Known for Acting
Born
March 27, 1947 (age 79)
Birthplace
Toyama, Toyama, Japan
Filmography
50 films, 11 shows


Angry Rice Wives
2021 · 1h 46m
country: Japan
In August, 1918, Matsuura Ito lives in a coastal village of Toyama with her husband and three children. During the summer, there wasn't much fish to catch, so her husband has been far away from home to catch fish. To support herself and her children, Ito carries goods from ships like the other women in the village. Meanwhile, the residents encounter rising prices for rice. The women are unable to feed their family due to the high prices of rice. The women ask a nearby rice store to sell rice at lower prices, but it fails. The price of rice continues to rise daily. Due to an incident, Ito and the other village women step up to the plate.


THE LAST GOZE
2020 · 1h 49m
country: Japan
A "Goze" is a blind entertainer who travels to various places singing stories while playing the shamisen (Japanese three-stringed lute). Becoming a goze due to her blindness at seven-years-old, Haru was strictly trained with a parent's affection by her once kind mother, Tome.


Come On Irene
2018 · 2h 16m
country: Japan
Iwao Shishido has found a wife. After paying three million yen for a bridal tour to the Philippines, he comes home with Irene, who is promptly confronted by Tsuru—Iwao’s freshly widowed mother, who’s infuriated her loser son has married a woman she’s never met.


Survival Family
2017 · 1h 57m
country: Japan
A world wide electrical outage occurs. Everything that requires electricity comes to a stop. Tokyo is nearly ruined. Yoshiyuki Suzuki decides to escape from Tokyo with his family.


Prosecutor Yoko Asahina 18
2016
country: Japan
Ghost Writer's Homicide Coverage 2 - Writing About a Celebrity's Crime
Ghost Writer's Homicide Coverage 2 - Writing About a Celebrity's Crime
2015
country: Japan


Seven Weeks
2014 · 2h 51m
country: Japan
Relatives gather from afar in wintery Ashibetsu upon the death of patriarch Mitsuo. A mysterious woman named Nobuko suddenly shows up. Her appearance gradually exposes wartime secrets and Mitsuo's unknown past.


Sweetheart Chocolate
2012 · 1h 45m
country: China
A tragic love story involving three main characters and spanning two decades. Yue Lin is an exchange student from Shanghai who meets a ski patrol member, in Yubari, Hokkaido.


Go, Masao!
2012 · 1h 49m
country: Japan
Go, Masao! describes the relationship between people and their dogs. Comedian Hideki Matsumoto and a labrador retriever named Masao are selected to appear on the travel corner segment of a TV animal program. Until Hideki Matsumoto and the labrador retriever Masao become popular, they help each other.


Nōhime: Wife of a Samurai
2012
country: Japan
The mysterious life of Princess Nouhime.


Ponyo
2008 · 1h 40m
country: Japan
When Sosuke, a young boy who lives on a clifftop overlooking the sea, rescues a stranded goldfish named Ponyo, he discovers more than he bargained for. Ponyo is a curious, energetic young creature who yearns to be human, but even as she causes chaos around the house, her father, a powerful sorcerer, schemes to return Ponyo to the sea.


Kabei: Our Mother
2008 · 2h 13m
country: Japan
Set in Tokyo in 1940, the peaceful life of the Nogami Family suddenly changes when the father, Shigeru, is arrested and accused of being a Communist. His wife Kayo works frantically from morning to night to maintain the household and bring up her two daughters with the support of Shigeru's sister Hisako and Shigeru's ex-student Yamazaki, but her husband does not return. WWII breaks out and casts dark shadows on the entire country, but Kayo still tries to keep her cheerful determination, and sustain the family with her love. This is an emotional drama of a mother and an eternal message for peace.


Song of Goodbye
2007 · 1h 59m
country: Japan
It is the second work of the Oita trilogy of Obayashi . Following " Nigori Snow ", Ise Masazo draws a song written by composers and songwriter "Farewell of 22 years old " as a motif and draws a story of love that spans two generations of mother and daughter.


Nihon no aozora
2007 · 2h 3m
country: Japan


Love and Honor
2006 · 2h 1m
country: Japan
A look at the relationship between a young blind samurai and his wife, who will make a sacrifice in order to defend her husband's honor.


