Ryoko Yonekura

Ryoko Yonekura

Born: August 1, 1975
in Kanagawa, Japan
Ryoko Yonekura (米倉 涼子 Yonekura Ryōko, born August 1, 1975 in Kanagawa Prefecture) is a Japanese actress and former fashion model best known for her role in the Japanese medical drama Doctor-X.

Yonekura studied classical ballet for 15 years from the age of five. Represented by the Oscar Promotion agency, she won a national young beauty award in 1992. In 1993, she started her career as a model, working for fashion magazines such as CanCam. She announced her intention to start her acting career in June 1999. Her acting debut was in the TBS television drama Koi no Kamisama (God of Love), and has appeared in many dramas ever since.

Yonekura played the role of Roxie Hart in the Japanese-language production of Chicago in Tokyo 2008 and in 2010. She then learned the role in English and made her Broadway debut in 2012, reprising her role in July 2017.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Movies for Ryoko Yonekura...

Title: Angel Flight
Character: Izawa Nami
Released: March 17, 2023
Type: TV
Ryoko Yonekura stars in this series written by Ryota Kosawa about specialists who transport the deceased back home. The company Angel Hearse is run by Nami Izawa and Kashiwagi. A drama that portrays love between the deceased and the bereaved.
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Title: The Journalist
Character: Anna Matsuda
Released: January 13, 2022
Type: TV
A journalist known as the maverick of news media defiantly chases the truth in this series adaptation of the hit movie of the same name.
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Giwaku
Title: Giwaku
Released: February 3, 2019
Type: Movie
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Title: Legal V
Character: Shoko Takanashi
Released: October 11, 2018
Type: TV
Takanashi Shoko is a former lawyer. She was disbarred from the law profession due to an incident. Later, she persuades a university professor, who is accredited as a lawyer, to open a law firm. Takanashi Shoko hires a lawyer and assistants to work at the law firm. The team goes after legal victory. They go up against a large firm in a civil suit. While working on the suit, the team experiences difficult situations.
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Title: Doctor-Y ~Gekai Kaji Hideki~
Released: September 29, 2016
Type: TV
A "Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon" spinoff starring Masanobu Katsumura as surgeon Hideki Kaji, the "wizard of laparoscopy."
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Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special
Title: Doctor X: Gekai Daimon Michiko Special
Released: July 3, 2016
Type: Movie
Kojiro Himuro is a champion figure skater taking part in an upcoming world competition. Yet, he is suffering from a complicated CTEPH (chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension). Kantaro Kurosu is the director of the Cross Medical Center. He asks Michiko Daimon to perform surgery on Kojiro, but, right before his surgery, she is deprived of “the most important weapon as a surgeon.”
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かげろう絵図
Title: かげろう絵図
Character: Nui
Released: April 8, 2016
Type: Movie
After the sudden death of her adoptive father Shimada Mataemon, Nui, whose own father met an untimely death when he was about to expose the corruption of the shogunate becomes determined to expose the collusion between Kannouji, and the unforgivable relationships between the ladies in waiting of the inner palace and the monks. Nui is undertaking this undercover investigation without regard for the danger she is putting herself in, for the sake of Shinnosuke whom she secretly loves
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The Housekeeper Saw!
Title: The Housekeeper Saw!
Character: Sawaguchi Nobuko
Released: December 5, 2015
Type: Movie
Sawagura Nobuko is back housekeeping again in this sequel to the 2014 SP! This time around Nobuko, having been given some pearl earrings as a present sometime before, decides to attend an exhibition for a pearl described as being the world's most expensive one. That pearl is owned by the Iwakura family, who run a large pearl company. While looking at the pearl however, Nobuko is pulled away by a handsome man who seems to have some connection to the family. So when Nobuko finds one of her pearl earrings missing and probably taken by that man, she decides to work as a housekeeper for the Iwakura family until the man shows up again and she can get her earring back. But the Iwakura family that Nobuko is now working for has plenty of secrets beyond just pearls that she'll have to sort out if she wants her earring back...
