Tamiyo Kusakari

Tamiyo Kusakari (草刈 民代, Kusakari Tamiyo, born 10 May 1965) is a Japanese actress and former ballet dancer. In 1997 her portrayal of Mai Kishikawa in Shall We Dance? won a Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.

Tamiyo Kusakari
Born	(1965-05-10) May 10, 1965 (age 59) Tokyo, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Occupation(s)	Ballet dancer, actress
Spouse	Masayuki Suo

Biography

From Toshima, Tokyo, Kusakari started dancing professionally at the age of eight and won the first prize at the Japan Ballet Competition of 1987. In 1987, she made her debut as Odette in Swan Lake. She received the Muramatsu Award in 1988, and the Tachibana Akiko Award in 1990. At 27, she suffered a hernia that nearly ended her career, leaving her a temporary wheelchair user.^[1] She retired from ballet in 2009 at the age of 43.^[2]

Kusakari is also known for her starring role in Shall We Dance? During the production of the movie she met and later married the director, Masayuki Suo.^[3]

She starred in Suo's 2012 film A Terminal Trust.^[4]

Recognition

• 1996 20th Japan Academy Prize, Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role^[5]

Filmography

Films

• Shall We Dance? (1996), Mai Kishikawa
• Dancing Chaplin (2010)
• A Terminal Trust (2012)
• Lady Maiko (2014)
• Moon and Lightning (2017)
• Talking the Pictures (2019), Marguerite (Alla Nazimova)
• Yasuko, Songs of Days Past (2025), star actress^[6]

Television

• Shinzanmono (2010)
• Ryōmaden (2010)
• Diplomat Kosaku Kuroda (2011)
• Shizumanu Taiyō (2016)^[7]
• Tokyo Sentimental (2016)^[8]
• Kuroido Goroshi (2018), Mitsuru Kuroido^[9]
• Great Love: With You Who Forget Me (大恋愛～僕を忘れる君と, Dai Renai: Boku o Wasureru Kimi to) (2018)^[10]

References

1. Shoji, Kaori (2 July 2006). "Dancing with body and soul - The Japan Times". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
2. "草刈民代 引退公演終え「幸せでした」と笑顔". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). April 25, 2009. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
3. Schilling, Mark (15 April 2011). "'Dancing Chaplin' - The Japan Times". The Japan Times.
4. DeFore, John (3 September 2012). "A Terminal Trust (Tsui No Shintaku): Montreal Review - The Hollywood Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
5. "第20回日本アカデミー賞優秀作品" [20th Japan Academy Prize Outstanding Works]. Japan Academy Film Prize (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 17, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
6. "ゆきてかへらぬ". eiga.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
7. "檀れい＆小泉孝太郎ら追加キャストが決定！ 上川隆也主演「沈まぬ太陽」". CinemaCafe.net (in Japanese). February 13, 2016. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
8. "小栗旬、吉田鋼太郎に恋のアドバイス!? 「東京センチメンタル」初回マドンナも発表". CinemaCafe.net (in Japanese). December 17, 2015. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
9. "野村萬斎＆大泉洋、三谷幸喜版「アクロイド殺し」SPドラマで共演". Cinema Today (in Japanese). February 15, 2018. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
10. "松岡昌宏、戸田恵梨香から婚約破棄される精神科医に『大恋愛～僕を忘れる君と』". Modelpress (in Japanese). August 17, 2018. Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.

External links

• Official website
• Tamiyo Kusakari at IMDb