Reiko Kataoka (片岡 礼子), born on December 20, 1971, in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, is a versatile actress whose career spans over three decades. She gained critical acclaim for her role as Asako Fujikura in Ryōsuke Hashiguchi’s 2001 film Hush!, a poignant exploration of unconventional family dynamics. Her performance earned her the Best Actress award at the 45th Blue Ribbon Awards in 2003, as well as recognition from the Kinema Junpo Awards . Kataoka’s early filmography includes notable roles in A Touch of Fever (1993), A New Love in Tokyo (1994), and Kamikaze Taxi (1995), where she portrayed Tama, a prostitute entangled in a gangster’s quest for revenge .
Throughout her career, Kataoka has demonstrated remarkable range, appearing in a variety of genres from intense dramas to fantasy narratives. She played Mitsuko’s mother in the cult classic Battle Royale (2000) and took on the role of Aiko Kawauchi in the 2021 fantasy drama Ring Wandering, which delves into Tokyo’s hidden war-torn past . Her recent work includes performances in Intolerance (2021) as Midori Nakayama and Goodbye Cruel World (2022) as Midori . Kataoka’s enduring presence in the Japanese film industry underscores her adaptability and commitment to her craft.
