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Ueto Aya is a Japanese actress, model, and singer who was born September 14th, 1985 and grew up in Nerima, Tokyo. She debuted in 1997 after winning the 7th Japan Bishoujo Contest; she became part of girl group Z-1 in 1998 and they began releasing music in 1999. Aya was the most recognized of the four girls and in 2000 she became the poster girl for the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare's LQ Campaign. It was in 2000 that she became an actress through minor roles in dramas, and after her role as a transgender FTM in 2001's season of long-running drama "Kinpachi-sensei," she began to steadily acquire more spotlit parts. These included starring roles in "Hito Natsu no Papa e," "Ace wo Nerae!," "Attack No.1," "Attention Please," and "Abarenbo Mama," among several others. She was also a familiar face on variety television and could be seen in countless commercials.
With the start of Aya's solo career in 2002, Z-1 unofficially disbanded as the rest of its members pursued their own works. Aya's first single, "Pureness," debuted at #1 on the Oricon, and the majority of her succeeding singles were all in the top 10 ranking. Likewise, all of her albums have been in the top 20 upon release, with her debut album "AYAUETO" reaching highest at #4. She has also performed many national live tours within Japan.
Aya's movie career got a jumpstart in 2003 with her first starring role in the film adaptation of the manga "Azumi," playing the title character, with a sequel following two years later. (Before this, her one major role was the dubbed voice of June in "Peter Pan 2.") She continued to acquire starring roles from this film on, and in 2009 she was lent her voice once more, this time to play Atom in the Japanese dub of the American adaptation of "Tetsuwan Atom."
Aya has released a handful of photobooks, been the host of plenty of radio shows, and continues to pick up awards left and right for both her talent and beauty (she was one of Vogue Nippon's "Women of the Year 2009 & Decade 2009"). It's no secret that this multi-talented celebrity will remain one of Japan's most beloved it girls in the years to come.