Takako Matsu

Matsu Takako 松 たか子
Born	Takako Fujima (1977-06-10) June 10, 1977 Tokyo, Japan
Occupation(s)	Actress, singer, songwriter
Years active	1993 (1993)–present
Spouse	Yoshiyuki Sahashi (2007–present)

Takako Matsu (松たか子)
Birth name	Takako Fujima
Also known as	Matsumoto Kōka Ⅰ 初代 松本 幸華
Genres	Pop
Years active	1993–present
Labels	BMG Japan (1997–1998/2006–present) Universal Music Japan (1998–2005) BMG Japan (2006-2009) Ariola Japan/Sony (2009-)
Website	Official Fanclub - Club M BMG Japan Sony BMG Taiwan Universal Music Japan

Takako Matsu (松 たか子, Matsu Takako), born Takako Fujima (藤間 隆子, Fujima Takako), on June 10, 1977 in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese actress and pop singer/songwriter.

Profile

• Interests: Watching movies and stage plays
• Talents: Acting, singing, songwriting, piano and various musical instruments
• Favorite Artist: Matsuda Seiko

Background

Takako Matsu was born into a traditional buyō house, which produced famous actor/actress like her father Matsumoto Kōshirō IX, kabuki actor and head of the buyō house; her uncle Nakamura Kichiemon II, Kabuki performer and actor; her elder brother Ichikawa Somegoro VII, Kabuki performer and actor; her sister, six years her elder Kio Matsumoto, stage director and actresses and her husband Kazuhisa Kawahara, actor. Her mother Noriko Fujima is a businesswoman. She married Yoshiyuki Sahashi, guitarist and record producer, and her maiden name is Takako Sahashi (佐橋 隆子, Sahashi Takako) in 2007. She also has the name of Natori (the accredited master) of the Matsumoto school of Nippon Buyō (Japanese dancing); Shodai Matsumoto Kōka (初代 松本 幸華, Kōka Matsumoto the First).

She selected her last name as "Matsu" to honor her family. In one interview, she notes that she and her two brothers are relatively close to her mother.

Her highest education is Asia University, but she quit the university.

She appears not only on Kabuki, Shinpa, or the musical starring her father Kōshirō Matsumoto, but on popular stage plays. She is given an important role from famous theatre directors, such as Yukio Ninagawa, Hideki Noda, Kazumi Kushida, and Koki Mitani, and is often selected as the leading role by them.

Life and career

Takako debuted in theater when she was sixteen years old, in Ninjō-banashi: Bunshichi Mottoi at Tokyo Kabuki-za in 1993. Her first lead role in television was in the NHK Drama Hana no Ran (Child's part) in 1994, and she also starred in NHK Drama Kula in following 1995. Afterwards, she increased in succession the number of lead role appearances in theater and television drama, becoming preeminent as a young actress.

Because Shirayuri Gakuen, her high school, prohibited working in the entertainment industry, she transferred to Horikoshi High School. At that time, Tsuyoshi Domoto of Kinki Kids, two years her junior, was at the school and remarked, “Matsu was excellent”.

In 1996, she appeared on the drama Long Vacation starring Takuya Kimura of SMAP, following matriculating to college. She was a supporting role, but, began to establish in full-scale her position as an actress because the drama was a major hit. In the same year, she hosted the 47th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen at the age of 19, making her the youngest ever to host the show, making 1996 a year of rapid progress for her.

In 1997, she debuted with the single, Ashita, haru ga kitara. She appeared on NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen again as a singer on the last day of the year. In the same year, she starred opposite Takuya Kimura on the drama Love Generation, which she played a lead role with Takuya Kimura and the drama was a great hit again.

In 2001, she starred in Hero with Takuya Kimura again and the drama was a great success.

In 2003, she has also published a photo essay book, Matsu no Hitorigoto, through Asahi Shinbun Publishers.

