Kinuyo Tanaka

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Kinuyo Tanaka

Kinuyo Tanaka in Jinsei no onimotsu (1935)
Born November 28, 1910(1910-11-28)
Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan
Died March 21, 1977 (aged 66)
Japan
Years active 1924-1976
Spouse(s) Hiroshi Shimizu
Screenwriter Yoshikata Yoda, Actress-Director Kinuyo Tanaka, and Director Kenji Mizoguchi visit Paris, 1953
Screenwriter Yoshikata Yoda, Actress-Director Kinuyo Tanaka, and Director Kenji Mizoguchi visit Paris, 1953

Kinuyo Tanaka (田中絹代 Tanaka Kinuyo, 28 November 1910 - 21 March 1977) was a Japanese actress and director.

Tanaka was born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. She became a leading actress at an early age, appearing in Yasujiro Ozu's I Graduated, But... in 1929. The following year she played the lead in Aiyoku no ki, and in 1931 she appeared in Japan's first talkie, The Neighbor's Wife and Mine, directed by Heinosuke 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). 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 in 1975 the Silver Bear at the Berlinale. Her last screen appearance was in 1976 in Kei Kumai's Kita No Misaki.

Tanaka was the first Japanese woman who worked as a film director. Her first directing job was on the film Love Letter in 1953.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] External links

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