Kinuyo Tanaka

Kinuyo Tanaka (67)

1909-11-28 - 1977-03-21 | Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan

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.

On Movies

  • Lullaby of the Earth
  • Cape of the North
  • Sandakan No. 8
  • Sanbaba
  • Tora-san's Dream-Come-True
  • Red Beard
  • The Scent of Incense
  • Bright Sea
  • Alone Across the Pacific
  • A Legend or Was It?
  • Mama, I Need You!
  • The Fencing Master
  • A Wanderer's Notebook
  • Wakarete ikiru toki mo
  • Her Brother
  • The Three Treasures
  • Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka
  • Hahakogusa
  • The Eternal Rainbow
  • Equinox Flower
  • The Ballad of Narayama
  • On This Earth
  • Geisha in the Old City
  • Stepbrothers
  • Yellow Crow
  • Flowing
  • The Storm
  • Women in Prison
  • How Sorrowful
  • Forever a Woman
  • The Moon Has Risen
  • The Woman in the Rumor
  • Five Sisters
  • Sansho the Bailiff
  • Love Letter
  • Ugetsu
  • Where Chimneys Are Seen
  • Sincere Heart
  • Mother
  • The Ataka Family
  • The Life of Oharu
  • Sisters of Nishijin
  • The Lady of Musashino
  • Miss Oyu
  • Ginza Cosmetics
  • The Inner Palace Conspiracy
  • The Munekata Sisters
  • Wedding Ring
  • Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 2
  • Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 1
  • Flame of My Love
  • A Hen in the Wind
  • Women of the Night
  • Phoenix
  • The Love of the Actress Sumako
  • Marriage
  • Utamaro and His Five Women
  • Victory of Women
  • A Tale of Archery at the Sanjusangendo
  • Victory Song
  • Miyamoto Musashi
  • Army
  • Air Raid of the Enemy Plane
  • Kaisen no Zenya
  • Record of a Woman Doctor
  • Ornamental Hairpin
  • Flower
  • Let's Go in Good Spirits
  • Okinu and Banto
  • Osaka Woman
  • Kinuyo's First Love
  • Weeds with flowers
  • Okayo's Preparedness
  • The Tree of Love
  • Mother and Child
  • Banchō sarayashiki
  • Lady Doctor Kinuyo
  • Song of the Flower Basket
  • The New Road: Ryota
  • The New Road: Akemi
  • Men vs. Women
  • Burden of Life
  • Okoto and Sasuke
  • An Innocent Maid
  • My Elder Brother
  • That Night's Woman
  • Osayo koisugata
  • The Genealogy of Women
  • Sôbô
  • Dragnet Girl
  • Woman of Tokyo
  • The Dancing Girl of Izu
  • The Bride Talks in Her Sleep
  • Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth?
  • The Loyal 47 Ronin
  • The Neighbour's Wife and Mine
  • Young Lady
  • Youth, Why Do You Cry?
  • The Tale of Kinuyo
  • Mother, Don't Tarnish Your Name
  • The Big City: Explosion
  • I Flunked, But...
  • Song of Youth
  • Marching On
  • The Beating
  • I Graduated, But...
  • The Village Where the Skylark Sings
  • Him and Life
  • Echigo Lion
  • The Blacksmith of the Forest
  • Symphony of Youth
  • The Glory of the Shōwa Era
  • King of the Land
  • Thank You for Your Hard Work
  • A Wife Quits
  • The Face of Humanity
  • Iron Virgin
  • The Eternal Heart
  • Immortal Love
  • The Age of Emotion
  • The Village Bride
  • If Only She...
  • Chronicles of a Sea Country
  • Modern Warrior Training
  • Night is a Trickster
  • Lovers' Suicide at Kiso
  • Sankichi the Flying Squirrel
  • The Oath of a Thousand Kills
  • Song of the Border Patrol
  • Magic
  • An Embarrassing Dream
  • The Harakiri at Tennōji
  • The Basement
  • Secret Struggle
  • Flashing Blade
  • Buried Youth
  • The Complete Story of Jirocho Shimizu, Part 2: Ashura's Revenge
  • Useless Button
  • The Cursed Sword
  • Love and Courage
  • The Betrayed
  • Oh! Carefree, Aren't You?
  • No Need for Your Opinion
  • Fallen Samurai
  • Brave Love
  • Village Pasture

Movies as Director

On Series

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