Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2010

JAPAN TODAY

Last year, Kou Shibasaki placed second to Meisa Kuroki in an internet poll asking 500 men and women which celebrities had the most attractive eyes. Many respondents also said they were struck by her alluring smile. These features have served the multitalented Shibasaki well as she carves out a name for herself as an actress, singer and spokesmodel for companies such as Toyota, Fujitsu and Kanebo.

This year has been particularly busy for the 29-year-old. For the first few months, she was on a nationwide singing tour, interspersed with frequent appearances back in Tokyo to promote two films and do product endorsements.

“I’ve been having some pretty full days recently,” Shibasaki said at a recent event to promote Fujitsu’s new 3D laptops. “Every day seems to bring a new challenge.”

Born in Tokyo, Shibasaki got her start in show business performing in TV commercials at the age of 14. Western audiences will know her mainly from her role as a sexy but cold-blooded killer in the 2000 cult film Battle Royale, and her award-winning portrayal of a Japanese girl in love with a Korean boy in the 2001 drama Go. Quentin Tarantino had also written a part for her in Kill Bill, as the twin sister of Chiaki Kuriyama’s Gogo Yubari, but the actress had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.

Shibasaki’s newest film is Ooku, an alternative history of medieval Japan in which an unknown disease kills most of the male population, leading to a matriarchal society where women outnumber men 4 to 1. Females hold all the important positions and men are their consorts. Shibasaki plays a shogun named Yoshimune who keeps a harem of handsome men. The film co-stars Kazunari Ninomiya, of boy band Arashi.

“It is a fresh look at Japan’s history,” said Shibasaki. “With the number of men so small, finding the right partner becomes a serious matter—much more so than in our modern society. Actually, the story is a bleak look at what our society might be like if the birthrate continues to decline.”

Shibasaki said she’s going to take a short break to recharge her musical batteries. Since launching her singing career in 2002, she’s scored many pop hits, among them “Tsuki no Shizuku,” “Hito Koi Meguri” and “Lover Soul,” and has embarked on domestic concert tours each year since 2007. Music is never far from Shibasaki’s mind. “I am always getting ideas for song lyrics and keep a notebook handy,” she said. “Nowadays, I take a laptop with me everywhere, because I have a stock of handwritten lyrics in it.”

Her ad for the new Fujitsu laptop can be seen in stores in 3D. “It’s the first time I have ever seen footage of myself in 3D. ‘Wow’ is all I can say. It’s quite amazing what 3D is doing to movies. Just simple things like a paper plane flying at you or flower petals fluttering about are wonderful.”

When she’s not working, Shibasaki said she likes to chill out at home and enjoys cooking, after honing her culinary skills last year while making the movie Shokudo Katatsumuri, in which she played a woman who returns to her hometown and opens an Indian restaurant. “My specialty is ehomaki,” she said, referring to a type of sushi made with seven “lucky” ingredients. The dish, traditionally eaten at Setsubun in February, is said to bring good fortune.

Looking ahead, Shibasaki revealed an unusual goal: she’d like to be able to communicate with animals better. “Wouldn’t it be fun to be able to talk with a horse while you were riding it?” she mused.

Chris Betros is the editor of Japan Today (www.japantoday.com).