Kinuyo Tanaka
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.
Filmography (222 Appearances)
Kinuyo Tanaka, a Woman We Talk About
The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka
Lullaby of the Earth
Cape of the North
Let's Go, Grandma!
Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director
Sandakan No. 8
Sanbaba
Tora-san's Dream-Come-True
Mominoki wa Nokotta
Red Beard
Kono sora no aru kagiri
The Scent of Incense
Bright Sea
Alone Across the Pacific
A Legend or Was It?
Double Wedding
Mama, I Need You!
The Fencing Master
A Wanderer's Notebook
Eternity of Love
Her Brother
The Three Treasures
Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka
Hahakogusa
The Eternal Rainbow
Equinox Flower
The Ballad of Narayama
Sorrow Is Only for Women
On This Earth
Geisha in the Old City
Stepbrothers
Yellow Crow
Flowing
The Storm
Women in Prison
How Sorrowful
Confession
Forever a Woman
Tsukiyo no kasa
Shōnen shikeishū
House of Many Pleasures
The Moon Has Risen
The Woman in the Rumor
Five Sisters
Sansho the Bailiff
Love Letter
An Heir's Place
Ugetsu
Where Chimneys Are Seen
Sincere Heart
Himitsu
Mother
The Ataka Family
The Life of Oharu
Sisters of Nishijin
Story of Lightning
The Lady of Musashino
Miss Oyu
Ginza Cosmetics
The Inner Palace Conspiracy
The Munekata Sisters
Wedding Ring
Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 2
Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 1
Flame of My Love
A Hen in the Wind
Women of the Night
Phoenix
The Love of the Actress Sumako
Marriage
Utamaro and His Five Women
Victory of Women
Kanojo no hatsugen
A Tale of Archery at the Sanjusangendo
Victory Song
Miyamoto Musashi
Army
The Man Who Has Returned
Air Raid of the Enemy Plane
Kaisen no Zenya
A Certain Woman
Record of a Woman Doctor
Ornamental Hairpin
Flower
Let's Go in Good Spirits
Okinu and Banto
Osaka Woman
Seisen aiba fu: Akatsuki ni inoru
Kinuyo's First Love
Weeds with flowers
Zoku aizen katsura
Spring Thunder
Okayo's Preparedness
The Tree of Love
Mother and Child
Banchō sarayashiki
A Man's Recompense: Part 2
A Man's Recompense: Part 1
Lady Doctor Kinuyo
Song of the Flower Basket
The New Road: Ryota
The New Road: Akemi
Men vs. Women
Burden of Life
Okoto and Sasuke
An Innocent Maid
My Elder Brother
That Night's Woman
Osayo Koi Sugata
Storm in the City
Honeymoon
Constellations on Earth, Part 2: Constellations
Constellations on Earth, Part One: Earth Chapter
Sakura Ondo
The Genealogy of Women
Mother of the East
Sôbô
Daphne
Before the Wedding
The Road to Marriage
Clear and Cloudy
Dragnet Girl
The Cheerleading Captain's Love
Woman of Tokyo
The Dancing Girl of Izu
The Bride Talks in Her Sleep
The Loyal 47 Ronin
Storm Zone
Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth?
Love in Tokyo
Shine, Japanese Women
Studio Romance: A Guide to Love
The Sun Rises from the East
The Willows of Ginza
My Brother's a Fool
Victory or Defeat
The Golden Demon
Woman of Suffering
ABC Lifeline
ABC Lifeline: Fujieda Chapter
The Tramp and His Daughter
The Neighbour's Wife and Mine
Sisters: Part 2
Sisters: Part 1
Cry Cheerfully!
Love, Be with Humanity: Part 2
Love, Be with Humanity: Part 1
Young Lady
Youth, Why Do You Cry?
Record of Love and Desire
The Tale of Kinuyo
Mother, Don't Tarnish Your Name
The Great Ship
The Big City: Explosion
Where Do Women Go?
A Smiling Life
I Flunked, But...
Song of Youth
Marching On
The Beating
The Father and His Son
Triumphant Song of the Mountain
I Graduated, But...
Cheerful Song
The Model of New Women
The Big City: Labor
The Village Where the Skylark Sings
Him and Life
Echigo Lion
The Blacksmith of the Forest
Symphony of Youth
The Glory of the Shōwa Era
King of the Land
Thank You for Your Hard Work
A Wife Quits
The Face of Humanity
What a Handsome Man!
Iron Virgin
The Eternal Heart
Immortal Love
The Age of Emotion
The Village Bride
If Only She...
Chronicles of a Sea Country
Modern Warrior Training
Night is a Trickster
Lovers' Suicide at Kiso
Sankichi the Flying Squirrel
The Oath of a Thousand Kills
Madame Pearl
Song of the Border Patrol
Magic
An Embarrassing Dream
Takada no Baba
The Harakiri at Tennōji
Yakko no Koman
The Basement
Secret Struggle
Flashing Blade
Her
Buried Youth
The Complete Story of Jirocho Shimizu, Part 2: Ashura's Revenge
Useless Button
The Cursed Sword
Love and Courage
The Betrayed
Torrent
Young Master
Oh! Carefree, Aren't You?
Townspeople
Troubled Days
No Need for Your Opinion
Love's Snare
Fallen Samurai
The Killing of a Hundred Men at Isshinji Temple
Nature Is the Judge
Brave Love
Cry of the Raging Current
The Little Traveling Entertainer
Village Pasture
A Woman from the Genroku Era