Atsuko Sakuraba


Atsuko Sakuraba is a former Japanese gravure idol, tarento, actress and one-time mixed martial arts fighter.
Sakuraba has appeared in several photobooks, films and TV series. She also participated in the MMA tournament ReMix World Cup 2000.
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Biography

Background

Sakuraba was born in Koriyama, Fukushima, Japan. She graduated from the Koriyama Women's University Associated Senior High School.

Modeling and acting career

Sakuraba debuted in 1996 with the photobook Yume de Ippai published by gravure publisher Scola. She began to appear on TV programs and in gravure videos the same year.
She made her acting debut in 1997 in the V-Cinema film Bichichi Daisakusen Miss Spy, directed by Minoru Kawasaki.
Sakuraba was romantically linked to Kenji Haga, her partner in the 1999 film Silver but it was later believed to be a publicity stunt.
In 1999, Sakuraba appeared in her first nude photobook titled Careyes and published by Roux Shuppan.
Her first theatrical film was Waru also directed by Takashi Miike.
Sakuraba has also participated in theatre.
On January 14, 2012, she announced her retirement from the entertainment industry, and on January 17, she announced her marriage. Currently, she is a mother of three children.

Publications

Photobooks

  • Yume de Ippai, Scola,,
  • in the room, Scola,,
  • Careyes, Roux Shuppan,,
  • Ultimate Hunter: Guardless 4, Takeshobo,,

Videos

  • Sakuraba Atsuko: Kakeru kita Megami, Scola,,
  • Sakuraba Atsuko: Body Conscious, Eichi Publishing,, JAN 1902874032381,
  • Careyes: Atsuko Sakuraba, SVC,, JAN 1920876028009,
  • Ultimate Hunter: Guardless 4, Takeshobo, JAN 4985914111393,
  • Ultimate Hunter: Guardless 4, Takeshobo, JAN 4985914118057,

Filmography

V-Cinema

  • Bichichi Daisakusen Miss Spy
  • Bad girls
  • F·I·S·H
  • Silver
  • Jado: Jitsuroku Onna Sagi Shiden
  • Ginza Midnight Story: Utopia
  • Ginza Midnight Story: Utopia - Akai Cho
  • Pachinko Battle Royale
  • Mujinto Monogatari BRQ
  • Saikyoju Tanjou Nezulla
  • ''Two-F''

Theatrical

  • Waru
  • ''Shinkaiju Raiga''

TV programs

  • Tamori Club
  • Super Jockey
  • TBS Suffle Baku Chichi Mon-Star
  • ''Gravure no Bishojo''

Theatre

  • Kin no Hitsuji
  • Meriken
  • ''Yami Kinyu VS Higashiikebukuro Yochien''

Others

Serialization: Sakuraba Atsuko no Action Cinema Kan, Weekly Manga Action, -

Mixed martial arts career

Sakuraba had a MMA bout in the event ReMix World Cup 2000 on, where she faced four-time national judo champion, 1993 and 1998 silver medallist and three-time World Cup winner Russian Tatyana Kuvshinova in a non-tournament fight. She was clearly outmatched by the Russian, and despite her spirited efforts, her corner decided to throw the towel in after her arm was injured in an armbar from which Sakuraba did not want to tap, dislocating her elbow in the process.
Sakuraba also participated in ReMix Golden Gate 2001, although merely as a TV commentator.