Ko Shibasaki

Ko Shibasaki, born on August 5, 1981, is a Japanese singer and actress managed by Stardust Promotion. She has performed across television shows, films, and commercials, establishing a presence in both the acting and music industries.

Shibasaki launched her acting career in 2000 with her role as Mitsuko Souma in the film Battle Royale. Shortly after, she gained critical acclaim for portraying Tsubaki Sakurai in the 2001 movie Go, which earned her multiple honors, including the Japanese Academy Best Supporting Actress Award, the Kinema Junpō Award, and the Hōchi Movie Award.

Her acting work later expanded to international and television projects. In 2013, she made her U.S. film debut in 47 Ronin alongside Keanu Reeves, an adaptation billed as the first English-language film based on the 18th-century Chushingura legend. In 2017, she starred as the title character Ii Naotora in the NHK Taiga drama TV series Naotora: The Lady Warlord, having visited Naotora's grave prior to filming.

In her musical career, Shibasaki debuted in 2002 with the single "Trust My Feelings." She gained wider recognition with her second single, "Tsuki no Shizuku," which was featured in the movie Yomigaeri. While she does not compose her music, she writes the lyrics for most of her songs, many of which serve as theme songs for commercials, films, and television series, such as "Lover Soul" for the drama Otomen and "Another World" for Mirai Nikki - Another:World (2011).

In addition to her solo music releases, Shibasaki has participated in two musical groups: Koh+, alongside Masaharu Fukuyama, and Galaxias!, alongside Deco*27 and TeddyLoid. Her music discography also includes cover projects, starting with her first cover album, Kou Utau, released in June 2015, followed by her second cover album, Zoku Kou Utau, in June 2016.