--- name: "Rinko Kikuchi" canonical: "https://film.one/person/rinko-kikuchi" fi1m_id: "rinko-kikuchi" imdb_id: "nm0452860" tmdb_id: 18054 wikidata_id: "Q232499" roles: ["Actor"] born: "6 January 1981" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 65 average_as: "actor" average_over: 4 updated: "2026-09-24T03:24:57.902164+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." --- # Rinko Kikuchi ## Identity Rinko Kikuchi - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/rinko-kikuchi - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** rinko-kikuchi - **IMDb ID:** nm0452860 - **TMDB ID:** 18054 - **Wikidata ID:** Q232499 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rinko_Kikuchi, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232499, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0452860/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18054 Actor. Born 6 January 1981 in Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 6 January 1981, Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan - **Active:** 2006–present - **Also known as:** Yuriko Kikuchi , 기쿠치 린코, 菊地百合子, 菊地 凛子 - **Frequently works with:** [Guillermo del Toro](https://film.one/person/guillermo-del-toro.md), [Jon Jashni](https://film.one/person/jon-jashni.md) - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination - **Average Fi1m score:** 65, as actor, over 4 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 64 (1), 2010s 61 (2), 2020s 74 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 65 to 60 across 4 titles - **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 3 of 4 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Action 2, Adventure 2, Drama 2, Science Fiction 2, Comedy 1, Fantasy 1 - **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $836m across 3 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rinko_Kikuchi, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232499, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0452860/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18054 ## Streaming the US now - **Hulu:** [*Babel*](https://film.one/film/babel.md) (64) - **HBO Max:** [*Pacific Rim: Uprising*](https://film.one/film/pacific-rim-uprising.md) (52) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Rinko Kikuchi > Rinko Kikuchi makes complicated feelings readable with little or no spoken dialogue. We value her commitment, though *Babel* shows how readily a script can ask her to suffer and give her too little else. In *Babel* (2006), Rinko Kikuchi makes Chieko’s distress clear without spoken dialogue. Playing a deaf teenager, she conveys complicated feelings without making them easy to resolve. We were moved by the way she communicates Chieko’s isolation, then frustrated by how little the writing lets her be besides troubled. We rate Kikuchi’s performance more highly than we rate the film. Her individual scenes remain convincing when the effort to connect everyone’s suffering starts to feel needlessly managed. Alejandro G. Iñárritu draws committed work from his ensemble, with Cate Blanchett’s Susan Jones and Adriana Barraza’s Amelia providing much of its emotional weight. Kikuchi helps make the same case for staying close to these people rather than piling up misfortune around them. She can make pain credible, but she cannot make every contrivance that produces it credible too. Chieko needs more to do than demonstrate how much she hurts. Her international breakthrough came after Japanese independent films including *The Taste of Tea* (2004), and the later work has moved between intimate drama and larger productions. Bang Bang in *The Brothers Bloom* (2008) continued the use of limited dialogue; Naoko in *Norwegian Wood* (2010) placed her in a literary adaptation. As Mako Mori in *Pacific Rim* (2013), she moved into a major Hollywood action role. Her physical commitment, supported by training that includes sword-fighting, makes that turn less surprising than it might sound. *Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter* (2014), with Kikuchi in the lead, is a natural next stop for anyone interested in her dramatic work. The appeal is a lead performance built on the intensity she can bring to a part. The caution is about casting: she is often asked to play isolated or rebellious young women dealing with trauma, and we would welcome more opportunities beyond those parts. Watch *Babel* for her, provided a drama that keeps insisting on its own seriousness does not put you off. ## Biography Rinko Kikuchi is a Japanese