Sadako Sawamura

Sadako Sawamura

Born November 11, 1908 (Age: 117) Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo, Japan

Biography

Sadako Sawamura (沢村貞子, Sawamura Sadako; 11 November 1908 – 16 August 1996) was a Japanese stage and film actress and essayist who appeared in more than 350 films between 1935 and 1976. Sawamura was born in the Asakusa district of Tokyo. After dropping out of Japan Women's University, she was active in left-wing theatre groups and was twice arrested for her political beliefs, spending over a year in prison with much of it in solitary confinement. She started acting in films in 1934, first at the Nikkatsu studio, later at Toho. She appeared in many supporting roles after the war, often working with director Mikio Naruse. Sawamura also acted in films by directors including Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujirō Ozu, Keisuke Kinoshita and Kaneto Shindō. Her brothers were the actors Daisuke Katō and Kunitarō Sawamura. Her autobiography Watashi no Asakusa has been translated into English as My Asakusa. She was married three times: to actor Shigeo Imamura (1931-33), actor Kamatari Fujiwara (1936-46) and subsequently to film magazine editor and critic Yasuhiko Ohashi (1968-96, though domestic partners from 1946 onward).
Sadako Sawamura (沢村貞子, Sawamura Sadako; 11 November 1908 – 16 August 1996) was a Japanese stage and film actress and essayist who appeared in more than 350 films between 1935 and 1976. Sawamura was born in the Asakusa district of Tokyo. After dropping out of Japan Women's University, she was active in left-wing theatre groups and was twice arrested for her political beliefs, spending over a year in prison with much of it in solitary confinement. She started acting in films in 1934, first at the Nikkatsu studio, later at Toho. She appeared in many supporting roles after the war, often working with director Mikio Naruse. Sawamura also acted in films by directors including Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujirō Ozu, Keisuke Kinoshita and Kaneto Shindō. Her brothers were the actors Daisuke Katō and Kunitarō Sawamura. Her autobiography Watashi no Asakusa has been translated into English as My Asakusa. She was married three times: to actor Shigeo Imamura (1931-33), actor Kamatari Fujiwara (1936-46) and subsequently to film magazine editor and critic Yasuhiko Ohashi (1968-96, though domestic partners from 1946 onward).
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Filmography

Japan Beauty Story: A Woman Among Women

Japan Beauty Story: A Woman Among Women

1975 as Age: 66
The Street Car Game

The Street Car Game

1969 as Deguchi Ume Age: 61
Waga koi waga uta

Waga koi waga uta

1969 as Age: 60
My Brother, My Love

My Brother, My Love

1968 as Kayo Kitagawa Age: 59
Rose Buds in the Rainbow

Rose Buds in the Rainbow

1968 as Setsuko Sasaki Age: 59
Sayonara ressha

Sayonara ressha

1966 as Age: 57
Salaryman's Medal

Salaryman's Medal

1965 as Age: 56
Taiyou wo Daku Onna

Taiyou wo Daku Onna

1964 as Age: 55
I'm a Bodyguard

I'm a Bodyguard

1964 as Age: 55
Youth Season Continued

Youth Season Continued

1964 as Sawamura Sawako (Restaurant "Sawamura" proprietress and Keiko's older sister) Age: 55
Mr. Giant's Victory Flag

