Yui Aragaki

Yui Aragaki

Born 1988-06-11 (age 37) Naha, Okinawa, Japan
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Biography

Yui Aragaki is a Japanese idol, model, actress, singer, seiyū and occasional radio show host. She is most well-known for her role in the 2007 movie "Koizora" (also known as "Sky of Love") which was a box office hit.

Yui Aragaki was born in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture on June 11, 1988, and has two older sisters. After seeing an audition notice for the junior fashion magazine Nicola (ニコラ Nikora), she applied for it and won the Grand Prix award for the audition. In 2001, at the age of 13, she began her Nicola modelling career and was very well received as a Nicola model, having set a record for appearing on cover for 15 times. A fellow Nicola model Ayako Enomoto gave her the popular nickname "Gakki."

At the age of 15, Aragaki moved to Tokyo and enrolled in Horikoshi High School, a private high school popular for being attended by many Japanese celebrities. In 2004, she decided to put her Nicola career on hold and expand her career path into gravure and acting, and she also appeared in variety shows and commercials, with her Pocky commercials being the most popular. A year later, she officially graduated from Nicola. Even so, she still appears in the magazine occasionally.

In 2005, Aragaki took up a role in the TBS drama, Dragon Sakura, starring alongside Japanese idols like Tomohisa Yamashita and Masami Nagasawa. This marked a breakthrough in her acting career. Since then, she has been cast in many other dramas, like My Boss, My Hero and Gal Circle. She also starred in the 2007 tragic love story movie hit Koizora, for which she won her first award, the Nikkan Sports Film Award for Best Newcomer. Currently, she has 5 newcomer awards.

Aragaki won the Film prize at the 45th Golden Arrow Awards in 2008. Her tremendous number of movie shoots as well as the preparation for her debut album resulted in her suffering from work-related stress in 2007.

Outside acting she also released her first album, Sora, and the single "Heavenly Days", a song from Koizora. "Memories", the theme song for Tokyo Serendipity, was included in her debut album. She also performed at Budokan.

She was also the co-hosts for popular radio program Girls Locks in 2010-2012.

Photos

Known For

The Colors Within
The Colors Within

2024

as Sister Hiyoko (voice)

Code Blue: The Movie
Code Blue: The Movie

2018

as Megumi Shiraishi

Ranma ½
Ranma ½

2011

as Akane Tendo

Ghost Book
Ghost Book

2022

as Teacher Yoko

Sky of Love
Sky of Love

2007

as Tahara Mika

Have a Song on Your Lips
Have a Song on Your Lips

2015

as Yuri Kashiwaga

Mixed Doubles
Mixed Doubles

2017

as Tamako Tomita

Dogwood Tree
Dogwood Tree

2010

as Sae Hirasawa

The Wings of the Kirin
The Wings of the Kirin

2012

as Kaori Nakahara

Waruboro
Waruboro

2007

as Yamada

Worlds Apart
Worlds Apart

2024

as Makio Kōdai

Ballad
Ballad

2009

as Princess Renheme

Legal High 2 SP
Legal High 2 SP

2014

as Machiko Mayuzumi

Twilight: Saya in Sasara
(Ab)normal Desire
(Ab)normal Desire

2023

as Natsuki Kiryu

Legal High SP
Legal High SP

2013

as Machiko Mayuzumi

I Don't Want to Kidnap Anyone Anymore