Marika Matsumoto

Marika Matsumoto (松本 まりか, Matsumoto Marika, born September 12, 1984) is a Japanese actress. From 2001 and 2003, she was known as "Mini Stop-chan", acting as the mascot for the Ministop convenience store chain commercials in Japan. She is the owner of a unique voice and has held a recital with upcoming star Satoshi Tsumabuki. Since November 2005, she has been on the A&G Radio Show: Anisupa! segment Anisupa Kōnin Akujo Queen. Her major roles in anime include Maya Tōmi in Fafner in the Azure, Chocolat Meilleure in Sugar Sugar Rune, Miwako Sakurada in Paradise Kiss, Kazamori Sasa in Un-Go and Diancie in Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction. In video games, she provides the voice of Rikku in Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2, and Kingdom Hearts II. In live-action films, she portrayed herself in the Kōji Shiraishi-directed horror film The Curse, and Yuka Morita in the Takashi Shimizu film Reincarnation.

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Space Battleship Yamato (2010)

In 2199, five years after the Gamilons began an invasion of Earth, the planet has been ravaged by the aliens' bombs. The remnants of humanity have fled underground to escape the irradiated surface. One day, former pilot Susumu Kodai discovers a capsule sent from ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Yamazaki
CAST:  Hiroyuki Ikeuchi  •  Takuya Kimura  •  Meisa Kuroki  •  Toshiro Yanagiba

In 2199, five years after the Gamilons began an invasion of Earth, the planet has been ravaged by the aliens' bombs. The remnants of humanity have fled underground to escape the irradiated surface. One day, former pilot Susumu Kodai discovers a capsule sent from ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Yamazaki
CAST:  Hiroyuki Ikeuchi  •  Takuya Kimura  •  Meisa Kuroki  •  Toshiro Yanagiba

Cold Bloom (2012)

Industrial Hitachi City is the location for this post-3.11 drama. Still recovering from the tsunami, Shiori receives news of her husband’s accidental death, which marks the start of a personal recovery that mirrors the town’s for Shiori as well as forgiveness of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Atsushi Funahashi
CAST:  Asami Usuda  •  Takahiro Miura  •  Yo Takahashi  •  Tarô Suwa

Industrial Hitachi City is the location for this post-3.11 drama. Still recovering from the tsunami, Shiori receives news of her husband’s accidental death, which marks the start of a personal recovery that mirrors the town’s for Shiori as well as forgiveness of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Atsushi Funahashi
CAST:  Asami Usuda  •  Takahiro Miura  •  Yo Takahashi  •  Tarô Suwa

Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction (2014)

In the underground Diamond Domain, where many Carbink live, the Mythical Pokémon Diancie serves as ruler. The Heart Diamond that sustains the land is beginning to fall apart, and Diancie is not yet strong enough to create a new one. While seeking help from the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kunihiko Yuyama
CAST:  Rica Matsumoto  •  Mayuki Makiguchi  •  Yuki Kaji  •  Mariya Ise

In the underground Diamond Domain, where many Carbink live, the Mythical Pokémon Diancie serves as ruler. The Heart Diamond that sustains the land is beginning to fall apart, and Diancie is not yet strong enough to create a new one. While seeking help from the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kunihiko Yuyama
CAST:  Rica Matsumoto  •  Mayuki Makiguchi  •  Yuki Kaji  •  Mariya Ise

Junji Inagawa's Shivering Horror (2005)

Six short stories: Chain Mail, Left Behind, Tattoo, Viewfinder's Memory, Guardian Angel, and Mortuary  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tatsurô Kashihara  •  Hiroaki Hirakata  •  Hiroshi Ikezoe  •  Kazuo Koito  •  Eiji Satouchi  •  Tadafumi Tomioka
CAST:  Kaori Manabe  •  Marika Matsumoto  •  Hiroya Sugisaki  •  Shin Yazawa

