Acting
Kinuyo Tanaka
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.
Filmography
Kinuyo Tanaka, a Woman We Talk About
Film · 2022
The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka
Film · 2009
Cape of the North
Film · 1976
Lullaby of the Earth
Film · 1976
Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director
Film · 1975
Let's Go, Grandma!
Film · 1975
Sandakan No. 8
Film · 1974
Sanbaba
Film · 1974
Tora-san's Dream-Come-True
Film · 1972
Mominoki wa Nokotta
Series · 1970
Red Beard
Film · 1965
Kono sora no aru kagiri
Film · 1964
The Scent of Incense
Film · 1964
Alone Across the Pacific
Film · 1963
Bright Sea
Film · 1963
A Legend or Was It?
Film · 1963
Double Wedding
Film · 1963
A Wanderer's Notebook
Film · 1962
Mama, I Need You!
Film · 1962
The Fencing Master
Film · 1962
Eternity of Love
Film · 1961
Her Brother
Film · 1960
The Three Treasures
Film · 1959
Hahakogusa
Film · 1959
Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka
Film · 1959
Equinox Flower
Film · 1958
The Ballad of Narayama
Film · 1958
The Eternal Rainbow
Film · 1958
Sorrow Is Only for Women
Film · 1958
Yellow Crow
Film · 1957
Geisha in the Old City
Film · 1957
On This Earth
Film · 1957
Stepbrothers
Film · 1957
Flowing
Film · 1956
The Storm
Film · 1956
How Sorrowful
Film · 1956
Women in Prison
Film · 1956
Confession
Film · 1956
This Is Home
Film · 1956
Forever a Woman
Film · 1955
The Moon Has Risen
Film · 1955
House of Many Pleasures
Film · 1955
Tsukiyo no kasa
Film · 1955
Shōnen shikeishū
Film · 1955
Sansho the Bailiff
Film · 1954
The Woman in the Rumor
Film · 1954
Five Sisters
Film · 1954
Sincere Heart
Film · 1953
An Heir's Place
Film · 1953
Where Chimneys Are Seen
Film · 1953
Love Letter
Film · 1953
Ugetsu
Film · 1953
Mother
Film · 1952
The Life of Oharu
Film · 1952
The Ataka Family
Film · 1952
Sisters of Nishijin
Film · 1952
Her Secret
Film · 1952
Miss Oyu
Film · 1951
Ginza Cosmetics
Film · 1951
The Inner Palace Conspiracy
Film · 1951
The Lady of Musashino
Film · 1951
Story of Lightning
Film · 1951
Aizenbashi
Film · 1951
The Munekata Sisters
Film · 1950
Wedding Ring
Film · 1950
The Actress and the Detective
Film · 1950
Flame of My Love
Film · 1949
Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 1
Film · 1949
Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 2
Film · 1949
Women of the Night
Film · 1948
A Hen in the Wind
Film · 1948
The Love of the Actress Sumako
Film · 1947
Phoenix
Film · 1947
Marriage
Film · 1947
Utamaro and His Five Women
Film · 1946
Victory of Women
Film · 1946
Kanojo no hatsugen
Film · 1946
A Tale of Archery at the Sanjusangendo
Film · 1945
Victory Song
Film · 1945
Miyamoto Musashi
Film · 1944
Army
Film · 1944
The Man Who Has Returned
Film · 1944
Kaisen no Zenya
Film · 1943
Air Raid of the Enemy Plane
Film · 1943
A Certain Woman
Film · 1942
Ornamental Hairpin
Film · 1941
Flower
Film · 1941
Record of a Woman Doctor
Film · 1941
Let's Go in Good Spirits
Film · 1941
Seisen aiba fu: Akatsuki ni inoru
Film · 1940
Kinuyo's First Love
Film · 1940
Osaka Woman
Film · 1940
Okinu and Banto
Film · 1940
Zoku aizen katsura
Film · 1939
Okayo's Preparedness
Film · 1939
Spring Thunder
Film · 1939
Weeds with flowers
Film · 1939
The Tree of Love
Film · 1938
Mother and Child
Film · 1938
Banchō sarayashiki
Film · 1937
A Man's Recompense: Part 1
Film · 1937
A Man's Recompense: Part 2
Film · 1937
Lady Doctor Kinuyo
Film · 1937
Song of the Flower Basket
Film · 1937
The New Road: Akemi
Film · 1936
Men vs. Women
Film · 1936
The New Road: Ryota
Film · 1936
Burden of Life
Film · 1935
Okoto and Sasuke
Film · 1935
An Innocent Maid
Film · 1935
Osayo Koi Sugata
Film · 1934
The Genealogy of Women
Film · 1934
My Elder Brother
Film · 1934
That Night's Woman
Film · 1934
Mother of the East
Film · 1934
Sakura Ondo
Film · 1934
Constellations on Earth, Part One: Earth Chapter
Film · 1934
Constellations on Earth, Part 2: Constellations
Film · 1934
Honeymoon
Film · 1934
Storm in the City
Film · 1934
Woman of Tokyo
Film · 1933
The Dancing Girl of Izu
Film · 1933
Dragnet Girl
Film · 1933
The Bride Talks in Her Sleep
Film · 1933
Sôbô
Film · 1933
The Cheerleading Captain's Love
Film · 1933
Clear and Cloudy
Film · 1933
The Road to Marriage
Film · 1933
Before the Wedding
Film · 1933
Daphne
Film · 1933
Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth?
