Biography
Kimiko Yo was born in Yokohama, a city just south of Tokyo to a Japanese mother and Taiwanese father on the 12th of May 1956. Her cousin was actress Bunjaku Han. She became active in front of the camera in 1987 and has been a feature of Japanese television and cinema ever since. She had begun acting on the theatre stage in 1976. Audiences may mostly know her for her supporting role in Shin Gojira, as a sympathetic colleague in the 2008 films Departures, which won an Oscar, and kind wife and waitress in Ramen Girl, but she has almost 200 credits to her name. These include an abnormal neighbour in The Drugstore girl and serene presence in Café Lumière where she was directed by a Taiwanese director in Japan. Dear Doctor (2009) propelled her name forward in Japan and was an award winner. She has several Japan Academy prizes to her name. Like most celebrities she pushes products and has done commercials for telephone companies, shampoos and cosmetics manufacturers. Yo is married to a man who at the time was a NHK employee in 2006 and is managed by the Alpha Agency.
Acted in 232
2020s
- 2027
Okinawa Confidential
Movie
- 2026
The Canary's Lullaby
Movie
Two Cigarettes, Three Nights
Movie
Sinsin and the Mouse
Movie
Euthanasia Special Zone
Movie
The Imaginary Dog and the Lying Cat
Movie
- 2025
おもかげ
入江静 · 3 episodes
- 2024
Shrink: Psychiatrist Yowai
Fumiyo Takahashi · 1 episode
橋ものがたり「約束」
Movie
The Gift of Your Heart
Yukino Aihara · 11 episodes
- 2023
The Kind-Hearted Cat
Matsuko · 5 episodes
Mentai Piriri – Flower of Pansy
Movie
Omokage
Movie
Angel Flight
Megumi Yoshizaki · 1 episode
My Happy Divorced Life
TV
- 2022
To Every You I've Loved Before
Kazune Takigawa (old woman) (voice)
Winter Rose
Michiko Wataguchi
Noise
Hanae Shoji
hana –1970, Koza ga moeta hi–
Movie
- 2021
Matrilineal Family
Kimie Kobayashi · 2 episodes
Dream Team
Yoshie Andou · 8 episodes
- 2020
Toubousha
TV
Any Crybabies Around?
Setsuko Goto
Sugu Shinun Dakara
Mori Kaoru · 5 episodes
Step
Michiyo Muramatsu
Please Don't Chant Buddhist Prayers in the Hospital Room
Shibusawa Wakako · 10 episodes
2010s
- 2019
Show Me the Way to the Station
Movie
Miss Jikocho-Professor Tenno's Survey File
南雲喜里子 · 10 episodes
Welcome to National Treasures
TV
Aging Police / Resurrection Special
Movie
Sleep in the Shadows
Movie
An Artist of the Floating World
Mrs. Saito
BON-UTA, A Song from Home
(voice)
Giwaku
Movie
- 2018
Enokida Trading Co.
Yoko Shima
The Murder of Kuroido
Movie
Innocent Days
Michiko Tanaka · 6 episodes
- 2017
ドラマスペシャル 松本清張 鬼畜
Movie
The Public Enemy
Akiko Kawarada · 10 episodes
Perfect Revolution
Akiko
Izakaya Fuji
TV
And Then There Were None
Erika Konami · 2 episodes
- 2016
Zen and Bones
Kô Mittwer
Solitary Gourmet Summer trip to Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan
Movie
Night Hero NAOTO
権田薫子 · 11 episodes
- 2015
Going against the Grain in Fukushima
Speaker
REPLAY＆DESTROY
fortune-teller woman · 8 episodes
A Stitch of Life
Hiroe Minami
The Secret Lives of Kyoto Folk
TV
- 2014
Fuyō no hito 〜 Fuji sanchō no tsuma
Nonaka Tomiko · 6 episodes
お葬式で会いましょう
TV
300 Million Yen Robbery
Ryoko Nakaoka
- 2013
The After-Dinner Mysteries SP: Inspector Kazamatsuri's Case File
Movie
Houkago Groove
TV
Nobody's Perfect
Chieko Kuroki
- 2012
The Housekeeper
Haruko Inamura
Tsurukame Josanin: Minami no Shima kara
TV
Dirty Hearts
Naomi
悪女について
Suzuki Tane
Cleopatra na Onnatachi
TV
Nōhime: Wife of a Samurai
Movie
Bread of Happiness
Yoko
Father of the Bride
Movie
- 2011
Star Watching Dog
Innkeeper
Karyuu No Utage
Miyagi Yoko · 8 episodes
Taro no Tō
TV
- 2010
Soup Opera
Yasuko Tanaka
警視庁継続捜査班
TV
Rinco's Restaurant
Ruriko
2000s
- 2009
ママは昔パパだった
TV
Dear Doctor
Akemi Ohtake
- 2008
Oka wo koete
Movie
Daisuki!!
