Kumi Takiuchi Courtesy of the Tokyo International Film Festival With two acclaimed indie features screening back-to-back at last year's Tokyo International Film Festival - Keiko Tsuruoka's Ravens and Kiyoshi Sugiyama's award winner Teki Cometh - actress Kumi Takiuchi cemented her standing as one of the most versatile and fearless young performers of contemporary Japanese cinema. A onetime newcomer discovered through a national talent contest, Takiuchi has built a singular career outside Japan's idol system, moving fluidly between daring arthouse films and mainstream television dramas.