Biography
Who is Keiko Kitagawa?
Early life in Kobe
Keiko Kitagawa was born on August 22, 1986, in Kobe, Japan. As a child, she experienced the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995 and lost many friends during the disaster. Early in her childhood, she wanted to pursue a career as a doctor. By the time she reached high school, her future plans became uncertain. During this period, a talent agency scouted her, leading her to look at the entertainment industry.
Her parents initially opposed her entry into the entertainment world. They eventually granted their permission under two strict conditions. She had to agree to give up if she made no progress within one year. They also required her to prioritize her studies and graduate from university. She successfully graduated from Meiji University in Tokyo in March 2009.
Modeling career
Within a week of joining an agency, Keiko Kitagawa was selected for modeling and acting work. She became Miss Seventeen in 2003 and started working as an exclusive model for the Japanese Seventeen magazine. Her modeling run with the publication lasted from late 2003 until she graduated from the magazine in September 2006. During the latter part of her time there, she hosted a regular feature titled Keiko's Beauty Honey.
She decided to quit modeling after leaving the magazine to focus entirely on acting. This transition followed her early film work and the influence of director Yoshimitsu Morita during the production of Mamiya Kyodai.
Acting highlights
Keiko Kitagawa secured her first acting role as Sailor Mars in the live action television show Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon from 2003 to 2004. Her first significant film role was in Mamiya Kyodai. She subsequently appeared in several films, including The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift in 2006, Handsome Suit in 2008, and Orion in Midsummer in 2009.
She also took on leading roles in numerous television dramas. Her television credits include Mop Girl in 2007, Homeroom on the Beachside in 2008, Buzzer Beat in 2009, Lady Saigo no Hanzai Profile in 2011, and Akumu-chan in 2012. In 2016, she won the Japanese Television Academy Award for Best Actress for her work in Ie Uru Onna.
Personal life and family
Keiko Kitagawa moved to Tokyo when she began her career as an actress and model, and she has continued to live there. She traveled to California to film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and later returned there to study English for a couple of months in early 2006. She describes herself as a stay-at-home person who enjoys watching DVDs, listening to music, and reading books.
In 2016, she married singer-songwriter Daigo. She announced her first pregnancy on April 22, 2020, and gave birth to her daughter on September 7 of that same year. On January 31, 2024, she gave birth to a son, following a joint announcement with her husband regarding their second child in September 2023.
Birthday and age
Keiko Kitagawa was born on August 22, 1986, which makes Keiko 40 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Keiko shares the date with 24 other famous people.
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