Aki Maeda (前田 亜季, Maeda Aki, born 11 July 1985) is a Japanese actress and singer. She has an older sister named Ai Maeda.

She is perhaps best known in the west for her role as Noriko Nakagawa in the controversial 2000 film Battle Royale, which she reprised for its sequel Battle Royale II: Requiem. She graduated from Hosei University in 2008.^[1]

Filmography

Films

• Gamera 2: Attack of Legion, (1996)
• School Ghost Stories 2, (1996), Nanako Imai
• School Ghost Stories 3, (1997), Mayuko Fujii
• Pride (1998), Kimie Tōjō^[2]
• Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys, (1999)
• Battle Royale, (2000)
• High School Girl's Friend, (2001)
• Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, (2001)
• Genji: A Thousand-Year Love, (2002)
• Battle Royale II: Requiem, (2003)
• Out of This World, (2004)
• Linda Linda Linda, (2005), Kyoko
• Harami, (2005)
• Saishuu Heiki Kanojo (Saikano), (2006)
• Mizu ni Sumu Hana, (2006)
• 4 Shimai Tantei Dan, (2008)
• Aokigahara, (2012)
• I Never Shot Anyone, (2020)
• A Madder Red, (2021)^[3]
• Kawa no Nagare ni (2021)^[4]

Television

• Aoi Tokugawa Sandai, Sadako (2000)
• Fūrin Kazan, Ritsu (2007)
• Gochisōsan, Sakurako Muroi (2013)
• Shinya Shokudō, Sachiko's Sister (2014)
• Kuroshoin no Rokubei (2018), Tenshō-in Atsuhime
• The Return (2020)

Anime

• Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-san, Comet (2001)
• The Cat Returns, Yuki (2002)

Discography

Studio albums

• • 1999: Winter Tales
  • 2000: Boys be... original soundtrack
  • 2005: we are PARAN MAUM -- Paran Maum (as drummer)
  • 2005: Linda Linda Linda original soundtrack (as drummer of Paran Maum)

Singles

• • 1999: Gomen Ne
  • 2000: Daijōbu (part of the Boys be... original soundtrack)
  • 2000: Genki no SHOWER (This song can also be found on the original Japanese Yu-Gi-Oh! anime soundtrack.)

Awards

• • 2001: Newcomer of the Year, Awards of the Japanese Academy: Battle Royale^[5]