Rena Tanaka

Acting

Rena Tanaka

Born May 22, 1980 · Kurume, Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan (age 46)

Rena Tanaka is a Japanese actress and TV personality. In 1999, she won the Japanese Academy Award for "Best Newcomer" for her performance in Give It All; in 2001, she received a "Best Actress" nomination for First Love.

Known For

GTO: The MovieGTO: The Movie · 1999
GTO: The Movie
7.01999
MovieComedyDrama
Great Teacher Onizuka is back, using his unorthodox brand of inspiration and education as a substitute teacher in a depressed small town in Hokkaido.
Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined FleetIsoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet · 2011
Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet
6.32011
MovieHistoryWar
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (1884-1943) was the Japanese Naval commander who was given the order to attack Pearl Harbour, an order he was duty bound to obey which went against his own personal beliefs. While this infamous attack is a low point in Japanese and US history it wouldn’t have happened if the Japanese government had listened to Yamamoto in 1939 and searched for a more peaceful way to end their war campaign, proving his many ominous presages of the outcomes of the attack to come true.
Mag MagMag Mag · 2026
Mag Mag
7.42026
MovieHorror
The revenge story of a woman whose partner is murdered by a ghost, and who will soon discover the true identity of the one she must avenge.
September 1923September 1923 · 2023
September 1923
6.52023
MovieHistoryDrama
Based on the murder of nine street peddlers in the aftermath of the Great Kanto earthquake.
Drugstore GirlDrugstore Girl · 2004
Drugstore Girl
5.22004
MovieRomanceComedy
Pharmaceutical student, Keiko witnesses her boyfriend having an affair. Shocked and disappointed, she jumps on a train ("destination anywhere, east or west, she don't care") and ends up in a town named Masao in Tokyo's remote suburbs. There, she gets a part-time job at a newly opened drugstore. What do ya know.. The local shopping district's middle-aged men all fall for the young girl's charms, and they start practicing lacrosse once they have found out that that's her favourite sport.
Toy ReanimatorToy Reanimator · 2002
Toy Reanimator
5.72002
MovieScience FictionFantasy
Set in a toy store specialized in antique toys, a boy works in the toy store and is obsessed with tin toys. There's one particular tin toy he loves more than the rest. In walks a girl wearing shades, and starts telling her own story, a weird and fascinating experience she had with a toy.
YUKIKAZEYUKIKAZE · 2025
YUKIKAZE
9.02025
MovieHistoryWar
Just 80 years ago, the peaceful sea was a battlefield. Soldiers continued to fight, dreaming of returning home, and their families continued to pray and wait for their safety. What stories were there in each of their lives, and what were they each thinking?
The Crimes That BindThe Crimes That Bind · 2018
The Crimes That Bind
7.32018
MovieMysteryThriller
Michiko Oshitani, who lived in Shiga Prefecture, is found dead at an apartment in Tokyo. She was strangled to death. Mutsuo Koshikawa is the owner of the apartment and he goes missing. Detectives including Yuhei Matsumiya who is a cousin of Detective Kyoichiro Kaga , have difficulties in solving the case. They can't find a connection between Michiko Oshitani and Mutsuo Koshikawa. They soon learn that Michiko Oshitani came to Tokyo to visit Hiromi Asai . They graduated from the same school, but there isn't a connection between Hiromi Asai and Mutsuo Koshikawa. Detective Yuhei Matsumiya finds something near Michiko Oshitani's body. That something has the names of 12 bridges surrounding the Nihonbashi area of Tokyo. Detective Kyoichiro Kaga learns of the clue and becomes agitated. There's a connection with his late mother

Movies

GTO: The MovieGTO: The Movie · 1999
GTO: The Movie
7.01999
MovieComedyDrama
Great Teacher Onizuka is back, using his unorthodox brand of inspiration and education as a substitute teacher in a depressed small town in Hokkaido.
Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined FleetIsoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet · 2011
Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet
6.32011
MovieHistoryWar
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (1884-1943) was the Japanese Naval commander who was given the order to attack Pearl Harbour, an order he was duty bound to obey which went against his own personal beliefs. While this infamous attack is a low point in Japanese and US history it wouldn’t have happened if the Japanese government had listened to Yamamoto in 1939 and searched for a more peaceful way to end their war campaign, proving his many ominous presages of the outcomes of the attack to come true.
