Aoi Yamada (山田 葵, Yamada Aoi, born June 24, 2000) is a Japanese dancer, model and actress based in Tokyo.[1] Her dance form is inspired by expressionist and butoh movements. In 2021, Yamada performed at the closing ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics.[2]

Aoi Yamada
Born (2000-06-24) June 24, 2000 (age 23)
Occupations
  • Dancer
  • Model
  • Actress

As an actress, Yamada has appeared in the television series First Love (2022) and in the drama film Perfect Days (2023).

Early life edit

Aoi Yamada was born on June 24, 2000 in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.[3][4] She was a shy and introverted child.[5] Yamada became interested in dance and fashion at the age of five.

Career edit

Yamada moved to Tokyo at age 15 to pursue a career as a dancer.[6] She then started to model and perform in numerous music videos and stage performances, including at Baselworld in 2018 and 2019.[7] Yamada has also performed at the Yokohama Sogo Museum of Art and for the Kanagawa Arts Theatre.[8] During the closing ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics, held in Toyko, Yamada danced a solo performance.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Yamada went viral on social media for videos of herself dancing with vegetables.[9] The videos brought her to the attention of fashion designer Stella McCartney, with whom she will collaborate frequently in the future.[10][11] Yamada also modeled for Fred Perry,[12] Lacoste, Rabanne, and Uniqlo. She has appeared in the magazines Numéro, Bella, Madame Figaro, CYAN and Rice.[13][14]

Yamada made her acting debut in 2021 in a minor role in the Wowow drama FM 999: 999 Women's Songs. She subsequently acted in the short film Somewhere in the Snow and in the romantic TV series First Love.[15] Yamada next appeared as Aya in the 2023 film by Wim Wenders, Perfect Days, opposite Koji Yakusho.[16]

Yamada is part of the WACK unit AiNATOAOI alongside singer and idol Aina the End. The duo previously collaborated on the music video for "Red:birthmark".[17]

References edit

  1. ^ "Meet Aoi Yamada, the Avant-Garde Dancer the Fashion World Can't Get Enough Of". Vogue. 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  2. ^ "2020 Tokyo Olympics closing ceremonies". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  3. ^ "松本出身・アオイヤマダさんがダンス披露 東京五輪閉会式|信濃毎日新聞デジタル 信州・長野県のニュースサイト". 信濃毎日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  4. ^ "Yamada Aoi | DANCER | J-ENTERTAINMENT". j-entertainment.jp. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  5. ^ "物語を紡ぐようなアオイヤマダの踊りの源。 - GRIN | はみだした生き方も悪くない、と笑える世界。". GRIN (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  6. ^ Kahan, Kim (2023-03-29). "Aoi Yamada and the Art of Expression". Tokyo Weekender (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  7. ^ "Baselworld 2019 Information". CITIZEN WATCH Global Network. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  8. ^ "Yamada Aoi | DANCER | J-ENTERTAINMENT". j-entertainment.jp. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  9. ^ Kahan, Kim (2023-03-29). "Aoi Yamada and the Art of Expression". Tokyo Weekender (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  10. ^ Shearsmith, Tom (2022-04-26). "Stella McCartney launches fungi inspired campaign with Aoi Yamada". TheIndustry.fashion. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  11. ^ "Stella McCartney and Yoshitomo Nara Put Activism At The Centre Of Their Second Collaboration | SHOWstudio". www.showstudio.com. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  12. ^ "Aoi Yamada | Fred Perry US". www.fredperry.com. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  13. ^ "Aoi Yamada / アオイヤマダ | Numero TOKYO". numero.jp. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  14. ^ Bella儂儂. "【封面人物】《First Love初戀》山田葵爆紅!從東奧獨舞,到同台飆戲影帝役所廣司,與日本潛力新星面對面!". Bella.tw儂儂. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  15. ^ "Yamada Aoi | DANCER | J-ENTERTAINMENT". j-entertainment.jp. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  16. ^ "MANIFESTO - ENCHANT: Aoi Yamada". www.manifesto.asia. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  17. ^ Shepherd, Charles (2023-10-13). "'WACK in the UK' to Bring Japanese Alt-Idol Madness to London". Electric Bloom Webzine. Retrieved 2024-03-19.