actress. Born Yuriko Kikuchi on 6 January 1981 in Hadano, Kanagawa, she was discovered by a talent agent at the age of 15 and made her screen debut in 1999. Kikuchi first gained wider attention in Japan for her role in *The Taste of Tea* (2004). Her performance as the deaf teenager Chieko in Alejandro González Iñárritu's *Babel* (2006) brought her international recognition and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, the first for a Japanese actress in 50 years. She has since appeared in films including *The Brothers Bloom* (2008), *Pacific Rim* (2013) and its sequel, and *Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter* (2014), as well as the series *Tokyo Vice* (2022). Kikuchi is married to actor Shōta Sometani. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (4) - *Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!* (2026), Fi1m 74, as Haru — [page](https://film.one/film/ha-chan-shake-your-booty.md) - *Pacific Rim: Uprising* (2018), Fi1m 52, as Mako Mori — [page](https://film.one/film/pacific-rim-uprising.md) - *Pacific Rim* (2013), Fi1m 70, as Mako Mori — [page](https://film.one/film/pacific-rim.md) - *Babel* (2006), Fi1m 64, as Chieko — [page](https://film.one/film/babel.md) ## Complete filmography (78) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!* (2026), as Haru · Executive Producer — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/ha-chan-shake-your-booty.md) - *いのこりぐみ* (2026), Actor - *Uso ga Uso de Uso wa Uso da* (2026), series, as Mitsuko Omori - *Ya Boy Kongming! The Movie* (2025), as Ayvil Suzuki - *The Hot Spot* (2025), series, as Masako Umemoto - *That Person Has Disappeared* (2024), as Terada - *Hanasaki Mai Speaks Out* (2024), series, as Shosenkyo Reiko - *Trespassers* (2024), as Tanaka Akiko - *In Love and Deep Water* (2023), as Aina Horikawa - *Yoko* (2023), as Yoko - *Menstrual Uncle and His Daughter* (2023), as Kitashiro Urara - *PICU: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit* (2022), series, as Tatsuki Samejima - *Tokyo Vice* (2022), series, as Eimi Maruyama - *Evil God's Balance Public Security Analysis Team* (2022), series, as Machiko Aiba - *What to Do With the Dead Kaiju?* (2022), as Colonel Sen Masago - *Invasion* (2021), series, as Hinata Murai - *The Dancing Kettle* (2020), Actor - *A BUTTERFLY EFFECT –The Murder Analysis Team–* (2019), series, as Aiba Machiko - *Aging Police / Resurrection Special* (2019), Actor - *We Are Little Zombies* (2019), as Yuko Ibu - *I'm still here* (2019), Screenplay - *Weakest Beast* (2018), series, as Kureha Tachibana - *Miss Sherlock* (2018), series, as Mitsuki Kurata - *Pacific Rim: Uprising* (2018), as Mako Mori — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/pacific-rim-uprising.md) - *Highheels: Kodawari ga unda otogibanashi* (2017), Actor - *A Story About Kagurazaka and Sake* (2017), as Etsuko - *Westworld* (2016), series, as Akane — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/westworld-2016.md) - *Terra Formars* (2016), as Asuka Moriki - *テラフォーマーズ／新たなる希望* (2016), series, Actor - *Endless Night* (2015), as Allaka - *Dear Deer* (2015), as Onlooker - *To Give a Dream* (2015), series, as Mikiko Abe - *Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter* (2014), as Kumiko · Executive Producer - *Last Summer* (2014), as Naomi - *Gu Gu the Cat* (2014), series, as Chikako - *Hanasaki Mai Speaks Out* (2014), series, as Reiko Shosenkyo - *47 Ronin* (2013), as Witch - *Pacific Rim* (2013), as Mako Mori — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/pacific-rim.md) - *It's Getting Late* (2012), as Anna - *The Warped Forest* (2011), Actor - *Love Strikes!* (2011), as Naoko Hayashida - *At River's Edge* (2011), as Tazu - *Good-bye, Robinson Crusoe* (2010), Actor - *Norwegian Wood* (2010), as Naoko - *42 One Dream Rush* (2010), Director - *Love Strikes!* (2010), series, as Naoko - *Shanghai* (2010), as Sumiko (uncredited) - *Assault Girls* (2009), as Lucifer - *Map of the Sounds of Tokyo* (2009), as Ryu - *Sideways* (2009), as Mina Parker - *Kill* (2008), as (segment "ASSAULT GIRL 2") - *The Brothers Bloom* (2008), as Bang Bang - *The Sky Crawlers* (2008), as Suito Kusanagi (voice) - *Tokyo Serendipity* (2007), as Junda Atsuko - *Genius Party* (2007), Actor - *The Insects Unlisted in the Encyclopedia* (2007), as Sayoko - *Liar Game* (2007), series, as Ryo Katsuragi - *Umi de no hanashi* (2006), as Kaori - *Babel* (2006), as Chieko — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/babel.md) - *Arch Angels* (2006), as Nobuko Sakurai - *Funky Forest: The First Contact* (2005), as Kikuchi - *Portrait of the Wind* (2005), Actor - *The Motive* (2004), Actor - *Survive Style 5+* (2004), Actor - *The Taste of Tea* (2004), as Waitress At Noodle Shop - *69* (2004), Actor - *Tori* (2004), Actor - *Making-of１７才* (2004), Actor - *Age 17* (2003), as Hitomi - *Mike Yokohama: A Forest with No Name* (2003), as No. 51 - *The Phantom of August* (2002), Actor - *The Private Detective Mike* (2002), series, Actor - *Hole in the Sky* (2001), as Taeko - *Churasan* (2001), series, as Maiko Murayama - *By Player* (2000), Actor - *Will to Live* (1999), Actor - *Kawaii Dake ja Dame Kashira?