Kaori Momoi


Kaori Momoi is a Japanese actress.

Life and career

Momoi was born in Tokyo, Japan. At the age of 12, she traveled to London to study dance at the Royal Ballet Academy. After 3 years, she returned to Tokyo. She graduated from Japan's Bungakuza School of Dramatic Arts. In 1971, Momoi debuted in director Kon Ichikawa's Ai Futatabi. Her career has spanned 35 years and over 60 films.
As an actress, she has worked with directors including Akira Kurosawa, Tatsumi Kumashiro, Yoji Yamada, Shohei Imamura, Shunji Iwai, Jun Ichikawa, Mitani Koki, Yoshimitsu Morita and Takashi Miike.
She performed in The Sun directed by Alexander Sokurov and appeared in director Rob Marshall's film Memoirs of a Geisha.
For her film performances in Japan, Momoi has won many awards. She has won the Japanese Academy Awards for Best Actress twice and Best Supporting Actress once and was selected Best Actress at the 1983 New York International Film Festival for her role in Giwaku.
Momoi has pursued various projects in producing, directing, screenwriting, and design in addition to her acting. She has also released some 15 record albums as a singer and is an essayist.
She won the award for best actress at the 7th Hochi Film Award for Giwaku.

Filmography

YearFilmRole
1971To Love AgainMomoyo
1974Ryoma Ansatsu
1977The Yellow HandkerchiefAkemi Ogawa
1979Tora-san, the MatchmakerHitomi
1979Mo hozue wa tsukanaiMariko
1980KagemushaOtsuyanokata
1980Yūgure madeSugiko Emori
1981EijanaikaIne
1982SuspicionKumako Onizawa
1986Final TakeEmpress Akiko
1986Comic MagazineHerself
1988Kimurake no HitobitoNoriko Kimura
1988TomorrowTsuruko
1990Ready to ShootRitsuko
1996Swallowtail ButterflySuzukino
1997Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald
Bounce Ko Gals
Takako Nakaura
Saleswoman
1998Daikaijū Tōkyō ni arawaruKimie Tadokoro
2000PyrokinesisChikako Ishizu
2003Like Asura
2004Izo
2005Memoirs of a GeishaMother
2005The SunEmpress Kojun
2006Love and HonorIne Hatano
2007Sukiyaki Western DjangoRuriko
2008The Yellow HandkerchiefMotel Owner
2008The Ramen GirlMamasan
2010Hong Kong ConfidentialAmaya
2014Oki - in the middle of the oceanOki
2016Greetings from Fukushima
2016Magic KimonoKeiko
2017Ghost in the ShellHairi Kusanagi
2020Ichido mo Uttemasen
TBAThe Brightest Roof in the Universe''