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Kinuyo Tanaka

Acting 67 (deceased) years old Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan ★ 0.8
Born: November 28, 1909
Died: March 21, 1977

Biography

Kinuyo Tanaka (田中 絹代 Tanaka Kinuyo, 29 November 1909 – 21 March 1977) was a Japanese actress and director.

Tanaka was born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. She became a leading actress at seventeen years old, appearing in Heinosuke Gosho's An Embarrassing Dream in 1927. She proceeded to take leading parts in, among others, Yasujirō Ozu's I Graduated, But... in 1929, Gosho's Aiyoku no ki in 1930, and in 1931, Japan's first talkie, The Neighbor's Wife and Mine, directed by Gosho.

She had a close working relationship with director Kenji Mizoguchi, having parts in 15 of his films, including leading roles in The Life of Oharu (1952), Ugetsu (1953) and Sansho the Bailiff (1954). Their working relationship ended when Mizoguchi countered a recommendation from the Directors Guild of Japan for the Nikkatsu studio to hire her as a director. Despite this, the production of her second film as director went ahead, but Tanaka never forgave Mizoguchi, and the reasons for his behaviour are unclear. She also played Noboru Yasumoto's mother in Akira Kurosawa's Red Beard (1965). For her portrayal in Kei Kumai's Sandakan N° 8 she won the Best Actress Award at the 25th Berlin International Film Festival in 1975. Her last screen appearance was in 1976 in Kei Kumai's Kita No Misaki.

Tanaka was the second Japanese woman who worked as a film director, after Sakane Tazuko (1904‐1975). Her first directing job was on the film Love Letter in 1953, and she made five further films in that role.

External Links

🎬 IMDb

Known For

Red Beard
Red Beard Madame Yasumoto 1965
Sansho the Bailiff
Sansho the Bailiff Tamaki 1954
Ugetsu
Ugetsu Miyagi 1953
Sandakan No. 8
Sandakan No. 8 Old Osaki 1974
The Life of Oharu
The Life of Oharu Oharu 1952

Filmography

Acting Credits (223)

