Haruka Ayase

is a Japanese actress, model and singer who started her career as a gravure idol in 2000. She has since become a leading actress in television and film.

Life and career

Early life and education

Haruka Ayase was born as Aya Tademaru on March 24, 1985, in Hiroshima Prefecture.

2000–2004: Early career

She was invited by a friend to participate in the 25th Horipro Talent Scout Caravan; the reason why she was interested was that it was "an excuse to not attend club activities". She had nothing to show, so she did a rabbit imitation that was popular at school. She won the Special Jury Prize, thus making her debut in the entertainment world in 2000.

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".

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

Ayase made her acting debut in 2001 in part 3 of '' Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo'' starring Jun Matsumoto.

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

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

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. The single debuted 8th on the Oricon charts.

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

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.

2015–present: ''Our Little Sister''

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

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

In 2022, she made her "month 9" debut, starring in ''My Ex-Boyfriend's Last Will''. This was her first Fuji TV serial drama since ''Shitaotokoa Wo Niyoshi'' around 14 years prior.

Other ventures

The ''Japan Times'' called Ayase "the Japanese version of Anne Hathaway".

Endorsements

Ayase is a sought-after endorser of products in Japan, appearing in commercials for major consumer brands such as Coca-Cola, SK-II, and KFC.

Personal life

She was once detained in New Zealand after being mistaken for a spy.

While filming for ''Cyborg She'', Ayase broke her nose.

On August 31, 2021, Ayase announced that she had contracted COVID-19. Though she was originally recovering at home, she was hospitalized after symptoms of pneumonia.

Investment scam

In 2019, a personal company was established by Horipro for tax saving measures; her mother was appointed as the representative director, and Ayase and her brother were appointed as directors. As her mother had no experience in management, Ayase entrusted the management of her assets to a local tax accountant; in September 2021, the accountant approached Ayase's mother with a fictious investment story, leading to a loss of . Additionally, the tax accountant's son was in charge of Ayase in Tokyo; in July, they reportedly had a three-hour discussion.

In November 2022, a fraud group including the 74-year-old tax accountant was arrested on suspicion of violating the investment law (prohibition of deposits). All of the victims are reportedly clients of this tax accountant. The tax accountant is said to have used the name of the client's daughter, Ayase, to raise funds. Additionally, he reportedly called Ayase to her office under the pretext of her work and had her take pictures with the main criminal of the fraud group and other customers to for use as an advertisement. However, his son, who is on good terms with Ayase, reportedly paid for the damage in full.

Filmography

Television

Film

Japanese voiceovers

Television documentary

*''Haruka Ayase Listen to War Experience'' ( TBS, 2010–2019)

Others

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

Discography

Singles

Awards and nominations

;Television Drama Academy Awards

References

External links

Talent Agency official website


Victor Entertainment official website

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayase, Haruka
1985 births
Living people
Actors from Hiroshima
Japanese women pop singers
Japanese idols
Musicians from Hiroshima
Taiga drama lead actors
21st-century Japanese singers
21st-century Japanese actresses
Horipro artists
21st-century Japanese women singers
Horikoshi High School alumni