* (1999), series, Actor - *School Ghost Story F* (1997), Actor ## Gallery - ![Rinko Kikuchi](https://film.one/media/person/99437/gallery-c3157335ad8e.jpg) Rinko Kikuchi — Siebbi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Rinko_Kikuchi_Berlin_2015.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Members of the opening film NOBODY WANTS THE NIGHT (left to right): Director Isabel Coixet (Spain), actor Gabriel Byrne, Rinko Kikuchi, festival director Dieter (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/99437/gallery-84581e592504.jpg) Members of the opening film NOBODY WANTS THE NIGHT (left to right): Director Isabel Coixet (Spain), actor Gabriel Byrne, Rinko Kikuchi, festival director Dieter (2015) — Siebbi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Cast_of_Nobody_wants_the_Night_-_Isabel_Coixet_%28director%29%2C_Gabriel_Byrne%2C_Rinko_Kikuchi_at_65th_BIFF_2015_%28cropped-J1%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Members of the opening film NOBODY WANTS THE NIGHT (left to right): Directror Isabel Coixet (Spain), actor Gabriel Byrne, Rinko Kikuchi, festival director Diete (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/99437/gallery-9e8e382cca8e.jpg) Members of the opening film NOBODY WANTS THE NIGHT (left to right): Directror Isabel Coixet (Spain), actor Gabriel Byrne, Rinko Kikuchi, festival director Diete (2015) — Siebbi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Cast_of_Nobody_wants_the_Night_Berlin_2015.jpg/1280px-Cast_of_Nobody_wants_the_Night_Berlin_2015.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![第37回 東京国際映画祭 オープニングイベント レッドカーペット 菊地凛子 (フェスティバル・ナビゲーター) (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/99437/gallery-335863409bd1.jpg) 第37回 東京国際映画祭 オープニングイベント レッドカーペット 菊地凛子 (フェスティバル・ナビゲーター) (2024) — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Kikuchi_Rinko_as_the_Festival_Navigator_at_Red_Carpet_of_the_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_2024_%2854577094512%29.jpg/1280px-Kikuchi_Rinko_as_the_Festival_Navigator_at_Red_Carpet_of_the_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_2024_%2854577094512%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Rinko Kikuchi](https://film.one/media/person/99437/gallery-d6a8b093af5e.jpg) Rinko Kikuchi — Image via TMDB - ![Rinko Kikuchi](https://film.one/media/person/99437/gallery-518c22a4ceff.jpg) Rinko Kikuchi — Image via TMDB - ![Rinko Kikuchi](https://film.one/media/person/99437/gallery-3c03e1efb976.jpg) Rinko Kikuchi — Image via TMDB - ![第37回 東京国際映画祭 オープニングイベント レッドカーペット 菊地凛子 (フェスティバル・ナビゲーター) (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/99437/gallery-54e494a427a0.jpg) 第37回 東京国際映画祭 オープニングイベント レッドカーペット 菊地凛子 (フェスティバル・ナビゲーター) (2024) — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Kikuchi_Rinko_as_the_Festival_Navigator_at_Red_Carpet_of_the_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_2024_%2854577957271%29.jpg/1280px-Kikuchi_Rinko_as_the_Festival_Navigator_at_Red_Carpet_of_the_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_2024_%2854577957271%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![第37回 東京国際映画祭 オープニングイベント レッドカーペット 菊地凛子 (フェスティバル・ナビゲーター) (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/99437/gallery-ccb3ec893ac5.jpg) 第37回 東京国際映画祭 オープニングイベント レッドカーペット 菊地凛子 (フェスティバル・ナビゲーター) (2024) — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Kikuchi_Rinko_as_the_Festival_Navigator_at_Red_Carpet_of_the_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_2024_%2854578140254%29.jpg/1280px-Kikuchi_Rinko_as_the_Festival_Navigator_at_Red_Carpet_of_the_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_2024_%2854578140254%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 2007: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Babel* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © 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/rinko-kikuchi