Kinuyo Tanaka, a Woman We Talk About
Kinuyo Tanaka, a Woman We Talk About Self (archive footage) 2022
The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka
The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka Self (archive footage) 2009
Lullaby of the Earth
Lullaby of the Earth 1976
Cape of the North
Cape of the North Old Nun 1976
Let's Go, Grandma!
Let's Go, Grandma! Kiku Sasaki 1975
Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director
Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director Self 1975
Sandakan No. 8
Sandakan No. 8 Old Osaki 1974
Sanbaba
Sanbaba 1974
Tora-san's Dream-Come-True
Tora-san's Dream-Come-True The Old Family Mistress 1972
Mominoki wa Nokotta
Mominoki wa Nokotta Tsuta 1970
Red Beard
Red Beard Madame Yasumoto 1965
Kono sora no aru kagiri
Kono sora no aru kagiri 1964
The Scent of Incense
The Scent of Incense Tsuna 1964
Bright Sea
Bright Sea Nobuko Yazaki 1963
Alone Across the Pacific
Alone Across the Pacific Youth's Mother 1963
A Legend or Was It?
A Legend or Was It? Shizuko Sonobe 1963
Double Wedding
Double Wedding 1963
Mama, I Need You!
Mama, I Need You! 1962
The Fencing Master
The Fencing Master Oharu 1962
A Wanderer's Notebook
A Wanderer's Notebook Kishi, Fumiko's Mother 1962
Eternity of Love
Eternity of Love Michi's Mother 1961
Her Brother
Her Brother Mother 1960
The Three Treasures
The Three Treasures Princess Yamato 1959
Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka
Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka Myokan 1959
Hahakogusa
Hahakogusa Shige Ozawa 1959
The Eternal Rainbow
The Eternal Rainbow Fumi 1958
Equinox Flower
Equinox Flower Kiyoko Hirayama 1958
The Ballad of Narayama
The Ballad of Narayama Orin 1958
Sorrow Is Only for Women
Sorrow Is Only for Women 1958
On This Earth
On This Earth Omitsu, Heiichiro's mother 1957
Geisha in the Old City
Geisha in the Old City Oei 1957
Stepbrothers
Stepbrothers Rie 1957
Yellow Crow
Yellow Crow Yukiko Matsumoto 1957
Flowing
Flowing Rika Yamanaka / Oharu 1956
The Storm
The Storm 1956
Women in Prison
Women in Prison Prison Warden 1956
How Sorrowful
How Sorrowful 1956
This Is Home
This Is Home 1956
Confession
Confession 1956
Forever a Woman
Forever a Woman Neighbor's Wife 1955
Tsukiyo no kasa
Tsukiyo no kasa 1955
Shōnen shikeishū
Shōnen shikeishū 1955
House of Many Pleasures
House of Many Pleasures Oshige 1955
The Moon Has Risen
The Moon Has Risen Yoneya 1955
The Woman in the Rumor
The Woman in the Rumor Hatsuko Mabuchi 1954
Five Sisters
Five Sisters 1954
Sansho the Bailiff
Sansho the Bailiff Tamaki 1954
Love Letter
Love Letter Landlady 1953
An Heir's Place
An Heir's Place Hisa Hosho 1953
Ugetsu
Ugetsu Miyagi 1953
Where Chimneys Are Seen
Where Chimneys Are Seen Hiroko Ogata 1953
Sincere Heart
Sincere Heart Kuniko 1953
Himitsu
Himitsu 1952
Mother
Mother Masako Fukuhara 1952
The Ataka Family
The Ataka Family Kuniko Ataka 1952
The Life of Oharu
The Life of Oharu Oharu 1952
Sisters of Nishijin
Sisters of Nishijin 1952
Story of Lightning
Story of Lightning 1951
The Lady of Musashino
The Lady of Musashino Michiko Akiyama 1951
Miss Oyu
Miss Oyu Oyû Kayukawa 1951
Ginza Cosmetics
Ginza Cosmetics Yukiko Tsuji 1951
The Inner Palace Conspiracy
The Inner Palace Conspiracy Onaka 1951
The Munekata Sisters
The Munekata Sisters Setsuko Munekata 1950
Wedding Ring
Wedding Ring Noriko Kuki 1950
Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 2
Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 2 Oiwa / Osode 1949
Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 1
Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 1 Oiwa / Osode 1949
Flame of My Love
Flame of My Love Eiko Hirayama 1949
A Hen in the Wind
A Hen in the Wind Tokiko Amamiya 1948
Women of the Night
Women of the Night Fusako Owada 1948
Phoenix
Phoenix Sayoko Aihara 1947
The Love of the Actress Sumako
The Love of the Actress Sumako Sumako Matsui 1947
Marriage