Film · 1932
The Loyal 47 Ronin
Film · 1932
The Golden Demon
Film · 1932
Victory or Defeat
Film · 1932
My Brother's a Fool
Film · 1932
The Willows of Ginza
Film · 1932
The Sun Rises from the East
Film · 1932
Studio Romance: A Guide to Love
Film · 1932
Shine, Japanese Women
Film · 1932
Love in Tokyo
Film · 1932
Storm Zone
Film · 1932
The Neighbour's Wife and Mine
Film · 1931
Love, Be with Humanity: Part 1
Film · 1931
Love, Be with Humanity: Part 2
Film · 1931
Cry Cheerfully!
Film · 1931
Sisters: Part 1
Film · 1931
Sisters: Part 2
Film · 1931
The Tramp and His Daughter
Film · 1931
ABC Lifeline: Fujieda Chapter
Film · 1931
ABC Lifeline
Film · 1931
Woman of Suffering
Film · 1931
Youth, Why Do You Cry?
Film · 1930
Marching On
Film · 1930
I Flunked, But...
Film · 1930
Young Lady
Film · 1930
Mother, Don't Tarnish Your Name
Film · 1930
The Beating
Film · 1930
Song of Youth
Film · 1930
Where Do Women Go?
Film · 1930
A Smiling Life
Film · 1930
The Big City: Explosion
Film · 1930
The Great Ship
Film · 1930
The Tale of Kinuyo
Film · 1930
Record of Love and Desire
Film · 1930
The Big City: Labor
Film · 1929
I Graduated, But...
Film · 1929
The Blacksmith of the Forest
Film · 1929
Echigo Lion
Film · 1929
Him and Life
Film · 1929
The Village Where the Skylark Sings
Film · 1929
The Model of New Women
Film · 1929
Cheerful Song
Film · 1929
Triumphant Song of the Mountain
Film · 1929
The Father and His Son
Film · 1929
The Village Bride
Film · 1928
King of the Land
Film · 1928
The Age of Emotion
Film · 1928
Modern Warrior Training
Film · 1928
Chronicles of a Sea Country
Film · 1928
If Only She...
Film · 1928
Immortal Love
Film · 1928
The Eternal Heart
Film · 1928
Iron Virgin
Film · 1928
What a Handsome Man!
Film · 1928
The Face of Humanity
Film · 1928
A Wife Quits
Film · 1928
Thank You for Your Hard Work
Film · 1928
The Glory of the Shōwa Era
Film · 1928
Symphony of Youth
Film · 1928
Secret Struggle
Film · 1927
The Basement
Film · 1927
Yakko no Koman
Film · 1927
The Harakiri at Tennōji
Film · 1927
Takada no Baba
Film · 1927
An Embarrassing Dream
Film · 1927
Magic
Film · 1927
Song of the Border Patrol
Film · 1927
Madame Pearl
Film · 1927
The Oath of a Thousand Kills
Film · 1927
Sankichi the Flying Squirrel
Film · 1927
Night is a Trickster
Film · 1927
Lovers' Suicide at Kiso
Film · 1927
Useless Button
Film · 1926
Troubled Days
Film · 1926
Townspeople
Film · 1926
Oh! Carefree, Aren't You?
Film · 1926
Young Master
Film · 1926
Torrent
Film · 1926
The Betrayed
Film · 1926
Love and Courage
Film · 1926
The Cursed Sword
Film · 1926
The Complete Story of Jirocho Shimizu, Part 2: Ashura's Revenge
Film · 1926
Her
Film · 1926
Flashing Blade
Film · 1926
Buried Youth
Film · 1926
The Little Traveling Entertainer
Film · 1925
Cry of the Raging Current
Film · 1925
Brave Love
Film · 1925
The Killing of a Hundred Men at Isshinji Temple
Film · 1925
Nature Is the Judge
Film · 1925
Fallen Samurai
Film · 1925
Love's Snare
Film · 1925
No Need for Your Opinion
Film · 1925
A Woman from the Genroku Era
Film · 1924
Village Pasture
Film · 1924