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Chiaki Kuriyama has appeared in numerous films beyond Battle Royale and Kill Bill. Notable roles include Mizuho Tamura in the V-Cinema release Ju-On: The Curse (2000), Yuko in Sion Sono's Exte: Hair Extensions (2007), and Agi in Takashi Miike's The Great Yokai War (2005). She also played Kozue in Azumi 2: Death or Love (2005), Sayori in Shikoku (1999), and Hyakurin in the live-action Blade of the Immortal (2017). Other significant appearances include Library Wars (2013) and the Steven Seagal film Into the Sun (2005).
Chiaki Kuriyama has had a prolific career in Japan, often gravitating toward horror, action, and adaptations of manga. Beyond her iconic roles as Takako Chigusa in Battle Royale and Gogo Yubari in Kill Bill: Vol. 1, here are several notable films she has appeared in:
Before the American remake, Kuriyama appeared in the original Japanese theatrical film directed by Takashi Shimizu. She plays Mizuho Tamura, a girl who becomes a victim of the central curse. Her segment is particularly memorable for a scene involving a cell phone and a ghost hiding under her bedsheets.
Directed by the cult filmmaker Sion Sono, this is a bizarre horror film where Kuriyama plays the lead role, Yuko. She is an aspiring hairdresser who becomes entangled with a man selling hair extensions derived from a cursed corpse—hair that continues to grow and kill those who wear it. This role showcased her ability to carry a film as a more traditional "final girl" protagonist.
In this big-budget fantasy film directed by Takashi Miike, Kuriyama plays Agi, the villainous subordinate to the dark lord Katō Yasunori. Her character is a cruel, stylish antagonist who commands a mechanical army of monsters. It is a very visual, costume-heavy role that leans into the "cool and dangerous" persona she established in Kill Bill.
In this sequel to the hit manga adaptation Azumi, Kuriyama plays Kozue, a skilled assassin who is initially a rival to the protagonist, Azumi (played by Aya Ueto). Her character is a specialist in using a spinning blade weapon, allowing her to display the martial arts choreography skills she became famous for internationally.
This was one of her major breakout roles before Battle Royale. In this supernatural horror film, she plays Sayuri, a young girl who died years prior. Her mother attempts to bring her back to life through a forbidden pilgrimage ritual. Kuriyama’s performance is haunting and ethereal, playing a ghost caught between worlds.
Returning to work with director Takashi Miike later in her career, she appeared in this live-action adaptation of the famous samurai manga. She plays Hyakurin, a member of a group of elite warriors. For this role, she famously dyed her hair blonde, a departure from her signature long black hair, playing a hardened, cynical fighter.
Based on the popular light novel and anime series, Kuriyama plays Asako Shibasaki. Unlike her more violent or supernatural roles, this is a more grounded performance. She plays a clever, sophisticated information specialist in a paramilitary organization dedicated to protecting books from government censorship.
Kuriyama had a brief foray into Western-adjacent cinema in this Steven Seagal action film set in Tokyo. She plays Ayako, the daughter of a Yakuza boss. While the film was not a critical success, it marked one of the few times she took a role in an English-language production following her success with Quentin Tarantino.
A notable film role where she plays a major character, Fumi Kusunoki.
She played Satoko Aoike in the popular 'Spec' film and TV franchise, a significant role in her filmography.
A recent major role as Olivier Mira Armstrong in a high-profile manga adaptation.