Takako Matsu - Life and Career

Life and Career

Takako debuted in theater when she was sixteen years old, in Ninjō-banashi: Bunshichi Mottoi at Tokyo Kabuki-za in 1993. Her first lead role in television was in the NHK Drama Hana no Ran (Child's part) in 1994, and she also starred in NHK Drama Kula in following 1995. Afterwards, she increased in succession the number of lead role appearances in theater and television drama, becoming preeminent as a young actress.

Because Shirayuri Gakuen, her high school, prohibited working in the entertainment industry, she transferred to Horikoshi High School. At that time, Tsuyoshi Domoto of Kinki Kids, two years her junior, was at the school and remarked, “Matsu was excellent”.

In 1996, she appeared on the drama Long Vacation starring Takuya Kimura of SMAP, following matriculating to college. She was a supporting role, but, began to establish in full-scale her position as an actress because the drama was a major hit. In the same year, she hosted the 47th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen at the age of 19, making her the youngest ever to host the show, making 1996 a year of rapid progress for her.

In 1997, she debuted with the single, Ashita, haru ga kitara. She appeared on NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen again as a singer on the last day of the year. In the same year, she starred opposite Takuya Kimura on the drama Love Generation, which she played a lead role with Takuya Kimura and the drama was a great hit again.

In 2001, she starred in Hero with Takuya Kimura again and the drama was a great success.

In 2003, she has also published a photo essay book, Matsu no Hitorigoto, through Asahi Shinbun Publishers.

In September, 2004, she released Toki no Fune which was composed by the Japanese singer Akeboshi. It is similar to his song, A nine days' wonder, which was released after the Toki no Fune single. The single also contains a cover of Akeboshi's White reply previously recorded on her sixth album, Harvest Songs.

In late 2004, she won the Best Actress of the Year of the 29th Hochi Film Award and the 28th Japan Academy Prize at the same time for The Hidden Blade.

In July 2006, Matsu and Kimura starred in a special one night edition of Hero. While a remake of this drama has been refused for years, some believed that recent surge of white collar crimes and arrests such as that of Livedoor president Takafumi Horie had inspired the demand for a special production.

In October 2006, Matsu was in a weekly drama for the first time in over three years titled Yakusha Damashii for FNN alongside 73-year old actor Makoto Fujita, a family friend. While Fujita was quite excited at his first work with Matsu, she stated earlier that she was quite attracted by his performance ability.

In May 2007, Matsu kicked off her third concert tour to commemorate her tenth year as a singer. In her Tokyo stop on June 21, she reflected that although it has been a decade, it is not appropriate for her to compare against other artists who have done nothing but music in the same time period. She also performed the song, A Piece of Life, on the keyboard in a duet with a violinist. Fans who attended the concerts included famous people such as singer/songwriter Mariya Takeuchi and actress Eriko Sato.

In releasing her latest album, I Cherish in 2007, the song Ashita Haru ga Kitara was redone to combine Matsu's voice as a 20 year old with her current one. As of now, she has released nineteen singles and ten albums (of which, seven are original studio albums), achieving success as a singer.