Kirin Kiki


Kirin Kiki was a Japanese actress for Japanese cinema and television.

Biography

Kiki was born on January 15, 1943, in Kanda, Tokyo. Her father was a master of the biwa lute and a former police officer. Her mother owned a cafe in Jinbōchō, Tokyo and a restaurant in Noge, Yokohama, the latter being Kiki's maternal parents' home. Her mother was seven years senior to her father and had a child from both her two previous marriages.
After graduating from high school, she started her acting career in the early 1960s as a member of the Bungakuza theater troupe using the stage name Chiho Yūki. She eventually gained fame for performing uniquely comedic and eccentric roles on such television shows as and Terauchi Kantarō ikka and in television commercials. She changed her name to "Kirin Kiki" when, after being asked on a television show to auction off something of hers, she ended up selling her first stage name, claiming she had "nothing else to sell."
While battling various ailments, including a detached retina in 2003 and breast cancer in 2005, Kiki continued to act and won several awards, including the best actress Japan Academy Prize for Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad in 2008, the best supporting actress award from the Yokohama Film Festival for her work in Kamikaze Girls and Half a Confession in 2004, and the best supporting actress Blue Ribbon Award for Still Walking in 2008.

Personal life

Kiki married fellow Bungakuza actor Shin Kishida. They separated in 1968. She married musician Yuya Uchida in 1973, and remained legally married to him though they separated in 1975. Their daughter,, is an essayist and musician, and portrayed the younger self of Kiki's character in the film Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad. Yayako Uchida is married to the actor Masahiro Motoki, who was adopted into the Uchida family as a mukoyōshi. Kirin has three grandchildren by her daughter, including actress Kyara Uchida, who has appeared with her in two films, I Wish and Sweet Bean.
Kiki was diagnosed with cancer in 2004 and underwent a mastectomy. She died of cancer, and related illnesses, on 15 September 2018.

Selected filmography

Film

Zoku Yoidore hakase - FumikoLake of Tears - Kayo SugumoTonogata goyôjin Tabiji - ChieAniki no koibito - SanaeKamisama no koibito - Aiko YamagamiDai bakuhatsu Tora-san, His Tender Love - Maid in ShinshûAka chôchin Akumyo: shima arashi - OshigeJack and the Beanstalk - Madam Noir Honô no shôzô Abayo dachikô Mamushi to aodaishô - Kiku MatsukawaZa.Dorifutazu no kamo da!! Goyo da!! - tomikoEden no umi - OrittsanSachiko no sachi - MomoeOnna kyôshi - Yuriko YokoyamaBallad of Orin - Tama IchiseWani to oum to ottosei - MaryTaro [the Dragon Boy] - Yamanba Sochô no kubi - Okonomiyaki ManagerKindaichi Kosuke no boken - TaneKamisamaga kureta akanbô - Woman who brought a boyZigeunerweisen - KimiOtake shinobu no a! Kono ai nakuba ganbasseyo Kuni-chan Tosa No Ipponzuri - FukiNogiku no haka - OmasuTenkōsei - Naoko SaitohKeiji monogatari - Sumi YashiroSantô kôkôsei Amagi goe - Ryosaku's WifeHometown - YoshiCapone Cries a Lot - Sene TachikawaLonely Heart - Terue AmanoYumechiyo nikki - KikuyakkoKyôshû - Mine KamiokaTsuru - YuraDaidokoro No Seijo - Hisajo SugitaKaze no Matasaburô - Garasu no manto - OtaneDonmai - HanakoRainbow Kids - Kura NakamuraSensou to seishun - Etsuko OnokiZa Chugaku kyoshi The Triple Cross Yearning - OmatsuRex: A Dinosaur's Story Rampo - House wife / Head of maidToki no kagayaki - NagashimaRintaro Oishinbo Koi to hanabi to kanransha - Sanae MitaHissatsu shimatsunin - OtoraAshita heno kakehashi 39 keihô dai sanjûkyû jô - Defence Counsel Shigure NagamuraZawa-zawa Shimo-Kitazawa - Fan of KyushiroDrug - Yoshie HirakawaTôkyô Marîgôrudo - Ritsuko SakaiPistol Opera - RinDanbôru hausu gâru Inochi - MotherReturner - XieYoru o kakete Hotaru no hoshi - HeadmistressHalf a Confession - Yasuko ShimamuraKamikaze Girls - Momoko's GrandmotherIzo Chekeraccho!! - Chisa HaebaruBrave Story - Onba Akai kujira to shiroi hebi - Midori OharaTôkyô tawâ: Okan to boku to, tokidoki, oton - Eiko NakagawaSaido kâ ni inu - Granny TomeStill Walking - Toshiko YokoyamaTokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad Miyagino - MadamThe Borrower Arrietty - Haru Villain - Fusae ShimizuGhost: [In Your Arms Again] Ôki-ke no tanoshii ryokô: Shinkon jigoku-hen Hanezu - Takumi's MotherI Wish - Hideko Chronicle of My Mother - YaeTsunagu - AikoYakusoku: Nabari dokubudôshu jiken shikeishû no shôgai - Iatsuno okunishiLike Father, Like Son - Riko IshizekiSweet Bean - TokueOur Little Sister - Fumiyo KikuchiKakekomi onna to kakedashi otoko - GenbeeAfter the Storm – YoshikoMori, The Artist's Habitat - Hideko KumagaiShoplifters - Hatsue ShibataEvery Day A Good Day - Ms. Takeda - Yu's GrandmotherErica 38 - Erica's mother

Television

Shadow Warriors - OrinHanekonma - Yae Tobu ga Gotoku - IkushimaKimi no Na wa Aoi - Lady Kasuga

Honours