Yui Natsukawa

Yui Natsukawa (Japanese: 夏川結衣, Hepburn: Natsukawa Yui) is a Japanese actress born on June 1, 1968, in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. Standing 165 cm tall, she has built an extensive career spanning film and television, earning critical acclaim and several awards for her supporting performances in Japanese cinema.

Career

Natsukawa began her active career in the early 1990s, appearing in various television dramas and feature films. Over the decades, she has collaborated with prominent directors and appeared in notable cinematic works. Her filmography includes acclaimed titles such as Hirokazu Kore-eda's Still Walking (2008), A Lone Scalpel (2010), and Yoji Yamada's What A Wonderful Family! series. In addition to her film projects, she has maintained a steady presence in Japanese television dramas and network movies, ranging from historical taiga dramas to contemporary mystery and family series.

Selected Filmography

Sky Cannot Be This Blue (1993)
Kura (1995)
Zatoichi (2003)
Still Walking (2008)
A Lone Scalpel (2010)
Tokyo Family (2013)
The Little House (2014)
What A Wonderful Family! (2016)
Hotel Royal (2020)
The Silent Service (2023)

Selected Television Drama Roles

Blue Bird (1997)
He Who Can't Marry (2006)
Top Sales (2008)
Galileo 2 (2013)
Shizumanu Taiyo (2016)
Meet Me After School (2018)
Doctor-X (2021)
Why I Dress Up For Love (2021)

Awards and Recognition

Natsukawa's performance in the 2010 film A Lone Scalpel earned her multiple accolades for Best Supporting Actress, including honors at the 32nd Yokohama Film Festival and the 65th Mainichi Film Awards. She also received the Best Supporting Actress award at the 21st Nikkan Sports Film Awards for her work in the 2008 drama Still Walking.