Ayako Fujitani (藤谷 文子) is a Japanese actress and writer. She acts and writes in both Japanese and English.

Early life

Ayako Faith 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 about eight years old. She resided in Los Angeles during her teenage years.

Career

Acting

In 1995, Fujitani made her cinematic debut at age 13 starring in the cult classic Gamera: Guardian of the Universe directed by Shusuke Kaneko. She reprised her role in subsequent films in the series and also featured in an episode of Ultraman Max. In 2000, she played the lead role in the movie Shiki-Jitsu. In 2008, she played the role of Hiroko in the anthology film Tokyo!, directed by Leos Carax, Bong Joon-Ho and Michel Gondry. She also featured in the indie romance Daylight Savings (2012) with the supporting role of “Goh” Nakamura's ex-girlfriend, Mozart in the Jungle (2014) and The Last Ship (2014). Other film roles include parts in Sansa and Man from Reno.

Writing

Fujitani has contributed film reviews to the Japanese magazine Roadshow, and has published several coupled novellas, including Touhimu (Flee-Dream), which was adapted into the film, Shiki-Jitsu, by writer and director Hideaki Anno. She also published Yakeinu (Burnt Dog). 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

At age 12, she won the Asian Beauty Contest, held in honor of the Japanese release of the film Police Story 3, kick starting her modeling career. 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.

Filmography

Film

Television