Haruka Ayase

Aya Tademaru (Japanese: 蓼丸綾, Hepburn: Tademarū Aya, born March 24, 1985) better known by the stage name Haruka Ayase (綾瀬 はるか), is a Japanese actress who started her career as a model in the year 2000.^[1] She has since become a leading actress in television and film.^[2]

Haruka Ayase
綾瀬 はるか
Ayase at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival
Born	Aya Tademaru (1985-03-24) March 24, 1985 (age 40) Hiroshima, Japan
Education	Teikyo University Junior College
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2000–present
Height	1.66 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in)

Career

2000–2004: Early career

Ayase was invited by a friend to participate in the 25th Horipro Talent Scout Caravan. She was interested as "an excuse to not attend club activities",^[3] but had nothing prepared, so she did a rabbit imitation that was popular at school.^{[citation needed]} She won the Special Jury Prize,^[4][5] and made her debut in the entertainment world in 2000.^[6]

Her stage name was taken from the internet, with Ayase and herself choosing it from 16,000 applicants; on February 28, 2001, it was decided as "Haruka Ayase".^[7]

In addition to photo collections and weekly magazines, her popularity as a gravure idol increased with appearances on local programs such as Cosmo Angel.^{[citation needed]} Her pictorial activities decreased as she began to receive attention as an actress.^{[citation needed]}

Ayase made her acting debut in 2001 in part 3 of Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo starring Jun Matsumoto.^[8]

In 2003, she made her first regular appearance in the serial drama Boku no Ikiru Michi.

She was selected as a cast member of Socrates in Love in 2004, for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the 42nd Television Drama Academy Awards for her portrayal of Aki Hirose, a high schooler with leukemia.^[9] Ayase shaved her hair and changed her weight in order to match Masami Nagasawa's portrayal of the character in the film.^{[citation needed]}

2005–2014: Singing debut ～ Yae's Sakura

On March 24, 2006, Ayase made her debut as a singer with the single "Period", produced by Takeshi Kobayashi.^[10] The single debuted 8th on the Oricon charts.^[11]

In 2007, she starred in the television drama Hotaru no Hikari, an adaptation of the manga of the same name, with Naohito Fujiki.^[12] A sequel was broadcast in 2010, and the movie was released in 2012.^[13][14]

Ayase made her first appearance in an NHK taiga drama with Yae's Sakura, which focuses on Niijima Yae, a warrior, educator, scholar, and nurse of the late Edo period. In 2014, the series was nominated for the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series.^[15]

After completing this work, she considered retiring. However, she reconsidered her career and decided that "taiga drama is only a stepping stone."^[16]

2015–present: Our Little Sister ～ My Ex-Boyfriend's Last Will

In 2015, Ayase starred in Our Little Sister alongside Masami Nagasawa, Kaho, and Suzu Hirose.^[17] The film premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.^[18][19] It was subsequently released in Japan on June 13, 2015^[20] and premiered in London, England, on October 14, 2015, as part of the BFI London Film Festival.^[21]

In 2016, Ayase starred as Balsa, a spear wielder and bodyguard, in Guardian of the Spirit, an NHK taiga drama.^[22] The role involved stage combat.^[23] She starred in all three seasons of the drama.^[24]

In 2022, she made her "Monday 9" debut, starring in My Ex-Boyfriend's Last Will.^[25][26] This was her first Fuji TV serial drama since Shikaotoko Awoniyoshi around 14 years prior.

Personal life

Haruka Ayase born as Aya Tademaru on March 24, 1985, in Hiroshima Prefecture.^[27] Ayase has one elder brother.^[28] Her grandparents are survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.^[27]

Public image

The news outlet Japan Times has hailed Ayase as; "The Japanese version of Anne Hathaway".^[29] Ayase was named the most beautiful face in Japan in 2018.^[30]

Legal troubles

In 2006, Ayase was once detained in New Zealand after being mistaken for a spy.^[31]

Around the spring of 2020, Ayase's personal office, a company managed by her mother, invested around ¥100 million in a scheme co-managed by a Hiroshima tax accountant who was a long-time acquaintance of the Ayase family. The scheme defaulted on repayments to Ayase's company in May 2021, and the accountant's son arranged for a full refund of the investment. The accountant and three others were arrested for investment law violations in November 2022. Other investors alleged that the accountant used his relationship with Ayase to solicit investments in the scheme.^[32]

Health

While filming for Cyborg She, Ayase broke her nose.^[33]

On August 31, 2021, Ayase announced on Twitter and Instagram that she had contracted the COVID-19 Delta variant.^[34] Though she was originally recovering at home, she was hospitalized after symptoms of pneumonia.^[34]

