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Isuzu Yamada

Acting 95 (deceased) years old Osaka, Osaka, Japan ★ 0.9
Born: February 5, 1917
Died: July 9, 2012

Biography

Isuzu Yamada (山田 五十鈴, Yamada Isuzu, 5 February 1917 – 9 July 2012) was a Japanese stage and screen actress whose career spanned seven decades.

Yamada was born in Osaka as Mitsu Yamada, the daughter of Kusudu Yamada, a shinpa actor specialising in onnagata roles, and Ritsu, a geisha. Yamada debuted as a film actress in 1930 at age twelve, appearing in the Nikkatsu film Tsurugi wo koete. She soon became one of Nikkatsu's top actresses, but it was her portrayals of strong-willed modern girls in Kenji Mizoguchi's Osaka Elegy and Sisters of the Gion in 1936 at the new Daiichi Eiga studio that earned her popularity and critical acclaim. Moving to Shinkō Kinema and then to Toho, she became a star with Mikio Naruse's Tsuruhachi and Tsurujiro (1938).

During the second half of the 1950s, Yamada's main attention shifted towards the stage, but she still appeared in a number of distinguished films like Naruse's Flowing (1956), Yasujirō Ozu's Tokyo Twilight (1957) and Akira Kurosawa's The Lower Depths (1957) and Throne of Blood (1957). Other directors she worked with during this decade include Keisuke Kinoshita, Kaneto Shindō and Shirō Toyoda. In addition to her theatre engagements, she appeared on television, including the long-running Hissatsu series. Her last TV appearance was in 2002.

Yamada died from multiple organ failure in Tokyo on 9 July 2012 at the age of 95. She was married four times, to actor Ichirō Tsukita, to producer Kazuo Takimura, to actor Yoshi Katō, and to actor Tsutomu Shimomoto. Her daughter with Tsukita, Michiko, became known as the actress Michiko Saga (1935–1992).

Description above from the Wikipedia article Isuzu Yamada, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia​

Filmography

Acting Credits (165)

Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Throne of Blood'
Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Throne of Blood' Self 2002
Kurosawa
Kurosawa Self 2000
Sure Death! Brown, You Bounder!
Sure Death! Brown, You Bounder! Oriku 1985
Sure Death
Sure Death 1984
Suspicion
Suspicion Tokie Horiuchi 1982
Arashi Tatsunari
Arashi Tatsunari Tatsu 1982
Shin Hissatsu Shigotonin
Shin Hissatsu Shigotonin 1981
Japanese Ghost Story Masterpiece Theater: The Ghost of Yotsuya
Japanese Ghost Story Masterpiece Theater: The Ghost of Yotsuya 1979
Hissatsu Shigotonin
Hissatsu Shigotonin Otowa 1979
Ameyuki-san
Ameyuki-san Waka Yamada 1979
Shogun's Samurai
Shogun's Samurai Oeyo 1978
Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director
Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director Self 1975
Woman Boss
Woman Boss 1970
Minamoto no Yoshitsune
Minamoto no Yoshitsune Joban 1966
Akō Rōshi
Akō Rōshi Riku 1964
Sakiko-san chotto
Sakiko-san chotto 中川しの 1963
The Body
The Body 1962
The Great Wall
The Great Wall Dowager Empress 1962
365 Nights
365 Nights 1962
假名手本忠臣蔵
假名手本忠臣蔵 1962
Glory on the Summit
Glory on the Summit Taka Hirooka 1962
Four Sisters
Four Sisters Tatsuko Katagiri 1962
Buddha
Buddha Kalideva 1961
Case of a Young Lord 9: Black Camellia
Case of a Young Lord 9: Black Camellia 1961
The Orphan Brother
The Orphan Brother Yashio (voice) 1961
Yojimbo
Yojimbo Orin 1961
The Shrikes
The Shrikes 1961
誰よりも金を愛す
誰よりも金を愛す 1961
Daredevil in the Castle
Daredevil in the Castle Yodogami 1961
風来物語 あばれ飛車
風来物語 あばれ飛車 1960
Deep River Melody
Deep River Melody 1960
Onatsu Detective Case: Mad Slasher
Onatsu Detective Case: Mad Slasher 1960
The Lovelorn Geisha
The Lovelorn Geisha 1960
Hanjiro of Kusama: Bird of Passage
Hanjiro of Kusama: Bird of Passage Otoku 1960
Bonchi
Bonchi Sei 1960
Secret
Secret 1960
Goodbye to Glory
Goodbye to Glory Otake 1960
Mission Accomplished
Mission Accomplished 1960
Princess Sen in Edo
Princess Sen in Edo Kisaragi 1960
Pineapple Butai
Pineapple Butai Shigeyo (Mother) 1959
Disappearance in the Night
Disappearance in the Night 1959
風来物語任侠篇
風来物語任侠篇 1959
Love in the Mountains
Love in the Mountains 1959
Man of Edo
Man of Edo 1959
Hear My Mother's Cry
Hear My Mother's Cry 1959
The Canary Cage, Spellbound Love
The Canary Cage, Spellbound Love 1959
The Hidden Treasure
The Hidden Treasure 1959
The Days of Evil Women
The Days of Evil Women 1958
The Undefeated Woman
The Undefeated Woman 1958
The Spell of the Hidden Gold
The Spell of the Hidden Gold 1958
The Spell of the Hidden Gold
The Spell of the Hidden Gold Chizuin 1958
Taikoki - The Saga of Hideyoshi
Taikoki - The Saga of Hideyoshi 1958
The Shop Curtain
The Shop Curtain 1958
The Seasons of Love
The Seasons of Love Urako 1958
A Boy and Three Mothers
A Boy and Three Mothers Natsu, the Foster Mother 1958
Samurai Nippon
Samurai Nippon 1957
Down Town
Down Town Riyo Yazawa 1957
Black River
Black River Landlady 1957
The Lower Depths
The Lower Depths Osugi the Landlady 1957
A Matter of Valour
A Matter of Valour 1957
The Shadow Daughter
The Shadow Daughter 1957
Tokyo Twilight
Tokyo Twilight Kisako Soma 1957
The Horse Boy
The Horse Boy 1957
Throne of Blood
Throne of Blood Lady Asaji Washizu 1957
The Mandarin Room
The Mandarin Room 1956
Flowing
Flowing Otsuta 1956
Shozo, a Cat and Two Women
Shozo, a Cat and Two Women Shinako 1956
Five Patriots of Kyoto
Five Patriots of Kyoto 1956
How Sorrowful
How Sorrowful 1956
Mother and Child
Mother and Child 1956
Farewell to Dream
Farewell to Dream Seiji's mother, Kiyo 1956
Namida no hanamichi
Namida no hanamichi 江戸紫女将そよ 1956
大当り男一代
大当り男一代 お吉 1956
Ishigassen
Ishigassen 1955
Such is Life
Such is Life Oharu 1955
Christ in Bronze
Christ in Bronze Kimika 1955
荒木又右衛門
荒木又右衛門 妻みね 1955
Minamoto Yoshitsune
Minamoto Yoshitsune 1955
振袖釼法
振袖釼法 母つじ 1955
If Indeed One Loves
If Indeed One Loves Yaeko (segment 3) 1955
Growing Up
Growing Up 1955
The Big Ambition
The Big Ambition 1955
Chutaro of Banba
Chutaro of Banba 1955
Burden of Love
Burden of Love Some Kaita 1955
