Japanese movie stars born in 1929
Here are 7 famous actresses from Japan were born in 1929:
Miyoshi Umeki
Miyoshi Umeki (May 8, 1929 Otaru-August 28, 2007 Licking) otherwise known as Umeki, Miyoshi was a Japanese singer and actor.
Miyoshi Umeki was one of the first Asian actresses to achieve widespread success in Hollywood during the 1950s-1960s. She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film "Sayonara" in 1958. She also starred in the Broadway musical "Flower Drum Song" and later reprised her role in the film adaptation. Before her acting career, she worked as a nightclub singer in Japan and later in the United States. Umeki was one of six children and grew up in a Presbyterian household. She died in Licking, Missouri at the age of 78.
Tomoko Naraoka
Tomoko Naraoka (December 1, 1929 Bunkyō-) also known as Naraoka Tomoko is a Japanese actor and voice actor.
She began her acting career in the 1950s and has appeared in numerous movies, TV shows, and stage productions. Some of her notable roles includes the voice of Mama in the Japanese dub of "Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies" and the role of the Witch of the Waste in the Japanese dubbed version of the Studio Ghibli film "Howl's Moving Castle". Tomoko was awarded the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in 2018 in recognition of her contributions to Japanese culture through acting and voice acting. She continues to work in the industry today, delighting audiences with her talent and dedication to her craft.
Utae Shoji
Utae Shoji (August 13, 1929 Utashinai-) also known as Kashimashi San'nin musume, Utae Hirai, しょうじ うたえ, Shoji Utae, 平井 歌江, ひらい うたえ, 正司 歌江 or Hirai Utae is a Japanese actor and comedian. She has one child, Hidekazu Hirai.
Utae Shoji began her career in the entertainment industry in the 1950s as a member of a female comedy duo called Mumeijuku. They were known for their witty banter and musical performances. In the 1960s, Shoji started to appear on television and gained popularity for her hilarious and unique performances.
Aside from her successful career as a comedian, Utae Shoji also acted in films and television dramas. She appeared in several films and dramas such as "The Human Bullet" (1968), "The Wolves" (1971), and "Hana no asuka gumi! Neo" (2015). Her memorable roles showcased her versatility as an actress.
In 2015, Utae Shoji received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette from the Japanese government for her contributions to the entertainment industry.
In her personal life, Utae Shoji is known for her love of traveling and has visited many countries. She is also an avid golfer and has won several tournaments in Japan.
Ranko Mizuki
Ranko Mizuki (April 24, 1929 Tokyo-May 26, 1997) a.k.a. みやた みつよ, 宮田 美津代, Miyata Mitsuyo, Mitsuyo Miyata, 水城 蘭子, みずき らんこ or Mizuki Ranko was a Japanese actor and voice actor.
Ranko Mizuki was born in Tokyo in 1929. She started her acting career as a teenager and became well-known for her roles in Japanese films in the 1950s and 1960s. She then transitioned into voice acting and became known as one of the most prominent seiyuu (voice actors) in Japan. Some of her most famous voice acting roles include Luna in "Sailor Moon," Fujinami Ryuunosuke in "Urusei Yatsura," and Medusa in "Saint Seiya."
Aside from her voice acting career, Ranko Mizuki was also a successful singer and released several singles and albums throughout her career. She was also a popular talk show host and appeared on numerous TV shows throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Ranko Mizuki passed away in 1997 at the age of 68 due to heart failure. Despite her passing, her legacy as a talented and influential voice actor and actor in Japan continues to live on to this day.
Hiroko Seki
Hiroko Seki (July 30, 1929 Tokyo-May 11, 2008 Hino) was a Japanese actor and voice actor.
Seki began her career in the entertainment industry at the age of 17 when she joined the Haiyuza Theatre Company. She then went on to become a voice actor in the late 1940s, lending her voice to various anime series and films. She gained widespread recognition and fame for her role as the voice of Clarisse in the popular anime film "The Castle of Cagliostro". In addition to her voice acting career, Seki also appeared in numerous live-action films and television dramas throughout her career. She was known for her versatile acting skills and her ability to play a wide range of characters. Seki was an accomplished performer who left a lasting impact on the anime and entertainment industry in Japan.
Kotoe Hatsui
Kotoe Hatsui (January 8, 1929 Yokohama-September 21, 1990) also known as Koto'e Hatsui was a Japanese actor.
She began her acting career in 1949 and appeared in numerous films, TV dramas, and stage productions throughout her career. Hatsui gained widespread recognition for her roles in the films "Jigoku" (1960) and "Kuroneko" (1968). She was known for her versatility in portraying a range of characters, from gentle and kind to dark and intense. In addition to acting, Hatsui was also a former model and beauty pageant winner. She passed away in 1990 at the age of 61.
Setsuko Wakayama
Setsuko Wakayama (June 7, 1929 Meguro-May 9, 1985 Chofu) was a Japanese actor.
She appeared in many films during the 1950s and 1960s, including "Tokyo Twilight" (1957) and "Fires on the Plain" (1959). In addition to her film career, Wakayama also acted in several stage productions, including the 1958 production of Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" in Tokyo. After marrying director Naruse Mikio in 1960, she appeared in several of his films, including "Dancing Girl" (1961) and "The Approach of Autumn" (1963). Although Wakayama's career was cut short by her untimely death from cancer at the age of 55, she remains a respected figure in Japanese cinema.