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Out Burn
Title: Out Burn
Character: Eiko Yagami
Released: August 9, 2014
Type: Movie
Eiko Yagami (Ryoko Yonekura) is a "Marubo", a unit of Ueno Central Police Station's Organized Crime Division which deals directly with organized gangs to try and keep the peace. However, Eiko has some sidelines: she's a moneylender to her fellow police officers without charging interest in return for information and is also willing to do the odd side job for those on the criminal side for the money. One day, Kasumi (Riho Takada), who is the daughter of Senma-gumi gang's leader (Toshiyuki Nishida), is found stabbed to death. As this threatens to pit gang against gang, Eiko and the police have to hurry and find her killer.
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Tsuyoki ari
Title: Tsuyoki ari
Character: Isako Sawada
Released: July 2, 2014
Type: Movie
Based on the novel "Tsuyoki Ari" by Seicho Matsumoto In her past, Isako Sawada ran a restaurant. She then met Nobuhiro who is 31 years older than her and an executive of a corporation. They eventually married. Nobuhiro owns a large mansion and his money is managed by housekeeper Saki Tsubaki. Isako Sawada doesn't like that arrangement, but she hides her contempt because she has a plan. Her plan is to become a widow in 3 years and inherit one billion yen from her husband. Isako Sawada schemes to have Nobuhiro die in an apparent natural manner and she is having a relationship with another man.
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Title: 松本清張 強き蟻
Released: July 2, 2014
Type: TV
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Title: Sock or Hat?
Character: Self
Released: June 13, 2014
Type: TV
The crazy popular, wildly mundane game show where celebrities guess if it's a sock or a hat. Really, that's it.
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Housekeeper the Peeper
Title: Housekeeper the Peeper
Character: Nobuko Sawaguchi
Released: March 2, 2014
Type: Movie
Nobuko Sawaguchi is a surly, unattractive housekeeper in her mid-thirties. However, in actuality, she is a beautiful woman, but she hides this fact using her makeup because of a traumatic past experience. One day Nobuko is sent to housekeep for the Uehara family, known for its tremendous wealth. In the Uehara family, there is a massive quarrel over each member’s future succession and inheritance. In the middle of this hectic situation, Nobuko is asked by the daughter called Akemi to protect her.
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Title: No Dropping Out: Back to School at 35
Character: Ayako Baba
Released: April 13, 2013
Type: TV
The drama will center around how a 35 year old changes the school and influences her fellow classmates’ lives while dealing with the dark reality of today’s high schools, including bullying and skipping school.
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The Housekeeper
Title: The Housekeeper
Character: Konno Nobuko
Released: December 22, 2012
Type: Movie
Nobuko is a plain, unattractive woman with disheveled hair, and is hired as a housekeeper in the Inamura residence in Tokyo. The Inamuras are a family of six. The father, Tatsuya, is the head of a university hospital's department of internal medicine. He lives with his wife Haruko, their three sons, and Tatsuya's mother, Shigeko. Although the Inamuras appear to be a happy family, Nobuko soon uncovers the truth.
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Title: Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon
Character: Michiko Daimon
Released: October 18, 2012
Type: TV
Daimon Michiko is a 37-year-old freelance surgeon who is part of a questionable “doctor placement service” that has her wander from hospital to hospital. The harsh environment at the hospitals led many doctors to retire from their positions, forcing hospitals to make use of said program to fill the empty spots at least temporary. However, Michiko doesn’t look like a doctor at all with her flashy clothes and eccentric attitude. In the first episode she raises objections to a certain operation which is planned to be done by the head of a hospital who hasn’t performed an operation for a very long time. This causes Michiko to incur odium at the hospital, however, everyone becomes frozen when Michiko points out the outdated skills of the director. She also holds a scrupulous compliance when it comes to her working hours, never does any unnecessary chores that don’t require a medical license, and couldn’t care less about the power struggles within the hospitals. Nobody knows how she acquired such a top-level skill that allows her to claim exorbitant sums as reward, but her private life is an even greater mystery to everyone around her. Tanaka plays a rookie surgeon, Uchida an anesthetist, Kishibe the head of the placement service, and Ito the head of the surgical department of this institution.
