Makiko Kuno

Makiko Kuno is a Japanese actress. Her early stage name was Shōko Kuno (久野翔子, Kuno Shōko); she changed it to Makiko Kuno (久野 真紀子, Kuno Makiko), and switched to writing her surname in katakana in 2005. Kuno has been active as a model since senior high school, and as an actress made her debut in 1987. In 1986, she participated in the first Pocari Sweat Image Girl Contest, but lost to 17-year-old Chisato Moritaka in the finals. Kuno was the image girl of the JR East kiosks from 1988 to 1994. In 1994, she released a collection of photographs, Mitsu, and appeared nude in an original video, XX: Utsukushiki Karyūdo. In 1998, Kuno played the part of Sunday in the Chunsoft sound novel Machi to a favorable reception. In addition, she qualified as a sommelier in 1998.

Mushi-Shi: The Movie (2007)

Mushi are beings in touch with the essence of life, far more basic and pure than normal living things. Most humans are incapable of perceiving Mushi and are oblivious to their existence, but there are a few who possess the ability to see and interact with Mushi. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuhiro Otomo
CAST:  Joe Odagiri  •  Nao Omori  •  Yu Aoi  •  Makiko Esumi

Mushi are beings in touch with the essence of life, far more basic and pure than normal living things. Most humans are incapable of perceiving Mushi and are oblivious to their existence, but there are a few who possess the ability to see and interact with Mushi. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuhiro Otomo
CAST:  Joe Odagiri  •  Nao Omori  •  Yu Aoi  •  Makiko Esumi

World's End / Girl Friend (2005)

Shinnosuke and Misawa are joint managers of a Bonsai shop. Suddenly Shinnosuke's childhood friend Haruko turns up. She has split up with her boyfriend and finds herself out on the streets. Shinnosuke starts to like her and really wants to cheer her up, but he can't ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shiori Kazama
CAST:  Nozomi Ando  •  Yoko Chosokabe  •  Fumiyo Kohinata  •  Makiko Kuno

Shinnosuke and Misawa are joint managers of a Bonsai shop. Suddenly Shinnosuke's childhood friend Haruko turns up. She has split up with her boyfriend and finds herself out on the streets. Shinnosuke starts to like her and really wants to cheer her up, but he can't ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shiori Kazama
CAST:  Nozomi Ando  •  Yoko Chosokabe  •  Fumiyo Kohinata  •  Makiko Kuno

The Guard from the Underground (1992)

A former sumo wrestler, now working as a security guard, goes on a murderous rampage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kiyoshi Kurosawa
CAST:  Makiko Kuno  •  Yutaka Matsushige  •  Hatsunori Hasegawa  •  Ren Osugi

A former sumo wrestler, now working as a security guard, goes on a murderous rampage.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kiyoshi Kurosawa
CAST:  Makiko Kuno  •  Yutaka Matsushige  •  Hatsunori Hasegawa  •  Ren Osugi

XX: Beautiful Hunter (1994)

Shion, ruthless assassin for the Magnificat crime syndicate, is as beautiful as she is deadly. But when her latest target turns out to be the man she loves, Shion is torn between duty and her heart. Her reluctance marks her for death by Magnificat, and her decision ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masaru Konuma
CAST:  Makiko Kuno  •  Maiko Kazama  •  Johnny Ohkura  •  Katsuo Tokashiki

Shion, ruthless assassin for the Magnificat crime syndicate, is as beautiful as she is deadly. But when her latest target turns out to be the man she loves, Shion is torn between duty and her heart. Her reluctance marks her for death by Magnificat, and her decision ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masaru Konuma
CAST:  Makiko Kuno  •  Maiko Kazama  •  Johnny Ohkura  •  Katsuo Tokashiki

Sugar: Howling of Angel (1996)

After her husband and child are murdered, a woman becomes an assassin for hire.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akinobu Ishiyama
CAST:  Makiko Kuno  •  Kaori Sakagami

After her husband and child are murdered, a woman becomes an assassin for hire.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akinobu Ishiyama
CAST:  Makiko Kuno  •  Kaori Sakagami

We're No Angels (1993)

Rikiya Yasuoka, Ren Ōsugi and Junji Inagawa star in this early straight to video effort from Takashi Miike. Joe (Yasuoka), a lumbering tough guy with a heart of gold, is fresh out of prison, but it's not long before he lands himself in trouble again. The courier ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Miike
CAST:  Junji Inagawa  •  Makiko Kuno  •  Kenji Shiiya  •  Ren Osugi

