is a Japanese actress and singer. She has an older sister named Ai Maeda. She is perhaps best known in the west for her role as Noriko Nakagawa in the

controversial Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of conflicting opinion or point of view. The word was coined from the Latin ''controversia'', as a composite of ''controversus'' – "turned in an opposite d ...

2000 film '' Battle Royale'', which she reprised for its sequel '' Battle Royale II: Requiem''. She graduated from

Hosei University is a private university based in Tokyo, Japan. The university originated in a school of law, Tōkyō Hōgakusha (, i.e. Tokyo association of law), established in 1880, and the following year renamed Tōkyō Hōgakkō (, i.e. Tokyo school of law ...

in 2008.

Filmography

Films

*'' Gamera 2: Attack of Legion'', (1996) *'' School Ghost Stories 2'', (1996), Nanako Imai *'' School Ghost Stories 3'', (1997), Mayuko Fujii *''

Pride Pride is defined by Merriam-Webster as "reasonable self-esteem" or "confidence and satisfaction in oneself". A healthy amount of pride is good, however, pride sometimes is used interchangeably with "conceit" or "arrogance" (among other words) w ...

'' (1998), Kimie Tōjō *'' Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys'', (1999) *'' Battle Royale'', (2000) *''High School Girl's Friend'', (2001) *'' Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack'', (2001) *''Genji: A Thousand-Year Love'', (2002) *'' Battle Royale II: Requiem'', (2003) *''Out of This World'', (2004) *'' Linda Linda Linda'', (2005), Kyoko *''Harami'', (2005) *'' Saishuu Heiki Kanojo'' (''

Saikano , also known as ''She, the Ultimate Weapon'', is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shin Takahashi. It was serialized in Shogakukan's ''seinen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Big Comic Spirits'' from December 1999 to October 200 ...

''), (2006) *'' Mizu ni Sumu Hana'', (2006) *''4 Shimai Tantei Dan'', (2008) *''Aokigahara'', (2012) *''I Never Shot Anyone'', (2020) *''A Madder Red'', (2021) *''Kawa no Nagare ni'' (2021)

Television

*'' Aoi Tokugawa Sandai'', Sadako (2000) *'' Fūrin Kazan'', Ritsu (2007) *'' Gochisōsan'', Sakurako Muroi (2013) *''

Shinya Shokudō Shinya (Shin'ya) is a Japanese given name, usually for males. It is pronounced as "Shin-ya", not "Shi-nya". Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese curler and curling coach *, Japanese politician *Shinya Aoki (born 1983), professional mi ...

'', Sachiko's Sister (2014) *''Kuroshoin no Rokubei'' (2018), Tenshō-in Atsuhime *''The Return'' (2020)

Anime

*'' Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-san'', Comet (2001) *''

The Cat Returns is a 2002 Japanese animated fantasy film directed by Hiroyuki Morita, produced by Toshio Suzuki and Nozomu Takahashi, written by Reiko Yoshida, based on the manga '' The Cat Returns'' by Aoi Hiiragi, with music by Yuji Nomi, animated by Stud ...

'', Yuki (2002)

Discography

Studio albums

** 1999: Winter Tales ** 2000: ''Boys be...'' original soundtrack ** 2005: we are PARAN MAUM -- ''Paran Maum (as drummer)'' ** 2005: ''Linda Linda Linda'' original soundtrack ''(as drummer of Paran Maum)''

Singles

** 1999: Gomen Ne ** 2000: Daijōbu (part of the ''Boys be...'' original soundtrack) ** 2000: Genki no SHOWER (This song can also be found on the original Japanese

Yu-Gi-Oh! is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuki Takahashi. It was serialized in Shueisha's ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' magazine between September 1996 and March 2004. The plot follows the story of a boy named Yugi Mutou, w ...

anime soundtrack.)

Awards

** 2001: Newcomer of the Year, Awards of the Japanese Academy: Battle Royale

References

External links

*
Aki Maeda Fansite
1985 births Japanese film actresses Japanese television actresses Japanese voice actresses Living people 20th-century Japanese actresses 21st-century Japanese actresses Singers from Tokyo 21st-century Japanese singers {{Japan-screen-actor-stub