In September, 2004, she released Toki no Fune which was composed by the Japanese singer Akeboshi. It is similar to his song, A nine days' wonder, which was released after the Toki no Fune single. The single also contains a cover of Akeboshi's White reply previously recorded on her sixth album, Harvest Songs.

In late 2004, she won the Best Actress of the Year of the 29th Hochi Film Award and the 28th Japan Academy Prize at the same time for The Hidden Blade.

In July 2006, Matsu and Kimura starred in a special one night edition of Hero. While a remake of this drama has been refused for years, some believed that recent surge of white collar crimes and arrests such as that of Livedoor president Takafumi Horie had inspired the demand for a special production.

In October 2006, Matsu was in a weekly drama for the first time in over three years titled Yakusha Damashii for FNN alongside 73-year old actor Makoto Fujita, a family friend. While Fujita was quite excited at his first work with Matsu, she stated earlier that she was quite attracted by his performance ability.

In May 2007, Matsu kicked off her third concert tour to commemorate her tenth year as a singer. In her Tokyo stop on June 21, she reflected that although it has been a decade, it is not appropriate for her to compare against other artists who have done nothing but music in the same time period. She also performed the song, A Piece of Life, on the keyboard in a duet with a violinist. Fans who attended the concerts included famous people such as singer/songwriter Mariya Takeuchi and actress Eriko Sato.

In releasing her latest album, I Cherish in 2007, the song Ashita Haru ga Kitara was redone to combine Matsu's voice as a 20 year old with her current one. As of now, she has released nineteen singles and ten albums (of which, seven are original studio albums), achieving success as a singer.

Musical style

Matsu has an established career as a songwriter and singer and the style of her music is often laid-back and relaxing. She has worked with many different producers, but in her third album, Sakura no Ame, Itsuka, she is noted for working on every song (either composing the melody or lyrics) on the album. This was her most successful album recorded with Universal Music.

Filmography

List of film credits

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1997	Tokyo Biyori (東京日和, Tokyo Weather)	Mizutani	lead role
1998	April Story	Uzuki Nireno	lead role
2003	Nine Souls	Yuki
2004	The Hidden Blade	Kie	main character’s lover
2006	The Uchoten Hotel	Hana Takemoto
2006	Brave Story	Wataru (voice)	lead role
2007	Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad'	Mizue
2007	Hero	Maiko Amamiya	second lead role
2008	K-20: Legend of the Mask	Yoko Hashiba	second lead role
2009	Villon's Wife	Sachi	lead role
2010	Confessions	Yuko Moriguchi	lead role
2011	Someday	Mie Orii
2011	Life –Inochi o Tsunagu Monogatari- (ライフ -いのちをつなぐ物語-, The tale connecting a life)	narration	documentary film
2011	Imawano Kiyoshiro Naniwa Sullivan Show ~Kando Saikō!!!~ (忌野清志郎 ナニワ・サリバン・ショー ～感度サイコー!!!～)		concert film
2012	Yume-uru Futari (夢売るふたり, The two who sell a dream)	Satoko Ichizawa	lead role