Mag MagMag Mag · 2026
Mag Mag
7.42026
MovieHorror
The revenge story of a woman whose partner is murdered by a ghost, and who will soon discover the true identity of the one she must avenge.
September 1923September 1923 · 2023
September 1923
6.52023
MovieHistoryDrama
Based on the murder of nine street peddlers in the aftermath of the Great Kanto earthquake.
Drugstore GirlDrugstore Girl · 2004
Drugstore Girl
5.22004
MovieRomanceComedy
Pharmaceutical student, Keiko witnesses her boyfriend having an affair. Shocked and disappointed, she jumps on a train ("destination anywhere, east or west, she don't care") and ends up in a town named Masao in Tokyo's remote suburbs. There, she gets a part-time job at a newly opened drugstore. What do ya know.. The local shopping district's middle-aged men all fall for the young girl's charms, and they start practicing lacrosse once they have found out that that's her favourite sport.
Toy ReanimatorToy Reanimator · 2002
Toy Reanimator
5.72002
MovieScience FictionFantasy
Set in a toy store specialized in antique toys, a boy works in the toy store and is obsessed with tin toys. There's one particular tin toy he loves more than the rest. In walks a girl wearing shades, and starts telling her own story, a weird and fascinating experience she had with a toy.
YUKIKAZEYUKIKAZE · 2025
YUKIKAZE
9.02025
MovieHistoryWar
Just 80 years ago, the peaceful sea was a battlefield. Soldiers continued to fight, dreaming of returning home, and their families continued to pray and wait for their safety. What stories were there in each of their lives, and what were they each thinking?
The Crimes That BindThe Crimes That Bind · 2018
The Crimes That Bind
7.32018
MovieMysteryThriller
Michiko Oshitani, who lived in Shiga Prefecture, is found dead at an apartment in Tokyo. She was strangled to death. Mutsuo Koshikawa is the owner of the apartment and he goes missing. Detectives including Yuhei Matsumiya who is a cousin of Detective Kyoichiro Kaga , have difficulties in solving the case. They can't find a connection between Michiko Oshitani and Mutsuo Koshikawa. They soon learn that Michiko Oshitani came to Tokyo to visit Hiromi Asai . They graduated from the same school, but there isn't a connection between Hiromi Asai and Mutsuo Koshikawa. Detective Yuhei Matsumiya finds something near Michiko Oshitani's body. That something has the names of 12 bridges surrounding the Nihonbashi area of Tokyo. Detective Kyoichiro Kaga learns of the clue and becomes agitated. There's a connection with his late mother
Yona Yona PenguinYona Yona Penguin · 2009
Yona Yona Penguin
5.32009
MovieFamilyAnimation
Rintaro directs a tale of three children who visit a land of wonder. This is the first "3D anime" that Madhouse has produced. Oh, and there are penguins.
The Suspect: Muroi ShinjiThe Suspect: Muroi Shinji · 2005
The Suspect: Muroi Shinji
6.42005
MovieComedyCrime
One day in February, 2005, Metropolitan Police Department Superintendent Muroi (Toshiro Yanagiba) is arrested to take responsibility for a botched murder case he headed. His faithful colleagues, including Arashiro (Toshio Kakei) and Okita (Miki Maya), only exacerbate the situation when they try to help clear his name. Is Muroi guilty as charged or merely taking the fall? What is the truth behind the murder? Two lawyers, one determined to get Muroi, the other resolved to save him, a feud between two police departments, political power plays and legal trappings, all combine to orchestrate Muroi’s downfall.
Summer of UbumeSummer of Ubume · 2005
Summer of Ubume
7.42005
MovieThrillerHorror
Kyogokudo is a used book seller who doubles as an onmyouji, or Heian style occultist. His friend Sekiguchi brings him the story of a woman who has been pregnant for twenty months. Sekiguchi investigates further with the help of his friend Enokizu, a detective with the unusual ability to see people's memories. They are hired by the impossibly pregnant woman's sister to find the woman's missing husband and lay this whole matter to rest. In the end, they need the help of Kyogokudo to exorcise the family curse.