Three Loves
Three Loves Mother 1954
A Billionaire
A Billionaire Hanakuma 1954
Karatachi no hana
Karatachi no hana 1954
Hirate Miki the Swordman
Hirate Miki the Swordman 1954
Chushingura
Chushingura Oishi Riku 1954
Hiroshima
Hiroshima Mineh Obah 1953
Wild Lion
Wild Lion 1953
At the End of the Clouds
At the End of the Clouds 1953
Miniature
Miniature Tamiko 1953
A Lonely Woman in a Lonely Land
A Lonely Woman in a Lonely Land Sayo Yamada 1953
江戸いろは祭
江戸いろは祭 女房おなか 1953
Modern People
Modern People 1952
Tsukigata Hanpeita
Tsukigata Hanpeita Somehachi 1952
Devil’s Statue
Devil’s Statue 1952
Castle of Revenge
Castle of Revenge 1952
The Stand in Hakone
The Stand in Hakone 1952
Become a Mother, Become a Woman
Become a Mother, Become a Woman Harue Yasukawa 1952
Satsuma-bikyaku
Satsuma-bikyaku 1951
Five Men of Edo
Five Men of Edo Okane, Chobei's wife 1951
Fireworks Over the Sea
Fireworks Over the Sea Kaoru Uozumi 1951
木曽路の決闘 夏祭り三度笠
木曽路の決闘 夏祭り三度笠 1951
Kurama Tengu: Acrobat in a lion mask
Kurama Tengu: Acrobat in a lion mask 1951
Home Sweet Home
Home Sweet Home Namiko, Kosaku's wife 1951
The Killing of Otsuya
The Killing of Otsuya Otsuya 1951
The Inner Palace Conspiracy
The Inner Palace Conspiracy Misawa 1951
A Man from Akagi
A Man from Akagi 1950
風雲金毘羅山
風雲金毘羅山 1950
Fencing Master
Fencing Master Oharu 1950
A Mother's Love
A Mother's Love 1950
The Motherland Far Far Away
The Motherland Far Far Away Masako 1950
Zoku kagebōshi ryūkoaiutsutsu
Zoku kagebōshi ryūkoaiutsutsu 1950
Kagebōshi
Kagebōshi お夏 1950
Koga Manshion
Koga Manshion 1949
Koi rōka
Koi rōka 1949
Actress
Actress Sumako Matsui 1947
Lord for a Night
Lord for a Night 1946
Hinoki Butai
Hinoki Butai 1946
The Famous Sword Bijomaru
The Famous Sword Bijomaru Sasae Onoda 1945
Until Victory Day
Until Victory Day 1945
Four Marriages
Four Marriages 1944
The Way of Drama
The Way of Drama 1944
The Sculpture of Master Choji
The Sculpture of Master Choji Outa 1943
音楽大進軍
音楽大進軍 Isuzu Yamada 1943
The Song Lantern
The Song Lantern O-Sode 1943
Kantaro of Ina
Kantaro of Ina 1943
Onna keizu
Onna keizu Otsuta 1942
The Man Who Waited
The Man Who Waited 1942
Musashibo Benkei
Musashibo Benkei 1942
The Battle of Kawanakajima
The Battle of Kawanakajima Oshino 1941
Schoolgirl Records
Schoolgirl Records 1941
Yukiko and Natsuyo
Yukiko and Natsuyo Natsuyo 1941
Shanghai Moon
Shanghai Moon 1941
The Man Who Disappeared Yesterday
The Man Who Disappeared Yesterday 1941
The Snake Princess
The Snake Princess Oshima 1940
Keshô yuki
Keshô yuki 1940
Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki
Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki Oshiho 1939
The Day Before
The Day Before Osaki 1939
The Fighting Firemen
The Fighting Firemen Koina 1939
Ichiyo Higuchi
Ichiyo Higuchi Ichiyo Higuchi 1939
The New Tange Sazen: The Chapter of the Two-Armed Swordsman
The New Tange Sazen: The Chapter of the Two-Armed Swordsman 1939
Tsuruhachi and Tsurujiro
Tsuruhachi and Tsurujiro Tsuruhachi 1938
The Siege of Osaka
The Siege of Osaka Senhime 1937
Sisters of the Gion
Sisters of the Gion O-mocha 1936
Osaka Elegy
Osaka Elegy Ayako Murai 1936
Miss Okichi
Miss Okichi Okichi 1935
Oyuki the Virgin
Oyuki the Virgin Oyuki 1935
The Comb of Oroku
The Comb of Oroku Okinu 1935
The Downfall of Osen
The Downfall of Osen Osen 1935
Happy Daughter
Happy Daughter Michiko Yamada 1934
The Elegant Swordsman
The Elegant Swordsman 1934
Martial Arts Encyclopedia
Martial Arts Encyclopedia 1934
Bangaku no issho
Bangaku no issho 1933
Tange Sazen - Dai-ippen
Tange Sazen - Dai-ippen 1933
Banquet Under the Midnight Sun
Banquet Under the Midnight Sun Oichi 1932
Professional Killer
Professional Killer 1932
Yataro's Hat - Comings and Goings
Yataro's Hat - Comings and Goings 1932
The Greatest Man in the World
The Greatest Man in the World Oyae 1932
The Revenge Champion
The Revenge Champion 1931
The 26 Martyrs of Japan
The 26 Martyrs of Japan 1931
In Search of Mother
In Search of Mother Otose 1931
Suronin Chuya
Suronin Chuya 1930

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