Keiko Kishi
Biography
Keiko Kishi is a Japanese actress, writer, and UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador born on August 11, 1932, in Yokohama, Japan. She began her acting career in 1951 and achieved prominence for her lead role in the film Kimi no na wa, also known as What Is Your Name?. In 1957, Kishi married French director Yves Ciampi, with whom she had a daughter, musician and composer Delphine Ciampi, in 1963. The couple divorced in 1975. Throughout her career, Kishi balanced her professional work between Japan and Paris. She has served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNFPA since 1996. Kishi received the award for best actress at the 25th Japan Academy Prize for her performance in the film Kah-chan.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
91 titles- Yves Ciampi: The Adventurer (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- Keiko Kishi, Eternally Rebellious (2023)
- First Love (2023) as Kaori Mukai
- Mango no Ki no Shita de (2019) as Rinko Okuta (1989)
- Bread and Soup and Cat Weather (2013) as Teacher Yamaguchi
- Snow Prince (2009)
- Tokyo Air Raid (2008) as Mizuhashi Etsuko
- For Those We Love (2007) as Tome Torihama
- For Those We Love (2007) as Torihama
- Kokoro (2003) as Kiyono Izumi
- The Eldest Boy and His Three Elder Sisters (2003) as Satoko Kashiwakura
- AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo (2002) as Etsuko Usami
- The Twilight Samurai (2002) as Older Ito Iguchi
- Maria (2001) as Umi Sakamoto
- Kah-chan (2001) as Okatsu
- 向田邦子終戦特別企画 (1995)
- Noh Mask Murders (1991) as Toshiko Nagahara
- Why She Won't Marry (1990)
- Shikibu monogatari (1990) as Nun Chishu
- The Autumn in Tokyo (1985)
- The Makioka Sisters (1983) as Tsuruko Makioka
- I Lived, But... (1983) as Self
- Zoku zoku jiken (1980)
- Koto: The Ancient City (1980) as Shige (Chieko's mother)
- Hunter in the Dark (1979) as Omon
- Tokyo Suburbia (1979)
- Queen Bee (1978) as Hideko Kamio
- Lullaby to Kill (1977) as Rika Aochi (proprietress of the Kamenoyu)
- Red Torrent (1977) as Kimoto Mitsuko
- Mastermind (1976) as Nikki Kono
- Red Suspicion (1975)
- The Fossil (1975) as Madame Marcelin
- Two in the Amsterdam Rain (1975) as Nakatsu
- The Yakuza (1974) as Eiko
- Tora-san Loves an Artist (1973) as Ritsuko
- The Rendezvous (1972) as Keiko Matsumiya
- Fossil (1972) as Madame Marcelin
- Taikouki (1965) as Oichi
- Kwaidan (1965) as Yuki the Snow Maiden (segment "The Woman of the Snow")
- The Uninhibited (1965) as Nora
- Rififi in Tokyo (1963) as Asami
- The Inheritance (1962) as Yasuko Miyagawa
- Love Under the Crucifix (1962)
- Ten Dark Women (1961) as Ichiko Ishinoshita
- Who Are You, Mr. Sorge? (1961) as Yuki Sakurai
- Her Brother (1960) as Gen
- Honno-Ji in Flames (1960) as Tama
- The Snow Flurry (1959) as Haruko
- Snow Country (1957) as Komako
- Typhoon Over Nagasaki (1957) as Noriko Sakurai
- Keiko and Yves Get Married (1957) as The bride
- A Dangerous Hero (1957)
- Flying in the Air (1957)
- Cinépanorama (1956) as Self
- Shochiku Festival: All-Star Lineup – Studio Express / The Birth of an Actress (1956)
- The Thick-Walled Room (1956) as Yoshiko
- Early Spring (1956) as Chiyo Kaneko aka Goldfish
- I Will Buy You (1956) as Fudeko Taniguchi
- So Deep in My Heart (1955)
- Every Day That New Life (1955)
- The Refugee (1955) as Sachiko
- Growing Up (1955)
- The Mask and Destiny (1955)
- Here Is a Spring (1955)
- お役者小僧 江戸千両幟 (1955) as お妙
- The Garden of Women (1954) as Tomiko Takioka
- Always in My Heart Part 3 (1954)
- Three Loves (1954) as Michiko Satomi
- Mother's First Love (1954)
- Hana to ryû - Dai-ni-bu: Aijô ruten (1954)
- An Heir's Place (1953)
- Always in My Heart Part 2 (1953)
- Otome no shinsatsu-shitsu (1953)
- Always in My Heart (1953)
- 疾風からす隊 (1953) as お京
- Night in Hawaii (1953)
- Doctor's Day Off (1952)
- Hibari's Circus: The Sad Little Dove (1952)
- Bored Hatamoto: The Imposter (1952) as 菊路
- Songfest! The 3 Young Musketeers! (1952)
- 治郎吉格子 (1952) as お喜乃
- Kyōshū (1952)
- Home Sweet Home (1951)
- The Love Letter Trial (1951)
- Haha machi gusa (1951)
- The Den of Beasts (1951)
- Kurama Tengu: The Fire Festival (1951)
- 母恋草 (1951)
- Minami kaze (1951)
- Les Miserables I: God and the Devil (1950)
- Les Miserables II: Banner of Love and Freedom (1950)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Keiko Kishi best known for?
Keiko Kishi is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Kokoro (2003), AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo (2002), The Twilight Samurai (2002), Fiend Without a Face (1958).
When and where was Keiko Kishi born?
Keiko Kishi was born on August 11, 1932 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
How many credits does Keiko Kishi have?
Keiko Kishi has accumulated over 91 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1950 to 2025.
What is Keiko Kishi's background in cinema and television?
Keiko Kishi is a Japanese actress, writer, and UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador born on August 11, 1932, in Yokohama, Japan. She began her acting career in 1951 and achieved prominence for her lead role in the film Kimi no na wa, also known as What Is Your Name?. In 1957, Kishi married French director Yves Ciampi, with whom s...
Keiko Kishi by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Cinépanorama (1956) as Self — aged about 23
- Tora-san Loves an Artist (1973) as Ritsuko — aged about 40
- Red Suspicion (1975) — aged about 42
- The Twilight Samurai (2002) as Older Ito Iguchi — aged about 69
- Kwaidan (1965) as Yuki the Snow Maiden (segment "The Woman of the Snow") — aged about 32
- AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo (2002) as Etsuko Usami — aged about 69
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