After her passionate portrayal of a high school student with Gender Identity Disorder in the 6th series of the long-running classroom drama Kinpachi sensei, "3-nen B-Gumi Kinpachi Sensei 6" (2001), endeared her to the Japanese nation, she was able to pursue a solo music career with her first single, "Pureness", released in August 2002. It was this performance that also convinced cult movie director Ryohei Kitamura to cast her in the title role of Azumi (2003).
With the film's release date coinciding with the sale of her debut album "AYAUETO" in the spring of 2003, Aya was set for super-stardom. Her famous smile has since earned her increasing numbers of commercial contracts and magazine covers - all-important exposure for any idol - combined with starring roles in a number of popular television dramas have meant she is rarely out of the limelight and has cemented her position as one of Japan's top entertainers.
She has been married to Hiroyuki Igarashi (HIRO of EXILE) since September 14, 2012. Their first daughter was born on August 19, 2015. On July 27, 2019, the birth of their second child, a boy, was announced. On Jun 23, 2023, the birth of their third child, a boy, was announced.", "image": "https://i.hndrama.com/image/people/4rQw6_5c.jpg" }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kuninaka Ryoko", "alternateName": "国仲涼子", "birthDate": "June 9, 1979", "nationality": "Japanese", "description": "Kuninaka Ryoko is a Japanese actress and singer. She hails from Naha City in Okinawa, Japan and currently works for Vision Factory. Kuninaka Ryoko was working part-time at a Zenzai store when she was discovered by a talent scout. In 1998, she entered the "Idol High School" for aspiring female entertainers. And at the age of 18, she debuted in a Fuji TV drama, in which her character is also named "Ryoko". In 2001, she was given the "Best Smile of the Year" award and the following year, she was dubbed the "Best Newcomer" at the "Golden Arrow Awards". In 2003, she debuted as a singer when she sang the theme song to "Churasan 2" titled "Ryukyu Moon". In 2004, she released her first album "Furusato" and her second single "Meguri aeta ne", the theme song to "Churasan 3".
She has been married to Mukai Osamu since December 28, 2014. They welcomed their first child, a son, in September of 2015. On September 25, 2017 they announced that they are expecting their second child.", "image": "https://i.hndrama.com/image/people/BJr81_5c.jpg" }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Miura Rieko", "alternateName": "三浦理恵子", "birthDate": "September 1, 1973", "nationality": "Japanese", "description": "Miura Rieko is a Japanese pop singer, actress, seiyuu, and a member of the idol group CoCo and the one-shot group Mini Sukapan.", "image": "https://i.hndrama.com/image/people/RRZVg_5c.jpg" }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kamiji Yusuke", "alternateName": "上地雄輔", "birthDate": "April 18, 1979", "nationality": "Japanese", "description": "Kamiji Yusuke, born in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, is a Japanese actor and singer. He made his acting debut in the drama series “LXIXVXE” in 1999.", "image": "https://i.hndrama.com/image/people/j7j58_5c.jpg" }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kashiwabara Takashi", "alternateName": "柏原崇", "birthDate": "March 16, 1977", "nationality": "Japanese", "description": "Japanese actor and muscian from Yamanashi (Born in Kobe). Winner of the 6th annual Junon Superboy Contest in 1993. Made his screen debut in Shunji Iwai's "Love Letter" in 1995, and was a main character in the series of dramas "Hakusen Nagashi."", "image": "https://i.hndrama.com/image/people/2woKD7_5c.jpg" } ], "director": [ { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ishikawa Junichi", "alternateName": "石川淳一", "birthDate": "December 31, 1971", "nationality": "Japanese", "description": "Ishikawa Junichi is a japanese director.
In 2012 he won two "Best Director" awards in the Television Drama Academy Awards on the dramas "Strawberry Night" and "Legal High".", "image": "https://i.hndrama.com/image/people/wJ3zk8_5c.jpg" }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matsuda Hidetomo", "alternateName": "松田秀知", "birthDate": "July 26, 1950", "nationality": "Japanese", "description": "Hidetomo Matsuda was a Japanese director.", "image": "https://i.hndrama.com/image/people/lOonbc.jpg" }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sato Genta", "alternateName": "佐藤源太", "birthDate": "May 18, 1971", "nationality": "Japanese", "description": "Sato Genta is a Japanese director.", "image": "https://i.hndrama.com/image/people/e2ePp_5c.jpg" }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kitagawa Gaku", "alternateName": "北川学", "birthDate": "", "nationality": "Japanese", "description": "Kitagawa Gaku is a Japanese director.", "image": "https://i.hndrama.com/image/people/wRQBk_5c.jpg" } ]
}