Other ventures

Endorsements

Ayase is a popular product spokesperson in Japan,^[35] appearing in commercials for major consumer brands such as Coca-Cola,^[36] SK-II,^[37] and KFC.^[38] She is also the main spokeswoman for Uniqlo and SK-II in Japan.^[39][40]

Philanthropy

In March 2011, she launched the awareness for raising about the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and the subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster and invited Japanese and international celebrities to add their videos for triple tragedy in Japan. Despite Fukushima crisis, she made a call to action to support the victims of triple disaster and to raise funds in the relief effort. In conjunction, she has also created her own website for the cause.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2001	The Kindaichi Case Files	Tomoko Ninomiya	Episode 7
	Cosmo Angel	Haruka
2002	Kaze no Bon kara	Aki Sugimura
2003	Hontō ni Atta Kowai Hanashi	Misaki Onose
	Boku no Ikiru Michi	Megumi Sugita
	Blackjack ni Yoroshiku	Risako Tsubaki
	Otoko Yu	Mina Matsuura
	Taikoki	Shino	TV movie
2004	Kōfuku no Ōji	Mayu Mitsuishi
	True Horror Stories	Chisato Nakamura
	Kyokugensuiri Colosseum	Ami Shinozaki
	Fuyuzora ni Tsuki wa Kagayaku	Hanako Imamiya	TV movie
	It Was Sudden, Like a Storm...	Saho Makino
	Crying Out Love in the Center of the World	Aki Hirose	Lead role	[41]
	Ai kurushii	Michiru Majiba
2005	Red Fate	Naoko Shimazaki	Lead role; miniseries
2006	Satomi Hakkenden	Hamaji	TV movie
	Hero	Ririko Izumitani	TV movie
	Journey Under the Midnight Sun	Yukiho Karasawa		[42]
	Love of My Life	Nao Tsukioka		[43]
2007–10	Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only A Little Light In My Life	Hotaru Amemiya	Lead role; 2 seasons	[12][44]
2008	The Fantastic Deer-Man	Michiko Fujiwara		[45]
	Rookies	Kyoko Mikoshiba	Episode 8; cameo	[46]
2009	Kurobe no Taiyō	Sachie Takiyama	TV movie	[47]
	Mr. Brain	Kazune Yuri		[48]
2009–11	Jin	Saki Tachibana	2 seasons	[49]
2011	Antarctica	Miyuki		[50]
2013	Yae's Sakura	Niijima Yae	Lead role; Taiga drama	[51]
2014	I'm Taking the Day Off	Hanae Aonishi	Lead role	[52]
2016–18	Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit	Balsa	Lead role; 3 seasons	[53]
2016	Never Let Me Go	Kyoko Hoshina	Lead role	[54]
2017	Caution, Hazardous Wife	Nami Isayama	Lead role	[55]
2018	Stepmom and Daughter Blues	Akiko Iwaki	Lead role	[56]
2019	Idaten	Suya Haruno	Taiga drama	[57]
2020	Stepmom and Daughter Blues 2020 Happy New Year Special	Akiko Miyamoto	Lead role; TV movie	[58]
2021	Anata no Soba de Ashita ga Warau	Ao Mashiro	Lead role; TV movie	[59]
	Heaven and Hell: Soul Exchange	Ayako Mochizuki	Lead role	[60]
2022	Stepmom and Daughter Blues 2022 Happy New Year Special	Akiko Miyamoto	Lead role; TV movie	[61]
	My Ex-Boyfriend's Last Will	Reiko Kenmochi	Lead role	[62]
2024	Stepmom and Daughter Blues Final (2024 Happy New Year Special)	Akiko Miyamoto	Lead role; TV movie	[63]
2025	Unbound	Kurosuke Inari / narrator	Taiga drama	[64]
	I Want to Die Alone	Narumi Yamaguchi	Lead role	[65]

Film

Haruka Ayase during the premiere of Our Little Sister at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2015

