Eriko Tamura (Yaeko) Joins Dragon Ball Movie Cast
By Sam | December 15, 2007 (12:48 am) | More: Heroes Cast/Crew Updates
In all likelihood, we’ll probably never see anymore of Eriko Tamura, who played Hiro Nakamura’s Feudal Japan love interest Yaeko in Heroes’ Season 2. Of course that doesn’t mean we won’t be seeing her on American TV (or in American movies, actually), because Eriko Tamura has just been cast in the upcoming live-action movie version of the popular Japanese manga and anime “Dragon Ball Z”, to be just called “Dragonball” when it hits U.S. theaters.
The news comes from The Hollywood Reporter, who says that Eriko will be joining a cast that already includes Justin Chatwin, James Marsters and Jamie Chung. Also reported to be joining the cast alongside Eriko is actress Emmy Rossum and Korean pop singer Joon Park.
Eriko will be playing the character Mai, which is described by Wikipedia so:
Mai is one of two of Emperor Pilaf’s minions. She is one of very few female characters in the Dragon Ball universe. She is closely paired with Shu as Emperor Pilaf’s personal minions. She mainly appears to retrieve the Dragon Balls along with Emperor Pilaf and Shu. Mai appears with Emperor Pilaf off and on through the series (both manga and anime), but she falls out of the story just before the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai and doesn’t appear again until a brief appearance in Dragon Ball GT, many years later in the Dragon Ball canon.
Apparently the role will be expanded for the movie, so it’s not a minor blink-and-you’ll-miss cameo.
Here’s what the toy version of Mai looks like:
In a bit of trivia, apparently James Kyson Lee lobbied hard for a role in “Dragonball”, but didn’t get it.
I'm still hoping to see Claude in season 3 or at the very least "hear" him. 
WHEN IS HEROES COMING BACK ON????
im like dying without it :[ lol jjust not that bad.
if anyone knows it ...
To RoguePlanet: Both Nathan and Niki made it to the season three cast list. Even if I didn't know this ...
Ithink that all the new characters are great! and i'm really looking forward to the next lot!
Tommy Shi on 15 December 2007:
The movie will be titled “Dragon Ball” because it’s based on the original DB series, not Dragon Ball Z. Pilaf and Mai were never in DBZ, and by then, Piccolo (Marster’s character) was no longer an antagonist.
311 on 15 December 2007:
This should be interesting…I use to be a big fan of DBZ but not so much DB. How will they pull this off without ruining it I wonder?
ralph9009 on 15 December 2007:
Well, if they do it like the original Dragonball series, Goku’ll be a child (or at least an early teen) and things will be pretty different than the DBZ world. Nobody knows what a Saiyan is, just that Goku literally goes ape-s*** when he sees the moon.
Sohaib420 on 16 December 2007:
i cant wait to see what happens, although a DBZ movie might of been much better
Scotty on 17 December 2007:
James Kyson Lee DID get in and he will be Yamcha
Sam on 17 December 2007:
@Scotty,
JKL mentioned that he was auditioning for Yamcha, but there has been no official announcement that he has gotten the part. Unless you know something I don’t? Please link to a credible source.
Corey on 18 December 2007:
This movie is going to be soooo cool! Justin Chatwin is a great Goku. Wow they got two heroes stars to be in “Dragonball” that’s Good! Emmy Rossum and Eriko Tamura.
odovld on 25 February 2008:
From how it is going, Eriko is just a lure for a Japanese audience. Too bad the Japanese have already started a boycott for this DB live action movie even with her in the works