is a Japanese actress and singer. She has an older sister named Ai Maeda. She is perhaps best known in the west for her role as Noriko Nakagawa in the controversial 2000 film Battle Royale, which she reprised for its sequel Battle Royale II: Requiem. She graduated from Hosei University in 2008. Filmography Films Gamera 2: Attack of Legion, (1996) School Ghost Stories 2, (1996), Nanako Imai School Ghost Stories 3, (1997), Mayuko Fujii Pride (1998), Kimie Tōjō Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys, (1999) Battle Royale, (2000) High School Girl's Friend, (2001) Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, (2001) Genji: A Thousand-Year Love, (2002) Battle Royale II: Requiem, (2003) Out of This World, (2004) Linda Linda Linda, (2005), Kyoko Harami, (2005) Saishuu Heiki Kanojo (Saikano), (2006) Mizu ni Sumu Hana, (2006) 4 Shimai Tantei Dan, (2008) Aokigahara, (2012) I Never Shot Anyone, (2020) A Madder Red, (2021) Kawa no Nagare ni (2021) Television Aoi Tokugawa Sandai, Sadako (2000) Fūrin Kazan, Ritsu (2007) Gochisōsan, Sakurako Muroi (2013) Shinya Shokudō, Sachiko's Sister (2014) Kuroshoin no Rokubei (2018), Tenshō-in Atsuhime The Return (2020) Anime Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-san, Comet (2001) The Cat Returns, Yuki (2002) Discography Studio albums 1999: Winter Tales 2000: Boys be... original soundtrack 2005: we are PARAN MAUM -- Paran Maum (as drummer) 2005: Linda Linda Linda original soundtrack (as drummer of Paran Maum) Singles 1999: Gomen Ne 2000: Daijōbu (part of the Boys be... original soundtrack) 2000: Genki no SHOWER (This song can also be found on the original Japanese Yu-Gi-Oh! anime soundtrack.) Awards 2001: Newcomer of the Year, Awards of the Japanese Academy: Battle Royale References External links Aki Maeda Fansite 1985 births Japanese film actresses Japanese television actresses Japanese voice actresses Living people 20th-century Japanese actresses 21st-century Japanese actresses Singers from Tokyo 21st-century Japanese singers