Hirosue Ryoko is a Japanese actress and singer under the agency FLaMme, best known in the West for her roles in the Luc Besson-produced "Wasabi" and the Academy Award-winning Japanese film, "Departures". Hirosue was born in Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture.

In 1994, during her second year of junior high school, Hirosue entered the 1st Clearasil "Shiny Face Contest", won the Grand Prix, and debuted in the same commercial in 1995. She then began appearing in numerous commercials for major corporations such as Glico, P&G, NTT Docomo, and Meiji Seika. Hirosue quickly became one of the most popular idols of the 1990s, causing a “Hirosue boom” phenomenon and sweeping the gravure world with a slightly boyish neutral image.

Hirosue made her television debut in 1995 at the age of 15 in Fuji TV's "Heart ni S". She was also named "Best Newcomer" at the 10th Television Drama Academy Awards. The same year, she starred in Fuji TV's comedy series, "Shota no Sushi". Her breakthrough performance came in 1997 with Fuji TV's comedy series "Beach Boys", where she was awarded "Best Supporting Actress" at the 14th Television Drama Academy Awards.

Hirosue also made her film debut in the same year when she appeared in "20-Seki Nostalgia" which won her critical acclaim. She was awarded the "Sponichi Grand Prize New Talent Award" at the Mainichi Film Awards, "Best New Talent" at the Yokohama Film Festival, and the "Newcomer of the Year Award" at the 21st Japanese Academy Awards.

Hirosue released her debut single, "Maji De Koi Suru Gobyou Mae", produced by Takeuchi Mariya, on April 15, 1997. It recorded about 60,000 hits and was used for the NTT Docomo Pager commercial and as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama "'97 Akuryo Gakuen". Hirosue's second single, "Daisuki", topped the Oricon charts, and she appeared in the 48th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen. Hirosue enrolled at Waseda University, Faculty of Education, in November 1998 and later dropped out in 2003 due to her touring and increased acting activities.

In 1999, Hirosue starred in two films, "Poppoya" and "Himitsu". Her performances in both films won her much praise from award-giving bodies in Japan, and she received two nominations at the 23rd Japanese Academy Awards for Best Actress (for Himitsu) and Best Supporting Actress (for Poppoya). Her international profile also increased when she received the Best Actress prize for her performance in "Himitsu" at the 30th Sitges - Catalan International Film Festival.

Hirosue's marriage, motherhood, and divorce temporarily reduced her activities in the mid-2000s. She successfully made her return in 2008 with NTV's comedy-drama, “Yasuko to Kenji”, and the Academy Award-winning Japanese film, "Departures". In 2009, she starred in the remake of “Zero Focus”, for which she was nominated for “Best Actress” at the 33rd edition of the Japanese Academy Awards and the adaptation to film of the novel “Villon's Wife” by Dazai Osamu.

Hirosue married model Okazawa Takahiro in December 2003 and gave birth to her son on April 10, 2004. Their marriage ended in early 2008. On October 9, 2010, she married Izutsu Jun, a candle artist. On March 10, 2011, Hirosue gave birth to her second son, and the third child, a girl, was born on July 17, 2015.

On June 14, 2023, she apologized and admitted to being in an affair with Michelin-star chef Toba Shusaku. Consequently, her agency, FLaMme, announced that she would face disciplinary action for an indefinite period.

On July 26, 2023, she announced her divorce from candle artist Izutsu Jun.

(Source: Wikipedia, Tokyohive) Edit Biography