Yōko Ishino


Yōko Ishino is a Japanese actress and television personality. She debuted in 1985 as a pop singer, first appeared on television in 1986 and performed comedy with Shimura Ken in the TV show "Shimura Ken's Daijobudaa".

Early life

Yōko was born on February 20, 1968, in Ashiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, into a wealthy family; her parents ran a beaded handbag manufacturing company. She grew up there as the second of three daughters. Her older sister is actress and singer Mako Ishino, and her younger sister is actress and talent Jun Takano.
In first grade, concerned about her health, Yōko's parents enrolled her in figure skating lessons. Three months later, she won a competition, earning a spot as a trainee under coach Sonoko Nakano. She practiced daily before school and into the evening, often travelling to a rink in Osaka. Her only leisure time was spent watching television on Sunday mornings.
When her mother began accompanying her older sister Mako to Tokyo for her entertainment career, Yōko took on household chores and stopped skating in her first year of junior high school. During spring and summer breaks, she visited Mako in Tokyo, dreaming of becoming a hair and makeup artist.
She attended a public junior high school in Ashiya City before graduating from Koshien Gakuin High School and later Horikoshi High School.

Career

Yōko was noticed by a talent scout while visiting her older sister, the singer Mako Ishino, on set. She made her first appearance on television in 1985, when she was seventeen, as an idol singer with "Teddy Boy Blues".
In her late teens, she appeared on a travel show alongside the comedian Ken Shimura. During a chat on the location bus, Shimura remarked, "You're funny." This led to an invitation to join his comedy program Dorifu Daibakusho, where she took part in a thief skit. After the recording, Shimura asked her to become a regular on his new show Daijobudaa. Initially inclined to decline, she was persuaded when Shimura assured her, "Think of it as a study session; it's perfectly fine if you commit just for three months," and so she accepted the offer.
After a roughly five-year run on Daijobudaa, Ishino went on to appear regularly on Shimura Ken wa Ikaga Deshou. Following the end of that show, she took a break from comedy sketches. Then, upon reuniting with Shimura for the first time in over a decade, he invited her to perform in a comedy sketch for the 2012 stage production Shimura Tamashii.

Personal life

In 1991, she was spotted by Shukan Josei magazine with Shimura as they left his Tokyo house on their way to work. When the reporter inquired, "Is she your girlfriend?", Shimura nodded and replied, "Yes!" "They lived together for about a year after that, but eventually broke up."

Filmography

YearTitleRoleReference
2020OchoyanKiku Tomikawa
October 3, 2016BeppinsanKotoko Murata
2023Akinai Seiden: Kin to Ginお竹
2023Mai Sekando AoharuShiratama Kumiko
2023JikenCast
2022ISHIKO and HANEO: You're Suing Me?
2021Stories Within 5 Meters RadiusShoko
2020High Position 1986天野幸子
2019Detective ZeroAsuka Enjo
2018Unnatural敷島直美
2017Reverse Hiroko Ochi
2015Dating: What's it like to be in love?Cast
2014Kono Mystery ga Sugoi!: Bestseller Sakka kara no ChôsenjôCast
2012Akai ito no onnaToyoko Akagi
2012Kaidan Shin Mimibukuro - Igyô
2012Solitary Gourmet
2012Heart Beatcast
2011Garo: Makai SenkiToshiko Hoshikawa
2011Sakura shinjuu
2010Softball Boys
2008Samurai Gangsters
2008Yûbae ShôjoCast
2006Strawberry ShortcakesDoctor
2005One Missed Call
2005Garo
2000AIBOUNijiko Hakamada
1999The Woman of S.R.I.Cast
1978The Unfettered ShogunOkyo