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Tsuru Aoki
Tsuru Aoki (ca. 1915).jpg
Portrait in a newspaper, c. 1916
Born (1892-09-09)September 9, 1892
Died October 18, 1961(1961-10-18) (aged 69)
Tokyo, Japan
Occupation Actress
Years active 1913–1924, 1960
Spouse(s)
(m. 1914)
Signature
Portrait photograph of Tsuru Aoki by Nelson Evans and signed by Aoki (cropped to signature).jpg

Tsuru Aoki (青木 鶴子, Aoki Tsuruko, September 9, 1892 – October 18, 1961) was a Japanese actress. She became very well-known in the United States during the silent film era. This was a time in the 1910s and 1920s when movies had no sound. Tsuru Aoki might have been the first Asian actress to get top billing in American movies. This means her name was shown as one of the most important actors.

Early Life and Acting Career

Tsuru Aoki was born in Tokyo, Japan. In 1899, she moved to California, USA. She came with her uncle, Otojirō Kawakami, and his wife, Kawakami Sadayakko. Sadayakko was a geisha, a Japanese artist who entertains. Tsuru performed with their acting group. She also helped Sadayakko at a special tea ceremony in a hotel. People loved her "tiny and graceful" presence.

However, the acting group faced money problems. So, Tsuru's uncle arranged for her to be adopted by Toshio Aoki. He was a sketch artist for a local newspaper. Tsuru later took ballet lessons in New York City. She went there with her uncle Toshio, who was working on a play. After Toshio passed away, a reporter looked after Tsuru.

Starting in Films

Tsuru Aoki began her acting career in Los Angeles. She performed in plays at the city's Japanese Theatre. A film producer named Thomas H. Ince noticed her there. He signed the young actress to a contract. Tsuru also helped find other Japanese actors for a film company called Imperial Japanese Company.

Her first movie was The Oath of Tsuru San in 1913. She acted alongside William Garwood. Her next film was O Mimi San in 1914. It starred American child actress Mildred Harris and a young actor named Sessue Hayakawa. Tsuru had acted with Sessue before at the Japanese Theatre.

Becoming a Star

Tsuru and Sessue started a romantic relationship. They got married on May 1, 1914. This was just weeks before their movie The Wrath of the Gods came out. This film was a big success. It was a drama about a romance between a man played by Frank Borzage and an Asian woman played by Tsuru Aoki. Sessue Hayakawa also starred in it. Over the years, Tsuru and Sessue made more than 20 movies together.

Tsuru Aoki by Albert Witzel
Aoki, c. 1915

One of Tsuru's most famous silent films was The Dragon Painter (1919). In this movie, Tsuru played a young woman named Ume-Ko. She convinces a lonely artist named Tatsu (played by Sessue Hayakawa) to leave the mountains. She helps him become more civilized and improve his art. Other important films she made were The Typhoon (1914), The Vigil (1914), The Geisha (1914), The Chinatown Mystery (1915), His Birthright (1918), and The Breath of the Gods (1920).

Later Career and Retirement

During the 1910s, Tsuru Aoki appeared in about 40 films. She often played the main female character, which was a big deal for an Asian actress at the time. She acted with many famous stars like Marin Sais, Frank Borzage, and Jack Holt.

After a few less successful films, Tsuru's career in the United States slowed down. Meanwhile, her husband Sessue's career became very strong. In 1923, Tsuru and Sessue traveled to France. They filmed a popular drama called La Bataille. After returning to America, Tsuru made only three more movies. She then stopped acting to raise her and Sessue's three children. Her last silent film was The Danger Line in 1924.

Tsuru Aoki returned to acting in 1960. This was her first movie with sound. She appeared with her husband in the drama Hell to Eternity.

Her Final Years

Tsuru Aoki passed away the next year in Japan. She was 69 years old and died from a serious illness called Peritonitis.

Filmography

Title Year Role Notes Ref
The Oath of Tsuru San 1913 Tsuru San Short
Lost film
O Mimi San 1914
The Courtship of O San 1914 O San Short
Lost film
The Geisha 1914 Myo Short
Lost film
Love's Sacrifice 1914 Little Faun Lost film
The Wrath of the Gods 1914 Toya San
A Tragedy of the Orient 1914 Kissmoia Short
Lost film
A Relic of Old Japan 1914 Katuma Short
Lost film
Desert Thieves 1914 Owanono Short
Lost film
Star of the North 1914 Star of the North Short
Lost film
The Curse of Caste 1914 Kissmoia Short
Lost film
The Village 'Neath the Sea 1914 Little Fawn Short
Lost film
The Death Mask 1914 Princess Nona Short
Lost film
The Typhoon 1914 N/A
Nipped 1914 San Toy Nakado Short
Lost film
The Vigil 1914 Mira Short
Lost film
Mother of the Shadows 1914 Laughing Moon Short
Lost film
The Last of the Line 1914 Girl at Riverside Short
The Famine 1915 Misao Short
Lost film
The Chinatown Mystery 1915 Woo Short
Lost film
The Beckoning Flame 1915 Janira Short
Lost film
Alien Souls 1916 Yuri Chan Lost film
The Honorable Friend 1916 Toki-Ye Lost film
The Soul of Kura San 1916 Kura-San Lost film
Each to His Kind 1917 Princess Nada Lost film
The Call of the East 1917 O'Mitsu – Arai's Sister Lost film
The Curse of Iku 1918 Omi San Lost film
The Bravest Way 1918 Sat-u
His Birthright 1918 Saki San Incomplete film
A Heart in Pawn 1919 Sada Lost film
The Courageous Coward 1919 Rei Oaki Lost film
The Gray Horizon 1919 O Haru San Lost film
The Dragon Painter 1919 Ume-Ko
Bonds of Honor 1919 Toku-ko Lost film
Locked Lips 1920 Lotus Blossom Lost film
A Tokyo Siren 1920 Asuti Hishuri Lost film
The Breath of the Gods 1920 Yuki Onda Lost film
Screen Snapshots 1920–1921 Herself
Black Roses 1921 Blossom Lost film
Five Days to Live 1922 Ko Ai Lost film
Night Life in Hollywood 1922 Herself Incomplete film
The Battle 1923 La Marquise Yorisaka Lost film
The Danger Line 1924 Marquise Yorisaka Lost film
The Great Prince Shan 1924 Nita Lost film
Sen Yan's Devotion 1924 Sen Yan's Wife Lost film
Hell to Eternity 1960 Mother Une
Decasia 2002 Geisha Archive footage
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