Takako Matsu , is a Japanese actress and pop singer/songwriter.
Takako debuted in theater when she was sixteen years old, in Ninjō-banashi: Bunshichi Mottoi at Tokyo Kabuki-za in 1993. Her first lead role in television was in the NHK Drama Hana no Ran (Child’s part) in 1994, and she also starred in NHK Drama Kura in 1995. Because Shirayuri Gakuen, her high school, prohibited working in the entertainment industry, she transferred to Horikoshi High School.
In 1996, she appeared on the drama Long Vacation starring Takuya Kimura of SMAP, following matriculating to college. She was a supporting role, but, began to establish in full-scale her position as an actress because the drama was a major hit. In the same year, she hosted the 47th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen at the age of 19, making her the youngest ever to host the show.
In 1997, she debuted with the single “Ashita, Haru ga Kitara”. She appeared on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen again as a singer on the last day of the year. In an interview with NHK in 2007, Matsu recalled the incident that triggered her musical debut. At the wrap-up ceremony of the drama, Matsu sang karaoke which was heard by its director who suggested that she give singing a try. Although she refused at first, as she was not confident enough in her singing, Matsu eventually accepted because she saw it as “[a] chance that not everyone got”.In the same year, she starred opposite Takuya Kimura in the drama Love Generation, in which she played a lead role with Takuya Kimura.
In 2001, she starred in Hero with Takuya Kimura again. In 2003, she has also published a photo essay book, Matsu no Hitorigoto, through Asahi Shinbun Publishers. In 2004 she was Kim in Miss Saigon.
In September, 2004, she released “Toki no Fune”, which was composed by the Japanese singer Akeboshi. It is similar to his song, “A nine days’ wonder”, which was released after the “Toki no Fune” single. The single also contains a cover of Akeboshi’s “White Reply” previously recorded on her sixth album, Harvest Songs.
In late 2004, she won the Best Actress of the Year of the 29th Hochi Film Award and the 28th Japan Academy Prize at the same time for The Hidden Blade.
In July 2006, Matsu and Kimura starred in a special one-night edition of Hero. In October 2006, Matsu was in a weekly drama for the first time in over three years titled Yakusha Damashii for Fuji TV alongside 73-year-old actor Makoto Fujita, a family friend.
In May 2007, Matsu kicked off her third concert tour to commemorate her tenth year as a singer.
In releasing her album Cherish you in 2007, the song “Ashita Haru ga Kitara” was redone to combine Matsu’s voice as a 20-year-old with her current one.
On November 27 2014, Matsu revealed on her official website that she was pregnant with her first child. On March 30 2015, she gave birth to her daughter. She revealed on her website that the baby was 3466 grams.
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