Influential performers: Takako Fuji
If you like horror, this lady probably needs little introduction. She crawled onto international screens in the 2000’s as furious ghost Kayako Saeki.
Takako was born in 1972, in Tokyo. She attended Aoyama Gakuin University, where she studied acting, and joined the En Theatrical Company. Her early career included VO and stage work. She first met director Takashi Shimizu when he needed a ghost actress for a 3-minute film assignment.
Although not yet fully fleshed-out, the character of Kayako would go on to be played by Takako no fewer than six more times. Two Ju-On: The Curse films, two Ju-On: The Grudge films, and finally two of the American The Grudge films.
She said in The J-Horror Virus that the Hollywood versions gave her a sense of “closure.” She grew tired of playing Kayako, and did not return for The Grudge 3 and onwards. However, she does appear in archival footage and stills used in the film.
Takako’s performance as Kayako is reminiscent of, and yet contrasting to, Rie Inō’s Sadako. Kayako is much more openly violent as a ghost, outright killing with her own hands, as opposed to Sadako’s induced heart attacks. But early on in the implementation of her curse, Kayako does lurk quietly around her victims.
Kayako’s movement is influenced by Takako’s training in modern ballet and contortionism. She is perhaps most famous for crawling down the stairs towards her victims. These scenes had such an impact on me that I, embarrassingly, replicated them several times in student films when I was young. It turns out that going down the stairs on your front is painful on the ol’ ribcage. But would I do it again for a movie? Absolutely.
Kayako Saeki is iconic because of the physical choices that Takako Fuji made as an actor. Sure, the death rattle is memorable, but the main concern is that she’s coming to grab you. She is otherworldly and dripping with rage.
Much like with Sadako, I always have to think about the possibility of Kayako being in the hallway when I leave a room. I have a poster of her for Ju-On 2 at the bottom of my stairs. Despite how much I like it, I know not to look for too long.
Five of Takako’s performances are so far on my list of movies to see once in your life; the first four Ju-On films, and Princess Mononoke.
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