Rikiya Yasuoka, Ren Ōsugi and Junji Inagawa star in this early straight to video effort from Takashi Miike. Joe (Yasuoka), a lumbering tough guy with a heart of gold, is fresh out of prison, but it's not long before he lands himself in trouble again. The courier ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Miike
CAST:  Junji Inagawa  •  Makiko Kuno  •  Kenji Shiiya  •  Ren Osugi

The Mars Canon (2002)

A look at the problems two couples, Kohei and Kinuko, and Manabe and Hijiri, have in their relationships, and the solutions they try to devise as a way out.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shiori Kazama
CAST:  Makiko Kuno  •  Fumiyo Kohinata  •  Mami Nakamura  •  Kiyohiko Shibukawa

A look at the problems two couples, Kohei and Kinuko, and Manabe and Hijiri, have in their relationships, and the solutions they try to devise as a way out.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shiori Kazama
CAST:  Makiko Kuno  •  Fumiyo Kohinata  •  Mami Nakamura  •  Kiyohiko Shibukawa

Wasao (2011)

Wasao, an Akita dog in Aomori Prefecture that became famous as an ugly-yet-cute dog from a traveller's blog. Heartwarming drama starring Wasao himself turns part of the life of this former stray into an original story. Setsuko, who runs a grilled-squid shop in a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoshinari Nishikôri
CAST:  Hiroko Yakushimaru  •  Sabu Kawahara  •  Wasao Kikuya  •  Takashi Sasano

Wasao, an Akita dog in Aomori Prefecture that became famous as an ugly-yet-cute dog from a traveller's blog. Heartwarming drama starring Wasao himself turns part of the life of this former stray into an original story. Setsuko, who runs a grilled-squid shop in a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoshinari Nishikôri
CAST:  Hiroko Yakushimaru  •  Sabu Kawahara  •  Wasao Kikuya  •  Takashi Sasano

Chokolietta (2014)

Chiyoko’s mother died when she was young. Since that time, Chiyoko has closed her heart to others. After her pet dies, Chiyoko feels loneliness. Her mother liked the Italian movie "La Strada." Due to movie study club senior, Masamune, Chiyoko is able to watch the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shiori Kazama
CAST:  Aoi Morikawa  •  Masaki Suda  •  Miwako Ichikawa  •  Jun Murakami

Chiyoko’s mother died when she was young. Since that time, Chiyoko has closed her heart to others. After her pet dies, Chiyoko feels loneliness. Her mother liked the Italian movie "La Strada." Due to movie study club senior, Masamune, Chiyoko is able to watch the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shiori Kazama
CAST:  Aoi Morikawa  •  Masaki Suda  •  Miwako Ichikawa  •  Jun Murakami

Call My Name (2018)

Atsushi is a journalist specializing in writing about adult film actresses. He meets Hanako, who seems different to other adult film stars and soon a relationship develops. Meanwhile, Hanako’s younger sister, Asuka, arrives to stay and falls in love after a chance ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshiki Sato
CAST:  Mitsuru Fukikoshi  •  Fujiko  •  Mutsuo Yoshioka  •  Yohta Kawase

Atsushi is a journalist specializing in writing about adult film actresses. He meets Hanako, who seems different to other adult film stars and soon a relationship develops. Meanwhile, Hanako’s younger sister, Asuka, arrives to stay and falls in love after a chance ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshiki Sato
CAST:  Mitsuru Fukikoshi  •  Fujiko  •  Mutsuo Yoshioka  •  Yohta Kawase

We're No Angels 2 (1993)

Joe and his delivery company friends are back. This time they become embroiled in the evil plot of a corrupt politician.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Miike
CAST:  Mickey Curtis  •  Junji Inagawa  •  Makiko Kuno  •  Rikiya Yasuoka

Joe and his delivery company friends are back. This time they become embroiled in the evil plot of a corrupt politician.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Miike
CAST:  Mickey Curtis  •  Junji Inagawa  •  Makiko Kuno  •  Rikiya Yasuoka

How Old Is the River? (1995)