Setsuko Kachigawa · 10 episodes
- 2007
Oishii Gohan: Kamakura Kasugai Rice Shop
엔죠지 치에코 · 8 episodes
Memories of the Womb: You Are Here
Movie
Bambino!
TV
Invisible War
Kinu Murozono
Dear Father
Fortune Teller · 1 episode
- 2006
Tokumei! Keiji Dongame
TV
- 2005
Be with You
Hongo Naomi · 10 episodes
Yankee Bokou ni Kaeru SP
Ando Yukiko [Teacher]
Akechi Kogoro vs. Kindaichi Kosuke
Tezuka Yukino
Akechi Kogoro vs. Kindaichi Kosuke
TV
Tokyo Tower
Movie
Affectionate Time
Kujo Tomoko · 11 episodes
- 2004
Higuchi Ichiyo Monogatari
Movie
Onna no naka no futatsu no kao
Movie
Fireflies: River of Light
Movie
Drugstore Girl
Hideko Mukai
- 2003
Drop-out Teacher Returns to School
Yukiko Ando · 10 episodes
Farewell, Kuro
Eri Yuki
Kao
Kyoko Higuchi（樋口 京子） · 11 episodes
Suspicion
Movie
An Autumn Afternoon
Akiko Hirayama
- 2002
Aiki
Movie
Hotel Hibiscus
Mieko's Mother
横山秀夫サスペンス シリーズ (TBS)
TV
Oh My God
Movie
Music of Remembrance -Gb-
Rume
Dog Star
Movie
California Dreamin'
Kyoko Yamazaki
The Lonely Affair of the Heart
Movie
- 2001
Goodbye Mr Ozu
TV
Love Story
TV
- 2000
Asako in Ruby Shoes
Aya's Mother
Ando Gumi Gaiden Genealogy of the Group Wolf 5
Movie
Hysteric
Movie
1990s
- 1999
Dangerous Relationship
Ayako Tsuzuki · 11 episodes
Live
TV
- 1998
Wait and See
Wife of Hiroshi's Brother
A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage
Kuramoto
A Dangerous Woman
TV
Amagi Pass
Movie
- 1997
20th Century Nostalgia
Anzu's Mother
Middle-aged Bachelors
TV
Time Leap
Movie
An Angel with Many Scars
Movie
Happy-Go-Lucky
Man's Lover in TV Drama
Moonlight Serenade
Movie
Virgin Road
Michi · 11 episodes
- 1996
The President's Christmas Tree
Movie
Concerto
TV
- 1995
Haunted School
Professor Yukawa
Keikoku! Nozoki ari.
Movie
Sharaku
Movie
Sumomo mo momo
Movie
- 1994
Alone in the Night
Movie
Can you collect it? Complete
Movie
Bastard LAST DOWN TEN 2
Movie
- 1993
A Night in Nude
Nami Tsuchiya
The City That Never Sleeps: Shinjuku Shark
Suzuki
The Brutal Insanity of Love
Nami Muraki
Gorotsuki 2
Movie
- 1992
Passion
Movie
- 1991
The Legend of the Sea, Sky and Coral
Movie
Kaiki Senyaichiya Monogatari: Kai no Maki
Movie
Orchids Under the Moon
Nami / Yoko
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
Movie
Yumeji
Jiro
Kawachi Zankeiden Shamo Chicken (Shamo)
Movie
- 1990
Baian the Assassin
Movie
Maria's Stomach
Movie
1980s
- 1989
Via Okinawa
Movie
- 1988
Kaisha monogatari: Memories of You
Managing Director's Daughter
Love Bites Back
Sanae Ebino
- 1987
- 1986
