Satsuki Shimabukuro (born May 28, 1988), better known by her stage name Meisa Kuroki is a Japanese actress, model and singer born in Nago, Okinawa, Japan. She is represented by the agency Sweet Power and is signed to Sony Music Japan. Among others, she has modeled for the popular Japanese fashion magazine JJ and is the current Japanese representative for Giorgio Armani. She has appeared in numerous television dramas, commercials, films, and stage productions.

Early life

Born to a Japanese mother and a father of half-Japanese and half-Latin American descent, as the youngest of four sisters, she was discovered by a fashion scout while at the second year of junior high in Okinawa. She subsequently began modeling, initially modeling exclusively for the popular fashion magazine JJ. While studying at the Okinawa Actors School, she was a member of the school's B.B. Waves group, graduating in 2007.

Career

In February 2004, Kuroki made her acting debut and first starring role in the plays Kita-ku Tsuka K<#333;hei Gekidan Butai and Atami Satsujin Jiken Pyonyang Kara Kita Onna Keiji respectively. Since her debut, she has continued to perform in theater, films and television dramas. In 2006, she starred in Chakushin Ari: Final, the final movie in the Chakushin Ari series. In 2007, she received the Newcomer of the Year award at the prestigious 44th Annual Golden Arrow Awards. During the same year she appeared in Fumihiko Sori's CGI anime film Vexille. Kuroki has also appeared with her close friend Maki Horikita on the photobooks missmatch: Maki Horikita x Meisa Kuroki x Kishin Shinoyama (photographed by Kishin Shinoyama) and short film: Kimi no Yubisaki. In 2009, Kuroki was chosen as the Japanese face of international fashion brand Emporio Armani, also appearing in numerous events for the brand worldwide. She also starred in Dance, Subaru!, the live action film adaptation of Masahito Soda's manga Subaru, which was produced by the noted film producer Bill Kong, and Assault Girls, directed by Mamoru Oshii. In 2010, Kuroki was chosen as the international face of French cosmetic brand L'Oréal.

Music

Kuroki performed on the soundtrack of her 2007 movie Crows Zero, which she had also appeared in. On June 21, 2008, her debut single, "Like This," was released on Sony Music Records. It was soon announced on February 17, 2009 that Kuroki's first mini-album, Hellcat, would be released on April 8, 2009. Her second album and first EP, Attitude, was released in January 2010.

AlbumsYear Album information Oricon
albums
chart
[6] Reported
sales
[7]
2009 Hellcat
Released: April 8, 2009
Label: Sony (SRCL-6996/7)
Formats: CD, digital download 9 20,000
2011 Magazine
Released: January 26, 2011
Label: Sony (SRCL-7522)
Formats: CD, digital download 6 27,000

Extended playYear Album information Oricon
albums
chart
[6] Reported
sales
[7]
2010 Attitude
Released: January 1, 2010
Label: Sony (SRCL-7197)
Formats: CD, digital download 49 7,000

SinglesRelease Title Notes Chart positions Oricon
sales
[7] Album
Oricon singles chart
[6] Billboard Japan Hot 100
[8] RIAJ digital tracks
[9]
2008 "Like This" Digital download — — — — Hellcat
2009 "Bad Girl" Promotional single — 81 15 —
"Shock (Unmei)" Debut physical single 25 84 13 9,100 Magazine
2010 "5 (Five)" 23 — 27 5,600
"LOL!" 12 62 4 12,000
2011 "One More Drama" 18 — 20 5,300 TBA
"Wired Life / Upgrade U"[10] TBA TBA TBA TBA

Soundtrack / OST
2007: Crows Zero Soundtrack (Under the stage name, Ruka) (#4 "Rock U (Movie Ver.)", #10 "Hero Lives in You (Short Ver.)")
2009: Crows Zero II Original Soundtrack (#7 "Bad Girl" Movie Ver.)

Music Videos# Year Name
1. 2008 Like This
2. 2009 Bad Girl
3. 2009 Criminal
4. 2009 Shock (Unmei)
5. 2010 Are Ya Ready?
6. 2010 5 (Five)
7. 2010 LOL!
8. 2011 One More Drama
9. 2011 Wired Life
10. 2011 Upgrade U!

Dramas
Year Broadcast Title Role Notes
2004 Fuji TV Medaka Asuka Yoshizumi
Fuji TV Hont<#333; ni Atta Kowai Hanashi Saig<#333; no Message Television special
2005 TBS Koi Suru Nichiyobi Ruka Kashiwagi
2006 TBS Aru Ai no Uta Television special, lead role
2007 TV Asahi Byakkotai Sayoko Asai Television special
Fuji TV Haikei, Chichiue-sama Naomi Karasawa
TV Asahi Seito Shokun! Y<#363;ko Sonoi Episode 1 guest appearance
2008 NTV 1 Pound no Fukuin Sister Angela
WOWOW Tobira wa Tozasareta Mama Television special, lead role
Fuji TV Kaze no Garden Rui Shiratori
TV Asahi Danso no Reijin Yoshiko Kawashima (age 14-35) Television special, lead role
2009 Fuji TV Chance! Saori Tamaki
Fuji TV Ninkyo Helper Riko Yomogi
2010 Fuji TV Saigo no Yakusoku Yuriko Niimi Television special
TBS Shinzanmono Aoyama Ami
Films
Year Title Role Notes
2005 Onaji Tsuki o Miteiru Emi Sugiyama
2006 Kamyu Nante Shiranai Rei
Chakushin Ari: Final Emily Kusama
Tada, Kimi wo Aishiteru Miyuki Toyama
2007 Taitei no Ken Botan
Crows Zero Ruka Aizawa Directed by Takashi Miike
Vexille: 2077 Nihon Sakoku Vexille Voice
2009 Dance, Subaru! Miyamoto Subaru
Crows Zero 2 Ruka Aizawa
Assault Girls Grey Directed by Mamoru Oshii
2010 Yazima Beauty Salon the Movie: Yume wo Tsukama Nevada Raspberry Starring the Yazima Beauty Salon
Space Battleship Yamato Yuki Mori

Album reviews

Most searched Kuroki Meisa lyrics 1)  Hero Lives In You