The Stars and the Moon are Holes in the SkyThe Stars and the Moon are Holes in the Sky · 2025
The Stars and the Moon are Holes in the Sky
5.02025
MovieDrama
A 40-something disillusioned novelist, Yazoe, haunted by a failed marriage and a crippling personal secret, navigates hollow affairs with a courtesan named Chieko while projecting his emotional void onto the protagonists of his love novels—until an accidental encounter with a naive college student, Noriko Seyawa, unravels his guarded solitude, forcing him to confront his fear of intimacy and the buried trauma shaping his twisted philosophy on love.
Dreams for SaleDreams for Sale · 2012
Dreams for Sale
7.22012
MovieDramaCrime
After losing their restaurant in a fire, a husband and wife come up with a strange plan to rebuild their shattered finances: marrying the husband off to a series of lonely women and defrauding them.
Ougon DoroboOugon Dorobo · 2026
Ougon Dorobo
2026
MovieComedyCrime
Mikako, a housewife who had grown bored with her ordinary daily life, one day suddenly steals a gold temple bell worth several million yen that is being sold by SGC Co., Ltd. at a department store she happens to visit. Captivated by the allure of gold, her world completely changes, and the dream she had as a child—“to do something only I can do”—comes back to life. Recklessly, she begins to plan the theft of Hideyoshi’s golden tea bowl, worth 10 billion yen. As she becomes entangled in a battle of wits with Kinjo, an SGC employee who tries to exploit her, and deals with her husband’s affair after he ends up becoming an accomplice to her theft, almost against his will, trouble continues to pile up one after another.
Miracle ApplesMiracle Apples · 2013
Miracle Apples
7.62013
MovieDrama
Akinori Kimura (Sadao Abe) and his wife Mieko (Miho Kanno) opens an apple orchard in their hometown of Hirosaki in Aomori Prefecture. Due to Meiko's allergic reaction to pesticides, Akinori Kimura has to grow his apples without the aid of chemicals. Because of this challenge, his family endures hardships and suffers severe financial difficulties. Akinori Kimura even contemplates suicide. A miracle then happens...
The Days of Morisaki BookstoreThe Days of Morisaki Bookstore · 2010
The Days of Morisaki Bookstore
7.02010
MovieDrama
After learning her boyfriend and colleague was already in a relationship and about to marry another colleague, Takako quits her job and falls into a slump. Her uncle, Satoru, offers her a job and room in his used bookstore in Jinbocho. Despite her initial lack of interest, Takako is slowly drawn into the world of books through contact with the customers who frequent the store.
The Katsuragi Murder CaseThe Katsuragi Murder Case · 2016
The Katsuragi Murder Case
7.52016
MovieDrama
The Katsuragi Household that runs a small store may appear serene. But as the younger son Minoru commits a murder on the street, the family is exposed to the public. Is there anybody that is behind this murder case?
The Wings of the KirinThe Wings of the Kirin · 2012
The Wings of the Kirin
6.42012
MovieDramaCrime
A man's body is found under the statue of a winged kirin in the Nihombashi area of Tokyo. A suspect named Yashima has a car accident and falls unconscious while he is attempting to run away. Yashima's lover Kaori comes from Fukushima and tells detectives that he is absolutely not a criminal. Meanwhile, Detective Kyoichiro Kaga's (Hiroshi Abe) investigates and uncovers a point of contact between the dead body and Yashima. A hidden fact of the victim is revealed which even his children did not know about...
10 Promises to My Dog10 Promises to My Dog · 2008
10 Promises to My Dog
6.72008
MovieDrama
One day a puppy comes to the house of Akari, who has just turned twelve, and was trying hard to act strong after her mother suddenly fell ill. She immediately falls in love with the puppy and names it "Socks" after the paws which looked like they had white socks on. Akari was together with Socks day and night. However, as Akari grows up, her feelings and interest moves away from Socks. Year by year, their distance grows, which also leads to her physical distance as she moves to a far off city, and must leave Socks behind to a childhood friend. One day, Akari remembers the 10 promises that she had made with Socks and her deceased mother...