Marriage Fumie Matsukawa 1947
Utamaro and His Five Women
Utamaro and His Five Women Okita 1946
Victory of Women
Victory of Women Hiroko Hosokawa 1946
Kanojo no hatsugen
Kanojo no hatsugen 1946
A Tale of Archery at the Sanjusangendo
A Tale of Archery at the Sanjusangendo Okinu 1945
Victory Song
Victory Song Woman who sings lullaby 1945
Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi Shinobu Nonomiya 1944
Army
Army Waka 1944
The Man Who Has Returned
The Man Who Has Returned 1944
Air Raid of the Enemy Plane
Air Raid of the Enemy Plane Kiyo 1943
Kaisen no Zenya
Kaisen no Zenya 1943
A Certain Woman
A Certain Woman 1942
Record of a Woman Doctor
Record of a Woman Doctor 1941
Ornamental Hairpin
Ornamental Hairpin Emi 1941
Flower
Flower 1941
Let's Go in Good Spirits
Let's Go in Good Spirits 1941
Okinu and Banto
Okinu and Banto 1940
Osaka Woman
Osaka Woman 1940
Seisen aiba fu: Akatsuki ni inoru
Seisen aiba fu: Akatsuki ni inoru Chiyo 1940
Kinuyo's First Love
Kinuyo's First Love 1940
Weeds with flowers
Weeds with flowers 1939
Zoku aizen katsura
Zoku aizen katsura 1939
Spring Thunder
Spring Thunder 1939
Okayo's Preparedness
Okayo's Preparedness Okayo 1939
The Tree of Love
The Tree of Love Katsue Takaishi 1938
Mother and Child
Mother and Child Chieko 1938
Banchō sarayashiki
Banchō sarayashiki 1937
A Man's Recompense: Part 2
A Man's Recompense: Part 2 1937
A Man's Recompense: Part 1
A Man's Recompense: Part 1 1937
Lady Doctor Kinuyo
Lady Doctor Kinuyo Kinuyo Yamaoka 1937
Song of the Flower Basket
Song of the Flower Basket Yoko 1937
The New Road: Ryota
The New Road: Ryota 1936
The New Road: Akemi
The New Road: Akemi 1936
Men vs. Women
Men vs. Women 1936
Burden of Life
Burden of Life Itsuko Kuriyama 1935
Okoto and Sasuke
Okoto and Sasuke Okoto 1935
An Innocent Maid
An Innocent Maid Oshige 1935
My Elder Brother
My Elder Brother Sumako 1934
That Night's Woman
That Night's Woman 1934
Osayo Koi Sugata
Osayo Koi Sugata Osayo 1934
Storm in the City
Storm in the City 1934
Honeymoon
Honeymoon 1934
Constellations on Earth, Part 2: Constellations
Constellations on Earth, Part 2: Constellations 1934
Constellations on Earth, Part One: Earth Chapter
Constellations on Earth, Part One: Earth Chapter 1934
Sakura Ondo
Sakura Ondo 1934
The Genealogy of Women
The Genealogy of Women Otsuta 1934
Mother of the East
Mother of the East Taeko 1934
Sôbô
Sôbô Yoshiko Chō 1933
Daphne
Daphne Tamayō (Geisha) 1933
Before the Wedding
Before the Wedding Yukiko Takada 1933
The Road to Marriage
The Road to Marriage 1933
Clear and Cloudy
Clear and Cloudy Fusako Kawahara 1933
Dragnet Girl
Dragnet Girl Tokiko 1933
The Cheerleading Captain's Love
The Cheerleading Captain's Love Omitsu 1933
Woman of Tokyo
Woman of Tokyo Harue 1933
The Dancing Girl of Izu
The Dancing Girl of Izu Kaoru, a dancer 1933
The Bride Talks in Her Sleep
The Bride Talks in Her Sleep Haruko, bride 1933
The Loyal 47 Ronin
The Loyal 47 Ronin Yae 1932
Storm Zone
Storm Zone 1932
Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth?
Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth? Oshige 1932
Love in Tokyo
Love in Tokyo 1932
Shine, Japanese Women
Shine, Japanese Women Shigeko 1932
Studio Romance: A Guide to Love
Studio Romance: A Guide to Love 1932
The Sun Rises from the East
The Sun Rises from the East Miyoko 1932
The Willows of Ginza
The Willows of Ginza 1932
My Brother's a Fool
My Brother's a Fool 1932
Victory or Defeat
Victory or Defeat 1932
The Golden Demon
The Golden Demon Omiya 1932
Woman of Suffering
Woman of Suffering 1931
ABC Lifeline
ABC Lifeline 1931
ABC Lifeline: Fujieda Chapter
ABC Lifeline: Fujieda Chapter 1931
The Tramp and His Daughter
The Tramp and His Daughter 1931
The Neighbour's Wife and Mine
The Neighbour's Wife and Mine Wife of the Playwright 1931
Sisters: Part 1
Sisters: Part 1 1931
Sisters: Part 2
Sisters: Part 2 1931
Cry Cheerfully!
Cry Cheerfully! 1931
Love, Be with Humanity: Part 1
