Kinuyo Tanaka

Kinuyo Tanaka (29 November 1909 – 21 March 1977) was a notable Japanese actress and film director, with a prolific career that spanned over 50 years and more than 250 acting credits to her name. She is best remembered for her collaborations with renowned director Kenji Mizoguchi, including eventual classics such as 'The Life of Oharu' (1952) and 'Ugetsu' (1953). Tanaka made history in 1953 with her directorial debut, 'Love Letter,' becoming just the second Japanese woman to helm a film after Tazuko Sakane. Born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Tanaka was the youngest of nine children in a family of kimono merchants. Financial struggles after her father's death in 1912 prompted a move to Osaka in 1920, where she would begin her acting journey. She separated from director Hiroshi Shimizu in 1929, two years into an unofficial marriage, and never remarried or had children. Still, she continued to star in Shimizu’s films while also acting under influential directors like Yasujirō Ozu, Keisuke Kinoshita, and Heinosuke Gosho. Tanaka's name drew such widespread recognition that it appeared in the titles of many movies she starred in, signaling her impact on Japanese cinema. Her post-war career included a cultural ambassador role in the US, a shift to freelance to work selectively with directors, and a long collaboration with Kenji Mizoguchi that included leading roles in notable film projects. Despite the reduced contemporary attention, the films she directed, primarily focusing on the women's conditions in society, are garnering renewed interest for their unique and groundbreaking perspectives.