
Kinuyo Tanaka
Born November 28, 1909 · 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.
Notable Appearances
More Movies

Sandakan No. 8

The Ballad of Narayama

Equinox Flower

The Three Treasures

Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director

The Life of Oharu

Love Letter

Mother

Lullaby of the Earth

Victory or Defeat

Her Brother

Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka

Forever a Woman

The Munekata Sisters

Women of the Night

A Hen in the Wind

The Moon Has Risen

Flowing

ABC Lifeline

A Wanderer's Notebook

Miss Oyu

The Scent of Incense

Utamaro and His Five Women

Stepbrothers

Tora-san's Dream-Come-True

Flame of My Love

On This Earth

The Neighbour's Wife and Mine

Bright Sea

The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka

The Fencing Master

An Innocent Maid

Ginza Cosmetics

The Eternal Rainbow

House of Many Pleasures

Alone Across the Pacific

A Legend or Was It?

Ornamental Hairpin

Women in Prison

Victory of Women

The Woman in the Rumor

Dragnet Girl

Wedding Ring

Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth?

Kinuyo's First Love

Phoenix

The Lady of Musashino

Song of the Flower Basket

Geisha in the Old City

The Storm

Kinuyo Tanaka, a Woman We Talk About

Army

Victory Song

The Love of the Actress Sumako

Eternity of Love

Marriage

Woman of Tokyo

The New Road: Ryota

Burden of Life

Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 1

Tsukiyo no kasa

I Graduated, But...

Mother and Child

Where Chimneys Are Seen

Double Wedding

An Heir's Place

Miyamoto Musashi

Five Sisters

Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 2

I Flunked, But...

Let's Go in Good Spirits

The Tree of Love

Men vs. Women

Spring Thunder

Sincere Heart

The Dancing Girl of Izu

Story of Lightning

The Inner Palace Conspiracy

A Certain Woman

Air Raid of the Enemy Plane

Yellow Crow

The Man Who Has Returned

Cape of the North

Young Master

Okoto and Sasuke

The Bride Talks in Her Sleep

This Is Home

A Man's Recompense: Part 2

Sisters of Nishijin

Shōnen shikeishū

Record of a Woman Doctor

The New Road: Akemi

My Elder Brother

Kono sora no aru kagiri

Hahakogusa

Youth, Why Do You Cry?

A Tale of Archery at the Sanjusangendo

Her Secret

The Loyal 47 Ronin

Love, Be with Humanity: Part 1

King of the Land

Sorrow Is Only for Women

Chronicles of a Sea Country

Young Lady

Kaisen no Zenya

Osaka Woman

ABC Lifeline: Fujieda Chapter

Okinu and Banto

A Man's Recompense: Part 1

Mama, I Need You!

Marching On

The Genealogy of Women

Love, Be with Humanity: Part 2

Let's Go, Grandma!

Confession

Lady Doctor Kinuyo

Banchō sarayashiki

Zoku aizen katsura

The Ataka Family

Weeds with flowers

Sanbaba

Okayo's Preparedness

The Glory of the Shōwa Era

Shine, Japanese Women

Daphne

Before the Wedding

Fallen Samurai

The Eternal Heart

Record of Love and Desire

The Tale of Kinuyo

Osayo Koi Sugata

Studio Romance: A Guide to Love

Where Do Women Go?

Village Pasture

The Blacksmith of the Forest

Flower




