Ayako Wakao facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ayako Wakao
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Ayako Wakao in 1950s
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| Born | November 8, 1933 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1952–present |
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Ayako Wakao (若尾 文子, Wakao Ayako, November 8, 1933 in Tokyo, Japan) is a famous Japanese actress. She was one of the biggest movie stars in Japan during the 20th century.
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About Ayako Wakao
Ayako Wakao started her acting career in 1951. She joined Daiei Studios, a big film company in Japan, as part of a group of new actors. Since then, she has acted in over 100 movies! She has also appeared in many TV shows and movies made for television.
Working with Famous Directors
Ayako Wakao was a favorite actress of several well-known directors.
- She worked with director Yasuzo Masumura in 20 of his films.
- She also starred in seven movies directed by Kon Ichikawa.
- She appeared in films by Kenji Mizoguchi, including A Geisha and Street of Shame.
- She also worked with Yasujirō Ozu in his movie Floating Weeds.
- Director Yuzo Kawashima made three films with her: Women Are Born Twice, The Temple of Wild Geese, and The Graceful Brute.
Her Life Outside of Movies
In 1983, Ayako Wakao married Kisho Kurokawa, who was a famous architect. They did not have any children. In 2007, both Ayako Wakao and Kisho Kurokawa ran for seats in the Japanese Parliament. Later that year, Kisho Kurokawa passed away.
Key Movies and TV Shows
Ayako Wakao has had many important roles throughout her career. Here are some of her notable works.
Selected Films
- A Geisha (1953): In this film, she played a main character named Eiko.
- Street of Shame (1956): She starred as Yasumi.
- Floating Weeds (1959): She played the role of Kayo.
- A Wife Confesses (1961): She was the lead actress, playing Saeko Takigawa.
- Women Are Born Twice (1961): She starred as Koen.
- An Actor's Revenge (1963): She played Namiji.
- Red Angel (1966): She was the lead actress, Sakura Nishi.
- Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (1970): She played Umeno.
- Princess from the Moon (1987): She appeared as Tayoshime.
Selected Television Series
Ayako Wakao has also been in several popular TV series, often playing important historical figures.
- Shin Heike Monogatari (1972): She played Tokiwa Gozen in this historical drama.
- Takeda Shingen (1988): She played Lady Ōi and was also the narrator.
- Musashi (2003): She played Yodo-dono.
- Sunshine (2011): She played the older Yōko Maruyama and was the narrator for this series.
Awards and Recognition
Ayako Wakao has won many awards for her acting, showing how talented she is.
- 1961: She won the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actress for her roles in A Wife Confesses and Women Are Born Twice.
- 1962: She received the Kinema Junpo Award for Best Actress for A Wife Confesses and Women Are Born Twice.
- 1965: She won another Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actress for her work in Seisaku's Wife and Nami Kage.
- 1966: She won the Kinema Junpo Award for Best Actress again for Seisaku's Wife and Nami Kage.
- 1969: She won the Kinema Junpo Award for Best Actress for several films, including One Day at Summer's End.
- 2006: She received the Kinuyo Tanaka Award at the Mainichi Film Awards for her amazing career and lifetime achievements in film.
External links
- Ayako Wakao at the Japanese Movie Database
