With “The Boys” officially ending on May 20, fans are also saying goodbye to beloved characters including Kimiko Miyashiro, played by Karen Fukuhara. Known for her emotionally intense and physically demanding performance throughout the series, Fukuhara has become one of Hollywood television’s most recognizable Japanese actresses. From her breakout Hollywood debut to her martial arts background, here are five things to know about her
She first broke out through superhero franchises
Becoming widely recognised through The Boys, Fukuhara first entered Hollywood through another superhero franchise, making her film debut as Katana in Suicide Squad (2016) alongside Margot Robbie, Will Smith and Jared Leto. Even though it was her first major role, her sword-fighting scenes and physical performance quickly stood out. The film later opened doors to projects including Bullet Train (2022) and, most notably, The Boys.
Her most famous role relies almost entirely on physical performance
As Kimiko in The Boys, Fukuhara plays a character unable to speak due to childhood trauma who mainly communicates through expressions and sign language. Throughout seasons one to four, Kimiko barely speaks at all, forcing Fukuhara to rely almost entirely on physical acting and emotional expression. Even with very little dialogue, her intense yet vulnerable portrayal still turned Kimiko into one of the show’s most beloved fan-favourite characters.
She has a real martial arts background
Fukuhara had actually been training in karate long before entering Hollywood. She first started martial arts in middle school and even competed internationally in Japan before eventually focusing on acting. That background later became especially useful in projects like Suicide Squad and The Boys, both of which feature physically demanding fight scenes requiring real martial arts skills alongside stunt work and combat choreography.
She has built an impressive voice acting career
Beyond live-action roles, Fukuhara has also built a strong voice acting career across animated films and series. She voiced Kipo in Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (2020) and later appeared in projects including Star Wars: Visions (2021-2023), Pokémon Concierge (2023), Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (2024) and the English dub of Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron (2023). The variety of projects highlights her versatility beyond action-heavy superhero roles.
She is proudly Japanese-American
Born in Los Angeles to Japanese immigrant parents, Fukuhara grew up balancing both American and Japanese cultures. Fluent in Japanese, she attended Japanese Saturday school for 11 years and was raised around Japanese television, food and values. Deeply connected to her heritage, she has also frequently spoken about Asian representation in Hollywood. Her Japanese background and Kyokushin karate training continue influencing both her identity and performances today.
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