Haruka Ayase


Aya Tademaru better known by the stage name Haruka Ayase, is a Japanese actress who started her career as a model in the year 2000. She has since become a leading actress in television and film.
WWW Official Site

Career

2000–2004: Early career

Ayase was invited by a friend to participate in the 25th Horipro Talent Scout Caravan. She was interested as "an excuse to not attend club activities", but had nothing prepared, so she did a rabbit imitation that was popular at school. She won the Special Jury Prize, and made her debut in the entertainment world in 2000.
Her stage name was taken from the internet, with Ayase and herself choosing it from 16,000 applicants; on February 28, 2001, it was decided as "Haruka Ayase".
In addition to photo collections and weekly magazines, her popularity as a gravure idol increased with appearances on local programs such as Cosmo Angel. Her pictorial activities decreased as she began to receive attention as an actress.
Ayase made her acting debut in 2001 in part 3 of Kindaichi Shōnen no Jikenbo starring Jun Matsumoto.
In 2003, she made her first regular appearance in the serial drama Boku no Ikiru Michi.
She was selected as a cast member of Socrates in Love in 2004, for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the 42nd Television Drama Academy Awards for her portrayal of Aki Hirose, a high schooler with leukemia. Ayase shaved her hair and changed her weight in order to match Masami Nagasawa's portrayal of the character in the film.

2005–2014: Singing debut ～ ''Yae's Sakura''

On March 24, 2006, Ayase made her debut as a singer with the single "Period", produced by Takeshi Kobayashi. The single debuted 8th on the Oricon charts.
In 2007, she starred in the television drama Hotaru no Hikari, an adaptation of the manga of the same name, with Naohito Fujiki. A sequel was broadcast in 2010, and the movie was released in 2012.
Ayase made her first appearance in an NHK taiga drama with Yae's Sakura, which focuses on Niijima Yae, a warrior, educator, scholar, and nurse of the late Edo period. In 2014, the series was nominated for the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series.
After completing this work, she considered retiring. However, she reconsidered her career and decided that "taiga drama is only a stepping stone."

2015–present: ''Our Little Sister ～ My Ex-Boyfriend's Last Will''

In 2015, Ayase starred in Hirokazu Kore-eda's film Our Little Sister alongside Masami Nagasawa, Kaho, and Suzu Hirose. The film premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. It was subsequently released in Japan on June 13, 2015 and premiered in London, England, on October 14, 2015, as part of the BFI London Film Festival.
In 2016, Ayase starred as Balsa, a spear wielder and bodyguard, in Guardian of the Spirit, an NHK taiga drama. The role involved stage combat. She starred in all three seasons of the drama.
In 2022, she made her "Monday 9" debut, starring in My Ex-Boyfriend's Last Will. This was her first Fuji TV serial drama since Shikaotoko Awoniyoshi around 14 years prior.
In September 2025, Ayase reunited with director Kore-eda for the science fiction film ''Sheep in the Box.''

Personal life

Haruka Ayase was born as Aya Tademaru on March 24, 1985, in Hiroshima Prefecture. Ayase has one elder brother. Her grandparents are survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Public image

The news outlet Japan Times has hailed Ayase as; "The Japanese version of Anne Hathaway". Ayase was named the most beautiful face in Japan in 2018.

Health

While filming for Cyborg She, Ayase broke her nose.
On August 31, 2021, Ayase announced on Twitter and Instagram that she had contracted the COVID-19 Delta variant. Though she was originally recovering at home, she was hospitalized after symptoms of pneumonia.

Legal troubles

In 2006, Ayase was detained in New Zealand after being mistaken for a spy.
Around the spring of 2020, Ayase's personal office, a company managed by her mother, invested around in a scheme co-managed by a Hiroshima tax accountant who was a long-time acquaintance of the Ayase family. The scheme defaulted on repayments to Ayase's company in May 2021, and the accountant's son arranged for a full refund of the investment. The accountant and three others were arrested for investment law violations in November 2022. Other investors alleged that the accountant used his relationship with Ayase to solicit investments in the scheme.

Other ventures

Endorsements

Ayase is a popular product spokesperson in Japan, appearing in commercials for major consumer brands such as Coca-Cola, SK-II, and KFC. She is also the main spokeswoman for Uniqlo and SK-II in Japan.

Philanthropy

In March 2011, she launched the awareness for raising about the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and the subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster and invited Japanese and international celebrities to add their videos for triple tragedy in Japan. Despite Fukushima crisis, she made a call to action to support the victims of triple disaster and to raise funds in the relief effort. In conjunction, she has also created her own website for the cause.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002JusticeHoshiJam Films
2004River of First LoveSayuri TakakuraLead role
2005New HorizonSayakoJam Films S
2005Samurai Commando: Mission 1549Nōhime
2006Taberuki shinaiNaoLead role
2007HeroRiriko Izumitani
2008Cyborg SheThe GirlfriendLead role
2008IchiIchiLead role
2008The Magic HourNatsuko Shikama
2008Happy FlightEtsuko SaitōLead role
2009Oppai VolleyballMikako TerashimaLead role
2009RookiesKyoko MikoshibaSpecial appearance
2009Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic MirrorHaruka Lead role
2010The Incite MillShoko Suwana
2011Princess ToyotomiTadako Torii
2012Hotaru The Movie: It's Only a Little Light in My LifeHotaru AmemiyaLead role
2012Akko's SecretAkkoLead role
2012DearestNaoko
2013RealAtsumiLead role
2014All-Round Appraiser Q: The Eyes of Mona LisaRiko RindaLead role
2015Our Little SisterSachi KōdaLead role
2015Galaxy TurnpikeNoe
2016The Kodai FamilyKie HiranoLead role
2016Fueled: The Man They Called PirateYuki
2017Honnōji HotelMayukoLead role
2018Color Me TrueMiyukiLead role
2021Caution, Hazardous Wife: The MovieNami IsayamaLead role
2022Yes, I Can't SwimShizuka Usuhara
2023The Legend and ButterflyNōhime
2023Revolver LilyYuri OzoneLead role
2024Route 29TomboLead role
2026Sheep in the BoxOtone KomotoLead role
2026One Last Love LetterNazuna TeradaLead role

Television documentary

  • ''Haruka Ayase Listen to War Experience''

Others

Awards and nominations

;Television Drama Academy Awards
YearSeasonCategoryNominated workResult
2004SummerBest Supporting ActressSocrates in LoveWon
2006WinterBest Supporting ActressJourney Under the Midnight SunWon
2009FallBest Supporting ActressJinWon
2010SummerBest ActressHotaru no Hikari: It's Only a Little Light In My LifeWon
2011SpringBest Supporting ActressJin 2Won
2014FallBest ActressI'm Taking the Day OffWon
2017FallBest ActressCaution, Hazardous WifeWon