Dear EtrangerDear Etranger · 2017
Dear Etranger
7.12017
MovieDrama
Makoto Tanaka is 40-years-old and has remarried. His wife is Nanae and they care for 2 daughters from Nanae's prior marriage. Makoto tries to have an ordinary family. Nanae then becomes pregnant. Afterwards, things begin to change among the family members.
Waiting in the DarkWaiting in the Dark · 2006
Waiting in the Dark
8.42006
MovieDramaRomance
A precarious loner sneaks into a blind woman's home and begins living there without her noticing. Meanwhile, the woman mourns her recently deceased father and struggles to remain connected to the world.
Thirteen StepsThirteen Steps · 2003
Thirteen Steps
6.42003
MovieDramaThriller
A released inmate is hired to solve a murder case.
Desperate SunflowersDesperate Sunflowers · 2016
Desperate Sunflowers
4.52016
MovieComedyDrama
Natsuko Kotani was born to be a swindler. Meanwhile, Tetsuko Ishida is Natsuko’s distant relative. Unlike Natsuko, Tetsuko is an attorney with an upright disposition. Whenever Natsuko makes trouble, Tetsuko is called to solve her troubles. Believing that Natsuko is using her, Tetsuko, with her boring life, begins to change.
The Tale of Genji: A Thousand Year EnigmaThe Tale of Genji: A Thousand Year Enigma · 2011
The Tale of Genji: A Thousand Year Enigma
6.62011
MovieFantasyDrama
"Genji Monogatari" focuses on the love and hate relationships surrounding Genji Hakaru. Lady Fujitsubo is Genji's first love. Ryokuzono Miyasutokoro is obsessed with Genji and eventually becomes a spirit. Yu Kao, who is from the lower class, give comfort to Genji's emotional wounds. Writer Murasaki Shikibu is jealous of Genji and is eventually ordered by Seime Abe to write a work ...

TV Shows

Taira no KiyomoriTaira no Kiyomori · 2012
Taira no Kiyomori
8.02012
SeriesDrama
Villain or hero, Taira no Kiyomori changed Japanese history forever 900 years ago. Without ever knowing his real father, Kiyomori was raised as a samurai. Together with his stepfather, he wiped out piracy along Japan's western coast, becoming a full-fledged warrior samurai. In an age when samurai were looked down on as members of the lower class, Kiyomori was skillful at winning the hearts and minds of the people. By rounding up surrendered pirates and achieving other successes, Kiyomori eventually became the de facto ruler of Japan.
Burning FlowerBurning Flower · 2015
Burning Flower
7.72015
SeriesDrama
Fumi becomes Genzui Kusaka’s wife. During the turbulent times of the closing days for the Tokugawa shogunate, she lives positively and tries to keep up Shoin Yoshida's will. Shoin Yoshida is her older brother and intellectual.
Keigo Higashino MysteriesKeigo Higashino Mysteries · 2012
Keigo Higashino Mysteries
6.72012
SeriesDramaMystery
11 mysteries, 11 actors. Japan's favorite mystery author, the world of Higashino Keigo comes to life on screen through an assortment of short stories.
FlagFlag · 2006
Flag
4.92006
SeriesAnimation
Saeko Shirasu is a 25-year-old war front-line photo-journalist who became a celebrity after taking a picture of civilians raising a makeshift UN flag in war-torn Uddiyana. The image then became an instant symbol for peace. However, just before the peace agreement is achieved, the flag was stolen by an armed extremist group in order to obstruct the truce. The UN peacekeepers decide to covertly send in a SDC (pronounced as "Seedac"—Special Development Command) unit to retrieve the flag. Because of her connection with the "Flag" photo, Saeko Shirasu was offered the job of following the SDC unit as a front line journalist. Among the SDC unit's equipment is the HAVWC (High Agility Versatile Weapon Carrier—pronounced "havoc") mecha armored vehicle.
A Lovestory in Virtual RealityA Lovestory in Virtual Reality · 2024
A Lovestory in Virtual Reality
2024
SeriesDrama
Naoki (Nomaguchi Toru), middle-aged bachelor, has had no successful experiences in his life. His only purpose in life is to spend time alone in the VR world of a game "Twilight" as a girl (Kurasawa Anna) in school uniform. In the lonely world of the unpopular game, one day he meets a beautiful avatar "Honami", a naive and beautiful girl. Naoki, a socially awkward, is bewildered but gradually becomes attracted to Honami.