List of TV drama credits

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1994	Hana no Ran (花の乱, War of Flowers)	Tsubaki, Later, she was called Hino Tomiko	NHK, lead role, she played girlhood.
1995	Kura (藏, storehouse)	Retsu Tanouchi	NHK, lead role, broadcast prior to the film version.
1996	Long Vacation	Ryoko Okusawa	Fuji TV
1996	Hideyoshi (秀吉)	Yodo-dono	NHK, the second wife of Hideyoshi
1996	Furuhata Ninzaburō (2nd season)	Saki Mōri	Fuji TV
1996	Konna Watashi ni Dare ga Shita (こんな私に誰がした, Who did This to Someone like Me)	Natsuko Iwasaki	Fuji TV
1997	Ryōma ga Yuku (竜馬がゆく, Ryoma goes)	Sanako Chiba	TBS
1997	Boku ga Boku de Aru Tame ni (僕が僕であるために, For I to be Myself)	Hiroko Muranaka	Fuji TV, broadcast on January 3
1997	Koto no Koiuta (古都の恋歌, Love Song of the Old Capital)	Momoyo Naito	TBS, broadcast on March 17
1997	Under One Roof (Season 2)	Miki Mochizuki	Fuji TV
1997	Shuntō (春燈, Spring Light)	Ayako Tomita	NHK, lead role
1997	Love Generation	Riko Uesugi	Fuji TV, second lead role
1998	Karasu-goi (烏鯉, Crow carp)	Kaoruko Yamashita	TBS
1998	Jinbē	Miku Takanashi	Fuji TV, second lead role
1999	Kai (櫂, Oar)	Kiwa Tomita	NHK, lead role
1999	Konya wa Eigyōtyū (今夜は営業中, Open Tonight)	Kanako Takamatsu	NTV
2000	Omiai Kekkon (お見合い結婚, Marriage by arrangement)	Setsuko Nakatani	Fuji TV, lead role
2001	Hero	Maiko Amamiya, second lead role	Fuji TV
2001	Akarui Hō e, Akarui Hō e (明るいほうへ 明るいほうへ, Towards the Brighter Side, Towards the Brighter Side)	Teru Kaneko (as Misuzu Kaneko)	TBS, lead role
2001	Chūshingura 1/47 (忠臣蔵1/47, the story of the Forty-seven ronin 1/47)	Aguri (Yōzen-in)	Fuji TV
2002	Tokyo Story	Noriko Hirayama	Fuji TV, second lead role, remake of the movie "Tokyo story", 27 Hour TV Special Drama
2003	Itsumo Futari De (いつもふたりで, Always the Two of Us)	Mizuho Tanimachi	Fuji TV, lead role
2004	Ryōma ga Yuku (竜馬がゆく, Ryoma goes)	Okei Ōura	TV Tokyo
2005	Hiroshima Showa 20 nen 8 Gatsu Muika	Shinobu Yajima	TBS, lead role
2006	Hero (special edition)	Maiko Amamiya	Fuji TV, second lead role, broadcast on July 3
2006	Yakusha Damashi! (役者魂!, Actor Spirit)	Hitomi Karasuyama	Fuji TV, lead role, broadcast on October 17
2009-2011	Saka no Ue no Kumo (坂の上の雲, Cloud on the slope)	Tami Sakuma (Tami Akiyama)	NHK
2012	Unmei no Hito (運命の人, the man of destiny)	Yuriko Yuminari	TBS, second lead role

List of television credits

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1994	The 47th Kōhaku Uta Gassen	Emcee of the music program	NHK

