Kazue Itō
A versatile Japanese actress and singer whose career spans decades, from child roles to beloved characters in tokusatsu and anime.
Born 1966 (age 60)·Japanese actress·Birthday: December 7·Generation X
Biography
Kazue Itō entered the entertainment industry as a child, growing up in front of Japanese audiences and evolving into a versatile performer. Her voice has brought life to animated characters, most notably the fierce Shura in 'Rurouni Kenshin,' while her on-screen presence has graced numerous television dramas. For a generation of fans, she is perhaps best recognized for her live-action role as Miki Masaki, the wise and maternal mentor in the superhero series 'Juken Sentai Gekiranger.' Itō's career is a testament to longevity and adaptability, seamlessly moving between acting and singing—she even performed theme songs for children's shows. Her work often carries a warmth and strength that has made her a familiar and respected figure in Japanese popular culture.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Kazue was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kazue Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Kazue's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the pivotal role of Miki Masaki in the 2007 Super Sentai series 'Juken Sentai Gekiranger'.
- Voiced the character Shura in the popular anime series 'Rurouni Kenshin'.
- Performed as a singer, including the opening and ending themes for the series 'Morimori Bokkun'.
- Has maintained a continuous acting career since her debut as a child in 1978.
Did You Know?
She made her acting debut at the age of 12.
She is represented by the talent agency Horipro.
She also played the mother of a main character in 'Samurai Sentai Shinkenger'.
“A voice must carry the character's entire soul, not just the words.”
