---
name: "Chiaki Kuriyama"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/chiaki-kuriyama"
fi1m_id: "chiaki-kuriyama"
imdb_id: "nm0475752"
tmdb_id: 2538
wikidata_id: "Q234094"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "10 October 1984"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-17T16:44:51.218312+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Chiaki Kuriyama

## Identity

Chiaki Kuriyama

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/chiaki-kuriyama
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** chiaki-kuriyama
- **IMDb ID:** nm0475752
- **TMDB ID:** 2538
- **Wikidata ID:** Q234094
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaki_Kuriyama, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q234094, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0475752/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2538

Actor. Born 10 October 1984 in Tsuchiura, Japan.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 10 October 1984, Tsuchiura, Japan
- **Active:** 2000–2004
- **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 69 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 3, Crime 2, Thriller 2, Drama 1
- **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $364m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaki_Kuriyama, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q234094, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0475752/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2538

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Battle Royale*](https://film.one/film/battle-royale.md) (83), [*Kill Bill: Vol. 1*](https://film.one/film/kill-bill-vol-1.md) (72)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Chiaki Kuriyama

> Chiaki Kuriyama's calm menace and physical assurance make her a persuasive presence in action. Gogo Yubari earns the attention, though we would be wary of treating one short fight as a full account of an actor's work.

In *Kill Bill: Vol. 1* (2003), Chiaki Kuriyama wears a school uniform and swings a spiked ball on a chain. Her Gogo Yubari gets the film's best short fight, with enough physical assurance to make the outlandish weapon convincing. We were delighted by the encounter because she makes that weapon feel manageable as well as dangerous. Sally Menke's editing keeps the action legible, allowing us to follow the fighters rather than merely register movement. Kuriyama benefits from our being able to see what she is doing.

The route to Gogo ran through *Battle Royale* (2000), in which she plays Takako Chigusa for Kinji Fukasaku. Tarantino saw that film before casting her in what became her Hollywood debut. We prefer Fukasaku's film: its teenage killing contest hurts because the teenagers are taken seriously, despite flashbacks that labour the point. That matters when considering Kuriyama, who is often cast as a young woman in uniform capable of menace or violence. In *Battle Royale*, the young people are allowed foolishness and affection as well as fear.

Her film career began with *Shikoku* (1999), and after *Kill Bill: Vol. 1* she continued primarily in Japanese films and television. In *Exte: Hair Extensions* (2007), she takes the lead as Yuko Mizushima for Sion Sono; *Blade of the Immortal* (2017) casts her as Hyakurin for Takashi Miike. These are horror and samurai films respectively, keeping her within genres that have often called on her physical presence. We see no reason to count the relative scarcity of subsequent English-language roles against her.

Tarantino's writing is the caveat. We found *Kill Bill: Vol. 1* exhilarating in its fights but incomplete as a film, and Kuriyama's contribution works within those limits. Gogo has a costume, a weapon and a short encounter in which to make herself matter; Kuriyama does, which is a considerable achievement in such busy company. For the stronger film, start with *Battle Royale*. Save *Kill Bill: Vol. 1* for an evening when the fighting matters more than getting a complete story.

## Biography

Chiaki Kuriyama is a Japanese actress, model and singer. She was born on 10 October 1984 in Tsuchiura, Japan. She began her career as a child model in the mid-1990s, appearing in magazines and photobooks, before making her film debut in *Shikoku* (1999). Early roles included *Battle Royale* (2000) as Takako Chigusa and *Ju-on: The Curse* (2000).

Kuriyama gained international recognition for her performance as Gogo Yubari in Quentin Tarantino’s *Kill Bill: Vol. 1* (2003). Tarantino cast her after seeing her work in *Battle Royale*. She reprised the role in *Kill Bill: Vol. 2* (2004). The fight sequence with Uma Thurman won the Best Fight award at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards.

She has continued to work in Japanese film and television, with later credits including *Azumi 2: Death or Love* (2005), *Blade of the Immortal* (2017) and *Fullmetal Alchemist: The Final Alchemy* (2022). Kuriyama made her singing debut in 2010 and has received awards such as the Asia Rising Star Award in 2014.

*Sources: imdb.com, sonymusic.co.jp, battleroyale.fandom.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Kill Bill: Vol. 2* (2004), Fi1m 77, as Gogo — [page](https://film.one/film/kill-bill-vol-2.md)
- *Kill Bill: Vol. 1* (2003), Fi1m 72, as Gogo Yubari — [page](https://film.one/film/kill-bill-vol-1.md)
- *Battle Royale* (2000), Fi1m 83, as Takako Chigusa (Girl #13) — [page](https://film.one/film/battle-royale.md)

