Etsuko Shihomi
Etsuko Shihomi, born October 29, 1955, in Okayama City, Japan, as Etsuko Shiomi, now known by her married name Etsuko Nagabuchi, is a Japanese actress and martial artist who appeared in several Japanese martial arts films and samurai film and TV productions of the 1970s and 1980s.
Life and career
A skilled martial artist trained in Karate, Kenjitsu and Shorinji Kempo Etsuko was a member of Sonny Chiba's "Japan Action Club" and appeared in several film and TV productions with Chiba, Hiroyuki Sanada, and other members of the JAC, including her big screen debut in Bodyguard Kiba 2, The Street Fighter, Shorinji Kempo also known misleadingly as Killing Machine, The Gorilla Seven TV series, The Defensive Power of Aikido, Shogun's Samurai , The Yagyu Conspiracy TV series, Message from Space, Shadow Warriors I-V TV series, Shogun's Ninja, Roaring Fire, and Legend of the Eight Samurai.Etsuko was also the lead in a number of films and TV series, starring in the Sister Street Fighter trilogy, The 13 Steps of Maki, The Magnificent Chase, Dragon Princess, Lethal Woman: Fifth Level Fist, the Yagyu Jubei Abaretabi TV series where she reprised her role as Akane Yagyū alongside Sonny Chiba as Jūbei Yagyū from Shogun's Samurai and The Yagyu Conspiracy, and The Second is a Christian an action comedy about a nun who becomes the successor to the head of a Yakuza group.
Along with her work in numerous contemporary martial arts and period samurai films and TV programs, Etsuko also appeared in tokusatsu superhero productions like Kikaider 01 and Moonlight Mask , investigative dramas such as Detective of Tomorrow and Detectives of Rumour: Tommy And Matsu, fantasy films like Black Jack: The Visitor in the Eye and Exchange Students, and mysteries like The Atami Murder Case.
Etsuko also had a singing career from 1975 to 1984, although her last solo album, Three Dimension, was also released on CD in 1985. Two books were released relating to her in the 1970s and 1980s.
Etsuko met singer-actor Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi on the set of the Otoko wa Tsurai yo film Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy, when she was around 30 years old. She retired from acting after marrying him the following year, in 1987, when she was 31. Their daughter Ayane Nagabuchi is also an actress.
After her retirement, Etsuko stayed out of the limelight but returned to the public eye in 2011 with the release of her photography book Flower Arrangement INSPIRE and has been involved in charity work. She has written subsequent books on flower arrangement and made a number of public appearances, with the proceeds also being donated to charities.
Acting credits
Film
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1973 | Suspense Series: Modern Witch Tale Murderous Love | Shige's sister | 1 episode/Ep. 25 |
| 1973—1974 | Kikaider 01 | Mari | 17 episodes |
| 1974 | The Bodyguard | Jun Niimi | |
| 1975 | The Gorilla Seven | Michi Nagareya | |
| 1975 | The Young Detective | Yuka | 1 episode/Ep. 40 of season 3 |
| 1975 | Kenka Yasubei | Omame | 1 episode/Ep. 21 |
| 1975—1976 | Blazing Dragnet | Akiko Shiratori | 14 episodes |
| 1976 | Emergency Line | Midori Katsuragi | |
| 1976 | Nanairo Tongarashi | Takeko | |
| 1976 | The Young Detective | Miki Inaba | 1 episode/Ep. 7 of season 4 |
| 1976 | Detective at Dawn | 1 episode/Ep. 86 | |
| 1976—1977 | Ōedo Sōsamō | Undercover Agent Kaze | 38 episodes |
