Emi Wakui: Japanese Actress and Performing Artist

Emi Wakui (born December 8, 1970), whose real name is Ryoko Wakui, is a prominent Japanese actress represented by Alpha Agency. Born in Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, she has established a prolific career spanning television dramas, feature films, and television movies.

Career Overview

Wakui began her professional acting career in the late 1980s, making her feature film appearance in Beppin no machi (1989). Over the decades, she has cultivated a versatile acting portfolio, taking on both leading and supporting roles across various genres, ranging from historical period pieces to contemporary medical and legal dramas.

Selected Filmography

Throughout her career, Wakui has appeared in numerous notable films, including:

Beppin no machi (1989) as Machiko Nakajima
My Sons (1991) as Seiko Kawashima
Birthday Present (1995) as Akiko Oi
The Taste of Tea (2004) as Narrator (voice)
Japan Sinks (2006)
Princess Toyotomi (2011) as Takeko Sanada
In the Hero (2014) as Rinko Motomura
Radiation House: The Movie (2022) as Nagisa Omori
Fly Me To The Saitama II (2023) as Naoko Uchida

Television Work

In addition to her cinematic work, Wakui has maintained a consistent presence in Japanese television serials and specials (dorama). Notable television projects include:

Tokyo Cinderella Story (Fuji TV / 1994)
Chiritotechin (NHK / 2007)
The Emperor's Cook (TBS / 2015) as Empress Setsuko
Hiyokko (NHK / 2017) and Hiyokko 2 (NHK / 2019) as Aiko Nagai
Radiation House (Fuji TV / 2019) and Radiation House II (Fuji TV / 2021) as Nagisa Omori
Reach Beyond the Blue Sky (NHK / 2021) as Ei Shibusawa
366 Days (Fuji TV / 2024) as Yuri Ikezawa