Tokuko Sugiyama

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

35

Gender

Female

Birthday

1926-08-16

Day of death

2014-08-28 (88 years old)

Place of Birth

Tokyo, Japan

Tokuko Sugiyama

Biography

Tokuko Sugiyama (杉山 とく子), also known by her birth name and former stage name Tokuko Sugiyama (杉山 徳子), was a Japanese actress born on August 16, 1926, in Tokyo. She is renowned for her notable roles in the film "The Town with a View of the Capsule" (キューポラのある街) and the TV dramas "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" (男はつらいよ) and "Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari Series" (渡る世間は鬼ばかりシリーズ). After completing her education at Jissen Women's Academy Second High School, Sugiyama initially worked as a nursery school teacher and in Chiba Newspaper's advertising department. Her journey into the entertainment industry began when she applied to Toho's New Face audition and later joined the Bungakuza theater company in 1946. Following two years of training, she became a part of the Haiyūza theater company in 1948 and marked her stage debut with "Tooku e no Hitsuji Goya" (遠くへの羊飼い) the same year. Sugiyama's film debut occurred in 1949 with "Shiratori wa Kanashikarazu ya" (白鳥は悲しからずや). She played significant supporting roles throughout her career. Notably, in the TV drama "Otoko wa Tsurai yo," she portrayed Tora-san's sister, Tsune, and featured in various roles in the film series. From 1990 onward, she portrayed Hanako Noda, the mother-in-law of the main character, in the TV drama "Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari." Even at the age of 66 in 1992, she continued her acting career from a nursing home in Saitama Prefecture. Sugiyama retired from the entertainment industry in 2005, with her final appearance in the 7th series of "Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari." She passed away on August 28, 2014, at the age of 88 due to liver cancer. Throughout her career, Sugiyama often collaborated with Kunio Yamazaki, Aiko Nagayama, and Akiko Matsuda. She was a recurring cast member in films directed by Yoji Yamada. (Translated from Wikipedia Japan "杉山とく子")

Known For

  • Making It Through

    Making It Through

  • Metamorphosis

    Metamorphosis

  • Village of Dreams

    Village of Dreams

  • Horus: Prince of the Sun

    Horus: Prince of the Sun

  • The Human Condition I: No Greater Love

    The Human Condition I: No Greater Love

  • The Wild Swans

    The Wild Swans

  • A Distant Cry from Spring

    A Distant Cry from Spring

  • War and Flowers

    War and Flowers

  • Stage-Struck Tora-san

    Stage-Struck Tora-san

  • The Forest Is Alive

    The Forest Is Alive

  • Flower Season

    Flower Season

  • The Village

    The Village

  • It's Tough Being a Man (Television Drama DVD Edit Edition)

    It's Tough Being a Man (Television Drama DVD Edit Edition)

  • Foster Daddy, Tora!

    Foster Daddy, Tora!

  • Tora-san's Runaway

    Tora-san's Runaway

  • Mofuku no niau hitozuma futari

    Mofuku no niau hitozuma futari

  • Asshii-tachi no machi

    Asshii-tachi no machi

  • The Empty Table

    The Empty Table

  • Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san

    Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san

  • Police Precinct: Nothing Left at the Scene

    Police Precinct: Nothing Left at the Scene

  • Tokyo do mannaka

    Tokyo do mannaka

  • Tora-san's Promise

    Tora-san's Promise

  • Twelve Months

    Twelve Months

  • Tora-san Plays Cupid

    Tora-san Plays Cupid

  • A Taxing Woman

    A Taxing Woman

  • Foundry Town

    Foundry Town

  • Kobayashi Takiji

    Kobayashi Takiji

  • Great Jailbreak

    Great Jailbreak

  • Bungakusho Satsujin Jiken: Oinaru Jyoso

    Bungakusho Satsujin Jiken: Oinaru Jyoso

  • Tora-san, the Go-Between

    Tora-san, the Go-Between

  • Tales of a Golden Geisha

    Tales of a Golden Geisha

  • Police Precinct: Landfill No. 19

    Police Precinct: Landfill No. 19

  • White-haired Demon

    White-haired Demon

  • The Human Condition

    The Human Condition

  • It's Tough Being a Man

    It's Tough Being a Man