| Shizuko Kasagi 笠置 シヅ子 |
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|---|---|
Shizuko Kasagi in the film Ginza kankan musume |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Shizuko Kamei |
| Born | August 25, 1914 Kagawa Prefecture, Japan |
| Died | March 30, 1985 (aged 70) |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Years active | 1927–1955 |
| Labels | Nippon Columbia |
Shizuko Kasagi (笠置 シヅ子 Kasagi Shizuko, August 25, 1914, Ōkawa District, Kagawa, Japan - March 30, 1985) was a popular Japanese jazz singer and actress.
Before World War II, Shizuko was one of the stars of the Japan Girls Opera Company. During the ongoing Occupation of Japan, she became a mega star singing songs influenced by American jazz and boogie woogie. She appeared in the 1948 film Drunken Angel directed by Akira Kurosawa.
In 1957, Shizuko retired from singing and concentrated on her acting career. She died of ovarian cancer in 1985, aged 70.
Various titles, the most notable being one titled "Jungle Boogie" (1948) that credits Kurosawa with lyrics, which she sings in Drunken Angel, released that same year.