Yūko Mochizuki


Yūko Mochizuki, also billed as Mieko Mochizuki, was a Japanese stage and film actress who appeared in films of directors such as Keisuke Kinoshita, Mikio Naruse and Tadashi Imai.

Biography

Mochizuki left the Tokyo Municipal Oshioka Girls' High School prematurely in 1930 and gave her stage debut the same year with Ken'ichi Enomoto's Casino Folies in Asakusa. She continued with engagements such as the Shinjuku Moulin Rouge and the Shinsei Shinpa, first with light comedies, later with dramatic roles, before signing with the Shochiku film studio in 1950. Her first major role was in Kinoshita's 1953 A Japanese Tragedy. Other notable appearances include Naruse's Late Chrysanthemums, Imai's The Rice People and Satsuo Yamamoto's Ballad of the Cart. She also had small roles in two films by Yasujirō Ozu, The Flavor of Green Tea over Rice and The End of Summer – the latter came into being because she wanted another role in an Ozu film. In 1960, Mochizuki directed the children's short film 海を渡る友情 for the Toei Educational Film Department. In addition to her stage and film work, she also appeared on television.
In 1971 and 1977, Mochizuki ran for the House of Councilors election for the Japan Socialist Party. She died of breast cancer in 1977.

Selected filmography

Carmen Comes Home – director Keisuke KinoshitaHonjitsu kyūshin – director Minoru ShibuyaGendai-jin – director Minoru ShibuyaThe Flavor of Green Tea over Rice – director Yasujirō OzuCarmen's Pure Love – director Keisuke KinoshitaA Japanese Tragedy – director Keisuke KinoshitaThe Garden of Women – director Keisuke KinoshitaLate Chrysanthemums – director Mikio NaruseGrowing Up – director Heinosuke GoshoThe Tale of Jiro – director Hiroshi ShimizuFarewell to Dream – director Keisuke KinoshitaThe Thick-Walled Room – director Masaki KobayashiThe Rice People – director Tadashi ImaiUnagitori – director Sotoji KimuraSorrow Is Only for Women – director Kaneto ShindōThe Ballad of Narayama – director Keisuke KinoshitaBallad of the Cart – director Satsuo YamamotoA Town of Love and Hope – director Nagisa ŌshimaThe End of Summer – director Yasujirō OzuKwaidan – director Masaki Kobayashi

Awards