Unholy Women
2006 · 1h 47m
country: Japan
Unholy Women (Kowai onna), is a composite of three unrelated half-hour horror movies. A compilation of 3 separate short horror films (Rattle Rattle, Hagane, The Inheritance) written and directed by Keita Amemiya, Takuji Suzuki, and Keisuke Toyoshima respectively. The first segment, “Rattle Rattle”, tells the story of a young woman who is pursued by an evil other-worldly being. The second movie, “Steel”, concerns a young man who agrees to take the sister of his boss out on a blind date, drawing him into a world more frightening than he ever dreamed possible. The third and final episode, “The Inheritance”, is a supernatural tale of a woman and her young son, scarred by abuse and psychological trauma.


The Buried Forest
2005 · 1h 33m
country: Japan
Three high school girls living out in the country build stories out from their local environment, mountainous and bordered by an unkempt buried forest.


Haru Urara
2005 · 1h 46m
country: Japan
Based on the true story of racing horse "Haru Urara" ("Gentle Spring"), who lost every single horse race she entered since her 1998 debut.


The Motive
2004 · 2h 40m
country: Japan
Four people are discovered brutally murdered in an up-scale high-rise apartment. All the victims appear to be family, but as the investigation deepens it is discovered that one of the victims isn't related to the family.


The Negotiator
2003 · 1h 47m
country: Japan
After a convenience store robbery, three unidentified men hold a group of people hostage in a hospital. Inspector Ishida and Captain Tohno handle the negotiations while one of their colleagues, Lt. Ando, tries to find out why the men decided to take the hospital hostage. Through flashbacks, relevant information is revealed to the audience. When the negotiations are finished, most things seem to be fine until they lose track of the criminals. Then, the story unveils from a different perspective, its roots in feelings of love and vengeance.


A Boy's Summer in 1945
2002 · 1h 58m
country: Japan
In the final days of World War II, a 15-year-old boy grappling with survivor's guilt watches a rural Japanese community quietly fracture under the heavy emotional tolls of war.


The Last Snow
2002 · 1h 51m
country: Japan
After his wife leaves him, middle-aged Yusaku contemplates suicide, but receives a call from old friend Kenichiro, whose wife is in a coma.


Sleeping Man
1996 · 1h 43m
country: Japan
Ever since an accident in the mountains outside town, Takuji's slept in a coma; his neighbors care for him as new events occur every day.


A Quiet Life
1995 · 2h 1m
country: Japan
A melodrama about the life of a mentally disabled young man and his devoted sister after their famous novelist father and housewife mother go to Australia on a business trip.


Getting Any?
1995 · 1h 48m
country: Japan
While pursuing his dream of having car sex, a goofy middle-aged man makes all the wrong moves and ends up enrolling in a number of crazy escapades.


The Last Dance
1993 · 1h 56m
country: Japan
A successful Japanese movie director in his sixties becomes increasingly ill while working on his latest film. Though his family, friends, and doctor try to keep the secret of his terminal cancer from him, Buhei gradually comes to realize the truth of his condition, leading him on a journey of despair, anger, and – ultimately – acceptance.


Kohei's Race
1992 · 1h 53m
country: Japan
Kohei has been afraid of racing ever since his brother died in a motorcycle accident a few months ago. He has talent on the running track, but always starts late and never wins. Then he decides to repair his brother’s motorcycle, despite his father’s strong objections.


Festival of Dreams
1989 · 1h 56m
country: Japan


Children on the Island
1987 · 2h 9m
country: Japan
The story of a teacher who comes to a village on the Inland Sea and the relationship that develops between her and her 12 pupils.


Desperate Pursuit
1986 · 1h 56m
country: Japan
In the desert of Egypt, Kurata, the CEO of the Japanese corporation Tokokaihatsu, is killed by a sniper. After the news reaches Japan, the CEO's lawyer, Yamamoto, receives a visit from two men that attempt to steal the deceased CEO's will. This is witnessed by two detectives, Tsuzuki and Ōnuki, but they fail to catch the perps. Yamamoto hands the detectives a set of keys before he stops breathing. Tsuzuki and Ōnuki now have to investigate Kurata's murder...


Love Letter
1985 · 1h 48m
country: Japan
A drama depicting the conflict between a man that ran to an old lover suffering from advanced leukemia, his wife and child that were left behind, and the friendship that develops between his wife and his former lover.


Yume-Chiyo
1985 · 2h 8m
country: Japan
Yumechiyo, a geisha house madam recently diagnosed with a terminal illness, yearns to do something constructive with the little time she has left. Though her responsibility lies in taking care of her girls, she finds purpose in helping a man wrongfully accused of murder and in the process discovers love.