Six short stories: Chain Mail, Left Behind, Tattoo, Viewfinder's Memory, Guardian Angel, and Mortuary  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tatsurô Kashihara  •  Hiroaki Hirakata  •  Hiroshi Ikezoe  •  Kazuo Koito  •  Eiji Satouchi  •  Tadafumi Tomioka
CAST:  Kaori Manabe  •  Marika Matsumoto  •  Hiroya Sugisaki  •  Shin Yazawa

Noroi: The Curse (2005)

A documentary filmmaker explores seemingly unrelated paranormal incidents connected by the legend of an ancient demon called the "kagutaba."  (more)

DIRECTION:  Koji Shiraishi
CAST:  Jin Muraki  •  Rio Kanno  •  Tomono Kuga  •  Maria Takagi

A documentary filmmaker explores seemingly unrelated paranormal incidents connected by the legend of an ancient demon called the "kagutaba."  (more)

DIRECTION:  Koji Shiraishi
CAST:  Jin Muraki  •  Rio Kanno  •  Tomono Kuga  •  Maria Takagi

Reincarnation (2006)

A Japanese actress begins having strange visions and experiences after landing a role in a horror film about a real-life murder spree that took place over forty years ago.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Shimizu
CAST:  Yûka  •  Kippei Shiina  •  Tetta Sugimoto  •  Shun Oguri

A Japanese actress begins having strange visions and experiences after landing a role in a horror film about a real-life murder spree that took place over forty years ago.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Shimizu
CAST:  Yûka  •  Kippei Shiina  •  Tetta Sugimoto  •  Shun Oguri

Penance (2013)

The murder of a young girl leaves the inhabitants of a small Japanese village in shock. The body of Emili is found by four classmates with whom she was playing. The murder is never solved. Emili's mother, Asako, is torn by grief and puts a curse on the four girls ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kiyoshi Kurosawa
CAST:  Kyoko Koizumi  •  Hazuki Kimura  •  Yu Aoi  •  Eiko Koike

The murder of a young girl leaves the inhabitants of a small Japanese village in shock. The body of Emili is found by four classmates with whom she was playing. The murder is never solved. Emili's mother, Asako, is torn by grief and puts a curse on the four girls ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kiyoshi Kurosawa
CAST:  Kyoko Koizumi  •  Hazuki Kimura  •  Yu Aoi  •  Eiko Koike

Same Old, Same Old (2016)

Focusing on the lives (and a few deaths) of three filmmakers, Rikiya Imaizumi (Their Distance, Sad Tea) tackles weighty themes in this new ensemble drama set in Tokyo and Fukushima. Director Kajiwara, struggling to earn a living from film, gets an offer to do a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rikiya Imaizumi
CAST:  Taro Uchibori  •  Marika Matsumoto  •  Masaru Yahagi  •  Yui Murata

Focusing on the lives (and a few deaths) of three filmmakers, Rikiya Imaizumi (Their Distance, Sad Tea) tackles weighty themes in this new ensemble drama set in Tokyo and Fukushima. Director Kajiwara, struggling to earn a living from film, gets an offer to do a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rikiya Imaizumi
CAST:  Taro Uchibori  •  Marika Matsumoto  •  Masaru Yahagi  •  Yui Murata

Memoirs of a Murderer (2017)

The movie begins in the year 1995 where there were 5 peculiar murder cases. The murderer would always get someone close to the victim to witness how he would strangle the victim from behind with a rope but he would let the witnesses go and speak to the media on how ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yu Irie
CAST:  Tatsuya Fujiwara  •  Hideaki Ito  •  Kaho  •  Shuhei Nomura

The movie begins in the year 1995 where there were 5 peculiar murder cases. The murderer would always get someone close to the victim to witness how he would strangle the victim from behind with a rope but he would let the witnesses go and speak to the media on how ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yu Irie
CAST:  Tatsuya Fujiwara  •  Hideaki Ito  •  Kaho  •  Shuhei Nomura

