Kinuyo Tanaka

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

213

Gender

Female

Birthday

1909-11-28

Day of death

1977-03-21 (67 years old)

Place of Birth

Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan

Kinuyo Tanaka

Biography

Kinuyo Tanaka (田中 絹代 Tanaka Kinuyo, 29 November 1909 – 21 March 1977) was a Japanese actress and director. Tanaka was born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. She became a leading actress at seventeen years old, appearing in Heinosuke Gosho's An Embarrassing Dream in 1927. She proceeded to take leading parts in, among others, Yasujirō Ozu's I Graduated, But... in 1929, Gosho's Aiyoku no ki in 1930, and in 1931, Japan's first talkie, The Neighbor's Wife and Mine, directed by Gosho. She had a close working relationship with director Kenji Mizoguchi, having parts in 15 of his films, including leading roles in The Life of Oharu (1952), Ugetsu (1953) and Sansho the Bailiff (1954). Their working relationship ended when Mizoguchi countered a recommendation from the Directors Guild of Japan for the Nikkatsu studio to hire her as a director. Despite this, the production of her second film as director went ahead, but Tanaka never forgave Mizoguchi, and the reasons for his behaviour are unclear. She also played Noboru Yasumoto's mother in Akira Kurosawa's Red Beard (1965). For her portrayal in Kei Kumai's Sandakan N° 8 she won the Best Actress Award at the 25th Berlin International Film Festival in 1975. Her last screen appearance was in 1976 in Kei Kumai's Kita No Misaki. Tanaka was the second Japanese woman who worked as a film director, after Sakane Tazuko (1904‐1975). Her first directing job was on the film Love Letter in 1953, and she made five further films in that role.

Known For

  • The Cheerleading Captain's Love

    The Cheerleading Captain's Love

  • The Sun Rises from the East

    The Sun Rises from the East

  • Clear and Cloudy

    Clear and Cloudy

  • My Brother's a Fool

    My Brother's a Fool

  • Studio Romance: A Guide to Love

    Studio Romance: A Guide to Love

  • Love in Tokyo

    Love in Tokyo

  • Sankichi the Flying Squirrel

    Sankichi the Flying Squirrel

  • The Beating

    The Beating

  • Young Master

    Young Master

  • Before the Wedding

    Before the Wedding

  • A Smiling Life

    A Smiling Life

  • A Wife Quits

    A Wife Quits

  • Cheerful Song

    Cheerful Song

  • Yakko no Koman

    Yakko no Koman

  • A Woman from the Genroku Era

    A Woman from the Genroku Era

  • Cry of the Raging Current

    Cry of the Raging Current

  • The Village Where the Skylark Sings

    The Village Where the Skylark Sings

  • The Father and His Son

    The Father and His Son

  • Ugetsu

    Ugetsu

  • Fallen Samurai

    Fallen Samurai

  • Song of Youth

    Song of Youth

  • Modern Warrior Training

    Modern Warrior Training

  • The Complete Story of Jirocho Shimizu, Part 2: Ashura's Revenge

    The Complete Story of Jirocho Shimizu, Part 2: Ashura's Revenge

  • The Tale of Kinuyo

    The Tale of Kinuyo

  • Where Do Women Go?

    Where Do Women Go?

  • Village Pasture

    Village Pasture

  • The Killing of a Hundred Men at Isshinji Temple

    The Killing of a Hundred Men at Isshinji Temple

  • The Great Ship

    The Great Ship

  • Love's Snare

    Love's Snare

  • Record of Love and Desire

    Record of Love and Desire

  • Sandakan No. 8

    Sandakan No. 8

  • The Oath of a Thousand Kills

    The Oath of a Thousand Kills

  • If Only She...

    If Only She...

  • Shine, Japanese Women

    Shine, Japanese Women

  • The Age of Emotion

    The Age of Emotion

  • Brave Love

    Brave Love

  • The Little Traveling Entertainer

    The Little Traveling Entertainer

  • Nature Is the Judge

    Nature Is the Judge

  • The Tramp and His Daughter

    The Tramp and His Daughter

  • Troubled Days

    Troubled Days

  • Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka

    Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka

  • Echigo Lion

    Echigo Lion

  • The Willows of Ginza

    The Willows of Ginza

  • Secret Struggle

    Secret Struggle

  • A Wanderer's Notebook

    A Wanderer's Notebook

  • A Hen in the Wind

    A Hen in the Wind

  • ABC Lifeline: Fujieda Chapter

    ABC Lifeline: Fujieda Chapter

  • Women of the Night

    Women of the Night

  • The Big City: Explosion

    The Big City: Explosion

  • The Ballad of Narayama

    The Ballad of Narayama

  • Ornamental Hairpin

    Ornamental Hairpin

  • Banchō sarayashiki

    Banchō sarayashiki

  • The Model of New Women

    The Model of New Women

  • My Elder Brother

    My Elder Brother

  • Phoenix

    Phoenix

  • Equinox Flower

    Equinox Flower

  • Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth?

    Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth?

  • Sincere Heart

    Sincere Heart

  • Iron Virgin

    Iron Virgin

  • The Big City: Labor

    The Big City: Labor

  • Mother and Child

    Mother and Child

  • The Road to Marriage

    The Road to Marriage

  • The Village Bride

    The Village Bride

  • Spring Thunder

    Spring Thunder

  • Utamaro and His Five Women

    Utamaro and His Five Women

  • Marching On

    Marching On

  • Yellow Crow

    Yellow Crow

  • Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 1

    Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 1

  • Forever a Woman

    Forever a Woman

  • The Man Who Has Returned

    The Man Who Has Returned

  • Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 2

    Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 2

  • I Graduated, But...

    I Graduated, But...

  • Cape of the North

    Cape of the North

  • What a Handsome Man!

    What a Handsome Man!

  • Geisha in the Old City

    Geisha in the Old City

  • A Man's Recompense: Part 1

    A Man's Recompense: Part 1

  • The Moon Has Risen

    The Moon Has Risen

  • Okinu and Banto

    Okinu and Banto

  • Sôbô

    Sôbô

  • Mama, I Need You!

    Mama, I Need You!

  • Miss Oyu

    Miss Oyu

  • Woman of Tokyo

    Woman of Tokyo

  • A Tale of Archery at the Sanjusangendo

    A Tale of Archery at the Sanjusangendo

  • Army

    Army

  • Seisen aiba fu: Akatsuki ni inoru

    Seisen aiba fu: Akatsuki ni inoru

  • Kinuyo's First Love

    Kinuyo's First Love

  • King of the Land

    King of the Land

  • Dragnet Girl

    Dragnet Girl

  • The Woman in the Rumor

    The Woman in the Rumor

  • The Scent of Incense

    The Scent of Incense

  • The Inner Palace Conspiracy

    The Inner Palace Conspiracy

  • Bright Sea

    Bright Sea

  • Okayo's Preparedness

    Okayo's Preparedness

  • Torrent

    Torrent

  • Victory Song

    Victory Song

  • A Man's Recompense: Part 2

    A Man's Recompense: Part 2

  • The New Road: Ryota

    The New Road: Ryota

  • Osaka Woman

    Osaka Woman

  • Air Raid of the Enemy Plane

    Air Raid of the Enemy Plane

  • The Neighbour's Wife and Mine

    The Neighbour's Wife and Mine

  • Sanbaba

    Sanbaba

  • That Night's Woman

    That Night's Woman

  • The New Road: Akemi

    The New Road: Akemi

  • An Heir's Place

    An Heir's Place

  • Lullaby of the Earth

    Lullaby of the Earth

  • Miyamoto Musashi

    Miyamoto Musashi

  • Young Lady

    Young Lady

  • I Flunked, But...

    I Flunked, But...

  • Confession

    Confession

  • (Street of Wandering Pigeons) When Will the Birds Come Home

    (Street of Wandering Pigeons) When Will the Birds Come Home

  • Stepbrothers

    Stepbrothers

  • The Blacksmith of the Forest

    The Blacksmith of the Forest

  • Burden of Life

    Burden of Life

  • The Tree of Love

    The Tree of Love

  • Wakarete ikiru toki mo

    Wakarete ikiru toki mo

  • Let's Go, Grandma!

    Let's Go, Grandma!

  • Kaisen no Zenya

    Kaisen no Zenya

  • Red Beard

    Red Beard

  • Love Letter

    Love Letter

  • The Life of Oharu

    The Life of Oharu

  • The Loyal 47 Ronin

    The Loyal 47 Ronin

  • The Ataka Family

    The Ataka Family

  • Song of the Flower Basket

    Song of the Flower Basket

  • A Legend or Was It?

    A Legend or Was It?