## Complete filmography (106)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *ERROR* (2026), series, as Nakata Chihiro
- *BORDERLESS -72 Hours* (2026), series, as Hiroe Nakamura
- *Zenigata Heiji* (2026), as Tomoe
- *The Lost Chapter: Yuki's Revenge* (2025), Thanks
- *TOKAGE Keishicho Tokushuhan Sousa Kakari* (2025), series, as Asuka Nakahara
- *Even Though We're Adults* (2025), series, as Akari Hirayama
- *If She Calls That Love Too* (2025), series, as Ima Mizuno
- *Hakkenden* (2024), as Tamazusa
- *Ooku* (2024), series, as Matsushima no Tsubone
- *Annoying and Cunning Sisters* (2023), series, as Jun Togo
- *Liaison* (2023), series, as Mukaiyama Kazuki
- *Watashitte Sabasaba Shiteru kara* (2023), series, as Kyōko Saotome
- *Evening Drink Style* (2022), series, as Miyuki Izawa
- *Fullmetal Alchemist: The Final Alchemy* (2022), as Olivier Mira Armstrong
- *Pandora's Fruit* (2022), series, as Mao Hayami
- *Kei x Yaku: Dangerous Partners* (2022), series, as Nakaba Rion
- *Fight Song* (2022), series, as Date Yumiko
- *Momo Ume* (2021), series, Actor
- *ラブコメの掟～こじらせ女子と年下男子～* (2021), series, as Ruri Kujo
- *24 JAPAN* (2020), series, as Itsuki Mizuishi
- *Death Come True* (2020), as Akane Sachimura
- *Chiwawa-chan* (2019), as Yuko
- *Silent Voice* (2018), series, Actor
- *Final Cut* (2018), series, as Yukiko Ogawara（小河原 雪子）
- *Galaxy Express 999: Galaxy Opera* (2018), as Maetel
- *京都・祇園祭　～至宝に秘められた謎～* (2017), Actor
- *Verification Investigation* (2017), series, Actor
- *Blade of the Immortal* (2017), as Hyakurin
- *Nikenme Dou Suru? ~Tsumami no Hanashi~* (2017), series, Actor
- *Wedding Bells For The Otaku?* (2017), as Fujita Haruko / Fujimo
- *Copyface* (2016), series, as Nodoka Hirosawa / Fuyuko Asakura
- *Guard Center 24* (2016), as Kokoro Anzai
- *The Top Secret: Murder in Mind* (2016), as Yukio Miyoshi
- *Displeased Fruit* (2016), series, as 工藤麻也子
- *Library Wars: The Last Mission* (2015), as Asako Shibasaki
- *Library Wars: Book Of Memories* (2015), as Asako Shibasaki
- *HEAT* (2015), series, as Sakura Azumi
- *A Sower of Seeds 2* (2015), as Keiko Kanno
- *Flowers for Algernon* (2015), series, as Haruka Mochizuki
- *Great Selection Taxi* (2014), series, as Misora Shibayama
- *Exam Hell: Broken and Murderous* (2014), as Nishiura Sana
- *The Thorns of Alice* (2014), series, as Miwa Hoshino
- *Team Batista the Movie: The Portrait of Kerberos* (2014), as Sumire Sakuranomiya
- *SPEC: Close Reincarnation* (2013), as Satoko Aoike
- *Shikeidai no 72-Jikan* (2013), series, as Kiriko Natsuki
- *SPEC: Close~Incarnation* (2013), as Satoko Aoike
- *Ataru: The First Love & The Last Kill* (2013), as Maiko Ebina
- *Kaibutsu* (2013), Actor
- *We Want to be Delivered* (2013), series, as Okae Yu
- *Library Wars* (2013), as Asako Shibasaki
- *Darkside Mystery* (2013), series, Actor
- *Detective Totori and the Perfect Crimes* (2012), series, as Macolin
- *ATARU* (2012), series, as Maiko Ebina
- *SPEC: Heaven* (2012), as Satoko Aoike
- *ゴーストライターホテル* (2012), Actor
- *Tsukahara Bokuden* (2011), series, as Mahiro / Narration (voice)
- *Himitsu Chouhouin Erika* (2011), series, as Erika Takahashi
- *Carnation* (2011), series, as Natsu Yoshida
- *Rebound* (2011), series, as Hitomi Mimura
- *CSI: Crime Scene Talks* (2011), series, as Rio Kanzaki
- *Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair* (2011), as Gogo Yubari
- *Dōki* (2011), series, as Michiru Soga
- *Wake up!! Tamala* (2010), as Kuronosuke (voice)
- *Neck* (2010), as Eiko Akasak
- *Atami's Police Investigators* (2010), series, as Sae Kitajima
- *Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn* (2010), series, as Theme Song Performance
- *The Vulture* (2009), as Yuka Mishima
- *Kamogawa Horumo: Battle League in Kyoto* (2009), as Fumi Kusunoki
- *GS Wonderland* (2008), as Miku Ohno
- *Life Improvement Club* (2008), as Shizue
- *Team Batista no Eikō* (2008), series, Actor
- *The Road to Sirius* (2008), as Yuka Hirano
- *The Sky Crawlers* (2008), as Midori Mitsuya (voice)
- *Kids* (2008), as Shiho
- *Kita Yoshio's Tomorrow* (2008), series, as Hasegawa Rika
- *Tengu gaiden* (2007), as Amaya
- *Tanaka Express 3* (2007), series, as Terumi Meguro
- *Japan Ghost Stories 3* (2007), Actor
- *Exte: Hair Extensions* (2007), as Yuko Mizushima
- *Hagetaka: Road to Rebirth* (2007), series, as Yuka Mishima
- *Kisarazu Cat's Eye: World Series* (2006), as Ayako Sugimoto
- *Woman's Island* (2006), Actor
- *Haru, Bânîzu de* (2006), Actor
- *Kindachi Kosuke: The Queen Bee* (2006), as Tomoko Daidoji / Kotoe Daidoji
- *Into the Sun* (2005), as Ayako
- *Scrap Heaven* (2005), as Saki Fujimura
- *The Great Yokai War* (2005), as Agi
- *Azumi 2: Death or Love* (2005), as Kozue
- *Last Quarter* (2004), as Mizuki
- *MAIL* (2004), as Mikoto Hyakke
- *Chiaki Kuriyama 栗山千明* (2004), Actor
- *Kill Bill: Vol. 2* (2004), as Gogo — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/kill-bill-vol-2.md)
- *稲垣吾郎の金田一耕助シリーズ* (2004), series, as Tomoko Daidōji / Kotoe
- *Take the 'A' Train, Someday* (2003), as 野口ユキ
- *Kill Bill: Vol. 1* (2003), as Gogo Yubari — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/kill-bill-vol-1.md)
- *Kadokawa Mystery & Horror Tales Vol. 2* (2002), Actor
- *R-17* (2001), series, Actor
- *Battle Royale* (2000), as Takako Chigusa (Girl #13) — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/battle-royale.md)
- *Persona* (2000), as Reika Dojima
- *Sayoko is Back* (2000), series, as Sayoko Tsumura
- *Ju-on: The Curse* (2000), as Mizuho Tamura
- *Scary Fairy Tales: Thumb Princess* (1999), as Saeko Machida
- *Eden's Bowy* (1999), series, as Konyako Persia
- *Shikoku* (1999), as Sayori Hiura
- *Gonin* (1995), as Ogiwara's Daughter
- *Phantom of the Toilet* (1995), as Little Child

