe Hound of the Baskervilles | Blue Ribbon Awards: Best Supporting Actress[64] | Nominated | |
| 2 Women,The Hound of the Baskervilles and others | Kinema Junpo Awards: Best Supporting Actress[65] | Won |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
