Yû Aoi

If we take a look at the idol scene in Japan, we could see a lot of fleeting and of-the-moment stars that will probably just disappear as fast as they became popular. However, if you take a closer look, you’ll find actors that seem to have reached the peak of idol-hood and are simmering to become the next batch of respected actors. Included on this batch is Yu Aoi, born in August 17th 1985 in Kasuga, Fukuoka, Japan.

She debuted on Shunji Iwai’s 2001 film All About Lily Chou Chou, and subsequently worked with Iwai on the 2004 film Hana and Alice, which earned her a few awards for Best Actress. However, it was not until she worked on Hula Girls when recognition began pouring in.

Aoi has a handful of films under her belt, and is considered by many film lovers one of the best young actors coming out of Japan, even if she’s already a household name across Asia.