Kinuyo Tanaka

Kinuyo Tanaka 田中 絹代 Tanaka Kinuyo 29 November 1909 21 March 1977 was a Japanese actress and director Tanaka was born in Shimonoseki Yamaguchi Prefecture Japan She became a leading actress at seventeen years old appearing in Heinosuke Goshos An Embarrassing Dream in 1927 She proceeded to take leading parts in among others Yasujirō Ozus I Graduated But in 1929 Goshos Aiyoku no ki in 1930 and in 1931 Japans first talkie The Neighbors 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 Yasumotos mother in Akira Kurosawas Red Beard 1965 For her portrayal in Kei Kumais 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 Kumais Kita No Misaki Tanaka was the second Japanese woman who worked as a film director after Sakane Tazuko 19041975 Her first directing job was on the film Love Letter in 1953 and she made five further films in that role