  • Story of Lightning

    Story of Lightning

  • Lady Doctor Kinuyo

    Lady Doctor Kinuyo

  • Zoku aizen katsura

    Zoku aizen katsura

  • A Certain Woman

    A Certain Woman

  • Thank You for Your Hard Work

    Thank You for Your Hard Work

  • Kono sora no aru kagiri

    Kono sora no aru kagiri

  • Hahakogusa

    Hahakogusa

  • Let's Go in Good Spirits

    Let's Go in Good Spirits

  • Flame of My Love

    Flame of My Love

  • The Eternal Rainbow

    The Eternal Rainbow

  • Tora-san's Dream-Come-True

    Tora-san's Dream-Come-True

  • Okoto and Sasuke

    Okoto and Sasuke

  • The Bride Talks in Her Sleep

    The Bride Talks in Her Sleep

  • Alone Across the Pacific

    Alone Across the Pacific

  • Victory of Women

    Victory of Women

  • Ginza Cosmetics

    Ginza Cosmetics

  • Record of a Woman Doctor

    Record of a Woman Doctor

  • Flowing

    Flowing

  • Men vs. Women

    Men vs. Women

  • Her Brother

    Her Brother

  • Where Chimneys Are Seen

    Where Chimneys Are Seen

  • Osayo koisugata

    Osayo koisugata

  • Victory or Defeat

    Victory or Defeat

  • The Genealogy of Women

    The Genealogy of Women

  • Mother

    Mother

  • Marriage

    Marriage

  • An Innocent Maid

    An Innocent Maid

  • The Three Treasures

    The Three Treasures

  • The Lady of Musashino

    The Lady of Musashino

  • The Love of the Actress Sumako

    The Love of the Actress Sumako

  • The Munekata Sisters

    The Munekata Sisters

  • Takada no Baba

    Takada no Baba

  • The Dancing Girl of Izu

    The Dancing Girl of Izu

  • Five Sisters

    Five Sisters

  • ABC Lifeline

    ABC Lifeline

  • Shōnen shikeishū

    Shōnen shikeishū

  • The Fencing Master

    The Fencing Master

  • Tsukiyo no kasa

    Tsukiyo no kasa

  • Women in Prison

    Women in Prison

  • Weeds with flowers

    Weeds with flowers

  • Night is a Trickster

    Night is a Trickster

  • Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director

    Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director

  • Flower

    Flower

  • Sisters of Nishijin

    Sisters of Nishijin

  • The Storm

    The Storm

  • Magic

    Magic

  • Mominoki wa Nokotta

    Mominoki wa Nokotta

  • No Need for Your Opinion

    No Need for Your Opinion

  • Storm Zone

    Storm Zone

  • Double Wedding

    Double Wedding

  • Sorrow Is Only for Women

    Sorrow Is Only for Women

  • Useless Button

    Useless Button

  • The Eternal Heart

    The Eternal Heart

  • How Sorrowful

    How Sorrowful

  • On This Earth

    On This Earth

  • Wedding Ring

    Wedding Ring

  • Triumphant Song of the Mountain

    Triumphant Song of the Mountain

  • Sisters: Part 1

    Sisters: Part 1

  • Sisters: Part 2

    Sisters: Part 2

  • The Golden Demon

    The Golden Demon

  • Kinuyo Tanaka, a Woman We Talk About

    Kinuyo Tanaka, a Woman We Talk About

  • Sansho the Bailiff

    Sansho the Bailiff

  • Love, Be with Humanity: Part 1

    Love, Be with Humanity: Part 1

  • Love, Be with Humanity: Part 2

    Love, Be with Humanity: Part 2

  • Cry Cheerfully!

    Cry Cheerfully!

  • The Basement

    The Basement

  • The Glory of the Shōwa Era

    The Glory of the Shōwa Era

  • The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka

    The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka

  • Youth, Why Do You Cry?

    Youth, Why Do You Cry?

  • Madame Pearl

    Madame Pearl

  • Symphony of Youth

    Symphony of Youth

  • Mother, Don't Tarnish Your Name

    Mother, Don't Tarnish Your Name

  • Buried Youth

    Buried Youth

  • Song of the Border Patrol

    Song of the Border Patrol

  • The Face of Humanity

    The Face of Humanity

  • Her

    Her

  • Oh! Carefree, Aren't You?

    Oh! Carefree, Aren't You?

  • An Embarrassing Dream

    An Embarrassing Dream

  • Chronicles of a Sea Country

    Chronicles of a Sea Country

  • Him and Life

    Him and Life

  • The Betrayed

    The Betrayed

  • The Cursed Sword

    The Cursed Sword

  • Flashing Blade

    Flashing Blade

  • Immortal Love

    Immortal Love

  • Townspeople

    Townspeople

  • Love and Courage

    Love and Courage

  • Lovers' Suicide at Kiso

    Lovers' Suicide at Kiso

  • The Harakiri at Tennōji

    The Harakiri at Tennōji

  • Woman of Suffering

    Woman of Suffering