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Title: HUNTER - Women After Reward Money
Character: Rei Isaka
Released: October 11, 2011
Type: TV
On a return flight to Japan, cabin attendant Isaka Rei arrests a thief at Narita Airport’s International Terminal, and receives a reward of 1 million yen. However, she is half-forced to resign from her job as a cabin attendant because of this roundup. Furthermore, her younger sister, Akane, has made her a guarantor and disappeared, leaving her 10-year-old daughter, Haru behind. Rei starts to live with a reluctant Haru at ‘Shunkato’, the small eating house that Akane has been running. There is a firsthand account of Akane meeting a ‘Shunkato’ customer on the day she went missing. Rei brings the photograph of the man whom Akane met to Tsukishima Police Precinct, and learns that there is a 1 million yen bounty because he is a wanted criminal. The lack of motivation of the attending detective, Gondo Takeshi of the precinct’s Community Safety Division, spurs her to decide that she has to arrest this criminal who has some sort of connection to her sister. And so, Rei becomes a bounty hunter together with the ladies who gather at ‘Shunkato’.
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Title: HUNT - Tax Investigation Officer
Character: Matsuko Matsudaira
Released: October 21, 2010
Type: TV
National tax investigator Matsuko Matsudaira is transferred to Tokyo office for chase Tax evaders. Her new style of chasing the taxe evader with going undercover make some problems with her colleagues and boss.
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The Negotiator: The Movie
Title: The Negotiator: The Movie
Character: Reiko Usagi
Released: February 11, 2010
Type: Movie
¥ 260,000,000 is stolen from armored vehicle. The criminals escape into a crowded shopping mall and take over 50 hostages. Reiko Usagi (Ryoko Yonekura) and the SIT members are called in to break the stand-off. When Reiko goes into the shopping mall to negotiate, an explosion suddenly occurs. The hostages panic and run, while the criminals are able to blend into crowd of people and escape. A few weeks later, Reiko is at the Haneda Airport to go on a vacation. She then spots Yusuke Kimoto (Kento Hayashi), a man who was one of the hostages at the shopping mall. Reiko remembers Yusuke's bizarre behavior and her instinct starts kicking in. She decides to follow the man and boards the airplane that Yusuke is taking. Shortly after take-off her instincts prove correct. The airplane is hijacked ...
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The Cherry Orchard: Blossoming
Title: The Cherry Orchard: Blossoming
Character: Shino Wakamatsu
Released: November 8, 2008
Type: Movie
Remake of a hit film from 1990, "The Cherry Orchard" which Nakahara himself directed, based on a popular comic book from Akimi Yoshida. The story takes place at a prestigious girls high school where everyone is oppressed with rules. One girl who just transferred to this school finds a long lost script of Anton Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" which was banned from school 11 years ago. Breaking strict school rules and boundaries, she and her friends decide to perform the play. With sentiment, love and passion, the girls cherish the moment of their life before taking the next step towards adulthood.
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Title: Flower of Ice
Character: Kyoko Seno
Released: September 6, 2008
Type: TV
Seno Kyoko is a pianist who receives an inheritance from her uncle, and begins living happily with her husband. But one day, she receives a phone call from a woman claiming to be her husband's pregnant mistress, and she is soon driven to murder.
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Title: Monster Parent
Character: Itsuki Takamura
Released: July 1, 2008
Type: TV
Monster parents-a neologism that denotes parents who repeatedly make unreasonable demands to their children’s school and prevent it from functioning normally. Takamura Itsuki is the ace lawyer of a major law firm. One day, she is assigned on a case requested by a school board, and learns of the existence of "monster parents." She meets a parent who wants the school to fire a teacher with a dialect for fear that he may exert bad influence on her child, a parent who insists that her son get a regular position on the soccer team, a parent who refuses to pay the lunch fee because it doesn’t taste good and so on. She is, at first, reluctant about this case, but gradually becomes determined to solve the problems.
