Japanese movie stars born in 1909
Here are 6 famous actresses from Japan were born in 1909:
Kinuyo Tanaka
Kinuyo Tanaka (November 29, 1909 Shimonoseki-March 21, 1977 Japan) a.k.a. Tanaka Kinuyo or 田中 絹代 was a Japanese film director and actor.
She started her career as an actress and appeared in over 200 films. She was known for her versatility in playing a wide range of roles such as a geisha, a wealthy lady, and a samurai. In 1953, she became the second Japanese woman to direct a film with her debut film, Love Letter. Tanaka's directing career spanned over a decade, during which she directed eight films. She is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of Japanese cinema, and her contributions to the industry were recognized with numerous awards, including the prestigious Order of the Sacred Treasure from the Japanese government. In addition to her work in film, Tanaka was also an accomplished author, writing books about her acting experiences and the film industry.
Haruko Sugimura
Haruko Sugimura (January 6, 1909 Hiroshima-April 4, 1997 Tokyo) was a Japanese actor.
Haruko Sugimura was best known for her role in Ozu's Tokyo Story, in which she played a daughter-in-law who is indifferent to her husband's aging parents. She appeared in over 200 films throughout her career, which spanned more than five decades. Sugimura won several awards, including the Best Actress Award at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival for her role in Ozu's An Autumn Afternoon. She was also known for her roles in other Ozu films such as Late Spring and Early Summer. Sugimura was regarded as one of the most talented character actresses in Japanese cinema.
Hisako Hara
Hisako Hara (August 6, 1909 Japan-December 4, 2005 Tokyo) also known as Hisa Ishijima or Hiisa Ishijima was a Japanese actor.
She made her acting debut in 1926 in the film "Tokyo Koshinkyoku." Throughout her acting career, Hara appeared in over 200 films, earning her the nickname "Queen of Japanese Film." Some of her notable works include "The Ball at the Anjo House," "The End of Summer," and "The Makioka Sisters." Hara was known for her refined and elegant presence on screen, often portraying aristocratic women or sophisticated modern ladies. In addition to her film work, she also appeared in stage productions and on television. Hara received numerous awards for her contributions to Japanese cinema, including the Order of the Precious Crown from the Japanese government in 1988. She passed away in Tokyo in 2005 at the age of 96.
Shizue Natsukawa
Shizue Natsukawa (March 9, 1909 Tokyo City-February 24, 1999 Tokyo) also known as Natsukawa Shizue or Shizue Natsuka was a Japanese actor. Her child is called .
Shizue Natsukawa began her acting career in the 1930s and starred in numerous Japanese films, including "Osaka Elegy" and "Women of the Night". She was a member of the Shochiku Kamata acting troupe and worked alongside notable actors such as Kinuyo Tanaka and Ken Uehara. Natsukawa also appeared in a few Hollywood productions, including "Teahouse of the August Moon". She retired from acting in 1979 but continued to make occasional appearances on television. Her child, Yutaka Mizutani, is also an actor and has appeared in popular Japanese dramas and films.
Tsuyako Okajima
Tsuyako Okajima (January 9, 1909 Naka-ku, Nagoya-February 4, 1989) also known as Tsuya Komaki, Komaki Tsuya, Tsuya Nishina, Nishina Tsuya or Okajima Tsuyako was a Japanese actor. She had one child, Katsuko Nishina.
Tsuyako Okajima began her acting career in films in 1927, and was known for her roles in films such as "Prima Donna" (1933), "Street Without End" (1934), and "No Blood Relation" (1932).
She also appeared in the first Japanese color film, "The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malaya" (1942). She continued to act in films throughout the 1950s and 1960s, including in Akira Kurosawa's "The Hidden Fortress" (1958) and "Yojimbo" (1961).
Aside from her acting career, Okajima was also a member of the "Shin-Tokyoza" theater company, which was known for its experimental and avant-garde productions.
In the later years of her life, Okajima became a prominent figure in the fight for actress rights and appeared in several documentaries about the history of Japanese cinema. She passed away in 1989 at the age of 80.
Michiko Tanaka
Michiko Tanaka (July 15, 1909 Tokyo-May 1, 1988 Munich) a.k.a. Michiko Meinl, Michi Tanaka or Michi de Kowa was a Japanese singer and actor.
She began her career in the 1920s as a pop singer in Tokyo and quickly gained popularity. In the 1930s, she moved to Germany where she continued her singing career and also began acting in films. She worked primarily in German cinema, starring in films such as "Katharina, die Letzte" and "Bel Ami". During World War II, she was interned in a detention camp in the United States but was released after a year. After the war, she returned to Germany and continued her career in film and music. In the 1950s and 60s, she also hosted her own television show in Germany. Throughout her life, she maintained a strong connection to Japan and often performed traditional Japanese music. She was married to the German actor Theo Lingen from 1949 until his death in 1978. She passed away on May 1, 1988, in Munich, Germany.