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Machiko Kyō

Acting Born Mar 25, 1924 Died May 12, 2019 Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan 96 credits

Biography

Machiko Kyō was a Japanese actress born on March 25, 1924, in Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. She trained to be a dancer before entering films in 1949. Kyō rose to domestic praise in Japan for her work in notable Japanese films, including Akira Kurosawa's Rashōmon and Kenji Mizoguchi's Ugetsu. Her film work primarily occurred during the 1950s. She appeared in numerous Japanese productions, such as Kenji Mizoguchi's Street of Shame, Teinosuke Kinugasa's Gate of Hell, and Kon Ichikawa's Odd Obsession. Kyō's acting credits include 98 films. She passed away on May 12, 2019, at the age of 95.

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Career

Career overview

Machiko Kyō began her acting career in 1949, transitioning from a background in dance. Her breakthrough role came the following year, starring in Akira Kurosawa's classic film. This international recognition marked the beginning of her extensive work in Japanese productions.

Throughout the 1950s, Kyō appeared in several notable films, including Kenji Mizoguchi's Ugetsu in 1953 and Street of Shame in 1956. She also starred in Teinosuke Kinugasa's Gate of Hell the same year. Her performances in these films earned her praise in Japan, solidifying her reputation as a talented actress.

Kyō's film work primarily took place during the 1950s, with a notable presence in two of the greatest Japanese films of the 20th century, Akira Kurosawa's Rashōmon and Kenji Mizoguchi's Ugetsu. Her extensive body of work includes appearances in numerous Japanese productions, with a total of 98 known credits.

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Known for

Film

Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director

as Self
Film

Solar Eclipse

1975
Film

The Face of Another

as Mrs. Okuyama
Film

Black Lizard

as Mrs. Midorikawa
Film

The Wandering Princess

as Ryûko Korinkakura / Hiroko Aishinkakura
Film

Floating Weeds

as Sumiko
Film

Odd Obsession

as Ikuko Kenmochi
Film

Jirocho Fuji

as Okatsu
Film

The Teahouse of the August Moon

as Lotus Blossom
Film

Street of Shame

as Mickey
Film

Princess Yang Kwei-fei

as Princess Yang Kwei-fei
Film

Ugetsu

as Lady Wakasa

Frequent co-stars

Masayuki Mori 3 shared titles
Eitarō Ozawa 3 shared titles
Shōzō Nanbu 3 shared titles
Eitarō Shindō 3 shared titles
Kumeko Urabe 3 shared titles
Ayako Wakao 3 shared titles
Tatsuo Hanabu 3 shared titles
Tatsuya Ishiguro 3 shared titles
Fujio Harumoto 3 shared titles
Minoru Chiaki 2 shared titles

Career timeline

Kurosawa
Hana no Ran
Make-Up
Nukata no Ōkimi
Yokomizo Seishi Series
Tora-san's Pure LoveThe Possessed
Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film DirectorSolar Eclipse
The Family
Born Fighter
Thousand Cranes
The Face of AnotherThe DaphneThe Little Runaway
Sweet Sweat
The Third Will
The Great WallBlack LizardA Woman's LifeNakayoshi ondo: Nippon ichi dayo
BuddhaMarriageable AgeNuregami botanA Design for Dying
The Woman Who Touched LegsThe Legendary HellThe Wandering PrincessBonchiA Woman's Testament
Floating WeedsOdd ObsessionPaper PigeonJirocho FujiGoodbye, Hello
Tainted FlowersÔsaka no onnaThe Loyal 47 RoninMotherMusume no boken
Dancing GirlA Woman's SkinThe Teahouse of the August MoonJigoku banaNight Butterflies
Street of ShameOperation TeahouseThree Women Around YoshinakaA Rainbow at Every TurnTsukigata Hanpeita
Princess Yang Kwei-feiTôjûrô no koiA Girl Isn't Allowed to LoveNew Women’s Dialogue
The Princess SenA Certain WomanAsakusa at NightThe Story of ShunkinA Geisha on Horseback
UgetsuGate of HellBrother and SisterKurohyō
Beauty and the ThiefTaki no ShiraitoDedication of the Great BuddhaThe Scarlet Gang of AsakusaI'll Not Forget the Song of Nagasaki
The Tale of GenjiClothes of DeceptionThe Life of a Horse TraderThe Bitch
RashomonThe Motherland Far Far AwayThe Sea of BeautyPhoenixResurrection
A Fool's LoveHanakurabe tanuki-denA Bullet Hole UndergroundThe Man Who Laughs LastThree Pearls