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2002	Justice	Hoshi	Jam Films
2004	River of First Love	Sayuri Takakura	Lead role
2005	New Horizon	Sayako	Jam Films S
	Samurai Commando: Mission 1549	Nōhime
2006	Taberuki shinai	Nao	Lead role
2007	Hero	Ririko Izumitani
2008	Cyborg She	The Girlfriend	Lead role
	Ichi	Ichi	Lead role
	The Magic Hour	Natsuko Shikama		[66]
	Happy Flight	Etsuko Saitō	Lead role	[67]
2009	Oppai Volleyball	Mikako Terashima	Lead role
	Rookies	Kyoko Mikoshiba	Special appearance
	Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror	Haruka (voice)	Lead role
2010	The Incite Mill	Shoko Suwana
2011	Princess Toyotomi	Tadako Torii
2012	Hotaru The Movie: It's Only a Little Light in My Life	Hotaru Amemiya	Lead role
	Akko's Secret	Akko	Lead role	[68]
	Dearest	Naoko		[69]
2013	Real	Atsumi	Lead role	[70]
2014	All-Round Appraiser Q: The Eyes of Mona Lisa	Riko Rinda	Lead role	[71]
2015	Our Little Sister	Sachi Kōda	Lead role	[72]
	Galaxy Turnpike	Noe		[73]
2016	The Kodai Family	Kie Hirano	Lead role	[74]
	Fueled: The Man They Called Pirate	Yuki		[75]
2017	Honnōji Hotel	Mayuko	Lead role	[76]
2018	Color Me True	Miyuki	Lead role	[77]
2021	Caution, Hazardous Wife: The Movie	Nami Isayama	Lead role	[78]
2022	Yes, I Can't Swim	Shizuka Usuhara		[79]
2023	The Legend and Butterfly	Nōhime		[80]
	Revolver Lily	Yuri Ozone	Lead role	[81]
2024	Route 29	Tombo	Lead role	[82]

Japanese dub

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2004	The Incredibles	Violet Parr		[83]
2018	Incredibles 2	Violet Parr		[83]
2025	The Wild Robot	Roz		[84]

Television documentary

• Haruka Ayase Listen to War Experience (TBS, 2010–present)^[85][86]

Others

• 47th Japan Record Awards (TBS, 2005), host^[87]
• Kōhaku Uta Gassen (NHK)^[88]
  • 63rd (2012), judge
  • 64th (2013), red team captain
  • 66th (2015), red team captain
  • 70th (2019), red team captain

Discography

Singles

Year	Single	Chart position	Album	Total sales
2006	"Period" (ピリオド, Piriodo)	8		28,224
2006	"Kōsaten Days" (交差点days)	8		18,688
2007	"Hikōkigumo" (飛行機雲)	23		10,352
2010	"Māgaretto" (マーガレット)	20

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work(s)	Result	Ref.
2007	The 31st Elan d'or Awards	Newcomer of the Year	Herself	Won	[89]
2008	The 21st Nikkan Sports Film Awards	Best Actress	Cyborg She, Ichi, Happy Flight	Won	[90]
2009	The 18th Hashida Awards	Best Newcomer	Jin	Won	[91]
	The 52nd Blue Ribbon Awards	Best Actress	Oppai Volleyball	Won	[92]
	The 33rd Japan Academy Film Prize	Best Actress		Nominated	[93]
2015	The 18th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix	Best Actress	I'm Taking the Day Off	Won	[94]
	The 37th Yokohama Film Festival	Best Actress	Our Little Sister	Won	[95]
	The 40th Hochi Film Awards	Best Actress		Nominated
	The 28th Nikkan Sports Film Awards	Best Actress		Won	[96]
2016	The 58th Blue Ribbon Awards	Best Actress		Nominated
	The 70th Mainichi Film Awards	Best Actress		Won	[97]
	The 39th Japan Academy Film Prize	Best Actress		Nominated	[98]
	The 10th Asian Film Awards	Best Actress		Nominated	[99]
	The 41st Hochi Film Awards	Best Actress	The Kodai Family	Nominated
2019	The 22nd Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix	Best Actress	Stepmom and Daughter Blues	Won	[100]
2021	The 24th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix	Best Actress	Heaven and Hell: Soul Exchange	Won	[101]
	The 14th Tokyo Drama Awards	Best Actress		Won	[102]
2023	The 48th Hochi Film Awards	Best Actress	The Legend and Butterfly and Revolver Lily	Won	[103]
2024	The 66th Blue Ribbon Awards	Best Actress	Revolver Lily	Nominated	[104]
	The 47th Japan Academy Film Prize	Best Actress		Nominated	[105]

Television Drama Academy Awards

Year	Season	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2004	Summer	Best Supporting Actress	Socrates in Love	Won	[9]
2006	Winter	Best Supporting Actress	Journey Under the Midnight Sun	Won	[106]
2009	Fall	Best Supporting Actress	Jin	Won
2010	Summer	Best Actress	Hotaru no Hikari: It's Only a Little Light In My Life	Won
2011	Spring	Best Supporting Actress	Jin 2	Won
2014	Fall	Best Actress	I'm Taking the Day Off	Won
2017	Fall	Best Actress	Caution, Hazardous Wife	Won