Theater

1. Ninjō-banashi: Bunshichi Mottoi (人情噺文七元結, Real-life story: Bunshichi paper cord for tying the hair) (Kabuki-za, 1993) - Ohisa
2. Koiki na Yūrei (小粋な幽霊, a Stylish Ghost) (Shinbashi Enbujō, 1994) - Botan
3. Ajisai (あぢさゐ, Hydrangea) (Shinbashi Enbujō, 1994) - Omitsu
4. Taki no Shiraito (滝の白糸, the White Thread in the Waterfall) (Shinbashi Enbujō, 1994) - Kikyō
5. Jyunsaihan (じゅんさいはん) (Shinbashi Enbujō, 1994) - Oume
6. Man of La Mancha
   • (Aoyama Theater 1995) (Meitetsu Hall/ Aoyama Theatre, 1997) (Theater Hiten/ Aoyama Theatre, 1999) - Antonia
   • (Hakata-za/ Imperial Garden Theater, 2002), (Meitetsu Hall/ Imperial Garden Theater, 2005), (Imperial Garden Theater, 2008), (Theater Brava!, 2009) - Aldonza
7. Hamlet (Ginza Cezon Theater 1995, 1998, etc) - Ophelia
8. Tengai no Hana (天涯の花) (Shinbashi Enbujō, 1999)
9. The Good Person of Szechwan (New National Theater, 1999/ Akasaka ACT Theater 2001) - Shen Te/ Shui Ta
10. Okepi (Aoyama Theatre, 2000) - Shinonome
11. Voyage ~Senjō no Syanikusai~ (〜船上の謝肉祭〜, ~Carnival on the ship~) (Theater Cocoon, 2000) – (lead role)
12. Natsu Hoteru (夏ホテル, Summer Hotel) (Parco Theater 2001) - Kaoru
13. Wuthering Heights (Shinbashi Enbujō, 2002) – Catherine Earnshaw
14. Mozart! (Nissei Theater; 2002) - Constanze Mozart
15. NODA MAP: Oil (Theater Cocoon, 2003/ Kintetsu Theater 2003) Fuji
16. Ohatsu (Shinbashi Enbujō, 2004) - Ohatsu
17. Roningai (Aoyama Theatre, 2004) Oshin
18. Miss Saigon (Imperial Garden Theater, 2004) - Kim
19. The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Setagaya Public Theater, 2005) - Gursha
20. NODA MAP: Fake Crime and Punishment (Theater Cocoon 2005-6, Theater Brava!, 2005-6) – Hanabusa Sanjo
21. Metal Macbeth (Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre/ Aoyama Theatre/ Osaka Kosei Nenkin Kaikan, 2006) - Mrs. RandomStar
22. Hibari (ひばり, Skylark) (Theater Cocoon, 2007) – Joan of Arc
23. Romance (Setagaya Public Theater, 2007) Maria Chekhova
24. Sisters (Parco Theater, 2008) – Kaoru Ozaki
25. NODA MAP: Piper (Theater Cocoon, 2009) - Deimos
26. Jane Eyre (Nissei Theater, 2009, 2012) – Jane Eyre
27. Futari no Otto to Watashi no Jijou (2人の夫とわたしの事情, Family reason of my two husbands and me) (Original title: Home and Beauty) (2010) - Victoria
28. Twelfth Night (2011) – Sebastian/ Viola
29. Oto no Inai Sekai de (音のいない世界で, In the world without the sound) (2012-2013)

Awards and prizes

Year	Title	Award	Result
1996	-	34th Golden Arrow Award for Newcomer Award & Broadcast Newcomer Award	Won
1997	Tokyo Biyori	22nd Hochi Film Award for Best New Artist	Won
1997	-	1997 Élan d'Or Award for Newcomer of the Year & grand prix	Won
1997	-	New heroine '97 in Japan - #1	Won
1998	April Story	8th Japan Film Critics Circle Award for Actress Award	Won
1998	-	12th Japan Gold Disc Award for Best New Artist of the Year	Won
1998	-	36th Golden Arrow Award for Play Award	Won
2000	-	21st Matsuo Entertainment Awards for Newcomer Award	Won
2000	Tengai no Hana & The Good Person of Szechwan	50th new face award of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award for Fine Arts in theater acting division	Won
2002	Akarui Hō e, Akarui Hō e	10th Hashida Prize	Won
2003	NODA MAP: Oil	38th Kinokuniya Theater Award for Individual Award	Won
2004	The Hidden Blade	29th Hochi Film Award for Best Actress	Won
2005	The Hidden Blade	28th Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role	Nominated
2005	-	43th Golden Arrow Award for Play Award	Won
2005	NODA MAP: Fake Crime and Punishment & The Caucasian Chalk Circle	13th Yomiuri Theater Awards for Best Actress	Nominated
2005	Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad	31th Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role	Nominated
2008	Hibari & Romance	7th Asahi Performing arts Prize	Won
2008	Hibari & Romance	15th Yomiuri Theater Awards for Best Actress	Won
2009	Villon's Wife	33rd Yamaji Fumiko Film Awards for Best Actress	Won
2009	Villon's Wife & K-20: Legend of the Mask	34th Hochi Film Award for Best Actress	Won
2009	Villon's Wife	22nd Nikkan Sports Film Award for Best Actress	Won
2009	Villon's Wife	83rd Kinema Junpo Best Ten for Best Actress	Won
2009	Villon's Wife	33rd Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role	Won
2009	Jane Eyre	35th Kikuta Kazuo Theater Prize for Theater grand-prix	Nominated
2009	Confessions	34th Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role	Nominated
2009	Confessions	Actress in a Leading Role Award of the 2nd Japan Theater staff Film Festival	Won