Full filmography

  • Kurosawa (2000) as Self
  • Hana no Ran (1994) as Hino Shigeko
  • Make-Up (1984) as Tsune Tsutano
  • Nukata no Ōkimi (1980)
  • Yokomizo Seishi Series (1977)
  • Tora-san's Pure Love (1976) as Aya
  • The Possessed (1976)
  • Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director (1975) as Self
  • Solar Eclipse (1975)
  • The Family (1974) as Aiko Takasu
  • Born Fighter (1970) as Sue Yoshida
  • Thousand Cranes (1969) as Chikako Kurimoto
  • The Face of Another (1966) as Mrs. Okuyama
  • The Daphne (1966) as Kikuko (the eldest daughter)
  • The Little Runaway (1966) as Director of the shelter
  • Sweet Sweat (1964) as Umeko
  • The Third Will (1963) as Fujiyo Yajima
  • The Great Wall (1962)
  • Black Lizard (1962) as Mrs. Midorikawa
  • A Woman's Life (1962) as Kei Nunobiki
  • Nakayoshi ondo: Nippon ichi dayo (1962)
  • Buddha (1961) as Nandabala
  • Marriageable Age (1961)
  • Nuregami botan (1961)
  • A Design for Dying (1961) as Shikiko Oba
  • The Woman Who Touched Legs (1960) as Saya Shiozawa
  • The Legendary Hell (1960) as Oden Takahashi
  • The Wandering Princess (1960) as Ryûko Korinkakura / Hiroko Aishinkakura
  • Bonchi (1960) as Ofuku
  • A Woman's Testament (1960)
  • The Last Betrayal (1960) as Chizuru
  • The Beloved Image (1960)
  • Floating Weeds (1959) as Sumiko
  • Odd Obsession (1959) as Ikuko Kenmochi
  • Paper Pigeon (1959) as Ryoko Kashiwabara
  • Jirocho Fuji (1959) as Okatsu
  • Goodbye, Hello (1959) as Umeko Ichige
  • The Woman and the Pirate (1959) as 綾衣
  • The Woman and the Pirate (1959) as お糸
  • The Makioka Sisters (1959)
  • Tainted Flowers (1958)
  • Ôsaka no onna (1958) as Osen
  • The Loyal 47 Ronin (1958) as Orui, Spy
  • Mother (1958) as Takako Ômachi
  • Musume no boken (1958)
  • The Ladder of Success (1958)
  • Chance Meeting (1958) as Aya Koyanagi
  • Sorrow Is Only for Women (1958)
  • Dancing Girl (1957) as Chiyomi Hanamura
  • A Woman's Skin (1957)
  • The Teahouse of the August Moon (1957) as Lotus Blossom
  • Jigoku bana (1957)
  • Night Butterflies (1957) as Mari
  • Hole in One (1957) as Nagako Kita
  • Itohan Monogatari (1957) as Okatsu
  • Daiei Studio is Bustling (1957)
  • Street of Shame (1956) as Mickey
  • Operation Teahouse (1956) as Self
  • Three Women Around Yoshinaka (1956) as Tomoe
  • A Rainbow at Every Turn (1956)
  • Tsukigata Hanpeita (1956) as Hagino
  • Princess Yang Kwei-fei (1955) as Princess Yang Kwei-fei
  • Tôjûrô no koi (1955) as Okaji
  • A Girl Isn't Allowed to Love (1955)
  • New Women’s Dialogue (1955)
  • The Princess Sen (1954)
  • A Certain Woman (1954) as Yoko Hayazuki
  • Asakusa at Night (1954) as Setsuko Takashima
  • The Story of Shunkin (1954)
  • A Geisha on Horseback (1954) as Nobukichi
  • Tree of Love (1954)
  • Ugetsu (1953) as Lady Wakasa
  • Gate of Hell (1953) as Lady Kesa
  • Brother and Sister (1953) as Mon
  • Kurohyō (1953)
  • Beauty and the Thief (1952) as Sakin
  • Taki no Shiraito (1952) as Taki no Shiraito
  • Dedication of the Great Buddha (1952)
  • The Scarlet Gang of Asakusa (1952) as Ryûko Beni
  • I'll Not Forget the Song of Nagasaki (1952)
  • The Tale of Genji (1951) as Awaji no ue
  • Clothes of Deception (1951) as Kimicho
  • The Life of a Horse Trader (1951) as Yuki
  • The Bitch (1951) as Emmy
  • Rashomon (1950) as Masako
  • The Motherland Far Far Away (1950) as Mari, daughter
  • The Sea of Beauty (1950)
  • Phoenix (1950)
  • Resurrection (1950) as Yukiko Ohara
  • Asakusa no hada (1950)
  • A Fool's Love (1949) as Naomi
  • Hanakurabe tanuki-den (1949)
  • A Bullet Hole Underground (1949) as Michiko Kaneko
  • The Man Who Laughs Last (1949)
  • Three Pearls (1949)
  • 現代インチキ物語　ど狸