Atsuko Sakuraba

 is a Japanese gravure idol, tarento, actress and one-time mixed martial arts fighter.
Sakuraba has appeared in several photobooks, films and TV series. She also participated in the MMA tournament "ReMix World Cup 2000".
Biography.
Background.
Sakuraba was born in Koriyama, Fukushima, Japan. She graduated from the Koriyama Women's University Associated Senior High School.
Modeling and acting career.
Sakuraba debuted in 1996 with the photobook published by gravure publisher Scola. She began to appear on TV programs and in gravure videos the same year.
She made her acting debut in 1997 in the V-Cinema film , directed by Minoru Kawasaki.
Sakuraba was romantically linked to Kenji Haga, her partner in the 1999 film "Silver" (directed by Takashi Miike) but it was later believed to be a publicity stunt.
In 1999, Sakuraba appeared in her first nude photobook titled "Careyes" and published by Roux Shuppan.
Her first theatrical film was "Waru" also directed by Takashi Miike.
Sakuraba has also participated in theatre.
Filmography.
Others.
Serialization: , "Weekly Manga Action", - 
Mixed martial arts career.
Sakuraba had a MMA bout in the event "ReMix World Cup 2000" on , where she faced four-time national judo champion, 1993 and 1998 silver medallist and three-time World Cup winner Russian Tatyana Kuvshinova in a non-tournament fight. She was clearly outmatched by the Russian, and despite her spirited efforts, her corner decided to throw the towel in after her arm was injured in an armbar from which Sakuraba did not want to tap, dislocating her elbow in the process.
Sakuraba also participated in "ReMix Golden Gate 2001", although merely as a TV commentator.