Satsuki Shimabukuro (born May 28, 1988), better known by her stage name Meisa Kuroki is a Japanese actress, model and singer born in Nago, Okinawa, Japan. She is represented by the agency Sweet Power and is signed to Sony Music Japan. Among others, she has modeled for the popular Japanese fashion magazine JJ and is the current Japanese representative for Giorgio Armani. She has appeared in numerous television dramas, commercials, films, and stage productions.
Early life
Born to a Japanese mother and a father of half-Japanese and half-Latin American descent, as the youngest of four sisters, she was discovered by a fashion scout while at the second year of junior high in Okinawa. She subsequently began modeling, initially modeling exclusively for the popular fashion magazine JJ. While studying at the Okinawa Actors School, she was a member of the school's B.B. Waves group, graduating in 2007.
Career
In February 2004, Kuroki made her acting debut and first starring role in the plays Kita-ku Tsuka Kōhei Gekidan Butai and Atami Satsujin Jiken Pyonyang Kara Kita Onna Keiji respectively. Since her debut, she has continued to perform in theater, films and television dramas. In 2006, she starred in Chakushin Ari: Final, the final movie in the Chakushin Ari series. In 2007, she received the Newcomer of the Year award at the prestigious 44th Annual Golden Arrow Awards. During the same year she appeared in Fumihiko Sori's CGI anime film Vexille. Kuroki has also appeared with her close friend Maki Horikita on the photobooks missmatch: Maki Horikita x Meisa Kuroki x Kishin Shinoyama (photographed by Kishin Shinoyama) and short film: Kimi no Yubisaki. In 2009, Kuroki was chosen as the Japanese face of international fashion brand Emporio Armani, also appearing in numerous events for the brand worldwide. She also starred in Dance, Subaru!, the live action film adaptation of Masahito Soda's manga Subaru, which was produced by the noted film producer Bill Kong, and Assault Girls, directed by Mamoru Oshii. In 2010, Kuroki was chosen as the international face of French cosmetic brand L'Oréal.
Music
Kuroki performed on the soundtrack of her 2007 movie Crows Zero, which she had also appeared in. On June 21, 2008, her debut single, "Like This," was released on Sony Music Records. It was soon announced on February 17, 2009 that Kuroki's first mini-album, Hellcat, would be released on April 8, 2009. Her second album and first EP, Attitude, was released in January 2010.
AlbumsYear Album information Oricon albums chart [6] Reported sales [7] 2009 Hellcat Released: April 8, 2009 Label: Sony (SRCL-6996/7) Formats: CD, digital download 9 20,000 2011 Magazine Released: January 26, 2011 Label: Sony (SRCL-7522) Formats: CD, digital download 6 27,000
Extended playYear Album information Oricon albums chart [6] Reported sales [7] 2010 Attitude Released: January 1, 2010 Label: Sony (SRCL-7197) Formats: CD, digital download 49 7,000
SinglesRelease Title Notes Chart positions Oricon sales [7] Album Oricon singles chart [6] Billboard Japan Hot 100 [8] RIAJ digital tracks [9] 2008 "Like This" Digital download — — — — Hellcat 2009 "Bad Girl" Promotional single — 81 15 — "Shock (Unmei)" Debut physical single 25 84 13 9,100 Magazine 2010 "5 (Five)" 23 — 27 5,600 "LOL!" 12 62 4 12,000 2011 "One More Drama" 18 — 20 5,300 TBA "Wired Life / Upgrade U"[10] TBA TBA TBA TBA
Soundtrack / OST 2007: Crows Zero Soundtrack (Under the stage name, Ruka) (#4 "Rock U (Movie Ver.)", #10 "Hero Lives in You (Short Ver.)") 2009: Crows Zero II Original Soundtrack (#7 "Bad Girl" Movie Ver.)
Music Videos# Year Name
- 2008 Like This
- 2009 Bad Girl
- 2009 Criminal
- 2009 Shock (Unmei)
- 2010 Are Ya Ready?
- 2010 5 (Five)
- 2010 LOL!
- 2011 One More Drama
- 2011 Wired Life
- 2011 Upgrade U!
Dramas Year Broadcast Title Role Notes 2004 Fuji TV Medaka Asuka Yoshizumi Fuji TV Hontō ni Atta Kowai Hanashi Saigō no Message Television special 2005 TBS Koi Suru Nichiyobi Ruka Kashiwagi 2006 TBS Aru Ai no Uta Television special, lead role 2007 TV Asahi Byakkotai Sayoko Asai Television special Fuji TV Haikei, Chichiue-sama Naomi Karasawa TV Asahi Seito Shokun! Yūko Sonoi Episode 1 guest appearance 2008 NTV 1 Pound no Fukuin Sister Angela WOWOW Tobira wa Tozasareta Mama Television special, lead role Fuji TV Kaze no Garden Rui Shiratori TV Asahi Danso no Reijin Yoshiko Kawashima (age 14-35) Television special, lead role 2009 Fuji TV Chance! Saori Tamaki Fuji TV Ninkyo Helper Riko Yomogi 2010 Fuji TV Saigo no Yakusoku Yuriko Niimi Television special TBS Shinzanmono Aoyama Ami Films Year Title Role Notes 2005 Onaji Tsuki o Miteiru Emi Sugiyama 2006 Kamyu Nante Shiranai Rei Chakushin Ari: Final Emily Kusama Tada, Kimi wo Aishiteru Miyuki Toyama 2007 Taitei no Ken Botan Crows Zero Ruka Aizawa Directed by Takashi Miike Vexille: 2077 Nihon Sakoku Vexille Voice 2009 Dance, Subaru! Miyamoto Subaru Crows Zero 2 Ruka Aizawa Assault Girls Grey Directed by Mamoru Oshii 2010 Yazima Beauty Salon the Movie: Yume wo Tsukama Nevada Raspberry Starring the Yazima Beauty Salon Space Battleship Yamato Yuki Mori