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Title: The Negotiator
Character: Reiko Usaki
Released: January 10, 2008
Type: TV
In a modern society in which violent crimes are on the rise, there is a team that tries to resolve cases without bloodshed. It is the metropolitan police's special team, known by the abbreviation SIT (Special Investigation Team). The SIT doesn't get into action after a case but heads to the site just as a crime is being committed. They are on the front-line of risky missions, facing off against criminals; tenaciously conducting negotiations with criminals. As a result of the rigid police hierarchy that can curb the conduct of negotiators, the SIT is also a male-dominated society controlled with strict discipline. There is one female negotiator, Usagi Reiko, who bravely fights at the frontline. She is isolated in the male world of the SIT but courageously fights against crime as well as her organisation.
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Title: Over-the-Shoulder Lover
Character: Moe Hayasaka
Released: July 5, 2007
Type: TV
This is the dramatized version of the Naoki Award-winning novel by author, Kei Yuikawa. Moe Hayasaka is an office worker in an import service company who cannot devote herself in romance. On the other hand, Moe’s close friend, Ruriko Murono, who snatches Moe’s boy friend away to marry him for her third time, is interested in nothing but romantic affairs. Through their love and friendship, this drama portrays women in their 30s being rocked by marriage, divorce, infidelity, and work.
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Title: Evil People
Character: Toyomi Terashima
Released: January 19, 2007
Type: TV
Toyomi Terajima (Ryoko Yonekura) chose to become a nurse because she had no interest in marriage and wanted an occupation she could do for the rest of her life. Although she doesn't have a lot of aspirations, she does have a vague idea of wanting to work as a nurse overseas, and so she studies English. Outside of that, her life is less than ordinary and she carries out her job as a nurse without any indifference. That is, until one fateful night when she calls on Dr. Toya Shinichi (Takaya Kamikawa), director of the hospital, for help with a patient suffering from a heart attack. It is this chance encounter that brings the two together and sets the wheels in motion.
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Title: Time of Distrust ~ Women's Wars
Character: Michiko Asai
Released: July 6, 2006
Type: TV
Asai Michiko is a 28-year old housewife. Her husband is 38-year old Yoshio, who works at an advertisement agency. Five years into their marriage, Michiko finds out that Yoshio has been having an affair. Michiko visits the woman and begs her to break up with Yoshio. "Yoshio mentioned that he doesn't see his wife as a woman," she says, bringing Michiko to tears. Nogami Machiko is a 31-year old woman who works at a luxurious nightclub in Ginza. She is told by her lover whose child she bears, "Get an abortion." She too, is brought to tears. Three years later... Since her husband's affair, Michiko, now 31, has put every effort forward to become the adorable wife by studying the latest trends and fashion. Machiko, now 34, is an employed owner of a Ginza nightclub. One day, Okinaka Kazuko moves in across from the Asai family. She is there to take care of the house while her sister and her family are living in Osaka. Alone and lonely, she hopes to become close friends with Michiko. Koyanagi Shingo, Yoshio's client and president of a middle-sized company, takes Shingo to a luxurious Ginza nightclub after dinner. It's Machiko's club. Machiko has had feelings for Yoshio since he started visiting her establishment. When Shingo rises from his seat to leave, Yoshio does the same. But Machiko holds him back. "There's an annoying customer at another table. Can you stay a little longer for me?" After leaving the club, Shingo heads downtown to visit 18-year old Ito Mayumi who sings and plays the guitar. Although Shingo has a wife and a nearly adult-age son, all he can think about is his young lover. After finishing work, Machiko takes a taxi home with Yoshio. Machiko's apartment is just a station away from Yoshio's. In the taxi, Machiko spills coffee on Yoshio's suit. "We should clean this up immediately" she says and invites Yoshio in. Yoshio can't hold back his feelings as Machiko seduces him. Meanwhile, Michiko has reunited with Kondo Kei, a 26-year old calligrapher who was formerly a student of Michiko's father, a master in calligraphy...