## Gallery

- ![Chiaki Kuriyama](https://film.one/media/person/9114/gallery-3c117e7575ef.jpg) Chiaki Kuriyama — Dick Thomas Johnson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_Kuriyama_Chiaki_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_Kuriyama_Chiaki_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![26th Tokyo International Film Festival: Kuriyama Chiaki 第26回 東京国際映画祭 栗山千明 (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/9114/gallery-318fbef9c63c.jpg) 26th Tokyo International Film Festival: Kuriyama Chiaki 第26回 東京国際映画祭 栗山千明 (2013) — Dick Thomas Johnson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_Kuriyama_Chiaki.jpg/1280px-26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_Kuriyama_Chiaki.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![第26回 東京国際映画祭 栗山千明 (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/9114/gallery-74a7e2ab075d.jpg) 第26回 東京国際映画祭 栗山千明 (2013) — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_Kuriyama_Chiaki_%2814935134723%29.jpg/1280px-26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_Kuriyama_Chiaki_%2814935134723%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![第26回 東京国際映画祭 栗山千明 (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/9114/gallery-658aeec0f13a.jpg) 第26回 東京国際映画祭 栗山千明 (2013) — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_Kuriyama_Chiaki_%2815369300137%29.jpg/1280px-26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_Kuriyama_Chiaki_%2815369300137%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Chiaki Kuriyama](https://film.one/media/person/9114/gallery-0dd3161e9478.jpg) Chiaki Kuriyama — Image via TMDB
- ![Chiaki Kuriyama](https://film.one/media/person/9114/gallery-49c2187238c4.jpg) Chiaki Kuriyama — Image via TMDB
- ![Chiaki Kuriyama](https://film.one/media/person/9114/gallery-fb1132f3fe08.jpg) Chiaki Kuriyama — Image via TMDB
- ![第26回 東京国際映画祭 栗山千明 (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/9114/gallery-371f0289f295.jpg) 第26回 東京国際映画祭 栗山千明 (2013) — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_Kuriyama_Chiaki_%2815369674590%29.jpg/1280px-26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_Kuriyama_Chiaki_%2815369674590%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![第26回 東京国際映画祭 栗山千明 (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/9114/gallery-bd040516541a.jpg) 第26回 東京国際映画祭 栗山千明 (2013) — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_Kuriyama_Chiaki_%2815369674590%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-26th_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_Kuriyama_Chiaki_%2815369674590%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Chiaki Kuriyama](https://film.one/media/person/9114/gallery-3b6b4696fad6.jpg) Chiaki Kuriyama — Image via TMDB
- ![Chiaki Kuriyama](https://film.one/media/person/9114/gallery-8e5a8becab51.jpg) Chiaki Kuriyama — Image via TMDB
- ![Chiaki Kuriyama](https://film.one/media/person/9114/gallery-5f644d502594.jpg) Chiaki Kuriyama — Image via TMDB

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© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/chiaki-kuriyama