Akira and AkiraAkira and Akira · 2017
Akira and Akira
7.02017
SeriesDrama
The story begins in April 1986 and is set during the days of the bubble economy. Kaidou Akira comes from a wealthy background and is the heir of a large company Tokai Yuusen. On the other hand, his genius classmate from the University of Tokyo, Yamazaki Akira had a tough life due to the bankruptcy of his father's company and having to run away from creditors but overcomes the odds to graduatefrom the top-notch school. The two are employed at the same bank and get caught in a battle lasting over 10 years which causes upheavals in their lives.
Chico Will Scold You!Chico Will Scold You! · 2018
Chico Will Scold You!
2018
SeriesFamily
The show's main protagonist is the 5-year-old title character Chico-chan. An actor wears a costume with an oversize head to portray her, while the broadcasts show her face in 3D computer graphics, which allows for a variety of outrageous expressions and effects. Accompanied by comedian Takashi Okamura, the show features Chico-chan asking Okamura and others simple questions, such as "Why do people wave their hands when they say goodbye?" If they cannot answer properly, she spits out her sarcastic signature phrase, "Botto ikiten ja ne-yo!" (Don't sleep through life!) Yuichi Kimura provides the voice of Chico-chan.
GiftedGifted · 2023
Gifted
8.42023
SeriesMysteryCrime
Natsuki Amakusa (Masuda Takahisa), an overconfident genius detective with extraordinary deduction skills, meets Yuya Shiki (Ukisho Hidaka), a cool high school student who guessed the culprit at the scene of a suspected suicide. Yuuya possesses a special talent that allows him to see the shadows of murderers.
Dragons of WonderhatchDragons of Wonderhatch · 2023
Dragons of Wonderhatch
7.22023
SeriesSci-Fi & Fantasy
Upananta's greatest dragonrider disappears in the middle of a crucial battle. Without him, the world is doomed. The rookie dragonrider, Thaim, goes to find him in another world: a place where flying dragons and adventure only exist in high school student Nagi's dreams.
Torrent~Do You Remember Me?Torrent~Do You Remember Me? · 2013
Torrent~Do You Remember Me?
7.02013
SeriesDrama
Five former middle school classmates receive an email from a girl who was their classmate, but disappeared on a school trip 20 years ago. The email causes the five former classmates to meet once again.
Kareinaru ichizokuKareinaru ichizoku · 2021
Kareinaru ichizoku
7.92021
SeriesDramaCrime
Daisuke Manpyō is the owner and president of the successful Hanshin Bank. He also owns several other companies and some real estate. His son-in-law is a bureaucrat at the Ministry of the Treasury, who tips him off that there is a move afoot to reorganize commercial banks. Manpyō is in for difficult times as he attempts to block the merger between his bank and another.
Convenience Store KyodaiConvenience Store Kyodai · 2026
Convenience Store Kyodai
7.02026
SeriesDramaComedy
At a lively Mojiko convenience store, a charming manager and his mysterious brother turn everyday chaos into comedy, while a sharp-witted employee turns their antics into a viral webcomic.
Over TimeOver Time · 1999
Over Time
8.31999
SeriesDrama
29-year-old Natsuki bumps into 25-year-old Sôichirô while on vacation in Hokkaido. Back in Tokyo, Natsuki discovers Sôichirô is her friend Haruko's younger brother, and they all end up living together along with Fuyumi, a third friend. Natsuki and Sôichirô form a strong bond, but become involved with other people all the while wondering who they should be with.
Chushingura: A 48th Loyal Retainer in LoveChushingura: A 48th Loyal Retainer in Love · 2016
Chushingura: A 48th Loyal Retainer in Love
7.02016
SeriesDrama
Set in the Edo period, a story revolves around Kiyo, a woman who strives to overcome status differences of those days. When she pledges to live for love, a knife attack occurs at Edo castle. And as a 48th loyal retainer, her fate changes after a raid on Kira: she is determined to serve at the inner palace of Edo Castle called "Ooku".
