Ayako Wakao

Ayako Wakao (若尾 文子, Wakao Ayako, November 8, 1933 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actress who was one of the country's biggest stars of the 20th century.[1]

Ayako Wakao
Ayako Wakao in 1950s
Born (1933-11-08) November 8, 1933
Tokyo, Japan
OccupationActress
Years active1952–present
Spouse(s)
  • Hiroyuki Nishidate
    ​
    (
    m. 1963; div. 1969)
  • ​
    (
    m. 1983; died 2007)

Biography

Wakao began her career contracted to Daiei Studios in 1951 as part of the fifth "New Face" group. She has gone on to appear in over 100 feature films, plus numerous television movies and series. She was a favorite actress of director Yasuzo Masumura, starring in 25 of his films. In addition to her many collaborations with Masumura, she was a favorite of Kon Ichikawa, having starred or co-starred in seven of the director's works. She appeared in Kenji Mizoguchi's A Geisha and Street of Shame.[2] She also appeared in Yasujirō Ozu's Floating Weeds.[3] Yuzo Kawashima made three films Women Are Born Twice, The Temple of Wild Geese and The Graceful Brute with her.

Wakao married architect Kisho Kurokawa in 1983. They did not have any children. In 2007, both ran unsuccessful campaigns for seats in the upper house of the Japanese Parliament, before Kurokawa died in October of that year.[4]

Selected filmography

Films
In A Geisha (1953)
Year Title Role Director Notes Ref(s)
1952 Shino machi o Nogarete Setsuko Minami Eiichi Koishi
Mōjū Tsukai no Shōjo Aiko Kozo Saeki
Ashita wa Nichiyobi (Asu wa Nichiyobi) Momoko Yamabuki Kozo Saeki Lead
1953 Judai no seiten Eiko Takanashi Koji Shima Lead
A Geisha Eiko/Miyoei Kenji Mizoguchi Lead
Jūdai no Yūwaku Seiji Hisamatsu Lead
1955 A Girl Isn't Allowed to Love Yumiko Kiryu Teinosuke Kinugasa Lead
The Phantom Horse Yuki Shiraishi Koji Shima Lead
1956 Street of Shame Yasumi Kenji Mizoguchi Lead
1957 Suzakumon Princess Kazu Kazuo Mori Lead
The Blue Sky Maiden Yuko Yasuzo Masumura Lead
1958 The Loyal 47 Ronin Osuzu Kunio Watanabe
1959 Floating Weeds Kayo Yasujirō Ozu
1960 Afraid to Die Yoshie Koizumi Yasuzo Masumura Lead
A False Student Mutsuko Yasuzo Masumura Lead
A Woman's Testament Kimi Yasuzo Masumura Lead
1961 A Wife Confesses Saeko Takigawa Yasuzo Masumura Lead
Women Are Born Twice Koen Yuzo Kawashima Lead
1962 The Temple of Wild Geese Satoko Kirihara Yuzo Kawashima Lead
The Graceful Brute Yukie Mitani Yuzo Kawashima Lead
1963 An Actor's Revenge Namiji Kon Ichikawa
1964 Manji Mitsuko Tokumitsu Yasuzo Masumura Lead
1966 Irezumi Oen Yasuzo Masumura Lead
Red Angel Sakura Nishi Yasuzo Masumura Lead
1970 Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo Umeno Kihachi Okamoto
1971 Tora-san's Shattered Romance Yūko Akashi Yoji Yamada
1975 Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director Herself Kaneto Shindo Documentary film
1987 Princess from the Moon Tayoshime Kon Ichikawa
2005 Spring Snow Gesshuji monzeki Isao Yukisada

Television
Year Title Role Network Notes Ref(s)
1972 Shin Heike Monogatari Tokiwa Gozen NHK Taiga drama
1975 Genroku Taiheiki Someko NHK Taiga drama
1988 Takeda Shingen Lady Ōi, narrator NHK Taiga drama
1998 Tokugawa Yoshinobu Yoshiko NHK Taiga drama
2003 Musashi Yodo-dono NHK Taiga drama
2011 Ohisama Old Yōko Maruyama, narrator NHK Asadora

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Work(s) Result
1961 Blue Ribbon Award Best Actress A Wife Confesses, Women Are Born Twice, and The Age of Marriage Won
1962 Kinema Junpo Award Best Actress A Wife Confesses and Women Are Born Twice Won
1965 Blue Ribbon Award Best Actress Seisaku's Wife and Nami Kage Won
1966 Kinema Junpo Award Best Actress Seisaku's Wife and Nami Kage Won
1969 Kinema Junpo Award Best Actress One Day at Summer's End, The House of Wooden Blocks, and The Time of Reckoning Won
2006 Mainichi Film Awards Kinuyo Tanaka Award Lifetime Achievement Won
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References
  1. "Wakao Ayako: The Career of a Classic Silver Screen Star". Nippon.com. Nippon Communications Foundation. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  2. Richie, Donald (November 11, 2011). "Mizoguchi's street of shame". The Japan Times.
  3. Bett, Alan (November 30, 2012). "Floating Weeds". The Skinny.
  4. Sokol, David (October 17, 2007). "Kisho Kurokawa Dies at 73". Architectural Record.
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