Emi Wakui(和久井 映見, Wakui Emi; born 8 December 1970 in Yokohama) is a Japanese actress. She has won three Japanese Academy Awards: the 1994 Best Actress award for her performance in Rainbow Bridge (Niji no Hashi), and the 1992 awards for Best Supporting Actress and Best Newcomer for her performance as Seiko Kawashima in My Sons.

The drama starring in the 1990, Tokyo Cinderella Story in 1994, Pure in 1996 , and Virgin Road in 1997 were all hits and gained high ratings.

Personal life

In November 1995, Wakui married actor Masato Hagiwara, with whom she co-starred in the TV drama Natsuko no Sake. She gave birth to a son in October 1999. She and Hagiwara divorced in July 2003, with Wakui taking custody of their son.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1989Beppin no Machi
1990Boku to, bokura no natsuLead role
1991No Worries on the Recruit Front
My SonsSeiko Kawashima
1992Angel: Boku no Uta wa Kimi no UtaKaori AmanoLead role
1993Rainbow BridgeChiyoLead role
1995Birthday PresentLead role
2004Tange Sazen: Hyakuman Ryo no Tsubo
The Taste of Tea
School Wars: Hero
2005Makoto
2006Sinking of Japan
Tsubakiyama's Send Back
Say Hello for Me
2009Feel the Wind
2010The Lady Shogun and Her Men
2011Princess Toyotomi
2012Robo-G
2014Unsung HeroRinko
2015Again
2018My Retirement, My LifeNozomi Fujisawa
I Want to Eat Your PancreasSakura's mother (voice)
2019Strawberry SongKōta's mother
2020Our StoryYuriko Chitani
2021The Night Beyond the Tricornered WindowNoriko Mikado
2022Radiation House: The MovieNagisa Ōmori
2023Fly Me to the Saitama: From Biwa Lake with LoveNaoko Uchida

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1988Hana no Asuka-gumi!
1994Natsuko no SakeNatsuko SaekiLead role
Tokyo Cinderella StoryYukiko MatsuiLead role
1996PureYuka OriharaLead role
1997Virgin RoadKazumi SakuraiLead role
1998A Woman Striking a BlowKaoru YoshimuraLead role
2000FriendsRisa Hiura
2002DakishimetaiMikiko SawadaLead role, TV movie
2003MusashiRinTaiga drama
2006Kōmyō ga TsujiNōhimeTaiga drama
2008ChiritotechinItoko WadaAsadora
2009The Waste LandYoshiko Iki
2010Wagaya no RekishiMachiko HasegawaMini-series
2012Taira no KiyomoriIkenozenniTaiga drama
2015The Last CopKanako Suzuki
The Emperor's CookEmpress Teimei
2017HiyokkoAiko NagaiAsadora
2019–21Radiation HouseNagisa Ōmori2 seasons
2020Our Sister's SoulmateTakako Yoshioka
2021Reach Beyond the Blue SkyShibusawa EiTaiga drama
2023What Will You Do, Ieyasu?Kōdai-inTaiga drama

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWork(s)ResultRef.
19914th Nikkan Sports Film AwardsBest Supporting ActressMy Sons and No Worries on the Recruit FrontWon
199215th Japan Academy Film PrizeNewcomer of the YearWon
Best Supporting ActressWon
13th Yokohama Film FestivalBest Supporting ActressWon
65th Kinema Junpo AwardsBest Supporting ActressMy SonsWon
16th Elan d'or AwardsNewcomer of the YearHerselfWon
199417th Japan Academy Film PrizeBest ActressRainbow BridgeWon
20081st Tokyo Drama AwardBest Supporting ActressChiritotechinWon

External links

  • (in Japanese)
  • at IMDb