The Midday DevilThe Midday Devil · 2017
The Midday Devil
2017
SeriesDrama
A young man named Nanba Masato is an aspiring writer. One day, he feels sharp pain in his stomach and rushes into a hospital. There, Okouchi Yoko, a doctor in a white lab coat, comes in to treat him. Despite the severe pain, it helps Masato to feel a little better since Yoko cares for him like a sweet Venus. After successful surgery, Masato is hospitalized for a while. He is actually glad to be looked after by Yoko. But he never knew this was just the very beginning of the road to despair and destruction. Various strange things happen one after another at the hospital. A mysterious note is found in a back of a drawer in a sickroom. A medical accident of an elderly woman with dementia occurs. A girl is in near-death condition by an unknown allergy. A patient's condition worsens by a false medical records… You can't help but wonder, are these really just accidents?
My Dear Husband The Perfect Wifes Secret
NEW
My Dear Husband The Perfect Wifes Secret · 2026
My Dear Husband The Perfect Wifes Secret
2026
SeriesMystery
When his seemingly perfect wife dies under mysterious circumstances shortly after he asks for a divorce, a television anchor is drawn into a psychological mystery filled with secrets, lies, and obsession.
Zanka: Beautiful SnaresZanka: Beautiful Snares · 2015
Zanka: Beautiful Snares
2015
SeriesDrama
Your Tales of the UnusualYour Tales of the Unusual · 2021
Your Tales of the Unusual
8.82021
SeriesDramaMystery
An omnibus drama based on short stories by Ryo Asai, who won the 22nd Novel Subaru Rookie Award for The Kirishima Thing and the 148th Naoki 35 Award for SOMEONE.
North LightNorth Light · 2020
North Light
7.72020
SeriesMystery
A family asks a man to build a house he would like to live in himself. However, when it is completed, the family disappears without moving in.
Lady Oscar Works TempLady Oscar Works Temp · 2009
Lady Oscar Works Temp
6.02009
SeriesComedyDrama
A story about a temporary-staff worker who finds refuge in the fantasy world of a comic, Rose of Versailles. Katsuko's mediocre days is put to an end when the son of her company president arrives at her office and lays out unreasonable a cost-cutting policy which upsets Katsuko. Her inner ear hears the voice of Oscar, the main character of "Rose of Versailles" who stands up for the people, and decides to take action against him to save her helpless colleagues. --NHK
Toho NanahunToho Nanahun · 2015
Toho Nanahun
2015
SeriesDramaComedy
32-year-old Kurosaki Yoriko has no man, no friends and no job. She starts to live alone for the first time and comes in touch with a new world. This is the story of the small incidents that occur within a 7-minute walking distance from her apartment.
My Sassy GirlMy Sassy Girl · 2008
My Sassy Girl
9.02008
SeriesDramaComedy
Ryokiteki na Kanojo is a Japanese television drama based on the South Korean movie My Sassy Girl. It narrates the story between Saburo Masaki, a marine biologist, and Riko Takami, an aspiring writer with a short temper. While the two are at odds with each other at first, they eventually become attracted to each other and develop a relationship. It received an average of 8.18% viewer rating throughout the series.
LINKLINK · 2013
LINK
2013
SeriesDrama
Renai KenteiRenai Kentei · 2012
Renai Kentei
2012
SeriesSci-Fi & FantasyComedy
Tsuji Eriko, who is the ace in her cosmetics company’s public relations division, always gets the man she targets. She has the contact details of hundreds of men in her mobile phone. No man has ever cut her off. A god appears before Eriko and declares that he intends to test her for the lowest level. “Who do you think I am?” An irate Eriko starts by aggressively flirting with Ogura Tsukasa, the person in charge of her company’s cosmetics at a major advertising agency, but the god ruthlessly judges her negatively. Even her younger sister Kaori has to point out that love is something more intimidating. The god does not offer concrete advice for he is not motivated by a love test for humans to begin with. Exposed to his complaints and digs, the remarriage of Eriko’s mother, Hisako, makes Eriko recall that bitter first love during junior high school days … … Before she knows it, she speaks out about her embarrassing self which she has never let anyone see, to the god. Will she pass the text and be able to have a happy love?