Discography

Studio albums

Album #	Album information	Weekly Albums Charts	Year-End Albums Charts	Total Sales
1st	Sora No Kagami (空の鏡, Mirror of the sky) Released: June 28, 1997 RIAJ Certification:	4		301,430
2nd	Ai no Tobira (アイノトビラ, Door of the love) Released: September 23, 1998 RIAJ Certification:	3		245,150
3rd	Itsuka, Sakura no Ame ni... (いつか、桜の雨に..., Someday, in the rain of cherry blossoms...) Released: March 3, 2000 RIAJ Certification:	7		194,230
4th	a piece of life Released: June 13, 2001 RIAJ Certification:	4		119,590
5th	home grown Released: February 19, 2003 RIAJ Certification:	12		42,850
6th	harvest songs Released: October 8, 2003 RIAJ Certification:	12
7th	Bokura Ga Ita (僕らがいた, We Were There) Released: April 26, 2006 RIAJ Certification:	14
8th	Cherish You Released: Apr 25, 2007 RIAJ Certification:	10
9th	Time For Music Released: Nov 25, 2009 RIAJ Certification:	43

Compilation albums

Album #	Album information	Weekly Albums Charts	Year-End Albums Charts	Total Sales
1st	Five years ~singles Released: December 5, 2001 RIAJ Certification:	3		281,000
2nd	Matsu Takako Single Collection 1999-2005 Released: June 28, 2006 RIAJ Certification:	59
3rd	Footsteps ~ 10th Anniversary Complete Best Released: June 25, 2008 RIAJ Certification:	22

Live albums

Album #	Album information	Weekly Albums Charts	Year-End Albums Charts	Total Sales
1st	Takako Matsu Concert Tour vol.1 "a piece of life" Released: February 21, 2002 RIAJ Certification:
2nd	Takako Matsu Concert Tour 2003 "second wave" Released: March 24, 2004 RIAJ Certification:

Singles

Years	Single Information	Japan Weekly Single	Japan Year-End Single	Total Sales	Album
1997	Ashita haru ga kitara (明日、春が来たら) Released: March 21, 1997 Weeks on Chart: 16	8		431,540	Sora No Kagami
	I STAND ALONE Released: May 21, 1997 Weeks on Chart: 8	7		182,730
	WIND SONG Released: December 8, 1999 Weeks on Chart: 5	30		37,670
	Mafuyu no Memories (真冬のメモリーズ) Released: November 21, 1997 Weeks on Chart: 9	22		77,070	Ai no Tobira
1998	Sakura.Fuwari (サクラ・フワリ) Released: March 25, 1998 Weeks on Chart: 8	9		96,340
	Gomen ne (ごめんね。) Released: May 27, 1998 Weeks on Chart: 4	26		44,050
	Stay with me Released: September 4, 1998 Weeks on Chart: 10	20		95,720
1999	Yume no Shizuku (夢のしずく) Released: September 22, 1999 Weeks on Chart: 10	8		97,490	Itsuka, Sakura no Ame ni...
	Tsuki no Dance (月のダンス) Released: November 17, 1999 Weeks on Chart: 2	25		16,540
2000	Sakura no Ame, Itsuka (桜の雨、いつか) Released: February 9, 2000 Weeks on Chart: 10	19		87,920
	Yasashii Kaze (優しい風) Released: October 25, 2000 Weeks on Chart: 3	25		20,680	a piece of life
2001	Koishii Hito (コイシイヒト) Released: March 14, 2001 Weeks on Chart: 8	16		63,180
	Hana no Youni (花のように) Released: October 24, 2001 Weeks on Chart: 3	23		23,890	home grown
2002	Clover Released: June 26, 2002 Weeks on Chart: 2	28		11,040
	Ashita ni Kuchizuke wo (明日にくちづけを) Released: November 13, 2002 Weeks on Chart: 5	23		14,197
2003	Honto no Kimochi (ほんとの気持ち) Released: July 23, 2003 Weeks on Chart: 8	16		27,134	harvest songs
2004	Toki no Fune (時の舟) Released: September 1, 2004 Weeks on Chart: 10	5		61,471	Bokura Ga Ita
2005	Mirai ni Naru (未来になる) Released: April 6, 2005 Weeks on Chart: 4	24		9,336
2006	Akari no Tomoru Hou he (明かりの灯る方へ) Released: March 22, 2006 Weeks on Chart: 7	24		14,000
	Minna Hitori (みんなひとり) Released: November 29, 2006 Weeks on Chart: 2	10		41,000	Cherish You
2009	Kimi to Nara (君となら) Released: October 21, 2009 Weeks on Chart:				Time for music

