Highest rated as cast or director
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.
Acted in 138
1970s
- 1976
Lullaby of the Earth
Movie
Cape of the North
Old Nun
- 1975
- 1974
Sandakan No. 8
Old Osaki
Sanbaba
Movie
- 1972
- 1970
Mominoki wa Nokotta
Tsuta · 52 episodes
1960s
- 1965
- 1964
Kono sora no aru kagiri
Movie
- 1963
A Legend or Was It?
Shizuko Sonobe
Double Wedding
Movie
- 1962
Mama, I Need You!
Movie
The Fencing Master
Oharu
A Wanderer's Notebook
Kishi, Fumiko's Mother
- 1961
Eternity of Love
Michi's Mother
- 1960
1950s
- 1959
The Three Treasures
Princess Yamato
Hahakogusa
Shige Ozawa
- 1958
The Eternal Rainbow
Fumi
Sorrow Is Only for Women
Movie
- 1957
On This Earth
Omitsu, Heiichiro's mother
Geisha in the Old City
Oei
- 1956
Flowing
Rika Yamanaka / Oharu
The Storm
Movie
Women in Prison
Prison Warden
This Is Home
Movie
- 1955
House of Many Pleasures
Oshige
The Moon Has Risen
Yoneya
- 1954
Five Sisters
Movie
- 1953
Love Letter
Landlady
Where Chimneys Are Seen
Hiroko Ogata
Sincere Heart
Kuniko
- 1952
Her Secret
Movie
Mother
Masako Fukuhara
- 1951
Story of Lightning
Movie
The Inner Palace Conspiracy
Onaka
- 1950
Wedding Ring
Noriko Kuki
1940s
- 1949
Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 1
Oiwa / Osode
Flame of My Love
Eiko Hirayama
- 1948
Women of the Night
Fusako Owada
- 1947
The Love of the Actress Sumako
Sumako Matsui
- 1946
Utamaro and His Five Women
Okita
Victory of Women
Hiroko Hosokawa
- 1945
A Tale of Archery at the Sanjusangendo
Okinu
Victory Song
Woman who sings lullaby
- 1944
Miyamoto Musashi
Shinobu Nonomiya
66Army
Waka
The Man Who Has Returned
Movie
- 1943
Kaisen no Zenya
Movie
- 1942
A Certain Woman
Movie
- 1941
Record of a Woman Doctor
Movie
Ornamental Hairpin
Emi
Flower
Movie
Let's Go in Good Spirits
Movie
- 1940
Okinu and Banto
Movie
Osaka Woman
Movie
1930s
- 1939
Weeds with flowers
Movie
Zoku aizen katsura
Movie
Spring Thunder
Movie
Okayo's Preparedness
Okayo
- 1938
The Tree of Love
Katsue Takaishi
- 1937
Banchō sarayashiki
Movie
A Man's Recompense: Part 2
Movie
A Man's Recompense: Part 1
Movie
- 1936
The New Road: Ryota
Movie
- 1935
Okoto and Sasuke
Okoto
An Innocent Maid
Oshige
- 1934
The Genealogy of Women
Otsuta
- 1933
Woman of Tokyo
Harue
The Dancing Girl of Izu
Kaoru, a dancer
The Bride Talks in Her Sleep
Haruko, bride
- 1932
The Loyal 47 Ronin
Yae
Shine, Japanese Women
Shigeko
Studio Romance: A Guide to Love
Movie
Victory or Defeat
Movie
- 1931
ABC Lifeline
Movie
ABC Lifeline: Fujieda Chapter
Movie
The Neighbour's Wife and Mine
Wife of the Playwright
- 1930
Young Lady
Kinuko
Record of Love and Desire
Movie
Mother, Don't Tarnish Your Name
Movie
Where Do Women Go?
Omitsu
I Flunked, But...
Cafe's Waitress
Marching On
Toshiko Yamamoto
1920s
- 1929
I Graduated, But...
Machiko Nomoto
The Blacksmith of the Forest
Omitsu
- 1928
The Glory of the Shōwa Era
Yayoi Sakurai (Shōwa Chapter)
King of the Land
Namiko
The Eternal Heart
Movie
Chronicles of a Sea Country
Oaki (Sister)
- 1926
Young Master
Tamako (Geisha in training)
- 1925
Fallen Samurai
Omaki
- 1924
Village Pasture
Oharu
Directed 7
1960s
- 1962
- 1961
Girls of the Night
Director
- 1960
1950s
- 1955
The Moon Has Risen
Director
- 1953
Love Letter
Director
Appearances3
2020s
- 2022
Kinuyo Tanaka, a Woman We Talk About
Self (archive footage)
2000s
- 2009
The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka
Self (archive footage)
1970s
- 1975
Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director
Self