Tamiyo Kusakari

Tamiyo Kusakari (草刈 民代) was born on May 10, 1965 in Tokyo, Japan, and emerged as one of the most celebrated Japanese ballet dancers before transitioning to a distinguished acting career. From the age of eight she trained intensively, rapidly gaining national attention by winning first prize at the Japan Ballet Competition in 1987, the same year she debuted as Odette in Swan Lake. Her technical mastery earned her the Muramatsu Award in 1988 and the Tachibana Akiko Award in 1990, cementing her reputation as a leading figure in Japan’s classical dance scene. Despite a severe hernia at age 27 that temporarily confined her to a wheelchair, Kusakari demonstrated remarkable resilience, returning to the stage and continuing to perform until her retirement from ballet in 2009 at age 43. In parallel with her dance career, she ventured into film, delivering a breakthrough performance as Mai Kishikawa in the 1996 hit Shall We Dance?, a role that won her the Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. Her collaboration with director Masayuki Suo on that film blossomed into a personal partnership, leading to their marriage; the duo later worked together again on the 2012 drama A Terminal Trust. Tamiyo’s filmography spans a wide range of genres, from the poignant Lady Maiko (2014) to the sci‑fi thriller Moon and Lightning (2017), and she continues to appear in television productions such as Shinzanmono (2010) and Great Love: With You Who Forget Me (2018). Her ability to translate the discipline of ballet into nuanced screen performances has made her a beloved and versatile figure in contemporary Japanese culture, inspiring both aspiring dancers and actors alike.