Opening Night (2017)

Aspiring child actress Nanoka (Nanoka Hara) hopes to follow in her late mother's footsteps and become an actress. She is more talented and pretty than her rivals, but she finds it difficult to land parts. One day, she hears that a play, which her mother performed, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mai Sakai
CAST:  Nanoka Hara  •  Rena Matsui  •  Rinne Yoshida  •  Zuimaro Awashima

Aspiring child actress Nanoka (Nanoka Hara) hopes to follow in her late mother's footsteps and become an actress. She is more talented and pretty than her rivals, but she finds it difficult to land parts. One day, she hears that a play, which her mother performed, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mai Sakai
CAST:  Nanoka Hara  •  Rena Matsui  •  Rinne Yoshida  •  Zuimaro Awashima

Traces of Sin (2017)

Tanaka is going through a tough time trying to support his younger sister Mitsuko, recently arrested and hold up in jail. As an investigative reporter, he immerses himself into a story about a shocking murder case gone cold; a family was brutally murdered a year ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kei Ishikawa
CAST:  Satoshi Tsumabuki  •  Hikari Mitsushima  •  Keisuke Koide  •  Asami Usuda

Tanaka is going through a tough time trying to support his younger sister Mitsuko, recently arrested and hold up in jail. As an investigative reporter, he immerses himself into a story about a shocking murder case gone cold; a family was brutally murdered a year ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kei Ishikawa
CAST:  Satoshi Tsumabuki  •  Hikari Mitsushima  •  Keisuke Koide  •  Asami Usuda

The Sacrament (2018)

Iwakiri is now a third year university student who belongs to a film studies group on campus but has yet to shoot even one film. He hears from an older student about a ghost which appears once every four years at the welcome party for new students.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Isora Iwakiri
CAST:  Minami Mio  •  Marika Matsumoto  •  Sara Ogawa  •  Miki Handa

Iwakiri is now a third year university student who belongs to a film studies group on campus but has yet to shoot even one film. He hears from an older student about a ghost which appears once every four years at the welcome party for new students.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Isora Iwakiri
CAST:  Minami Mio  •  Marika Matsumoto  •  Sara Ogawa  •  Miki Handa

Nisekoi: False Love (2018)

Raku Ichijo (Kento Nakajima) is an only son and a high school student. His father is the leader of yakuza group Shuei-gumi. Raku Ichijo doesn't like to fight and he studies hard. His dream is to become a public official. One day, he passes the entrance gate at his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hayato Kawai
CAST:  Kento Nakajima  •  Ayami Nakajo  •  Natsumi Ikema  •  Yuta Kishi

Raku Ichijo (Kento Nakajima) is an only son and a high school student. His father is the leader of yakuza group Shuei-gumi. Raku Ichijo doesn't like to fight and he studies hard. His dream is to become a public official. One day, he passes the entrance gate at his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hayato Kawai
CAST:  Kento Nakajima  •  Ayami Nakajo  •  Natsumi Ikema  •  Yuta Kishi

Farewell Song (2019)

As they travel around the country, a singer-songwriter duo's love triangle with their roadie jeopardizes their unannounced farewell tour.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akihiko Shiota
CAST:  Nana Komatsu  •  Mugi Kadowaki  •  Ryo Narita  •  Akinobu Shinoyama

As they travel around the country, a singer-songwriter duo's love triangle with their roadie jeopardizes their unannounced farewell tour.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akihiko Shiota
CAST:  Nana Komatsu  •  Mugi Kadowaki  •  Ryo Narita  •  Akinobu Shinoyama

Life Finds A Way (2019)

Born out of every artist’s creative crisis, the search for the next topic, Hirobumi WATANABE presents his latest film, dealing with the question of what his film should be about. The director stages himself as he idles away his days, delivering endless monologs ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hirobumi Watanabe
CAST:  Hirobumi Watanabe  •  Minori Hagiwara  •  Marika Matsumoto  •  Takanori Kurosaki

