Sadako Sawamura

Actor · 1908–1996 · Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo, Japan

Biography

Sadako Sawamura (沢村貞子, Sawamura Sadako; 11 November 1908 – 16 August 1996) was a Japanese stage and film actress and essayist who appeared in more than 350 films between 1935 and 1976. Sawamura was born in the Asakusa district of Tokyo. After dropping out of Japan Women's University, she was active in left-wing theatre groups and was twice arrested for her political beliefs, spending over a year in prison with much of it in solitary confinement. She started acting in films in 1934, first at the Nikkatsu studio, later at Toho. She appeared in many supporting roles after the war, often working with director Mikio Naruse. Sawamura also acted in films by directors including Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujirō Ozu, Keisuke Kinoshita and Kaneto Shindō. Her brothers were the actors Daisuke Katō and Kunitarō Sawamura. Her autobiography Watashi no Asakusa has been translated into English as My Asakusa. She was married three times: to actor Shigeo Imamura (1931-33), actor Kamatari Fujiwara (1936-46) and subsequently to film magazine editor and critic Yasuhiko Ohashi (1968-96, though domestic partners from 1946 onward).

Acted in 281

2010s

2019
365日の献立日記
献立 · 116 episodes

1980s

1985
When Winter Comes
Movie
1984
Daikazoku
TV

1970s

1977
Hikarugake
TV
1975
Japan Beauty Story: A Woman Among Women
Movie

1960s

1969
The Street Car Game
Deguchi Ume
The Song from My Heart
Movie
1968
My Brother, My Love
Kayo Kitagawa
Lemon in the Rainbow
Setsuko Sasaki
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
Movie
Volcano of Station Front Plaza
Movie
Nunnery Confidential
Movie
A Comedy in Front of the Station: Fortune
Sada Banno
1967
Thoroughbred Women Gamblers
Movie
The Rickshaw Man’s Son
Taki
Swift Current
Movie
Flower Cards Chivalry
Movie
1966
Sayonara ressha
Movie
The Kii River
Ichi, housekeeper
A Sky Full of Tears
Kikue Sugisaki
Bad Reputation: Cherry Blossoms
Movie
Night Bitch
Matsu Komazaki
1965
The Passionate Spinster
Riki Tonobe
Finances in Front of the Train Station
Movie
Snow Country
Dance teacher
That Cute Girl
Movie
Love on the Rainbow
Masako Yamashita
Salaryman's Medal
Movie
Nami kage
Movie
A Fugitive from the Past
Motojima's Wife
77
Hospital in Front of the Train Station
Movie
1964
Eddy Currents of Life
Teacher Ikegami
My Lover
Sugiko's aunt
Heavenly Gods in Front of the Train Station
Movie · Comedy
Whirlpool of Flesh
Tomiko Sekiguchi
Sweet Sweat
Matsuko
Mumu Dance
Movie
Taiyou wo Daku Onna
Movie
I'm a Bodyguard
Movie
A Story from Echigo
Movie
Youth Season Continued
Sawamura Sawako (Restaurant "Sawamura" proprietress and Keiko's older sister)
Two Bitches
Tetsu Kawabe
Mr. Giant's Victory Flag
Movie
1963
Miren
Hostess at 'Mitsuda'
At the Side of the Bridge 4
Movie
Double Wedding
Shigeko
Tale of Army Brutality
Toki, Yahichi's mother
The Life of Rikisha-Man
Movie
Dokuritsu bijin-tai
Movie
Crazy Operation: First Move
Movie
Wakai yatsu
Movie
Police Precinct: Backing Investigation
Movie
A Salaryman's Reckless Family
Movie
At the Side of the Bridge 3
Movie
1962
A Comedy in Front of the Station: Chinese Restaurant
Movie
Naite waratta hanayome
Movie
Curry Rice
Movie
Born in Sin
Movie
Chûshingura
Movie · History · Drama
75
Zoku aizen katsura
Movie
Youth Season
Movie
At the Side of the Bridge 2
Movie
Ganko Oyaji to Edokko Shain
Movie
Kyūjin ryokō
Movie
A Comedy in Front of the Station: Onsen
Movie
Glory on the Summit
Movie · Drama
Star of Hong Kong
Sugimoto Natsuko
At the Side of the Bridge
Movie
Four Sisters
Makiko
Pig and Goldfish
Movie
Ottamage ningyo monogatari
Movie
Flower in a Storm
Movie
Lady Sen and Hideyori
Yodogimi
Our Marriage
Mother
Koshū
Movie
The Prickly Mouthed Geisha and the Girl of Osaka
Otake
In Search of Mother
Otora
South Pacific Waves Are High
Movie
A Roaring Trade
Movie
Nippon no obaachan
Movie
1961
Wakai yatsura no kaidan
Movie
The Catch
Katsu
67
Sanctuary
Movie
Boss Takes to the Road
Kimie Morikawa
Girls of the Night
Kitamura
Toilet Manager
Movie
Awamori-kun uridasu
Movie
The Estuary
Movie
Hikkoshi yatsure
Movie
Onna no hashi
Movie
Door of Flowers
Movie
Triangle Moods
Kame
Romance Express
Movie
Dare yori mo dare yori mo kimi o aisu
Movie
Zero Focus
Mrs. Sotaro Uhara
68
Women of Tokyo
Yuki Takeuchi
1960
Mahiru no wana
Kikuyo
Late Autumn
Fumiko
84
Ponkotsu
Movie
Towering Waves
Mrs. Tazawa
Dare yori mo kimi o aisu
Movie
Jiyūgaoka fujin
Movie
Hero of the Red Light District
Movie
Youth in Fury
Aki Katsura
New Third Class Executive: Husband Education
Kaneko Tsujikura
The Dangerous Kiss
Movie
Salaryman Sampei Meijiro: A Wife's Virginal Face
Movie
Police Precinct Part 13
Madam next to Hikariso
Salaryman Idea Book: Concern for Success
Okane
Glory to the President of the Henpecked Political Party
Movie
Storm on the Silvery Peaks
Kiyo
Tōkyō no josei
Movie · Romance · Drama
Salaryman Idea Book: Man of Worrisome Episodes
Okane
Hito mo arukeba
Kin Narikin
Beyond the Hills
Oiku Wada
The Wandering Princess
Kazuko Sugawara
66
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
Toshiko