Miki Nakatani

is a Japanese actress and singer. She began her professional career as a member of the girl group Sakurakko Club from 1991 to 1993, in which she formed the duo Key West Club with member Keiko Azuma. Nakatani focused on acting after her departure, making her debut on the popular television drama Under One Roof. She relaunched her music career under the tutelage of producer Ryuichi Sakamoto in 1996, releasing three albums: Shokumotsu Rensa (1996), Cure (1997) and Shiseikatsu (1999). Her best known songs include "Mind Circus" and "Suna no Kajitsu", which peaked at number ten on the Oricon charts. As an actress, Nakatani has received six Japan Academy Awards for her roles in When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2002), Memories of Matsuko (2006), and Zero Focus (2009), among others. She is most known internationally for her role as Mai Takano in the Japanese horror film franchise Ring. Biography From 1998 to 1999, Nakatani starred in a trio of horror films – Ring, Rasen, and Ring 2 – followed by a lead role in Hideo Nakata's Chaos in 2000. That same year, she reprised her television role as Jun Shibata in the mystery film Keizoku.