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Yû Aoi

Yû Aoi

Actor · Born August 17, 1985 (41) · Kasuga, Fukuoka, Japan

Yu Aoi (蒼井優) is a Japanese actress and model born on August 17, 1985. She made her film debut as Shiori Tsuda in Shunji Iwai's 2001 film All About Lily Chou-Chou. She subsequently portrayed Tetsuko Arisugawa in Hana and Alice (2004), also directed by Iwai, Kimiko Tanigawa in the hula dancing film Hula Girls and Hagumi Hanamoto in the 2006 live-action adaptation of the popular Honey and Clover manga series. She has won numerous awards for her performances on screen, including the prestigious Japan Academy Prize and Kinema Junpo Awards for best supporting actress in 2007 for Hula Girls and Rookie of the Year for continued performances in the field of Films in Media and Fine Arts by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan in 2009.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 17, 1985 (41)
From
Kasuga, Fukuoka, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
45 on MovieCove · 113 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 66% in 30 days

What are Yû Aoi's films like?

Across their 41 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 92nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
32%
Bonds
22%
Morality
14%
Survival
14%
Society
13%
Power
3%
Ideas
2%
Identity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose8 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 37 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 14 · Serious 11 · Dark 12

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 17 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 8

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 8 · Charged 17 · Intense 12

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 23 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 24 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 19 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 14 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 8 · Affecting 19 · Heavy 10

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 19 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 9

Roles they play

22 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 8 of 22 analyzed roles.

Ally
8 of 22
Hero
5 of 22
Herald
4 of 22
Mentor
3 of 22
Trickster
1 of 22
Shadow
1 of 22
Show the 22 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
23
Warm
17
Tense
14
Contemplative
15
Joyful
8
Other
29

How their films linger

Feel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet20
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous10

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Yû Aoi's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 45 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Yû Aoi's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

113 credits, 45 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • In My Father's Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    as Satomi

  • Until the T-Shirt Dries(2026)

    Show 10 episodes · as Sakiko Seo

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Human Vapor(2026)

    Show 8 episodes · as Kyoko Kono

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Tokyo Taxi(2025)

    as Young Sumire

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Meets the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Yuki

  • How Dare You? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Keiko Ueda

  • Go! Anpanman: Chapon’s Hero! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Chapon (voice)

  • Asura(2025)

    Show 7 episodes · as Takiko

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • FRONTIERS (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 2 episodes · as Narrator

  • Gekijôban Shirubania Famirî: Furea kara no okurimono(2023)

    as Teri Chocolate (voice)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Boogie Woogie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 127 episodes · as Reiko Yamato

  • Dr. Coto's Clinic(2022)

    as Mina Nakai

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Shikatanakatta to Yuute wa Ikan Nodesu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Fusako Torii

  • Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part I - The Final(2021)

    as Megumi Takani

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Ora, Ora Be Goin' Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Momoko

  • Wife of a Spy(2020)

    as Satoko Fukuhara

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • 戦争童画集 ～75年目のショートストーリー～ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Actor

  • Romance Doll(2020)

    as Sonoko Kitamura

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • From Miyamoto to You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Yasuko Nakano

  • They Say Nothing Stays the Same(2019)

    as Geisha

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Children of the Sea(2019)

    as Kanako Azumi (voice)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • A Long Goodbye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Fumi Higashi

  • Killing(2018)

    as Yu

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • このマンガがすごい！ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 12 episodes · as navigator

  • Penguin Highway(2018)

    as Onē-san (voice)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • What a Wonderful Family! 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Noriko Mamiya

  • From Miyamoto to You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 12 episodes · as 中野靖子

  • Birds Without Names(2017)

    as Towako Kitahara

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Mixed Doubles(2017)

    as Yo

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • My High School Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 10 episodes · as Chihiro Mashiba

  • Tokyo Ghoul(2017)

    as Rize Kamishiro

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Hello, Detective Hedgehog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 10 episodes · as Setsuko Kawai

  • What a Wonderful Family(2017)

    as Noriko Mamiya

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Haruko Azumi Is Missing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Haruko Azumi

  • Over the Fence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Satoshi Tamura

  • What a Wonderful Family!(2016)

    as Noriko Mamiya

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Song FUKUYAMA (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Journey to the Shore(2015)

    as Tomoko

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Rintaro, Psychiatrist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as 梦乃

  • The Murder Case of Hana & Alice(2015)

    as Tetsuko "Alice" Arisugawa (voice)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends(2014)

    as Megumi Takani

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno(2014)

    as Megumi Takani

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • All About My Siblings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 11 episodes · as Azusa Sawabe

  • Climbing to Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Ai Takazawa

  • MOZU (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 5 episodes · as Shiori Nanami

