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Naoko Kawamata (川俣 尚子, Kawamata Naoko) is a main character in The Grudge 3, portrayed by Emi Ikehata. She was Kayako Saeki's estranged younger sister who tried putting an end to the curse.

Biography

Naoko is Kawamata's younger daughter and Kayako Saeki's younger sister. She spent her childhood with her sister and mother at a small rural village in Japan. The sisters were subjected and exposed to their mother's rituals, which traumatised them. However, despite this, Naoko followed in Kawamata's footsteps and became an Itako as well.

She grew up dreaming of the rituals and married Daisuke. Kayako watched over Naoko after dying. Naoko knew of Kayako's death and the curse. Due to her familial link to Kayako, Naoko was blames for the fate. At some point, she obtained Kayako's diary and a portion of her blood. After the deaths at Chicago apartment, she saw Jake's death in her dream and awoke in the middle of the night. Later, she found news reports on the case, left by her coworkers on her table to taunt her. She decides to stop hiding and go to Chicago apartment to try and put an end to the curse, against Daisuke's wishes, who wanted her to stay and not get involved.

She comes to the decaying and cursed Chicago apartment building and meets the building's syndic Max and his sisters Lisa and Rose, sympathizing with them. Naoko later went to a sidewalk with Lisa and Rose and told Lisa about her and Kayako's life, childhood and fate. She also explained to Lisa the true reason of deaths and disappearances in their building and told her of the curse, which had taken over it. Naoko then revealed her true reasons to move, telling about the banishing ritual, and asking for Lisa and Rose's help. Lisa, however, refused to participate in the ritual and took Rose away, much to Naoko's anguish.

Naoko later visited Jake's funeral and observed Lisa talking to doctor Sullivan. Naoko was later visited by Lisa, who was expelled from their apartment by a Takeo-possessed Max and told her their time was running out before they would be killed. Lisa agreed to help her perform the ritual and stealthily took Rose from the apartment.

Naoko, reunited with them, donned a white kimono and they started the ritual at the Kimble's apartment. Rose was required to drink Kayako's blood, to which Lisa refused to allow her. They were then surprised by Max, who attacked and pursued Naoko throughout the building, while Lisa and Rose were pursued by Kayako. Eventually, Naoko was brutally killed by Max stabbing her through the throat, similar to how Kayako died. Right after that, Rose drank Kayako's blood and the ghosts vanished. Lisa found Naoko's corpse in the hall, at the feet of a disturbed Max. Naoko later appeared and killed Max in the hall by biting a hole in his throat, with Lisa discovering his corpse.

Etymology

  • The name Naoko means "still, further/furthermore, yet, more/still more, greater, less" (尚) (nao) and "child" (子) (ko).
  • Naoko's surname Kawamata means "river, stream" (川) (kawa) and "or, also, again, once more/moreover, too, as well, besides, on the other hand, and, while" (又) (mata).

Trivia

  • Studio executives insisted on the idea of a twin sister for Kayako as part of her backup story for The Grudge 2, which Shimizu-san rejected. [1] This idea likely resulted in Naoko's character in The Grudge 3.
  • Japanese actress Emiko Koizumi auditioned for the role of Naoko.
  • Naoko was originally named Naoki in a rough draft of the script.
  • Naoko is the first and only character in the entire franchise to use the term "Ju-on" to explain the curse. Nakagawa explained it to Karen, but never said the term.
  • Since no one previously searched for Naoko, Kayako presumably made no mention of her in her diary.
  • Naoko wears a white kimono, as Onryō are traditionally depicted in Japanese folklore.
  • The journal Naoko owns is slightly different from the one seen in previous films. The diary was visibly a paperback notebook whilst hers is a hardcover one.
  • It is unknown where or how Naoko got possession of Kayako's journal or her blood.
  • Since we never see childhood flashbacks for Naoko, it can be assumed that she probably didn’t undergo the same abuse inflicted upon Kayako, where she was forced to ingest the evil spirits her mother exorcised from customers.
  • As Naoko is married and Kawamata is her maiden name, it’s unknown what her married name is.

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