Sumiko Fuji
Biography
Sumiko Fuji is a Japanese actress born on December 1, 1945, in Gobo, Wakayama, Japan. She is the daughter of a producer at the Toei studios. She began acting in the 1960s under the name Junko Fuji and became famous as the female lead in yakuza films opposite stars such as Koji Tsuruta and Ken Takakura. She starred in her own series as the knife-wielding gambler Red Peony, also known as the Hibotan Bakuto or Red Peony Gambler series. Initially retiring in 1972 after getting married, she began appearing on television in 1974 using the name Sumiko Fuji. She later returned to films, expanded her acting repertoire, and won a Blue Ribbon Award for best supporting actress in 1999 and 2006.
Career overview
Sumiko Fuji is a Japanese actress born on December 1, 1945, in Gobo, Wakayama, Japan. As the daughter of a producer at the Toei studios, she began acting in the 1960s under the name Junko Fuji. She became famous as the female lead in yakuza films opposite such stars as Koji Tsuruta and Ken Takakura. She also starred in her own series as the knife-wielding gambler Red Peony, known as the Hibotan Bakuto or Red Peony Gambler series.
Initially retiring in 1972 after getting married, she began appearing on television in 1974 using the name Sumiko Fuji. She later returned to films and expanded her acting repertoire. Her career includes winning a Blue Ribbon Award for best supporting actress in 1999 and 2006. With extensive experience in the entertainment industry, her known credits span numerous projects, and her filmography includes titles such as Juusan-nin no shikaku, Summer Wars, and Bakuchi-uchi: socho tobaku.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
127 titles- Garden of Camellias (2021) as Kinuko
- DIVOC-12 (2021)
- A Day-Off of Ryoma Takeuchi (2020) as Sumako
- Children of the Sea (2019) as Dede (voice)
- Falling Camellia (2018)
- A Loving Husband (2016) as Reiko Inoue
- Fake Marriage (2015) as Kanae Himura
- Murder on the Orient Express (2015)
- April Fools (2015) as Royal Madam
- Murder on the Orient Express (2015) as Fuji Hatori
- 紅雲町珈琲屋こよみ (2015) as 스기우라 소우
- Lady Maiko (2014) as Chiharu Kojima
- Twilight: Saya in Sasara (2014) as Onatsu
- Casting Blossoms to the Sky (2012) as Ririko Motoki
- It's a Beautiful Life - Irodori (2012) as Hanae ishimoto
- Teppan (2010)
- The History of Our Family (2010) as Maki Yame
- Heart of a Samurai (2009)
- Summer Wars (2009) as Sakae Jinnouchi (voice)
- Air Doll (2009) as Chiyoko
- Ah, It's True, You Are Already Gone (2009) as Yoko Sugiura
- Sweet Rain: Accuracy of Death (2008) as Kazue (as Junko Fuji)
- The Cherry Orchard: Blossoming (2008) as Reiko Takayama
- Yamazakura, The Cherry Tree in the Hills (2008) as Shizu Tezuka
- Best Wishes for Tomorrow (2007) as Haruko Okada
- Hula Girls (2006) as Chiyo Tanikawa
- Murder of the Inugami Clan (2006) as Matsuko Inugami
- Milk White (2004)
- The Geisha House (1999) as Satoe
- Dream Maker (1999)
- Wait and See (1998) as Kimiyi, Hiroshi's Mother
- Wind of the Ryūkyū Islands (1993)
- Chizuko's Younger Sister (1991) as Mother
- Tasmania Story (1990)
- Buddies (1989) as Tami
- The Brave Man Says Little (1983)
- Red Peony Gambler: Execution of Duty (1972)
- The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang (1972) as Tsuruji
- Trials of an Okinawa Village (1971)
- Red Peony Gambler: Here to Kill You (1971) as Takiko Yano
- Bloodiest Flower (1971)
- Okoma, the Orphan Gambler (1971) as Tsumagoi Okoma
- The Man (1971)
- Bitter Tears of a Woman Gambler (1971)
- Silk Hat Boss (1970) as Oryu
- Women of Osaka Castle (1970)
- Red Peony Gambler: Oryu's Return (1970) as Oryu
- Brave Red Flower of the North (1970)
- A Lively Geisha (1970) as Koshizu
- The Last Kamikaze (1970) as Shizuko Munakata
- The Silk Hat Boss 2 (1970)
- Brutal Tales of Chivalry 7: Hell Is a Man's Destiny (1970)
- The Drifting Gambler (1970) as Kohide
- House of Gamblers (1970)
- The Japan Derby Race (1970)
- Yukyo-retsuden (1970)
- Gambler's Legacy (1969)
- Brutal Tales of Chivalry 5: Man With The Karajishi Tattoo (1969)
- Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room (1969) as Ryuko Yano/Oryu-The Red Peony
- Samurai Geisha (1969) as Shinji
- Red Peony Gambler: Flower Cards Game (1969) as Red Peony Oryu
- Red Peony Gambler: Second Generation Ceremony (1969) as Ryuko Yano
- Memoir of Japanese Assassinations (1969) as Takako
- The Domain: Flower and Dragon (1969) as Okyo
- A Modern Yakuza: The Code of the Lawless (1969)
- Team of Ruffians (1969)
- Hishakaku and Kiratsune: A Tale of Two Yakuza (1968)
- Nunnery Confidential (1968)
- Red Peony Gambler (1968) as Hibotan no Ryu
- Big Time Gambling Boss (1968) as Hiroe
- Red Peony Gambler: Gambler's Obligation (1968) as O-Ryu
- Ooku (1968)
- Prison Boss (1968)
- The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze (1968)
- Gambler Biography (1968) as Kasuya
- Showdown of Men 4: Tetsu, the White Tiger (1968)
- Human Torpedoes (1968)
- Histories of the Chivalrous (1968)
- The Shogun and His Mistresses (1967) as O-mino
- Classmates (1967) as Reiko Shiratori
- The Domain: Where The Blade Enters (1967)
- Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 4 (1967)
- Showdown of Men 2 (1967)
- The Chivalrous Life (1967) as Ofuji
- Isshin Tasuke: Edoites Festival (1967) as お仲
- The Domain: White Blade (1967)
- Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1966) as Shizuka Gozen
- Code Between Brothers 3 (1966)
- Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: The Lone Wolf (1966)
- The Domain: Kanda Festival Showdown (1966)
- Showdown of Men (1966)
- Japan's Most Chivalrous (1966) as Otaki
- Continental Drifter (1966)
- The Domain: Duel at Thunder Gate (1966)
- Seven Fugitives (1966)
- Yakuza Vassal (1966)
- The Gambler (1965)
- Irogotoshi harudanji (1965) as Otoki
- Expelled from the Kanto Mob (1965)
- True Osaka Grit (1965)
- Blood of Revenge (1965) as Hatsue
- Three Yakuza (1965)
- おゝい雲！ (1965)
- Hoodlum Match (1965)
- The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry (1965)
- The Boss (1965)
- The Tattooed Lord (1965) as Okayo
- The Kingdom of Jirocho 4 (1965)
- Code of Ruffians (1965)
- The Detective Fencer (1964)
- The Kingdom of Jirocho 3 (1964)
- Gambler (1964) as Osato
- Gamblers and Racketeers (1964)
- Cruel Story of the Shogunate's Downfall (1964)
- The Domain (1964)
- Shingo's Final Duel (1964)
- Fighting Tatsu, the Rickshaw Man (1964)
- A Laughable Journey (1964)
- The Gorgeous Geisha (1964)
- Two Lives, Two Yakuza (1964) as Yukiko Matsuhashi
- Blind Wolf (1963)
- 13 Assassins (1963) as Kayo
- The Kingdom of Jirocho 2 (1963)
- The Yagyu Military Art: The Buried Conspiracy (1963)
- The Kingdom of Jirocho 1 (1963)
- The Yagyu Military Art: The One-Eyed Ninja (1963)
- Gambler Tales of Hasshu: A Man's Pledge (1963) as Ochiyo
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Sumiko Fuji best known for?
Sumiko Fuji is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambam (2006), Children of the Sea (2019), On Patrol: Live Special (2026), Tamizha Tamizha.
When and where was Sumiko Fuji born?
Sumiko Fuji was born on December 1, 1945 in Gobo, Wakayama, Japan.
How many credits does Sumiko Fuji have?
Sumiko Fuji has accumulated over 127 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1963 to 2021.
What is Sumiko Fuji's background in cinema and television?
Sumiko Fuji is a Japanese actress born on December 1, 1945, in Gobo, Wakayama, Japan. She is the daughter of a producer at the Toei studios. She began acting in the 1960s under the name Junko Fuji and became famous as the female lead in yakuza films opposite stars such as Koji Tsuruta and Ken Takakura. She starred in h...
Sumiko Fuji by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Teppan (2010) — aged about 64
- Summer Wars (2009) as Sakae Jinnouchi (voice) — aged about 63
- 13 Assassins (1963) as Kayo — aged about 17
- Children of the Sea (2019) as Dede (voice) — aged about 73
- Hishakaku and Kiratsune: A Tale of Two Yakuza (1968) — aged about 22
- Nunnery Confidential (1968) — aged about 22
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