Machiko Kyō
Motoko Yano, better known as Machiko Kyō, was a Japanese actress who was active primarily in the 1950s. Considered one of Japan's first sex symbols and one of its greatest screen actresses, Kyō is best known for her critically acclaimed work with directors Akira Kurosawa, Yasujirō Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Kon Ichikawa, Teinosuke Kinugasa, Kōzaburō Yoshimura, Shirō Toyoda and Hiroshi Teshigahara, appearing in films such as Rashomon, Ugetsu, Gate of Hell, Street of Shame, Floating Weeds, Odd Obsession and The Face of Another.
Kyō, an only child, was born Motoko Yano in Osaka in 1924. Her father left when she was age 5, and she was raised by her mother and grandmother. She adopted Machiko Kyō as her stage name when she entered the Osaka Shochiku Kagekidan in 1936 at age 12. She trained as a revue dancer and then entered the film industry through Daiei Film in 1949. Two years later, she achieved international fame as the female lead in Akira Kurosawa's film Rashomon, which won first prize at the Venice Film Festival and stunned audiences with its nonlinear narrative.
Career
Kyō starred in many more Japanese productions, including Kenji Mizoguchi's Ugetsu, Teinosuke Kinugasa's Gate of Hell, Kon Ichikawa's Odd Obsession, and Yasujirō Ozu's Floating Weeds.
Her sole role in a non-Japanese film was as Lotus Blossom, the young geisha in The Teahouse of the August Moon, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination.
Kyō continued to act through her 80s. Her final role was as Matsuura Shino in the NHK television drama series Haregi Koko Ichiban in 2000. In 2017, she was presented with an award of merit at the 40th Japanese Academy Awards. After retiring from film, she moved back to Osaka, where she resided until her death.
Kyō never married, but her romantic relationship with Daiei Film's president Masaichi Nagata was well-publicized in Japan.
Kyō died from heart failure at her home in Tokyo on May 12, 2019 at the age of 95. She was the last main surviving cast member of Rashomon.
Fujiko Yamamoto described Kyo as a very friendly person and loved the older actress like a big sister.
Selected filmography
Films
Hana kurabe tanuki-goten - Aiai, witchChijin no ai - NaomiHarukanari haha no kuni - Mari, daughterFukkatsu - Yukiko OharaRashomon - Masako KanazawaHi no tori Itsuwareru seiso - KimichoKoi no Oranda-zaka - ChigusaJiyû gakkô - YuriJoen no hatoba Mesu inu - EmmyGenji monogatari - Awaji no ueBakurô ichidai - YukiAsakusa kurenaidan - Ryûko BeniDaibutsu kaigen - MayameNagasaki No Uta Wa Wasureji - Okumura, AyakoTaki no Shiraito - Taki no ShiraitoBijo to touzoku - SakinKanojo no tokudane Ugetsu - Lady WakasaOlder Brother, Younger Sister - MonGate of Hell - KesaAru onna - Yoko HayazukiShunkin monogatari - ShunkinAsakusa no yoru - Setsuko TakashimaThe Princess Sen - the princess SenBazoku geisha - NobukichiA Girl Isn't Allowed to Love - Sachiko NonomiyaPrincess Yang Kwei-Fei - Princess Yang Kwei-feiTōjūrō no Koi - OkajiShin, Heike monogatari: Yoshinaka o meguru sannin no onna - TomoeNiji ikutabi - Momoko MizuharaStreet of Shame - MickeyTsukigata Hanpeita: Hana no maki; Arashi no maki - HaginoThe Teahouse of the August Moon - Lotus BlossomItohan monogatari - OkatsuOdoriko - Chiyomi HanamuraJigoku bana - SuteYoru no chô - MariThe Hole - Nagako KitaYūrakuchō de Aimashō - Aya KoyanagiSorrow Is Only for Women - MichikoThe Loyal 47 Ronin - Orui Haha - Takako ÔmachiÔsaka no onna - OsenAkasen no hi wa kiezu - Nobuko ArakiYoru no sugao - AkemiSatsujin to kenjû Musume no boken Anata to watashi no aikotoba: Sayônara, konnichiwa - Umeko IchigeSasameyuki - SachikoOnna to Kaizoku - Ayaginu / OitoYoru no togyo - Ryoko KashiwabaraJirôchô Fuji - OkatsuOdd Obsession - Ikuko / WifeFloating Weeds - SumikoJokyo - OmitsuRuten no ôhi - Ryûko Korinkakura Bonchi - OfukuSan'nin no kaoyaku - ChizuruAshi ni sawatta onna - Saya ShiozawaOden jigoku - Oden TakahashiKonki - Shizu, Takuo's wifeNuregami botan - Kiyomigata no OmonOnna no kunshô - Shikiko OhbaKodachi o tsukau onna - Ritsu IkedaBuda - NandabalaBlack Lizard - Mrs. MidorikawaShin no shikôtei Onna no issho - KeiBudda Nyokei kazoku - Fujiyo YajimaSweet Sweat - UmekoGendai inchiki monogatari: Dotanuki The Face of Another - Mrs. OkuyamaJinchoge - Kikuko, Ueno, 1st DaughterChiisai tôbôsha - Yayoi YamamuraSenba zuru - Chikako KurimotoGenkai yûkyôden: Yabure kabure - Sue YoshidaKarei-naru Ichizoku - Aiko TakasuKinkanshoku - Prime Minister's wifeKenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director - HerselfYoba - OshimaTora's Pure Love - Aya YagyûKesho - Tsune Tsutano
Television
Hissatsu Shimainin Shin Hissatsu Shimainin Hissatsu Shikirinin Hana no Ran - Hino ShigekoGenroku Ryōran - Keishō'in
Honors