MEISA KUROKI
Satsuki Shimabukuro (島袋 さつき Shimabukuro Satsuki) (born May 28, 1988), better known by her stage name Meisa Kuroki (黒木 メイサ Kuroki Meisa), is a Japanese actress, model and singer born in Nago, Okinawa, Japan. She is represented by the agency Sweet Power and is signed to Sony Music Japan. Among others, she has modeled for the popular Japanese fashion magazine JJ and is the current Japanese representative for Giorgio Armani. She has appeared in numerous television dramas, commercials, films, and stage productions.
Early life
Born to a Japanese mother and a father of half-Japanese and half-Brazilian descent, as the youngest of four sisters, she was discovered by a fashion scout while at the second year of junior high in Okinawa.[1] She subsequently began modeling, initially modeling exclusively for the popular fashion magazine JJ. While studying at the Okinawa Actors School, she was a member of the school's B.B. Waves group, graduating in 2007. Her cousin, Hana Kuroki, is a teen model in the USA.
Career
On February 2004, Kuroki made her acting debut and first starring role in the plays Kita-ku Tsuka Kōhei Gekidan Butai and Atami Satsujin Jiken Pyonyang Kara Kita Onna Keiji respectively. Since her debut, she has continued to perform in theater, films and television dramas. In 2006, she starred in Chakushin Ari: Final, the final movie in the Chakushin Ari series. In 2007, she received the Newcomer of the Year award at the prestigious 44th Annual Golden Arrow Awards. During the same year she appeared in Fumihiko Sori's CGI anime film Vexille.
Kuroki has also appeared with her close friend Maki Horikita on the photobooks missmatch: Maki Horikita x Meisa Kuroki x Kishin Shinoyama (photographed by Kishin Shinoyama) and short film: Kimi no Yubisaki. In 2009, Kuroki was chosen as the Japanese face of international fashion brand Emporio Armani, also appearing in numerous events for the brand worldwide.[2][3] She also starred in Dance, Subaru!, the live action film adaptation of Masahito Soda's manga Subaru, which was produced by the noted film producer Bill Kong, and Assault Girls, directed by Mamoru Oshii. In 2010, Kuroki was chosen as the international face of French cosmetic brand L'Oréal.
Music
Kuroki performed on the soundtrack of her 2007 movie Crows Zero, which she had also appeared in. On June 21, 2008, her debut single, "Like This," was released on Sony Music Records. It was soon announced on February 17, 2009 that Kuroki's first album, Hellcat, would be released on April 8, 2009.[5] Her second album and first EP, Attitude, was released in January 2010.
