Ai Hashimoto

is a Japanese actress and reporter. Her old stage name is . She is known for her role as Atsuko Sasaki in Ultraman Gaia. 
==Career==
Ai Hashimoto dropped out of Onishi Gakuen High School to work in the entertainment industry. In 1994, she won the Grand Prix at the 5th Young Jump 'National School Girl High School Uniform Collection'. Since then, she has worked extensively with TV, gravure and movies.
Although Ai Hashimoto retired from the entertainment industry in 2001, she reprised her role as Atsuko Sasaki in Great Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers in 2008.
==Roles==
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1998	Ultraman Gaia 	Atsuko Sasaki	
1999	Ultraman Tiga, Ultraman Dyna, & Ultraman Gaia: The Decisive Battle in Hyperspace	Atsuko Sasaki	
2001	Ultraman Gaia: Gaia Again 	Atsuko Sasaki	
2008	Great Decisive Battle! The Super 8 Ultra Brothers 	Atsuko Sasaki	
===Other Roles===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
1994	Ninja Sentai Kakuranger 	Aki Hanada 	Episode 41 "The Stray Ghost"
1995	Kindaichi Case Files 	Tatsumi Ayako 	Episode 6 "Kubinashi Village Murder"
1995	Miracle Mask High Schooler 	 	
1995	Shibuya-kei Uraringo Imada Koji	Member of UraRin Gals	
1997	Eko Eko Azarak 	Ki Tsunashima 	Episode 14
1998	King's Brunch 	 	
==Trivia==
*Initially she debuted with the last name "Kawasaki", but because it could be confused with another actress of the same, she changed it. However, her new stage name was also confused with yet another actress of same name born in 1996.
*Hashimoto auditioned for the role of Atsuko out of curiosity, as she has little knowledge of Ultraman Series as a whole at that time. After successfully winning the role, she went home and watched an Ultraman video to get the gist of her role as an operator.
*She has a younger brother at home, using it as a sort of inspiration towards Atsuko's role in the series as a caretaker to certain characters. Her younger brother also praised for her acting in Ultraman Gaia, citing that both Hashimoto and Atsuko appear as "practically two different people".
*Since her role as Atsuko is mostly reserved for indoor filming, Hashimoto's favorite filming set were outdoor scenes. This is prominent in episode 19, "Lilia's Maze", as well as scenes of entering a fighter cockpit.
==External Links==
*Ai Hashimoto at allcinema
Category:Real Life People
Category:Actors
Category:Actresses
Category:Actors who appeared in Super Sentai