| 1977 | J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai | Natsuko Ono | 1 episode/Ep. 3 |
| 1977 | Shin Kawaramachi Higashiiru | Natsuko Ōkawara | 2 episodes/Ep. 19, 20 |
| 1977 | New Detective at Dawn | Etsuko Shimura | 1 episode/Ep. 17 |
| 1977 | Shingo Tondeke Torimonochō | Miho Kanzaki | |
| 1977 | Circus | Ruriko Adachi | 1 episod/Ep. 7 |
| 1977 | Cases Files of Ningyo Sashichi | Koyuki | 1 episode/Ep. 34 |
| 1977—1979 | Detective of Tomorrow | Detective Shiho Yamaguchi | |
| 1978—1979 | The Yagyu Conspiracy | Akane Yagyū | 31 episodes |
| 1978—1979 | Necchu Jidai | Momoko Koito | |
| 1978—1979 | Sanshiro Sugata | Sumi Monma | |
| 1979 | Yaruki Manman | Mayumi | |
| 1979 | Tejo o Kakeru | Akiko Uno | 1 episode/Ep. 10 |
| 1979—1980 | Sannan Sanjo Muko Ippiki III | Tsutae Katsura | |
| 1979—1980 | Detectives of Rumour: Tommy and Matsu | Sachiko Okano | 22 episodes |
| 1980 | Kyo Maiko Satsujin Jiken: Kyofu no Uwaki Shuccho | TV film/special appearance | |
| 1980 | Doberman Deka | Detective Kaoru Igarashi | 13 episodes |
| 1980 | Juni-sai no Haato ni Suberi Kome | 1 episode/Ep. 5 | |
| 1980 | Shadow Warriors | Kuromoji no Kirara | 1 episode/Ep. 9 |
| 1980 | Umi Yo Ai no Kiseki O Yobe Tozasareta Shōnen no Kokoro Wa Yomigaeru Ka? | TV film | |
| 1980—1981 | Hitori Goi Futari Goi Minna Goi | Takako | |
| 1981 | Red Lightning: The Shadow Ninja Warriors Strategy to Save Shogun Yoshimune's Mother! 赤い稲妻 将軍吉宗の母を救え！影の忍者軍団決死の | TV film | |
| 1981 | Yagyu Abaretabi | Oyo Kashiwagi | 1 episode/Ep. 22 |
| 1981 | Hitomi no Naka no Satsui Kekkonshitai Onna | TV film | |
| 1981 | Ki ni Naru Tenshi-tachi | ||
| 1981—1982 | Shadow Warriors II | Misato Shiina | 9 episodes |
| 1982 | Okubo Hikozaemon: The Obstinate Old Man | Onaka | TV film |
| 1982 | Onmitsu Kuzure II: Lullaby From Hell | Shizu | TV film |
| 1982 | Shadow Warriors III | Tezuma no Ochō | 15 episodes |
| 1982 | Kirisute Gomen! | Osae | 1 episode/Ep. 2 of season 3 |
| 1982—1983 | Yagyu Jubei Abaretabi | Akane Yagyū | 26 episodes/lead |
| 1983 | Apron Obasan | Haruko | 1 episode/Ep. 13 |
| 1983 | Tenshi no Fukushū | TV film | |
| 1983 | Pounding Policewoman | TV film | |
| 1983 | Seishun Zengofukaku | ||
| 1983 | Mito Kōmon | Teru-hime / Komatayū Ichimura | 1 episode/Ep. 3 of season 14 |
| 1984 | Wonderful Circus Guy | Yukari | TV film |
| 1984 | Bark at the Sun! | Keiko Matsumoto | 1 episode/Ep. 590 |
| 1984 | Kinyōbi no Tsuma-tachi e II, Otoko-tachi yo, Genki Kai? | Chika Ōishi | |
| 1984 | Oretachi no Atsui Kaze | TV film | |
| 1984 | Abare Kyūan | Oyū | 1 episode/Ep. 13 |
| 1985 | Dark Window | Misuho Kishida | TV film |
| 1985 | Shadow Warriors IV | Oren | 5 episodes |
| 1985 | Abduction Scramble | TV film | |
| 1985 | Red Shadow: The Masked Ninja | Mai-hime | TV film |
| 1985 | Shadow Warriors | Oren | 2 episodes/Ep. 7,9 |
| 1986 | Tonderu Keishi | Mizue Shimura | TV film |
| 1986 | Oyako Game | Kayo Mitsuishi | |
| 1987 | Tekidōshi Sukidōshi | Michi Asai | |
| 1987 | Soreyuke Kujaku Keishi | Shōko Ōgino | TV film |
| 1987 | Sutandobaimī Kimagure Hakusho | Toshiko Kurata |
Theater
Miscellaneous
Discography
Singles:- 13 Steps of Maki – 13階段のマキ
- Silhouette – 影法師
- Saturday Night of Love – 恋のサタディー・ナイト
- Only Two at the Wedding – ふたりだけの結婚式
- I dance like tomorrow – 明日よ風に舞え
- Airmail in the Southern Sands – 南のーー砂のエアメール
- Female Killing Fist – Calling on Etsuko Shihomi!! – 女必殺拳 志穂美悦子参上!!
- Saturday Night of Love – 恋のサタディー・ナイト
- ''Three Dimension''