Three brothers, their father missing and tensions boiling, gather at their rural summer house; soon enough, they're unexpectedly joined by a female cousin.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shiori Kazama
CAST:  Akiko Ito  •  Bang-ho Cho  •  Seiichi Tanabe  •  Makiko Kuno

Three brothers, their father missing and tensions boiling, gather at their rural summer house; soon enough, they're unexpectedly joined by a female cousin.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shiori Kazama
CAST:  Akiko Ito  •  Bang-ho Cho  •  Seiichi Tanabe  •  Makiko Kuno

Mary's Game (1996)

An assignment is issued to a lady sniper to destroy the mafia.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Keiichirō Yoshida
CAST:  Makiko Kuno  •  Takeshi Yamato  •  Taisaku Akino  •  Sakae Emezu

An assignment is issued to a lady sniper to destroy the mafia.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Keiichirō Yoshida
CAST:  Makiko Kuno  •  Takeshi Yamato  •  Taisaku Akino  •  Sakae Emezu

 (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshiki Tsuzaki
CAST:  Azusa Mano  •  Airi Taira  •  Satoko Ôshima  •  Kenjirou Ishimaru

監察医 室生亜季子㉚ 震える顔 (2001)

Kota Mizutani, a 10-year-old boy whose health worsened after he saw a murder, is brought to Akiko's clinic by his mother Mariko. Kota says that two months ago, he witnessed a man in a park strangling a woman with a cord and was chased by the man afterwards. Hamada, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryuichi Takamori
CAST:  Yuko Hama  •  Kimiko Ikegami  •  Mariya Yamada  •  Miki Jinbo

Kota Mizutani, a 10-year-old boy whose health worsened after he saw a murder, is brought to Akiko's clinic by his mother Mariko. Kota says that two months ago, he witnessed a man in a park strangling a woman with a cord and was chased by the man afterwards. Hamada, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryuichi Takamori
CAST:  Yuko Hama  •  Kimiko Ikegami  •  Mariya Yamada  •  Miki Jinbo

The Sound of Grass (2021)

Kazuo Kudo returns to his hometown of Hakodate with his wife because of his autonomic ataxia. Kazuo, who is not able to work and has to attend the psychiatry regularly, continues to run in the city of Hakodate for mental treatment on sunny days and rainy days. When ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hisashi Saito
CAST:  Masahiro Higashide  •  Nao  •  Shunsuke Daitoh  •  Go Riju

Kazuo Kudo returns to his hometown of Hakodate with his wife because of his autonomic ataxia. Kazuo, who is not able to work and has to attend the psychiatry regularly, continues to run in the city of Hakodate for mental treatment on sunny days and rainy days. When ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hisashi Saito
CAST:  Masahiro Higashide  •  Nao  •  Shunsuke Daitoh  •  Go Riju

Ando Gumi Gaiden Genealogy of the Group Wolf 4 (2000)

The second of three V-Cinema sequels.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Kiyoshi Nakajo  •  Kim Gumija  •  Johnny Ohkura  •  Shingo Tsurumi

The second of three V-Cinema sequels.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  Kiyoshi Nakajo  •  Kim Gumija  •  Johnny Ohkura  •  Shingo Tsurumi

The Beast Must Die: Revenge (1997)

The story of a man who is a printer by day, a ruthless killer by night.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masato Hironishi
CAST:  Kazuya Kimura  •  Toshiya Nagasawa  •  Makiko Kuno

The story of a man who is a printer by day, a ruthless killer by night.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masato Hironishi
CAST:  Kazuya Kimura  •  Toshiya Nagasawa  •  Makiko Kuno

Siren the Ghost Story Forever (1995)

Suddenly, men abandon their jobs and families and come to the sea for no reason at all. Their disappearance was connected to an incredibly powerful force. One chilly day, when Cassiopeia shines strangely, two men suddenly arrive at the beach house "Kaijotei," ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mitsunori Hattori
CAST:  Yūko Kitamura  •  Makiko Kuno  •  Shinobu Sakagami  •  Ichiro Shinjitsu

Suddenly, men abandon their jobs and families and come to the sea for no reason at all. Their disappearance was connected to an incredibly powerful force. One chilly day, when Cassiopeia shines strangely, two men suddenly arrive at the beach house "Kaijotei," ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mitsunori Hattori
CAST:  Yūko Kitamura  •  Makiko Kuno  •  Shinobu Sakagami  •  Ichiro Shinjitsu