Sotsugyou -GRADUATION-
1985 · 1h 35m
country: Japan
Momoko Watanabe—a student who, upon visiting a shrine in order to wish good luck on a friend of hers, witnesses a murder in the forest...and she knows the culprit! Unfortunately, she doesn't have it in her to tell anybody about it, and to make matters worse, said aforementioned friend gets accused of the murder.


For Kayako
1984 · 1h 57m
country: Japan
A film about the substantial population of Koreans living in Japan, and the love affair between Kayako, a Japanese girl, and Sanjun, a Korean.
A Samurai's Sorrow: The Deadly Sword
A Samurai's Sorrow: The Deadly Sword
1984
country: Japan
The second installment of the special drama "Kawaiteshimau" features Masakazu Tamura playing the role of "Udege Shujo," the official taster for the shogunate. Tamura's unmatched charm in portraying cynical characters is fully showcased in this exhilarating period drama. Audiences can thoroughly enjoy the familiar "Ten'ichibō Incident" in this lively historical play.


The Woman
1980 · 1h 40m
country: Japan
Erotic drama
The Biggest Post-war Kidnapping: The Yoshinobu case
The Biggest Post-war Kidnapping: The Yoshinobu case
1979 · 1h 35m
country: Japan
A TV film based on the kidnapping and murder of 4 year old Yoshinobu Murakoshi.


Our Symphony
1979 · 1h 52m
country: Japan
One summer day, Tokujiro, who works at an ironworks in the industrial area of Kawasaki, joins a choir group in order to seduce the girls who have come to Kawasaki to sing Beethoven's Ninth . Aiming for the performance in December, Tokujiro undergoes several setbacks through rigorous training and training camps, but before he knows it, he and his troupe members are working hard to make the performance a success.


Stage-Struck Tora-san
1978 · 1h 47m
country: Japan
Tora-san leaves Shibamata once again after an argument with his family and finds himself at an inn where he meets Tomekichi, a young man who looks up to Tora-san.


A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness
1977 · 1h 33m
country: Japan
A rookie golfer must cope with the stress of fame after a marketing executive transforms her into a sports celebrity.


Beyond the Rainbow
1972 · 1h 27m
country: Japan
One day an innocent-looking girl in white clothes appears on board of a ramshackle boat The owner of the boat, Okin, decides to let Mari stay with him without asking her any questions. Turmoil ensues with the reaction of the crew when the runaway girl starts working alongside with them.


Mandala
1971 · 2h 15m
country: Japan
Two university students from Kyoto decide to swap partners and spend the night in an isolated motel. However, one of the couples is attacked. Desperate for answers, they search for the attackers and come across a cult that promotes sexual freedom.


Woman's Police: Appointment with Danger
1970 · 1h 26m
country: Japan
Kagari (Akira Kobayashi), a scout and overseer of Ginza bar hostesses, receives an urgent phone call from Sawako, a hostess at the bar Rie, and rushes to Tokyo International Airport to meet her. When he arrives she is gone. At the bar he learns that Tabuchi, a steady customer, had been quite friendly with Sawako and may know something. Tabuchi claims he knows nothing and Kagari lets the matter drop. Over time Kagari learns from Takijima, a businessman, that Sawako is in a hospital in Yokohama. Takijima explains that he found her in Singapore working as a street girl and brought her back to Japan. Sawako had lost her memory after being subjected to narcotics. Kagari swears to find the person responsible.


The Street Car Game
1969 · 1h 27m
country: Japan
Comedy around a motorman and a conductor of a streetcar.


Double Suicide
1969 · 1h 45m
country: Japan
Successful and married with children, paper-mill owner Jihei knows better than to contradict the strict social and moral codes of 18th-century Japan. But when he meets the lovely courtesan Koharu, he becomes a man obsessed. Koharu returns his love, even foregoing other customers while Jihei schemes to somehow buy her freedom. His efforts yield ruinous consequences for his business and his family life, and Koharu is meanwhile purchased by another client.


Onna no issho
1967 · 1h 59m
country: Japan


Our Wonderful Years
1966 · 1h 46m
country: Japan
The story of a selfless mother and her family throughout the decades, from the 1920's to the 1960's.


Nokosa reta ko tonoko shita haha to
1962 · 1h 9m
country: Japan
1962 Japanese movie


A Full Life
1962 · 1h 42m
country: Japan
A woman becomes dissatisfied with her marriage and joins a political theater troupe to protest the U.S. Security Pact.


The Song of the Cart
1959 · 2h 25m
country: Japan
A lifetime story of a woman who stubbornly lives in a poor mountain village in post-war Japan.