Sayaka Yoshino (吉野 紗香, Yoshino Sayaka) (born 14 May 1982) is a Japanese actress, model, and television personality. One of the first popular teen models / idols known in Japan as "Chaidoru" (a word play on child and idol), she has appeared in numerous TV dramas, commercials, and films.

Sayaka Yoshino
吉野 紗香
Born (1982-05-14) 14 May 1982 (age 42)
Occupation(s)Actress, model, television talent
Years active1994–present
Children1

Early life

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Born in Tokyo and raised in both Tokyo and Chiba, Yoshino as a child wondered how children appeared on TV programs, until she learnt that to be cast she would need to a talent agency / agent. Without her parents foreknowledge, she sent out applications (including a school yearbook photograph of herself) to agencies advertised in newspapers until one responded with a request to meet and interview in person. As a young girl not able to travel to the meeting alone, Yoshino informed her mother and was escorted to the agency interview of which she was later offered to join.

Career

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Yoshino began her career in 1994 after being selected in a public audition by a talent agency that she applied herself. After gaining popularity as a model appearing in fashion magazines, winning reader polled contests, and being cast in spoken roles for television commercials, she was cast in the first feature film Maborosi by film director Koreeda Hirokazu. At about the same time she began appearing as a guest actress on television drama's and started to take on more extended roles in other feature films. Yoshino was cast in character designer and director Keita Amemiya's fantasy - action film, Moon Over Tao and again in Koreeda's second feature film, After Life, of which garnered critical acclaim both in Japan and abroad. [1] Yoshino's growing popularity defined a new phenomenon, as a young multi-faceted idol, which the media coined "Chaidol" (combining the words "child" and "idol").[2]

Personal life

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Yoshino is known as an avid dog lover and animal rights advocate. She has participated in charity events promoting social awareness of dog shelters and independently promoted animal rights through her webcast show "Hello From Earth" focusing on dog shelters seeking to find foster families.[3][4] Yoshino has also used her webcast show to focus on Fair Trade and has participated in public Fair Trade events.[5] She has also shared that she is currently developing her own ethical / sustainable fashion brand.

Since Yoshino had not finished her high school studies due to difficulty juggling her commitments as an actress / TV personality and a student, she later worked to complete the requirements to receive the Certificate for Students Achieving the Proficiency Level of Upper Secondary School Graduates (similar to the GED in the United States). Throughout her studies, she publicly shared her progress and personal feelings on the subject on her internet blog, and successfully received the certificate of completion of Upper Secondary School Graduates (High School) and made news headlines.[6][7]

In 2012, it was announced that Yoshino had married her partner / boyfriend (a U.S. citizen) in 2010.[8][9]

In April 2017, it was announced Yoshino held a wedding ceremony after having registered her union with her husband 7 years before. Images of her as a bride and a message of gratitude was made public.[10]

On 20 March 2021, she announced on her blog that she gave birth to their first child, a baby boy on 15 February.[11]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 Maborosi Young Yumiko (Teenage Girl)
1996 Jigoku-do Reikai Tsushin Kana Azuki (Teenager with pet sacred beast)
1997 Moon Over Tao Renge (Teenage Ninja Combatant)
1998 After Life Kana Yoshino (Teenage Girl)
2000 Boogie Pop and Others Touka Miyashita / Boogie Pop (School Girl/Grim Reeper)
2002 Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger Shushutto The Movie Princess Laina (Extraterrestrial Princess)
2004 The Big Slaughter Club: The Final Slaughter Misato (Telekinetic School Girl)
2006 Tannka Special Appearance / Cameo
2007 trash words SKIP CITY INTERNATIONAL D-Cinema FESTIVAL, Short Film Nominee Naomi (College Office Worker)
2008 Wakuraba Nagarete (Rolling Stone) Teco (Cafe Waitress)
2008 Tokyo Neo Mahiya (1-3) Sona (Korean Gang Member)
2008 Aihyôka: Chimanako (Cursed Songs: The Bloodshot) Kaya (Marine Researcher)
2008 Immoral Kaneko Kazuhara (Police Sergeant)
2008 Kiseki no Umi (The Ocean of Miracles) Akemi (School Teacher)
2009 Aihyôka: Numeri (Cursed Songs: The Book Of The New Spawn) Kaya (Marine Researcher)
2010 The Coach: 40 Year-Old Figure Skater Sanae Katagiri (Ice Skater)
2013 Zeus no Houtei (Court of Zeus) Zuzumoto (business woman / character witness)
2014 Nôka no yome: Anata ni aitakute (Farmer's Bride: Wanting to See You) Kei (Bar Hostess)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 Juukou B-Fighter Mina Episode 16 / TV Asahi
1995 Papa Survival TBS
1995 Heart ni S Episode 19 "Doctor" / Fuji Televsision
1995 Mokuyono Kaidan・Kaiki Club Fuji Televsision
1995 Ninshin desuyo 2 Fuji Televsision
1996 Shori no Megami Ryoko Okamoto Fuji Televsision
1996 Tokyo 23 Ku no Onna, Meguroku no Onnai Fuji Televsision
1996 Yonimo Kimyona Monogatari, Autumn 96' Special: Kabe no Shosetsu Fuji Televsision
1996 Fuyuno Hotaru NHK
1997 Shin-D "Too Young!! Nihon Televsision
1997 TV Novel: Aguri Machiko Yamaoka NHK
1997 Sorega Kotaeda! Noriko Ishihara Fuji Televsision
1998 Days Yuriko Takeuchi Fuji Televsision
1998 Shonen・15: Kireteshimatta Kokoro Sakebi  TV Asahi
1998 Shonentachi Rika NHK
1999 Seven Samurai, J-ke no hanran Episode 7 / Asahi Broadcast
2000 Kino no Teki wa kyono Tomo Miki Ogawa NHK
2000-2001 Tekkouki Mikazuki Luna Tical Fuji Televsision
2001 Kochira Daisan Syakaibu Mei Kikuhara TBS
2002 Moshichino Jikenbo Fushigisoushi Oshino NHK
2002 Shio Karubi Episode 2 / TV Kanagawa & Kyoto Broadcast
2003 Onyado Kawasemi NHK
2004 Reikan Bus Guide Jikenbo Yumi Toda Episode 10 / TV Asahi
2005 Mito Kōmon Episode 35 / TBS
2006 Tsunagareta Ashita Akemi Nakamichi NHK
2006 Kaikan Shokunin Chiharu Harajima Episode 5 / TV Asahi
2006 Tobosha Orin Mai Episode 4 / TV Tokyo
2007 Kagerō no Tsuji Inemuri Iwane Edo Zōshi Okane Episode 6 / NHK
2008 Mitsumei Kangetusumigiri Oyu Episode 2 & 5 / TV Tokyo
2008 Otome Masayo Episode 40 / TV Asahi
2008 Kippari!! Kasumi Yamada Episode 10-24 / TBS
2010 Hanchô: Jinnansho Azumihan Saori Yuki Season 3, Episode 7 / TBS
2012 Garo: Makai Senki Spell Master Mio Episode 19 / TBS
2012 Don't Shoot Me Mr! - Untold Stories of Gravure Models Sayaka Yoshino Episode 7 / TV Tokyo

