archytele The Vault

Akiko Wakabayashi

Acting Born Dec 13, 1939 Ota, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan 44 credits

Biography

Akiko Wakabayashi is a Japanese actress born on December 13, 1939 in Ōta, Tokyo. She is best known internationally for her role as Aki in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice. Before her international breakthrough, Wakabayashi appeared in numerous Japanese films, particularly Toho Studio's monster movies including Dagora, the Space Monster and Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster. During You Only Live Twice production, she was initially cast as Kissy Suzuki while her co-star Mie Hama was to play Suki, one of Tiger Tanaka's agents. The roles were switched when Hama encountered difficulties learning English.

Advertisement

Ask the Vault

Ask anything about Akiko Wakabayashi.

Known for

Film

Hackers

1995
Film

You Only Live Twice

as Aki
Film

Dogora

as Gang Moll
Film

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

as Princess Maas Doulina Salno of Selgina
Film

King Kong vs. Godzilla

as Tamiye (uncredited)
Film

King Kong vs. Godzilla

as Tamiye
Film

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

as Hostess

Frequent co-stars

Mie Hama 3 shared titles
Kenji Sahara 3 shared titles
Jun Tazaki 3 shared titles
Akihiko Hirata 3 shared titles
Ikio Sawamura 3 shared titles
Haruya Katō 3 shared titles
Burt Kwouk 2 shared titles
Tadao Takashima 2 shared titles
Yū Fujiki 2 shared titles
Ichirō Arishima 2 shared titles

Career timeline

Shirley's World
Diamonds of the Andes
You Only Live Twice
The Stranger Within a WomanWhat's Up, Tiger Lily?Adventure in Kigan CastleMore Than 10,000 Women But...It Started In The Alps
Key of Keys
DogoraGhidorah, the Three-Headed MonsterHello, BabyA Keg of Powder
King Kong vs. GodzillaInterpol Code 8Sensation SeekersSamurai PirateWalleyed Nippon
King Kong vs. GodzillaThe Weed of CrimeAnything For SuccessPig and GoldfishSararīman Gonza to Sukejū ren'ai kōsa-ten
Girl from Hong KongAkikoBandits on the WindAcchan no bebi gyangu
Reporters from the SkyRespect, Flatter, and LoveWhen a Woman Ascends the StairsGinza TomboyThe Orientals
The Entrapped GangsterThe Terrible GameThe Beast Shall Die
Song for a BrideIn Self-DefenseFemale Detective Story: S.O.S Woman

Full filmography

  • Shirley's World (1972)
  • Diamonds of the Andes (1968)
  • You Only Live Twice (1967) as Aki
  • The Stranger Within a Woman (1966) as Sayuri Sugimoto
  • What's Up, Tiger Lily? (1966) as Suki Yaki
  • Adventure in Kigan Castle (1966) as Spuria, Chamberlain's daughter
  • More Than 10,000 Women But... (1966) as Satoko (Kyushu woman)
  • It Started In The Alps (1966)
  • Key of Keys (1965) as Bai-Lan
  • Dogora (1964) as Gang Moll
  • Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964) as Princess Maas Doulina Salno of Selgina
  • Hello, Baby (1964) as Shizuko Nagata
  • A Keg of Powder (1964) as Girl Taken at Haneda
  • King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963) as Tamiye (uncredited)
  • Interpol Code 8 (1963) as Mie Tsugawa
  • Sensation Seekers (1963)
  • Samurai Pirate (1963) as Yaya's maid
  • Walleyed Nippon (1963) as Riko Arikane
  • King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) as Tamiye
  • The Weed of Crime (1962)
  • Anything For Success (1962)
  • Pig and Goldfish (1962)
  • Sararīman Gonza to Sukejū ren'ai kōsa-ten (1962)
  • Youth Season (1962)
  • Our Failures (1962)
  • Whirlpool of Love (1962)
  • Kanpai! Sararīman shokun (1962)
  • The Crimson Sky (1962)
  • Girl from Hong Kong (1961) as Anna Suh
  • Akiko (1961) as Akiko
  • Bandits on the Wind (1961)
  • Acchan no bebi gyangu (1961) as Midori
  • Reporters from the Sky (1960)
  • Respect, Flatter, and Love (1960)
  • When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (1960) as Hostess
  • Ginza Tomboy (1960) as Woman in Jail A
  • The Orientals (1960)
  • New Third Class Executive: Fortune Teller (1960) as Haruko Momoyama
  • The Entrapped Gangster (1959)
  • The Terrible Game (1959) as Mariko's Friend B
  • The Beast Shall Die (1959) as Hostess at the Rollita B
  • Song for a Bride (1958)
  • In Self-Defense (1958)
  • Female Detective Story: S.O.S Woman (1958)