Love, Be with Humanity: Part 1 Mayumi 1931
Love, Be with Humanity: Part 2
Love, Be with Humanity: Part 2 Mayumi 1931
Young Lady
Young Lady Kinuko 1930
Youth, Why Do You Cry?
Youth, Why Do You Cry? Kozue Uesugi 1930
Record of Love and Desire
Record of Love and Desire 1930
The Tale of Kinuyo
The Tale of Kinuyo Kinuyo 1930
Mother, Don't Tarnish Your Name
Mother, Don't Tarnish Your Name 1930
The Great Ship
The Great Ship 1930
The Big City: Explosion
The Big City: Explosion 1930
Where Do Women Go?
Where Do Women Go? Omitsu 1930
A Smiling Life
A Smiling Life 1930
I Flunked, But...
I Flunked, But... Cafe's Waitress 1930
Song of Youth
Song of Youth Kinuko Yamada 1930
Marching On
Marching On Toshiko Yamamoto 1930
The Beating
The Beating 1930
Triumphant Song of the Mountain
Triumphant Song of the Mountain Yuki Matsuyama 1929
The Father and His Son
The Father and His Son 1929
I Graduated, But...
I Graduated, But... Machiko Nomoto 1929
Cheerful Song
Cheerful Song Mamoko 1929
The Model of New Women
The Model of New Women 1929
The Big City: Labor
The Big City: Labor Okimi (cleaning woman) 1929
The Village Where the Skylark Sings
The Village Where the Skylark Sings 1929
Him and Life
Him and Life 1929
Echigo Lion
Echigo Lion 1929
The Blacksmith of the Forest
The Blacksmith of the Forest Omitsu 1929
Symphony of Youth
Symphony of Youth Kinuko Noguchi 1928
The Glory of the Shōwa Era
The Glory of the Shōwa Era Yayoi Sakurai (Shōwa Chapter) 1928
King of the Land
King of the Land Namiko 1928
Thank You for Your Hard Work
Thank You for Your Hard Work 1928
A Wife Quits
A Wife Quits 1928
The Face of Humanity
The Face of Humanity 1928
What a Handsome Man!
What a Handsome Man! Shikanyu (geisha) 1928
Iron Virgin
Iron Virgin Namiko 1928
The Eternal Heart
The Eternal Heart 1928
Immortal Love
Immortal Love 1928
The Age of Emotion
The Age of Emotion 1928
The Village Bride
The Village Bride 1928
If Only She...
If Only She... 1928
Chronicles of a Sea Country
Chronicles of a Sea Country Oaki (Sister) 1928
Modern Warrior Training
Modern Warrior Training 1928
Night is a Trickster
Night is a Trickster 1927
Lovers' Suicide at Kiso
Lovers' Suicide at Kiso 1927
Sankichi the Flying Squirrel
Sankichi the Flying Squirrel Oshizu (Tazaemon's Daughter) 1927
The Oath of a Thousand Kills
The Oath of a Thousand Kills Kaōgi (Courtesan) 1927
Madame Pearl
Madame Pearl 1927
Song of the Border Patrol
Song of the Border Patrol Tsutae 1927
Magic
Magic 1927
An Embarrassing Dream
An Embarrassing Dream 1927
Takada no Baba
Takada no Baba 1927
The Harakiri at Tennōji
The Harakiri at Tennōji 1927
The Basement
The Basement 1927
Yakko no Koman
Yakko no Koman 1927
Secret Struggle
Secret Struggle 1927
Her
Her 1926
Flashing Blade
Flashing Blade 1926
Buried Youth
Buried Youth 1926
The Complete Story of Jirocho Shimizu, Part 2: Ashura's Revenge
The Complete Story of Jirocho Shimizu, Part 2: Ashura's Revenge 1926
Useless Button
Useless Button 1926
The Cursed Sword
The Cursed Sword Owaka 1926
Love and Courage
Love and Courage 1926
The Betrayed
The Betrayed O-Fumi 1926
Torrent
Torrent 1926
Young Master
Young Master Tamako (Geisha in training) 1926
Oh! Carefree, Aren't You?
Oh! Carefree, Aren't You? 1926
Townspeople
Townspeople 1926
Troubled Days
Troubled Days Osaki (Reiko's Sister) 1926
No Need for Your Opinion
No Need for Your Opinion Daughter 1925
Fallen Samurai
Fallen Samurai Omaki 1925
Love's Snare
Love's Snare Osato (Thread Shop Owner) 1925
The Killing of a Hundred Men at Isshinji Temple
The Killing of a Hundred Men at Isshinji Temple Otami 1925
Nature Is the Judge
Nature Is the Judge 1925
Brave Love
Brave Love 1925
Cry of the Raging Current
Cry of the Raging Current Okimi 1925
The Little Traveling Entertainer
The Little Traveling Entertainer Okiku 1925
Village Pasture
Village Pasture Oharu 1924
A Woman from the Genroku Era
A Woman from the Genroku Era 1924

Directing Credits (7)

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