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The Da Vinci Code Mystery Special
Title: The Da Vinci Code Mystery Special
Released: May 22, 2006
Type: Movie
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Title: The Animal Trail
Character: Tamiko Narusawa
Released: January 12, 2006
Type: TV
Animal Trail, a natural path made by traffic of wild animals, can sometimes be helpful for people who are totally lost in the wilderness. One day, a woman who is exhausted with her hopeless life unexpectedly meets a gentleman by chance. Out of genuine hope to escape from her misery, she allows her destiny to blindly follow the mysterious instruction given by this stranger. Would this "Animal Trail" ultimately lead her to happiness, or would it lead her to disaster? The life of Tamiko (Yonekura) was miserable, as she had to give up her dream to become a jewelry designer and work for a Japanese style hotel "Hosenkaku" simply to support her physically handicapped husband. One day, Tamiko was approached by a mysterious gentleman Kotaki (Sato) who offers her a unique proposal, "would you be interested in riding a vehicle without a destination?" His words shook Tamiko's desperate soul wanting for a drastic change in her life. In order to free herself from the depressing reality, she cleverly kills her husband by setting her house on fire. Then, through Kotaki's introduction, she becomes acquainted with Kito, a political fixer, and decides to become Kito's mistress. Although she notices that her decision may not be right, she decides to follow her instincts and go for the "animal trail"….
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A Hardest Night!!
Title: A Hardest Night!!
Released: October 22, 2005
Type: Movie
A celebration of the ancient art of Japanese rakugo, roughly translated as “comic storytelling”. The film is interspersed with numerous funerals and wakes, songs, dances, and often disgustingly crude jokes.
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Title: Haru and Natsu
Character: Haru Takakura
Released: October 2, 2005
Type: TV
As Haru emigrates from Japan with her family to the coffee plantations in Brazil, Natsu is left behind in the care of spiteful relatives. Losing all contact, each must make her own way in an unforgiving world. Hardships abound in the struggle to survive in war-torn Japan and in the face of anti-Japanese sentiment in Brazil, financial ruin, familial pressure, abandonment and lost love. However they also experience the precious joy of survival and success. Now, after 70 years, Haru comes back to Japan to find her estranged sister.
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Title: Matrilineal Family
Character: Fumino Hamada
Released: July 7, 2005
Type: TV
A generations old family business is sent into turmoil when the sudden death of the head of the family opens the door to a fierce struggle between his three powerful and privileged daughters and the young mistress of modest means pregnant with his child.
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Bewitched in Tokyo SP
Title: Bewitched in Tokyo SP
Released: December 21, 2004
Type: Movie
Christmas Special following the series.
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Title: The Black Leather Notebook
Character: Motoko Haraguchi
Released: October 14, 2004
Type: TV
Ginza is a night town filled with ambition and burning desire… How does a plain bank clerk embezzle an enormous amount of money and jump into the underground world? What is her ultimate goal? Her greatest weapon is a black leather-bound notebook.
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Title: Bewitched In Tokyo
Character: Arisa Matsui
Released: January 16, 2004
Type: TV
Arisa is fascinated by humans. So much so that she leaves the magic world. But the broom she uses is faulty and she winds up in Japan. There she meets Joji Matsui who works at an advertising agency. Joji has been assigned by his boss Ichio Suzuki the difficult task of winning over Shiori Nomo who is in charge of corporate communications at a client. However a little word from Arisa helps Joji win over Shiori and his agency gets the opportunity to pitch. Arisa and Joji fall in love and marry. Arisa swears never to use magic again as she and Joji begin their strange witch/human married life.
