Japanese movie stars died in 2014
Here are 4 famous actresses from Japan died in 2014:
Yoshiko Yamaguchi
Yoshiko Yamaguchi (February 12, 1920 Fushun-September 7, 2014 Tokyo) also known as Yoshiko Yomaguchi, Li Xianglan, Xianglan Li, Yoshiko Yamaguchi, Li Hsiang-lan, Ri Kôran, Li Xiang Lan, Hsiang-lan Li, Ōtaka Yoshiko, Shirley Yamaguchi, Ri Koran, The Judy Garland of Japan, 李香兰, Lǐ Xīanglán, Pan Shuhua, Li Hsiang Lan, 李香蘭, Ri Ko Ran, 山口淑子, Li Xiang-Ian, Li Xiang -Ian, Li, Xiang Lan, Yoshiko Otaka, Yoshiko ‘Shirley’ Yamaguchi or Rikoran was a Japanese politician, singer, actor and presenter.
Born in Manchuria to Chinese parents, Yamaguchi began her career in Shanghai as a singer and actress in the 1930s. She became hugely popular and was known for singing in both Mandarin and Japanese. In the 1940s, she was discovered by a Japanese film company and moved to Japan, where she became one of the most famous actresses of her time.
Despite her success in Japan, Yamaguchi faced controversy due to her nationality and was forced to retire briefly from the entertainment industry. However, she made a comeback and went on to serve as a member of parliament, becoming the first woman to be elected to Japan's upper house. She also worked to improve relations between Japan and China and was recognized for her humanitarian efforts.
Throughout her life, Yamaguchi remained a beloved figure in both China and Japan. She passed away in Tokyo in 2014 at the age of 94.
Read more about Yoshiko Yamaguchi on Wikipedia »
Anna Nakagawa
Anna Nakagawa (August 30, 1965 Suginami-October 17, 2014) also known as Anna Kuriyama was a Japanese actor.
She began her career in the entertainment industry as a model and later branched out to acting. She made her film debut in the 1987 movie "Mikadroid." Nakagawa gained international recognition for her role in the 1998 horror film "Ring," which is considered one of the most influential horror films in Japanese cinema.
She continued to act in a variety of film and television productions, earning critical acclaim for her roles in "Dark Water" (2002) and "Siren" (2006). In addition to her acting career, Nakagawa also worked as a voice actress and singer, releasing several albums throughout her career.
Sadly, Nakagawa passed away in 2014 at the age of 49 from complications related to acute aortic dissection. Her death was a shock to the Japanese entertainment industry and her fans around the world. She is remembered as a talented and versatile actress who left a lasting impact on Japanese cinema.
Read more about Anna Nakagawa on Wikipedia »
Kazuko Yanaga
Kazuko Yanaga (April 14, 1947 Fukuoka Prefecture-November 1, 2014) also known as Yanaga Kazuko was a Japanese voice actor and actor.
She began her career in the entertainment industry in the late 1960s as a stage actress. She later transitioned to voice acting and appeared in numerous anime TV series, films, and OVAs.
Some of her notable roles include Queen Metallia in "Sailor Moon," Azusa Matsudaira in "Great Teacher Onizuka," and Motoko Aoyama in "Love Hina." She also lent her voice to video games such as "Kingdom Hearts" and "Final Fantasy X."
In addition to her voice acting career, Yanaga also appeared in live-action films and TV dramas, including "Hiroshima Heart" and "Naguru Onna." She was known for her versatile voice range and her ability to portray a wide range of characters.
Yanaga passed away on November 1, 2014, at the age of 67 due to pancreatic cancer. She will be remembered as one of Japan's most notable and talented voice actors.
Read more about Kazuko Yanaga on Wikipedia »
Keiko Awaji
Keiko Awaji (July 17, 1933 Tokyo City-January 11, 2014 Tokyo) also known as Ida Ayako, Awaji Keiko or Ayako Ida was a Japanese actor. She had three children, Etsuo Shima, Kichinosuke Yorozuya and Akihiro Ogawa.
Keiko Awaji began her acting career in 1949, when she was only sixteen years old, and soon became a well-known name in Japanese cinema. She appeared in over sixty films throughout her career, including the critically acclaimed Tokyo Twilight (1957) and the Hollywood-produced WWII film The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). Awaji was known for her range as an actress and her ability to portray a variety of characters, from innocent young women to femme fatales.
In addition to her work in film, Awaji was also a successful television actress, appearing in several popular series throughout the 1960s and 1970s. She won several awards for her performances, including the Best Actress award at the 6th Mainichi Film Awards for her role in A Slope in the Sun (1958).
Awaji's personal life was also the subject of much media attention, particularly her marriage to director and producer Yasuzo Masumura. The couple married in 1957 and divorced in 1962, but continued to work together on several films after their separation.
After retiring from acting in the late 1970s, Awaji focused on her work as a writer and translator. She published several collections of essays and translated works by American authors such as Jack Kerouac and William Faulkner into Japanese. Awaji passed away in 2014 at the age of eighty.
Read more about Keiko Awaji on Wikipedia »