Other appearances

Year	Information	Song contained
1998	Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah - Beauty and the Beast (ジッパ・ディー・ドゥー・ダー～美女と野獣) Released: November 6, 1998 Name used: Naoto Takenaka, Takako Matsu & Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra	Various Artists "We Love Mickey -Happy 70th Anniversary-"
2002	Futari no Murasaki Tokyo (二人のムラサキ東京) Released: March 24, 2004 Name Used: Kinmokusei & Tokyo Jenne (Takako Matsu)	Kinmokusei & Tokyo Jenne "Futari no Murasaki Tokyo" (single)
1998	Caroline, No Released: August 4, 2004 Name used: Yoshiyuki Sahashi (from Yamagen) With B-Girls(a.k.a. Ms.T)	Various Artists "The Beach Boys Best of Tribute"

DVDs

Video albums

• Sora no Kagami (October 12, 1997) - VHS
• Sora no Kagami (November 26, 2003) – DVD (re-release)
• Film: Itsuka, Sakura no Ame ni... (April 5, 2000)

Concert DVDs

• Takako Matsu Concert Tour vol.1 "a piece of life" on film (February 21, 2002)
• Tour Documentary Film "diary" from Concert Tour vol.1 "a piece of life" (March 21, 2002)
• Takako Matsu Concert Tour 2003 "second wave" on film (March 24, 2004)
• Takako Matsu Concert Tour 2007 "I Cherish You" on film (November 21, 2007)
• Takako Matsu Concert Tour 2010 "Time for Music" (October 27, 2010)

Bibliography

Title	Original Publication Date	Publisher	Category
Matsu no Hitorigoto (松のひとりごと, Matsu Talks to Herself)	November 14, 2003 (October 7, 2009)	Asahi Shimbun Publications	independent book (paperback)
Chichi to Musume no Ōfukushokan (父と娘の往復書簡, Correspondence between father and daughter) (with Kōshirō Matsumoto)	October 10, 2008 (January 10, 2011)	Bungeishunjū	independent book (paperback)

References

• [1] "As I Discovered a New Myself in this Album, I Wish If New Listeners Find me" (Japanese), MSN, April 26, 2006, retrieved July 14, 2006
• [2] "In-depth on an Unprecedented Collaboration with Sukima Switch" (Japanese), "Oricon", March 22, 2006, retrieved July 14, 2006
• [3] "Natural and Certain Feeling" (Japanese), "Oricon", April 6, 2005, retrieved July 14, 2006

External links

• BMG Japan - Matsu Takako Official Website
• Universal Music - Matsu Takako Official Website
• HMV - Artist
• MSN - Artist
• Hoga - Artist
• Yahoo! Japan’s Takako Matsu Lyrics
• Takako Matsu singles sales (Japanese)
• Takako Matsu at IMDb