Mr. Giant's Victory Flag

1964 as Age: 55
Miren

Miren

1963 as Hostess at 'Mitsuda' Age: 54
At the Side of the Bridge 4

At the Side of the Bridge 4

1963 as Age: 54
Double Wedding

Double Wedding

1963 as Shigeko Age: 54
Tale of Army Brutality

Tale of Army Brutality

1963 as Toki, Yahichi's mother Age: 54
Dokuritsu bijin-tai

Dokuritsu bijin-tai

1963 as Age: 54
The Life of Rikisha-Man

The Life of Rikisha-Man

1963 as Age: 54
Crazy Operation: First Move

Crazy Operation: First Move

1963 as Age: 54
Police Precinct: Backing Investigation

Police Precinct: Backing Investigation

1963 as Age: 54
At the Side of the Bridge 3

At the Side of the Bridge 3

1963 as Age: 54
A Comedy in Front of the Station: Chinese Restaurant

A Comedy in Front of the Station: Chinese Restaurant

1962 as Age: 54
Naite waratta hanayome

Naite waratta hanayome

1962 as Age: 54
Curry Rice

Curry Rice

1962 as Age: 54
Born in Sin

Born in Sin

1962 as Age: 54
Zoku aizen katsura

Zoku aizen katsura

1962 as Age: 53
Youth Season

Youth Season

1962 as Age: 53
At the Side of the Bridge 2

At the Side of the Bridge 2

1962 as Age: 53
Ganko Oyaji to Edokko Shain

Ganko Oyaji to Edokko Shain

1962 as Age: 53
Kyūjin ryokō

Kyūjin ryokō

1962 as Age: 53
A Comedy in Front of the Station: Onsen

A Comedy in Front of the Station: Onsen

1962 as Age: 53
Glory on the Summit

Glory on the Summit

1962 as Age: 53
Star of Hong Kong

Star of Hong Kong

1962 as Sugimoto Natsuko Age: 53
At the Side of the Bridge

At the Side of the Bridge

1962 as Age: 53
Four Sisters

Four Sisters

1962 as Makiko Age: 53
Pig and Goldfish

Pig and Goldfish

1962 as Age: 53
Ottamage ningyo monogatari

Ottamage ningyo monogatari

1962 as Age: 53
Flower in a Storm

Flower in a Storm

1962 as Age: 53
湖愁

湖愁

1962 as Age: 53
The Prickly Mouthed Geisha and the Girl of Osaka

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha and the Girl of Osaka

1962 as Otake Age: 53
South Pacific Waves Are High

South Pacific Waves Are High

1962 as Age: 53
Nippon no obaachan

Nippon no obaachan

1962 as Age: 53
A Roaring Trade

A Roaring Trade

1962 as Age: 53
Wakai yatsura no kaidan

Wakai yatsura no kaidan

1961 as Age: 53
The Catch

The Catch

1961 as Katsu Age: 53
Boss Takes to the Road

Boss Takes to the Road

1961 as Kimie Morikawa Age: 52
Girls of the Night

Girls of the Night

1961 as Kitamura Age: 52
Toilet Manager

Toilet Manager

1961 as Age: 52
Awamori-kun uridasu

Awamori-kun uridasu

1961 as Age: 52
The Estuary

The Estuary

1961 as Age: 52
Hikkoshi yatsure

Hikkoshi yatsure

1961 as Age: 52
Door of Flowers

Door of Flowers

1961 as Age: 52
Triangle Moods

Triangle Moods

1961 as Kame Age: 52
Romance Express

Romance Express

1961 as Age: 52
Zero Focus

Zero Focus

1961 as Mrs. Sotaro Uhara Age: 52
Women of Tokyo

Women of Tokyo

1961 as Yuki Takeuchi Age: 52
Mahiru no wana

Mahiru no wana

1960 as Kikuyo Age: 52
Ponkotsu

Ponkotsu

1960 as Age: 51
Towering Waves

Towering Waves

1960 as Mrs. Tazawa Age: 51
No Image

Dare yori mo kimi o aisu

1960 as Age: 51
Jiyūgaoka fujin

Jiyūgaoka fujin

1960 as Age: 51
New Third Class Executive: Husband Education

New Third Class Executive: Husband Education

1960 as Kaneko Tsujikura Age: 51
The Dangerous Kiss

The Dangerous Kiss

1960 as Age: 51
Police Precinct Part 13

Police Precinct Part 13

1960 as Madam next to Hikariso Age: 51
Salaryman Idea Book: Concern for Success

Salaryman Idea Book: Concern for Success

1960 as Okane Age: 51
Salaryman Idea Book: Man of Worrisome Episodes

Salaryman Idea Book: Man of Worrisome Episodes

1960 as Okane Age: 51
Beyond the Hills

Beyond the Hills

1960 as Oiku Wada Age: 51
Pineapple Butai

Pineapple Butai

1959 as Omine Age: 51
The Terrible Game

The Terrible Game

1959 as Yabuki Toyo Age: 51
The Human Wall

The Human Wall

1959 as Age: 50
Young Lovers

Young Lovers

1959 as Ayako Nozaki Age: 50