Video Games & Animation

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Year Title Role Notes
1999 Momotarou Dentetsu V Appears as herself Hudson
2005 Grandia III Dana (Voice) Square Enix
2008 Michiko & Hatchin Rita Ozzetti (Voice) Fuji TV Affiliate

Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
1998 Big -dreams come true- Cynthia a Fuji Television 40 Anniversary Production
1998 S.C.NANSHO Flag-Raising Performance: Funk-a-Step Sayaka Yoshino (herself) a Fuji Television & Nippon Broadcasting Production
2003 Netorare Sosuke Suzuko Written by Kōhei Tsuka, Directed by Ginnojô Yamazaki
2004 Akane Sora Okimi Shinbashi Enbujō Performance, Written by Ichiriki Yamamoto, Directed by Toru Emori
2006 Tokyo Toshindai -her daily extra-ordinaries- Maiko a Spacecraft Group Production
2006 Angel Gate -Premonition of Spring- Mami Written &, Directed by Yoshikazu Yokoyama, a Fuji TV & Tokyo FM Production
2007 Teo Agero! Kenko Gotoda Asuka Tsunku Town Theater 2nd Performance / a TNX Production
2007 Angel Gate Mami Written &, Directed by Sayaka Asai, a Fuji TV Production
2007 Arashi no Yoru ni Mei Written by Yuuichi Kimura, Directed by Yoshikazu Yokoyama, a Baku Enterprise Production
2008 Hanabana shiki Ichizoku Kyoko Hiyoshi Written by Kaoru Morimoto, Directed by Fukuko Ishii, a TV Asahi & CAT Production
2009 Romantic Life Mariya Nakagami (a Transgender Female) Written by Akie Yoshikawa, Directed by Hirokazu Yamaguchi, a Butchy Musha Production
2009 Tokyo Alice Liliko Otoichi Written by Chiya Toriko, Directed by Ayako Ooki, a Upfront & Spacecraft Production
2010 Hanabana shiki Ichizoku Kyoko Hiyoshi Director Fukuko Ishii, a Nippon Broadcasting & CAT Production
2011 Ekoda Sketch Time Traveller Writer & Director Kaoru Asakura, a Bunka Tsushin 60th Anniversary Production
2015 Kurokute Akai Hana Akemi Writer & Director Kazushige Itoh, Theater Green Production

References

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  1. ^ "After Life (film) List of Awards". IMDB.
  2. ^ "Legendary Gravure Idol "Sayaka Yoshino", had married an American" (in Japanese). Smart Flash.
  3. ^ "Hello From Earth, Official Channel by Sayaka Yoshino". Amestage.
  4. ^ "One Love, Special Interview with Sayaka Yoshino" (in Japanese). One Love.
  5. ^ "Sayaka Yoshino, Official Blog". Ameblo Blog.
  6. ^ "Actress Sayaka Yoshino nearly complete with the High School Graduation Certificate Test, Will She become a College Girl?" (in Japanese). Livedoor News. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  7. ^ "Passed the High School Graduation Certificate Test☆" (in Japanese). Ameblo Blogs.
  8. ^ "Original Chaidol, Sayaka Yoshino is married" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  9. ^ "Actress Yoshino Sayaka Announces her marriage". Tokyo Hive. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  10. ^ "Sayaka Yoshino has wedding ceremony and is "full of happiness"" (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun Digital. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  11. ^ "吉野紗香、第1子男児出産を報告「夫婦に待望のベイビー、ナユタセナくんが誕生」". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
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