Rinko Kikuchi

Rinko Kikuchi was born Yuriko Kikuchi on January 6th 1981 in Minamigaoka, Hadano-shi,
Kanagawa-ken, Japan.

In 1997 Rinko Kikuchi (then still going by the name Yuriko) appeared on the TV show Gakkô no kaidan F.

two years later Rinko Kikuchi made her film debut in the Kaneto Shindo movie Ikitai (Will to Live)

Rinko Kikuchi didn't change her stage name until around 2004 when she appeared in the film 69.


In 2004 Rinko Kikuchi was nominated for an Oscar for her role in movie Babel. This made Rinko Kikuchi the first Japanese actress to be nominated for the Academy Awards in over 50 years. Sadly she didn't win.


Some of the films Rinko Kikuchi appeared in include The Brothers Bloom, Sora no Ana, Cha no Aji (the taste of tea), Survive Style 5+, Warau Michael, Nice no Mori: The First Conta, Saidoweizu (Japanese remake of the film sideways), Norwegian Wood, Asaruto gâruzu, Map of the Sounds of Tokyo, DRUG, Ryo and many others.

Rinko Kikuchi also starred on the tv show Churasan. As well as Ai to Shihonshugi, he private detective Mike Hama, Kawaii dakeja Dame kashira, and Uchu ni Ichiban Chikai basho.

Michelle Kwan

figure skater Michelle Kwan was born on July 7th 1980 in Torrance, CA.

When Michelle Kwan was 8 years old she and her older sister Karen started to train skating. As kids they skated for 3 to 4 hours every day in the early morning. The Kwans could only afford to pay for a couch for the first two years, but Michelle Kwan and her sister where lucky in the fact that someone at the L.A figure skating club sponsored them train at the Ice Castle International Training Center.


at the age of 11 Michelle Kwan went pro when she entered the United States Figure Skating Championships in the Jr level. The year after that Michelle Kwan applied for senior level and by 94 Michelle Kwan was the winner of the 1994 Junior Championships.


That year Michelle Kwan made it on to the USA Olympic team as an alternate, though Michelle Kwan finished 2nd place in the U.S Championship she didn't get a higher spot on the 1994 Olympic team because that spot was giving to the previews years U.S championship winner Nancy Kerrigan. Oddly Tonya Harding was also on the US Olympic team that year.

Later that year Michelle Kwan was the sole American skater in the World Championship due to Kerrigan dropping out and Harding having to deal with her trial dealing with her boyfriend breaking Kerrigan's leg the year before.

In 1998 Michelle Kwan made on to the 1998 US Olympic skating team where she won the silver medal.


four years later Kwan made it onto the US Olympic team again. This time she was the lead spot on the team but this year Michelle Kwan only one the bronze medal.

even thought Michelle Kwan hasn't won gold in the Olympics it should be noted that Michelle Kwan if looking at all pro skating championships has the most medals in US skating history with 9 US Championship medals, 5 world championships and 2 Olympic medals.

In 2006 Michelle Kwan was named public diplomacy ambassador by Condoleezza Rice and the role was extended under Obama administration.

Michelle Kwan has also played herself in episodes of the Simpsons and Family Guy