Ripe and Marriageable

Ripe and Marriageable

1959 as Mrs. Nakazato Age: 50
Someday I'll Know

Someday I'll Know

1959 as Fusako Kaneko Age: 50
Koko ni otoko ari

Koko ni otoko ari

1959 as Age: 50
The Cast-Off

The Cast-Off

1959 as Fumiko Age: 50
Good Morning

Good Morning

1959 as Kayoko Fukui Age: 50
Souls in the Moonlight III

Souls in the Moonlight III

1959 as Age: 50
Whistling in the morning

Whistling in the morning

1959 as Age: 50
Police Precinct: The Woman Without A Face

Police Precinct: The Woman Without A Face

1959 as Age: 50
Echo Mountain

Echo Mountain

1959 as Takako Hirasawa Age: 50
People Waiting for Spring

People Waiting for Spring

1959 as Chiyo Tsukagoshi Age: 50
One Step to Happiness

One Step to Happiness

1958 as Age: 50
The Naked General

The Naked General

1958 as Age: 49
Bright Young Maidens

Bright Young Maidens

1958 as Chie Shibata, Sumiko's Mother Age: 49
Beyond the Seasonal Wind

Beyond the Seasonal Wind

1958 as Age: 49
Fearless Opposition

Fearless Opposition

1958 as Age: 49
No Image

Romance Freestyle

1958 as Age: 49
Firefly Light

Firefly Light

1958 as Age: 49
直八子供旅

直八子供旅

1958 as Age: 49
Hibi no haishin

Hibi no haishin

1958 as Age: 49
Shinkon nanatsu no tanoshimi

Shinkon nanatsu no tanoshimi

1958 as Age: 49
No Advice Taken

No Advice Taken

1958 as Age: 49
Love on Rainbow Island

Love on Rainbow Island

1956 as Omatsu Hayashi Age: 47
Bridge of Japan

Bridge of Japan

1956 as Age: 47
Cascading White Threads

Cascading White Threads

1956 as Age: 47
Gendai no yokubô

Gendai no yokubô

1956 as Age: 47
Midori naru hito: kōhen ai no honryū

Midori naru hito: kōhen ai no honryū

1956 as Age: 47
Midori naru hito: zenpen wakare no yogisha

Midori naru hito: zenpen wakare no yogisha

1956 as Age: 47
The Lady Was Pawn

The Lady Was Pawn

1956 as Age: 47
Three Youngmen and a Dream Girl

Three Youngmen and a Dream Girl

1956 as Taniyama’s Mother Age: 47
Avalanche

Avalanche

1956 as Age: 47
The President Talks Bank

The President Talks Bank

1956 as Age: 47
Young Tree

Young Tree

1956 as Kuniko's mother (uncredited) Age: 47
The President's Boss

The President's Boss

1956 as Age: 47
So Young, So Bright

So Young, So Bright

1955 as Age: 46
Iroha Elegy

Iroha Elegy

1955 as Age: 46
Ejima and Ikushima

Ejima and Ikushima

1955 as 玉椿 Age: 46
The Romance of Yushima

The Romance of Yushima

1955 as Age: 46
No Image

Santōshain to onna hisho

1955 as Age: 46
Next Door to Happiness

Next Door to Happiness

1955 as Age: 46
Mother's Ambition

Mother's Ambition

1955 as Age: 46
Life's Simple Pleasures

Life's Simple Pleasures

1955 as Age: 46
Ofukuro

Ofukuro

1955 as Age: 46
The Big Ambition

The Big Ambition

1955 as Sumie Shida Age: 46
Frame of Snow

Frame of Snow

1955 as Satoko (Ishiyama’s wife) Age: 46
Here Is a Spring

Here Is a Spring

1955 as Age: 46
Policeman's Diary

Policeman's Diary

1955 as Age: 46
お月様には悪いけど

お月様には悪いけど

1954 as 鶴田はと子 Age: 46
The Days of Youth are Days of Sadness

The Days of Youth are Days of Sadness

1954 as Age: 45
The Valley Between Love and Death

The Valley Between Love and Death

1954 as Age: 45
乾杯!女学生

乾杯!女学生

1954 as Age: 45
All of Myself

All of Myself

1954 as Kazama’s Aunt Age: 45
Dreaming People

Dreaming People

1953 as Age: 44
The End of the Night

The End of the Night

1953 as Age: 44
Guntō nanban-sen

Guntō nanban-sen

1950 as Age: 41
Onna no ryūkō

Onna no ryūkō

1950 as Age: 41
First Love Questions and Answers

First Love Questions and Answers

1950 as Age: 41
Mother Never Dies

Mother Never Dies

1942 as Age: 33
No Image

Onna keizu

1942 as Age: 33
Green Earth

Green Earth

1942 as Age: 33
Sky of Hope

Sky of Hope

1942 as Kiyo Age: 33
A Man's Flower Road of Triumph

A Man's Flower Road of Triumph

1941 as Age: 33
Dancers of Awa

Dancers of Awa

1941 as Age: 32
Horse

Horse

1941 as Kikuko Yamashita Age: 32
No Image

Kodakara fūfu

1941 as Age: 32