Acting
Yōko Minamida
Yōko Minamida (南田 洋子, Minamida Yōko, March 1, 1933 – October 21, 2009) was a Japanese actress. Born in Tokyo, Minamida made her screen debut in 1953 for the Daiei studio and quickly rose to stardom, working with Kenji Mizoguchi on two films: “A Story from Chikamatsu” and “Princess Yang Kwei-fei.” In 1955, she moved to the Nikkatsu studio, where she starred in Takumi Furukawa’s “Season of the Sun” (1956), a smash hit that launched the so-called “Sun Tribe” boom for films about rebellious youth looking for sex and kicks on Shonan Beach — Japan’s nearest equivalent to Malibu. Minamida acted in dozens of movies for Nikkatsu, working with Shohei Imamura, Seijun Suzuki, and other directors. In 1961 she married her co-star on “Season of the Sun,” Hiroyuki Nagato. As she acted in fewer movies after the mid-1960s, Minamida made a smooth and successful transition to TV as both an actress and MC. She also continued to appear occasionally in movies, with the last being Nobuhiko Obayashi’s “Song of Goodbye” in 2006. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in November 2008, and a TV documentary was made about her condition and the efforts of her husband to care for her. She died in Tokyo.
Filmography
Song of Goodbye
Film · 2007
The Motive
Film · 2004
Gokusen
Series · 2002
Lost Paradise
Series · 1997
Salaryman Senka
Film · 1995
Ai yo, Nemuranaide
Film · 1993
Yellow Fangs
Film · 1990
砂山の唄殺人事件
Series · 1990
Tears of a Swan
Series · 1989
This Story of Love
Film · 1987
Star Ranch
Film · 1987
Zero
Film · 1984
Yôi don
Series · 1982
At Noon
Film · 1978
Take Me Away!
Film · 1978
The Wild Daisy
Film · 1977
Ame no meguri ai
Film · 1977
House
Film · 1977
Japanese Humanity and Justice
Film · 1977
Akai Shougeki
Series · 1976
Time of First Love
Film · 1975
Karafuto 1945 Summer
Film · 1974
The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang
Film · 1972
A Young Man's Stronghold
Film · 1970
Niji
Series · 1970
Tale of the Last Japanese Yakuza
Film · 1969
Chivalrous Pride
Film · 1969
Portrait of Chieko
Film · 1967
The Domain: Where The Blade Enters
Film · 1967
The Domain: White Blade
Film · 1967
Glorious Fights
Film · 1966
Showdown of Men
Film · 1966
Debt of Honor
Film · 1966
NET Playhouse
Series · 1966
Underworld Code
Film · 1965
The Soundless Cry
Film · 1965
The Kingdom of Jirocho 4
Film · 1965
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
Film · 1965
The Domain: The Naniwa Story
Film · 1965
The Tattooed Lord
Film · 1965
Irogotoshi harudanji
Film · 1965
An Outlaw
Film · 1964
Jakoman and Tetsu
Film · 1964
The Domain
Film · 1964
Prison Gambler
Film · 1964
Gambler
Film · 1964
To Your Majesty, The Emperor 2
Film · 1964
A Modern Samurai Village
Film · 1963
Okashina yatsu
Film · 1963
Love Comes with Youth
Film · 1963
I Have the Sun in My Back
Film · 1963
Beyond the Green Hills
Film · 1963
Kyu-chan, Draw Your Sword
Film · 1963
The Gambling Monk
Film · 1963
Kiriko's Tango
Film · 1963
Otoko to otoko no ikiru machi
Film · 1962
Black Dice
Film · 1962
Sun and Stars
Film · 1962
Last Round
Film · 1962
The Guys Who Put Money on Me
Film · 1962
Glass-Hearted Johnny
Film · 1962
The Rambler Returns Home
Film · 1962
Pigs and Battleships
Film · 1961
He Killed Dad
Film · 1961
The Crimson Plains
Film · 1961
Wind and waves of the South
Film · 1961
Tokyo Knights
Film · 1961
The Man with a Shotgun
Film · 1961
Quick Draw Joe
Film · 1961
Joe of Aces: Gambling for a Living
Film · 1961
Gun of Nosappu
Film · 1961
Zurari oretacha yōjinbō
Film · 1961
Bet on a Seaside Romance
Film · 1960
Return of the Vagabond
Film · 1960
The Rambler Rides Again
Film · 1960
Yakuza Song
Film · 1960
Jungle Block
Film · 1960
The Law's Bloody Wounds
Film · 1960
Lone Wolf
Film · 1960
Tales of a Gunman: The Man Without Tomorrow
Film · 1960
Yuganda tsuki
Film · 1959
A Turning to Hell
Film · 1959
Farewell to Southern Tosa
Film · 1959
Wounded Beast
Film · 1959
Umi wa kurutte iru
Film · 1959
When a Man Risks His Life
Film · 1959
Elegy to Youth
Film · 1959
Masked Woman
Film · 1959
We Live Today
Film · 1959
Get Over Her
Film · 1959
Voice Without a Shadow
Film · 1958
Stolen Desire
Film · 1958
Taiyō o buchi otose
Film · 1958
Osaka no kaze
Film · 1958
Unga
Film · 1958
死の壁の脱出
Film · 1958
死の壁の脱出
Film · 1958
A Sun-Tribe Myth from the Bakumatsu Era
Film · 1957
Streetlights
Film · 1957
The Barefoot Girl
Film · 1957
The Champion
Film · 1957
But the Flesh is Weak
Film · 1957
Dancing Sisters
Film · 1957
Mountain Pass
Film · 1957
The Awakening
Film · 1957
Aishū no sono
Film · 1957
Season of the Sun
Film · 1956
The Happy Dancers
Film · 1956
Our Town
Film · 1956
Tonari no yome
Film · 1956
Hungry Soul
Film · 1956
Hungry Soul, Part II
Film · 1956
Princess Yang Kwei-fei
Film · 1955
The Doctor
Film · 1955
The Motherless
Film · 1955
A Girl Isn't Allowed to Love
Film · 1955
A Daughter's Life Guide
Film · 1955
Miss Teacher
Film · 1955
Inhibited Love
Film · 1955
Chikamatsu Monogatari
Film · 1954
Rakka no mon
Film · 1954
Haha tokidori
Film · 1954
Konna beppin mita koto nai
Film · 1954
Four Mothers
Film · 1954
Itsuki no komori uta
Film · 1954
Konna bidanshi mita kotonai
Film · 1954
Teenage Secrets
Film · 1954
Mashiroki Fuji no mine
Film · 1954
Kimi machifune
Film · 1954
Atarashiki ten
Film · 1954
Haru no uzumaki
Film · 1954
Zoku jūdai no seiten
Film · 1953
Jūdai no seiten
Film · 1953
Jūdai no yūwaku
Film · 1953
Zoku zoku Jûdai no seiten
Film · 1953
Haha no hitomi
Film · 1953
Shinkon noroke bushi
Film · 1953
Gendai shojo
Film · 1953
Haha nami
Film · 1953
New Enoshima Elegy
Film · 1953
Kinseimei shōbu monogatari: Kettō
Film · 1953
Red Camellia
Film · 1953
Zenigata heiji torimono hikae: Kiniro no ōkami
Film · 1953
Her Secret
Film · 1952
Musume hatsukoi yatton-bushi
Film · 1952