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Title: Musashi
Character: Otsu
Released: January 5, 2003
Type: TV
Orphaned when he was not yet ten, Musashi grows up skilled in the martial arts. During the Battle of Sekigahara, he fights on the side of the losing Toyotomi forces, but eludes the enemy as they hunt down the vanquished soldiers. He then spends years wandering the countryside mastering the sword. As his fame spreads throughout the nation, men seek him out to test their skills against him--most notably Sasaki Kojiro who faces Musashi in the ultimate duel at Ganryujima.
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Gun Crazy: Episode 1: A Woman from Nowhere
Title: Gun Crazy: Episode 1: A Woman from Nowhere
Character: Saki
Released: August 23, 2002
Type: Movie
A mysterious stranger comes into a lawless town run by a kingpin and starts shooting up the place.
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Title: Artificial Beauty
Character: Honami Saotome
Released: April 9, 2002
Type: TV
Honami Saotome seems to have the ideal life, working as a fashion model. Behind her perfect face is an unfortunate girl who born into a family that has a long history of "the ugly bug". Since childhood, she was bullied for being ugly, and to start a new life, she decides to have plastic surgery on her entire body. Nobody knows that behind her glamorous lifestyle, there is a girl afraid that her secret may be found out, or that her face may fall apart. Though Honami has the inner strength of never giving up, her arrogance of doing anything for her own happiness is just too much. Meanwhile, Ryusui Fujishima is the heir to a grand master of flower arrangement, whose philosophy is, "flower arrangement starts from hating flowers". He is the man who values essence more than appearance, whether it's flowers or people. He is then attracted not to Honami's looks, but to her tough and bold personality: like a wild flower growing between rocks.
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Title: Pretty Girls
Character: Ayumi Kurai
Released: January 9, 2002
Type: TV
Looking for a job, Hana gets work at the Andrews Department Store, but her boss hates her and gives her impossible work to do. Her bubbly nature and creativity soon bring success to every job she is assigned though, and the president even wonders if her mysterious charm can rally the company and pull them out of their financial difficulties. But the President and Ryou, his straight-laced son, have different ideas about running the company. Perhaps if she finds true love for Ryou, she can soften his hard heart. Anything seems possible with Hana's never-ending optimism, which is the basis for this heart-warming and humorous story of the power of positivity!
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Cardboard House Girl
Title: Cardboard House Girl
Released: October 6, 2001
Type: Movie
The story of a woman who lost everything.
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Title: Unmarried Family
Character: Hikaru Matoba
Released: July 5, 2001
Type: TV
Sanada plays a salariman who just lost his job. Yonekura, his wife, is a dancer who gave up her career when they got married. In the middle of family crisis, Yonekura leaves to pursue her dream. Sanada is stuck with their only son. Suzuki, his old flame -turn jet set career woman- is forced to take care of them. Will the romance spark again, now that Sanada already has family, and Suzuki has a younger man, Makoto, beside her?
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Title: Love Revolution
Character: Mariko Endo
Released: April 9, 2001
Type: TV
A doctor at a prestigious Tokyo hospital is feeling dissatisfied with her life. Though she has a successful career, she sees her friends with boyfriends or husbands and feels like she has missed out on something. Determined to remedy the situation, she meets a charming reporter and quickly falls for him. It seems like her troubles are over, but has she made the right decision?
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Title: Straight News
Character: Yuka Ichino
Released: October 11, 2000
Type: TV
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Title: Marriage at Twenty
Character: Ranko Chuganji
Released: July 6, 2000
Type: TV
Although marriage is the farthest thing from her mind, Renko meets a special person on her twentieth birthday and starts to seriously think about marriage. In this light comedy, these feelings inside her clash with those of her friends and family members, but they all add to the growing experience of her first true love.
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Title: Weather Forecaster's Lover
Released: April 10, 2000
Type: TV
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Title: Cupid's Arrows
Character: Ranko Chuganji
Released: January 14, 2000
Type: TV