Atsuko Sakuraba

Atsuko Sakuraba (桜庭 あつこ) is a Japanese gravure idol, tarento, actress and one-time mixed martial arts fighter.

Sakuraba has appeared in several photobooks, films and TV series. She also participated in the MMA tournament ReMix World Cup 2000.

Background
Sakuraba was born March 29, 1976 in Koriyama, Fukushima, Japan. She graduated from the Koriyama Women's University Associated Senior High School.

Modeling and acting career
Sakuraba debuted in 1996 with the photobook Yume de Ippai (夢でいっぱい) published by gravure publisher Scola. She began to appear on TV programs and in gravure videos the same year.

She made her acting debut in 1997 in the V-Cinema film Bichichi Daisakusen Miss Spy (美乳大作戦 メスパイ), directed by Minoru Kawasaki.

Sakuraba was romantically linked to Kenji Haga, her partner in the 1999 film Silver (directed by Takashi Miike) but it was later believed to be a publicity stunt.

In 1999, Sakuraba appeared in her first nude photobook titled Careyes and published by Roux Shuppan.

Her first theatrical film was Waru also directed by Takashi Miike.

Sakuraba has also participated in theatre.

Photobooks

 * Yume de Ippai (夢でいっぱい), Scola, ISBN 978-4-7962-0390-6, May 1996
 * in the room, Scola, ISBN 978-4-7962-0453-8, September 1997
 * Careyes, Roux Shuppan, ISBN 978-4-89778-083-2, June 1999
 * Ultimate Hunter: Guardless 4, Takeshobo, ISBN 978-4-8124-0770-7, July 2001

Videos

 * Sakuraba Atsuko: Kakeru kita Megami (桜庭あつこ 駈けてきた女神), Scola, ISBN 978-4-7962-3067-4, June 1996
 * Sakuraba Atsuko: Body Conscious (桜庭あつこ　ボディコンシャス), Eichi Publishing, ISBN 978-4-7542-6634-9, JAN 1902874032381, October 1997
 * Careyes: Atsuko Sakuraba, SVC, ISBN 978-4-88288-415-6, JAN 1920876028009, October 1999
 * Ultimate Hunter: Guardless 4 (VHS), Takeshobo, JAN 4985914111393, July 19, 2001
 * Ultimate Hunter: Guardless 4 (DVD), Takeshobo, JAN 4985914118057, August 21, 2001

V-Cinema

 * Bichichi Daisakusen Miss Spy (美乳大作戦 メスパイ) (directed by Minoru Kawasaki, February 14, 1997)
 * Bad girls (directed by Minoru Akimoto and Yuzuru Ashiya, October 21, 1998)
 * F·I·S·H (directed by Kenji Seki, August 19, 1998)
 * Silver (directed by Takashi Miike, September 21, 1999)
 * Jado: Jitsuroku Onna Sagi Shiden (蛇道 実録女詐欺師伝) (directed by Takeshi Yokoi, March 21, 2000)
 * Ginza Midnight Story: Utopia (銀座ミッドナイトストーリー ゆーとぴあ) (directed by Hiroyuki Tsuji, July 21, 2000)
 * Ginza Midnight Story: Utopia - Akai Cho (銀座ミッドナイトストーリー ゆーとぴあ) (directed by Hiroyuki Tsuji, August 25, 2000)
 * Pachinko Battle Royale (パチンコ・バトル・ロワイアル) (directed by Kanta Tagawa, August 25, 2001)
 * Mujinto Monogatari BRQ (無人島物語 BRQ) (directed by Seiji Chiba and Kenji Tanigaki, February 8, 2002)
 * Saikyoju Tanjou Nezulla (最強獣誕生 ネズラ) (directed by Kanta Tagawa, January 25, 2003)
 * Two-F (directed by Kanta Tagawa, November 7, 2005)

Theatrical

 * Waru (directed by Takashi Miike, February 25, 2006)
 * Shinkaiju Raiga (深海獣雷牙) (directed by Shinpei Hayashiya, October 3, 2009)

TV programs

 * Tamori Club (TV Asahi)
 * Super Jockey (スーパージョッキー) (Various)
 * TBS Suffle Baku Chichi Mon-Star (TBSシャッフル・爆乳悶スター) (Tokyo Broadcasting System)
 * Gravure no Bishojo (グラビアの美少女) (Mondo21)

Theatre

 * Kin no Hitsuji (金の羊) (directed by Uson Kimu, 2003)
 * Meriken (メリケン) (directed by Uji Takinosuke, 2004)
 * Yami Kinyu VS Higashiikebukuro Yochien (ヤミ金融ＶＳ東池袋幼稚園) (directed by Uson Kimu, 2005)

Others
Serialization: Sakuraba Atsuko no Action Cinema Kan (桜庭あつこのアクションシネマ館), Weekly Manga Action, February 2002 - February 2003

Mixed martial arts career
Sakuraba had a MMA bout in the event ReMix World Cup 2000 on December 5, 2000, where she faced four-time national judo champion, 1993 and 1998 silver medallist and three-time World Cup winner Russian Tatyana Kuvshinova in a non-tournament fight. She was clearly outmatched by the Russian, and despite her spirited efforts, her corner decided to throw the towel in after her arm was injured in an armbar from which Sakuraba did not want to tap, dislocating her elbow in the process.

Sakuraba also participated in ReMix Golden Gate 2001, although merely as a TV commentator.