Ranko Sawa

Sawa was born in Sendai Miyagi Prefecture in 1903 In 1919 she joined the young girls theater group of Takarazuka under the stage name of Izumi Ranko After passing through Shochiku Kamata Sawa joined Nikkatsu Mukojima in 1923 In 1924 she moved to Teikoku Cinemas Ashiya Studios where she became a leading actress She met with great success for her performance in Hoshi wa Midaretobu before going on to feature in Renbo Jigoku Loves Hell In Kago no Tori The Caged Bird directed by Matsumoto Eiichi Sawa was selected to play the heroine alongside Satomi Akira Teikoku Cinemas version of the film became a surprise hit giving Sawa an instant popularity second only to that of Utakawa Yaeko Following this she appeared in films such as Koryu Yokotawaru and Ogon Yorimo Tsuyoshi as the partner of Matsumoto Taisuke In 1927 Sawa joined Nikkatsu where she appeared in Ukiyo Guruma and Chuji Tabi Nikki Goyohen with the latter film coming to be regarded as one of her definitive works Following this Sawa appeared in films such as Shizumi Yu Ningyo and Aojiroki Bara Sawa left Nikkatsu in 1931 after the incident in which she disappeared with Minobe Susumu She subsequently went to Shochiku Kamata where she appeared in Ai no Tatakai In Kanki no Hitoya she gave a fine performance as the city girl who seduced Oka Joji After becoming a freelance actress Sawa gave an impassioned performance as Okichi in Nikkatsus Onna Goroshi Abura Jigoku The Ladykiller Sawa continued performing for the likes of Teikoku Cinema Nikkatsu and Shochiku until around 1950 specializing in the portrayal of the modern tomboyish girl Her love affair with the conductor Konoe Hidemaro was well known and they had one daughter together before separating