Ayako Fujitani

Ayako Fujitani (藤谷 文子) is a Japanese actress and writer.

Early life
Ayako Fujitani was born in Osaka, Japan. She is the daughter of Steven Seagal by his first wife, aikido master Miyako Fujitani. Her parents separated when she was a toddler. She resided in Los Angeles during her teenage years.

Acting
Fujitani made her first television appearance in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, after meeting director Shusuke Kaneko at a film festival. She worked with him again on an episode of Ultraman Max, which he directed. Other film roles include parts in Sansa, the "Interior Design" segment of Tokyo!, and Man from Reno.

Writing
Fujitani wrote for the Japanese magazine Roadshow, and has published coupled novellas, including Touhimu (Flee-Dream) and Yakeinu (Burnt Dog). She collaborated with writer and director Hideaki Anno to adapt Touhimu (Flee-Dream) into the film Shiki-Jitsu, in which she also starred. The film was the first non-animated feature released by Studio Ghibli under the Studio Kajino label.

Fujitani has written both fiction and non-fiction, contributing essays and short stories to various national publications.

In 2014, Fujitani co-wrote a short film commissioned by Ermenegildo Zegna, entitled A Rose Reborn. The film was directed by Park Chan-wook, Chung Chung-hoon, and Michael Werwie, and scored by Clint Mansell. It starred Jack Huston and Daniel Wu.

Other pursuits
In 2006, she directed a short drama for TV Tokyo's Drama Factory program.

Personal life
She married screenwriter Javier Gullón in 2016. The couple have two daughters.