Nanako Matsushima
Known for
Nanako Matsushima, born in Yokohama in 1973, is one of the defining Japanese actresses of the late 1990s and 2000s. She burst into national fame as the teacher of Great Teacher Onizuka (1998) and the fragile heroine of the horror landmark Ringu (1998), the film that carried J-horror around the world. She followed with hits like the workplace drama Yamato Nadeshiko (2000) and stayed a fixture of prime-time drama into later years. Trained in modeling before acting, she brought a poised, quietly modern screen presence that has aged into strong mother and mentor roles.
Nanako Matsushima
16 Movies
24 Series
Nanako Matsushima, born in Yokohama in 1973, is one of the defining Japanese actresses of the late 1990s and 2000s. She burst into national fame as the teacher of Great Teacher Onizuka (1998) and the fragile heroine of the horror landmark Ringu (1998), the film that carried J-horror around the world. She followed with hits like the workplace drama Yamato Nadeshiko (2000) and stayed a fixture of prime-time drama into later years. Trained in modeling before acting, she brought a poised, quietly modern screen presence that has aged into strong mother and mentor roles.
Movies
Plays Reiko Asakawa
Ring
1998
Plays Yoriko Sasaki (voice)
When Marnie Was There
2014
Plays Reiko Asakawa
Ring 2
1999
Plays Hisako
Grave of the Fireflies
2005
Plays Hiromi Asai
The Crimes That Bind
2018
Plays Tsubaki Dōmyōji
Hana Yori Dango: Final
2008
Plays Tamayo Nonomiya
Murder of the Inugami Clan
2006
Plays Reika Watanabe
The Great Yokai War: Guardians
2021
Plays Nozomi Kiryu
AI Amok
2020
Plays Chiaki Hirakawa
Whiteout
2000
Plays Eliza (voice)
Jungle Emperor: Courage Changes the Future
2009
Plays Machida Momoka
The World of Machida-kun
2019
Plays Fumika Nonomura
Fireworks, Ferris Wheels and Love
1997
Plays Nanami Hoshino
Ghost
2010
TV Shows
Plays Nozomi Minamida
Himawari
1996
Plays Tomiko Yanai
Anpan
2025
Plays Matsu
Toshiie and Matsu
2002
Plays 小島楓（こじま かえで） 演 - 松嶋菜々子
Emergency Room 24 Hours
1999
Plays Domyoji Tsubaki
BOYS OVER FLOWERS
2005
Plays Azusa Fuyutsuki
GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka
1998
Plays Michi Hirose
Forbidden Love
1999
Plays Jinno Sakurako
Perfect Woman
2000
Plays Fujitani Mahiro
Sweet Season
1998
Plays Akari Mita
I'm Mita, Your Housekeeper
2011
Plays Egi Toko
Ice World
1999
Plays Nitta Shizuka
Kissing the Ring Finger
2023
Plays Toko Fujisaki
Lucky Seven
2012
Plays Sasaki Yumiko
Tower of Sand
2016
Creator
Plays Natsuko Kira
Natsuko Kira
2016
Plays Yoriko Michio（道尾 頼子）
Neighbor Chikara
2022
Plays Yoneda Seiko
One in a Million: Tax Squad
2026
Plays Shoko Tachikawa
Nozaki Shuhei - Auditor of Bank
2018
Plays Shoko Tachikawa
Nozaki Shuhei President of Bank
2020
Plays Main Role
The Story of One Century
2000
Plays 希代
Red Cross
2015
Plays 노조미 사사키
夢の本屋をめぐる冒険
2020
Plays Azusa Fuyutsuki
GTO (2026)
2026
Plays Azusa Fuyutsuki
GTOスペシャル座談会
1998
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
The Great Yokai War: Guardians
Full Filmography
One in a Million: Tax Squad
Yoneda Seiko · 9 episodes
2026
TV
GTO (2026)
Azusa Fuyutsuki · 2 episodes
2026–
TV
Anpan
Tomiko Yanai · 130 episodes
2025–
TV
Kissing the Ring Finger
Nitta Shizuka · 10 episodes
2023
TV
Neighbor Chikara
Yoriko Michio（道尾 頼子） · 9 episodes
2022
TV
The Great Yokai War: Guardians
Reika Watanabe
2021
Film
Nozaki Shuhei President of Bank
Shoko Tachikawa · 5 episodes
2020
TV
夢の本屋をめぐる冒険
노조미 사사키 · 2 episodes
2020
TV
America ni Makenakatta Otoko - Bakayaro Souri Yoshida Shigeru
Kiyo Yoshida
2020
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Nanako Matsushima and where are they from?
Nanako Matsushima is 52 years old, born on October 13, 1973 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
What are the most famous roles of Nanako Matsushima?
Nanako Matsushima is best known for roles in When Marnie Was There, Ring, Ring 2.
How many movies has Nanako Matsushima been in?
Over a 30-year career (since 1996), Nanako Matsushima has appeared in 16 movies and 24 TV shows.
What was Nanako Matsushima's first movie?
The career of Nanako Matsushima began with Dramatic Travelogue: Midnight Express ’96 – Torrid Asia (1996).
What is Nanako Matsushima's most recent movie or series?
Nanako Matsushima's most recent release is GTO (2026), which premiered on July 20, 2026.
What TV shows has Nanako Matsushima appeared in?
On television, Nanako Matsushima has appeared in BOYS OVER FLOWERS, GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka, Furuhata Ninzaburo, I'm Mita, Your Housekeeper.
Nanako Matsushima
1973-10-13 · Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Nanako Matsushima (松嶋 菜々子 Matsushima Nanako, born October 13, 1973 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actress and model. She is known outside Japan for her role in the horror film Ring. She was also a main character in A Story of Love, where she starred next to Hiroyuki Sanada, who also played Ryuji Takayama in Ring.
On February 21, 2001, she married Takashi Sorimachi who co-starred with her in Great Teacher Onizuka. They have two daughters together, born on May 31, 2004 and November 30, 2007.Nanako Matsushima, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.