Junko Saito (斉藤 淳子, Saitō Jun'ko) (née Nakajima (中島 淳子, Nakajima Jun'ko, born 2 May 1952), more commonly known by her stage name Mari Natsuki (夏木 マリ, Natsuki Mari), is a Japanese singer, dancer and actress.[1] Born in Tokyo, she started work as a singer from a young age. In 2007, Natsuki announced her engagement to percussionist Nobu Saitō, with their marriage taking place in Spring 2008.

Mari Natsuki
Mari Natsuki (2018)
Born
Junko Nakajima
中島 淳子

(1952-05-02) 2 May 1952 (age 72)
NationalityJapanese
Other namesJunko Nakajima
Occupation(s)Singer, dancer, actress
Years active1971–present

Natsuki has participated in musical theatre, including Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof and that of Yukio Ninagawa. She provided the voice of Yubaba in Spirited Away, played the young witch's mother in the Japanese TV remake of Bewitched and has twice been nominated for a Japanese Academy Award. Natsuki played the character Big Mama in the Japanese version of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots[2] and has also acted in television dramas, such as the 2005 series Nobuta o Produce, playing the Vice Principal, Katharine.

In 2024, Natsuki reprised her famous roles of Yubaba/Zeniba for the stage production of Spirited Away, performing in Japan and London.

Filmography

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Film

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Television

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Video games

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Japanese dub

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Live-action

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Animation

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Theatre

  • Spirited Away (Yubaba/Zeniba) - Tokyo Imperial Theatre/London Coliseum - 2024. Double starring with Romi Park.

References

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  1. ^ Mills, Ted. "Apple Music Preview. About Mari Natsuki". music.apple.com. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  2. ^ Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots: MGS4 Voice Cast Announced Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "生田斗真主演、映画『湯道』"銭湯"に吉田鋼太郎、夏木マリ、柄本明ら大集合". Oricon. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  4. ^ "世界の終わりから". eiga.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  5. ^ "SEE HEAR LOVE 見えなくても聞こえなくても愛してる". eiga.com. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  6. ^ "篤姫". Haiyaku Jiten (in Japanese). Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  7. ^ "カーネーションの出演者・キャスト一覧". The Television (in Japanese). Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  8. ^ 宮野真守:“クセ強”マネジャー役でドラマ「君の花になる」出演 内田有紀、竹中直人、夏木マリも [Mamoru Miyano: Appears in the drama Your Flower as a "strong habits" manager Yuki Uchida, Naoto Takenaka, Mari Natsuki also appear]. Mantan Web (in Japanese). 22 August 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  9. ^ "プラダを着た悪魔". Nippon Television. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  10. ^ "ザ・ホワイトハウス". SuperDramaTV. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  11. ^ "フェリシーと夢のトウシューズ". Wowow. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
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