  • Zipang Punk Goemon Rock III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Neko no me o gin

  • 四代目市川猿之助 斬新という宿命 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Harlock: Space Pirate(2013)

    as Miime (voice)

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Penance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Sae Kikuchi

  • NHK for School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 20 episodes · Actor

  • The Farthest Galaxy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Misato Ebata / Akane Seike

  • Tokyo Family(2013)

    as Noriko Mamiya

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Double Face: gisō keisatsu-hen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins(2012)

    as Megumi Takani

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Penance(2012)

    Show 5 episodes · as Sae Kikuchi

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Fukushima Hula Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • By Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • Vampire(2011)

    as Mina

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Patisserie Coin De Rue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Natsume Usuba

  • The Lightning Tree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Rai / Yu

  • Detective Lovesick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Setsuko Konuma

  • Flowers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Rin

  • Nodame Cantabile: The Movie II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Jadwiga (voice)

  • About Her Brother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Koharu Takano

  • Ryōmaden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 48 episodes · as Omoto

  • Miyori's Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Miyori (voice)

  • Redline(2009)

    as Sonoshee McLaren (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Good Bye, My Secret Friend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Narrator

  • Honokaa Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Kaoru

  • Tokyo!(2008)

    as Pizza-Delivery Girl (segment "Shaking Tokyo")

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • One Million Yen Girl(2008)

    as Suzuko Sato

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Osen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 10 episodes · as Sen Handa

  • Aoi Yū × Yottsu no Uso Camouflage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 12 episodes · as Chika/Makoto/Umeko/Suzuko

  • Don't Laugh at My Romance(2007)

    as En

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Best Wishes for Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Kazuko Moribe

  • Welcome to the Quiet Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Miki

  • Galileo(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Kanbara Atsuko

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Mushi-Shi: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Tanyu

  • Tekkonkinkreet(2006)

    as Shiro (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Rainbow Song(2006)

    as Kana Sato

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Sugar & Spice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Girl on the Bus

  • Hula Girls(2006)

    as Kimiko Tanikawa

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Honey & Clover(2006)

    as Hagu

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Yamato(2005)

    as Taeko

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Henshin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Kei Hamura

  • Shining Boy & Little Randy(2005)

    as Emi Murakami

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Kame wa igai to hayaku oyogu(2005)

    as Kujaku Ogitani

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Letters from Nirai Kanai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Fuki Asato

  • Tiger & Dragon(2005)

    Show 11 episodes · as Risa

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Tetsujin 28: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Mami Tachibana

  • 呪戒-JUKAI- (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Filming H&A (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Tiger & Dragon Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Risa

  • Umineko(2004)

    as Miya Noda

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Nanako and Nanao: the Day They Became Sister and Brother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Nanako

  • Tales of the Bizarre: 2004 Fall Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Hana & Alice(2004)

    as Tetsuko Arisugawa (Alice)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Diary from the Past (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Mask de 41 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Haruka Kuramochi

  • 1980 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Rika Hashiba

  • Worst by Chance(2003)

    as Harada's Girlfriend

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • 14ヶ月〜妻が子供に還っていく〜 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dr. Coto's Clinic(2003)

    Show 11 episodes · as 仲依ミナ

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • 演技者 狂い咲きヴァージンロード (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Hana & Alice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 3 episodes · as Alice

  • Kou Kou Kyoushi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 11 episodes · as Ezawa Mami

  • The Summer Promise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • All About "All About Lily Chou-Chou" (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • Harmful Insect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Natsuko Yamaoka

  • Olfactogram (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • Blue and White Make Light Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Shiina Kasumi

  • All About Lily Chou-Chou(2001)

    as Shiori Tsuda

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 113 titles, 112 of them dated from 1990 to 2026; peak year 2007.

Biggest box office

Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno (2014)

$53M worldwide

Highest rated

Redline (2009)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Human Vapor (2026)

Film career

19902026

Peak 2007 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 17 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting113 of 113: 113 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score70th

By decade

1990s1 · acting2000s47 · acting2010s47 · acting2020s17 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 16% of 37 roles
01061116

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Yû Aoi's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 72nd percentile, the median of all 38; across their 37 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 75th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Reach · how many have seen their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 37

Midcredits score across 45 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up19
  • 50th to 74th20
  • 25th to 49th6

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 45 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

Vampire (2011)

69th percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Redline (2009)

Midcredits 96th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 32 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 43. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Yû Aoi's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles45–85 · median 78 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles9–57 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 64 · intenseMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 38 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles58–85 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Yû Aoi work with?

People who share at least 2 of Yû Aoi's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tsuyoshi Imai shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles