Kinuyo Tanaka
Born November 28, 1909 (Age: 116)
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Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan
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.
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.
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Filmography
Let's Go, Grandma!
1975
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as Kiku Sasaki
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Age: 65
Double Wedding
1963
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as
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Age: 53
Mama, I Need You!
1962
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as
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Age: 52
Eternity of Love
1961
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as Michi's Mother
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Age: 51
The Three Treasures
1959
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as Princess Yamato
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Age: 49
Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka
1959
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as Myokan
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Age: 49
Hahakogusa
1959
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as Shige Ozawa
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Age: 49
Sorrow Is Only for Women
1958
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as
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Age: 48
The Storm
1956
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as
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Age: 46
Women in Prison
1956
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as Prison Warden
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Age: 46
No Image
How Sorrowful
1956
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as
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Age: 46
Confession
1956
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as
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Age: 46
Tsukiyo no kasa
1955
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as
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Age: 45
Shōnen shikeishū
1955
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as
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Age: 45
House of Many Pleasures
1955
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as Oshige
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Age: 45
The Moon Has Risen
1955
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as Yoneya
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Age: 45
A Certain Woman
1942
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as
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Age: 32
Record of a Woman Doctor
1941
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as
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Age: 31
Ornamental Hairpin
1941
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as Emi
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Age: 31
Flower
1941
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as
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Age: 31
Let's Go in Good Spirits
1941
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as
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Age: 31
The Loyal 47 Ronin
1932
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as Yae
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Age: 23
No Image
Storm Zone
1932
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as
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Age: 23
Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth?
1932
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as Oshige
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Age: 22
No Image
Love in Tokyo
1932
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as
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Age: 22
Shine, Japanese Women
1932
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as Shigeko
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Age: 22
Studio Romance: A Guide to Love
1932
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as
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Age: 22
No Image
The Sun Rises from the East
1932
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as Miyoko
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Age: 22
No Image
The Willows of Ginza
1932
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as
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Age: 22
No Image
My Brother's a Fool
1932
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as
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Age: 22
Victory or Defeat
1932
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as
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Age: 22
No Image
The Golden Demon
1932
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as Omiya
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Age: 22
No Image
Woman of Suffering
1931
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as
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Age: 22
ABC Lifeline: Fujieda Chapter
1931
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as
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Age: 21
No Image
The Tramp and His Daughter
1931
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as
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Age: 21
No Image
Sisters: Part 1
1931
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as
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Age: 21
No Image
Sisters: Part 2
1931
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as
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Age: 21
No Image
Cry Cheerfully!
1931
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as
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Age: 21
Love, Be with Humanity: Part 1
1931
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as Mayumi
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Age: 21
Love, Be with Humanity: Part 2
1931
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as Mayumi
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Age: 21
Record of Love and Desire
1930
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as
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Age: 20
The Tale of Kinuyo
1930
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as Kinuyo
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Age: 20
Mother, Don't Tarnish Your Name
1930
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as
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Age: 20
No Image
The Great Ship
1930
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as
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Age: 20
No Image
The Big City: Explosion
1930
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as
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Age: 20
No Image
A Smiling Life
1930
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as
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Age: 20
Where Do Women Go?
1930
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as Omitsu
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Age: 20
No Image
Song of Youth
1930
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as Kinuko Yamada
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Age: 20
No Image
The Beating
1930
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as
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Age: 20