Born out of every artist’s creative crisis, the search for the next topic, Hirobumi WATANABE presents his latest film, dealing with the question of what his film should be about. The director stages himself as he idles away his days, delivering endless monologs ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hirobumi Watanabe
CAST:  Hirobumi Watanabe  •  Minori Hagiwara  •  Marika Matsumoto  •  Takanori Kurosaki

What Happens Before War? (2016)

Short anti-war animation adapting the picture book Sensou no Tsukurikata. It was created by the group NOddIN.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Marika Matsumoto

Short anti-war animation adapting the picture book Sensou no Tsukurikata. It was created by the group NOddIN.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Marika Matsumoto

Whisper of the Heart (2022)

Shizuku Tsukishima is a 3rd grade middle school student. She likes reading books. Shizuku meets Seiji Amasawa who is in the same grade and school that Shizuku attends. At first, she does not like him, but she becomes fascinated with his pursuit of his dream. Seiji ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yuichiro Hirakawa
CAST:  Nana Seino  •  Tori Matsuzaka  •  Yuki Yamada  •  Rio Uchida

Shizuku Tsukishima is a 3rd grade middle school student. She likes reading books. Shizuku meets Seiji Amasawa who is in the same grade and school that Shizuku attends. At first, she does not like him, but she becomes fascinated with his pursuit of his dream. Seiji ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yuichiro Hirakawa
CAST:  Nana Seino  •  Tori Matsuzaka  •  Yuki Yamada  •  Rio Uchida

Blue (2016)

A work that spun a story inspired by the world view of the song "You Named Me Blue" by jazz singer Yurifa Matsumoto. A short film that you want to see with your right brain, like watching a painting in a museum.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yukinori Makabe
CAST:  Yurifa Matsumoto  •  Hiroshi Yazaki  •  Marika Matsumoto  •  Satoru Date

A work that spun a story inspired by the world view of the song "You Named Me Blue" by jazz singer Yurifa Matsumoto. A short film that you want to see with your right brain, like watching a painting in a museum.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yukinori Makabe
CAST:  Yurifa Matsumoto  •  Hiroshi Yazaki  •  Marika Matsumoto  •  Satoru Date

Tropical-Rouge! Precure: The Snow Princess and the Miraculous Ring! (2021)

One day, the Tropical-Rouge Pretty Cure receive an amazing invitation from the Land of Snow, Shantia. They're holding a ceremony to celebrate Sharon becoming the new queen. They all depart to the sparkling world of snow. Laura, who wants to be the queen of the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Junji Shimizu
CAST:  Fairouz Ai  •  Asami Seto  •  Aya Hisakawa  •  Fumie Mizusawa

One day, the Tropical-Rouge Pretty Cure receive an amazing invitation from the Land of Snow, Shantia. They're holding a ceremony to celebrate Sharon becoming the new queen. They all depart to the sparkling world of snow. Laura, who wants to be the queen of the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Junji Shimizu
CAST:  Fairouz Ai  •  Asami Seto  •  Aya Hisakawa  •  Fumie Mizusawa

Shrieking in the Rain (2021)

At a movie studio in 1988, rookie director Hanako Hayashi is making her directorial debut, the erotic As Far as Love Will Take Us. She's under pressure from her producer and crew. When she is about to shoot the climax of the film, numerous problems arise. To make ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eiji Uchida
CAST:  Marika Matsumoto  •  Maeko Oyama  •  Serena Motola  •  Kiyohiko Shibukawa

At a movie studio in 1988, rookie director Hanako Hayashi is making her directorial debut, the erotic As Far as Love Will Take Us. She's under pressure from her producer and crew. When she is about to shoot the climax of the film, numerous problems arise. To make ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eiji Uchida
CAST:  Marika Matsumoto  •  Maeko Oyama  •  Serena Motola  •  Kiyohiko Shibukawa
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