Biography and filmography

Yōko Minamida

Yōko Minamida (南田 洋子, Minamida Yōko, March 1, 1933 – October 21, 2009) was a Japanese actress. Born in Tokyo, Minamida made her screen debut in 1953 for the Daiei studio and quickly rose to stardom, working with Kenji Mizoguchi on two films: “A Story from Chikamatsu” and “Princess Yang Kwei-fei.” In 1955, she moved to the Nikkatsu studio, where she starred in Takumi Furukawa’s “Season of the Sun” (1956), a smash hit that launched the so-called “Sun Tribe” boom for films about rebellious youth looking for sex and kicks on Shonan Beach — Japan’s nearest equivalent to Malibu. Minamida acted in dozens of movies for Nikkatsu, working with Shohei Imamura, Seijun Suzuki, and other directors. In 1961 she married her co-star on “Season of the Sun,” Hiroyuki Nagato. As she acted in fewer movies after the mid-1960s, Minamida made a smooth and successful transition to TV as both an actress and MC. She also continued to appear occasionally in movies, with the last being Nobuhiko Obayashi’s “Song of Goodbye” in 2006.

She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in November 2008, and a TV documentary was made about her condition and the efforts of her husband to care for her. She died in Tokyo.

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Movies (136)

Song of Goodbye

Song of Goodbye

2007 · Kyoko Tanabe

The Motive

The Motive

2004 · Kinue Ishida

Salaryman Senka

Salaryman Senka

1995

Ai yo, Nemuranaide

Ai yo, Nemuranaide

1993

Yellow Fangs

Yellow Fangs

1990 · Kiyo

This Story of Love

This Story of Love

1987

Star Ranch

Star Ranch

1987

Zero

Zero

1984 · Ine Hamada

At Noon

At Noon

1978

Take Me Away!

Take Me Away!

1978 · Tomi Oguchi

House

House

1977 · Auntie Karei Hausu

The Wild Daisy

The Wild Daisy

1977 · Fuki - Masao's Mother

Japanese Humanity and Justice

Japanese Humanity and Justice

1977

Ame no meguri ai

Ame no meguri ai

1977

Time of First Love

Time of First Love

1975

Karafuto 1945 Summer

Karafuto 1945 Summer

1974

The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang

The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang

1972 · Maid

A Young Man's Stronghold

A Young Man's Stronghold

1970

Chivalrous Pride

Chivalrous Pride

1969

Tale of the Last Japanese Yakuza

Tale of the Last Japanese Yakuza

1969

The Domain: Where The Blade Enters

The Domain: Where The Blade Enters

1967

Portrait of Chieko

Portrait of Chieko

1967 · Kazuko Tsubaki

The Domain: White Blade

The Domain: White Blade

1967

Debt of Honor

Debt of Honor

1966 · Oiku

Glorious Fights

Glorious Fights

1966 · Akemi

Showdown of Men

Showdown of Men

1966

The Kingdom of Jirocho 4

The Kingdom of Jirocho 4

1965

The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry

The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry

1965

Underworld Code

Underworld Code

1965

Irogotoshi harudanji

Irogotoshi harudanji

1965 · Otama

The Tattooed Lord

The Tattooed Lord

1965

The Soundless Cry

The Soundless Cry

1965 · Tokie Matsuura

The Domain: The Naniwa Story

The Domain: The Naniwa Story

1965

Prison Gambler

Prison Gambler

1964 · Kimura Uta

The Domain

The Domain

1964

Gambler

Gambler

1964 · Kimura Uta

An Outlaw

An Outlaw

1964

Jakoman and Tetsu

Jakoman and Tetsu

1964 · Masa

To Your Majesty, The Emperor 2

To Your Majesty, The Emperor 2

1964 · Misato

Okashina yatsu

Okashina yatsu

1963 · Fujiko, Shuntô

The Gambling Monk

The Gambling Monk

1963

Kyu-chan, Draw Your Sword

Kyu-chan, Draw Your Sword

1963

Kiriko's Tango

Kiriko's Tango

1963

Love Comes with Youth

Love Comes with Youth

1963

I Have the Sun in My Back

I Have the Sun in My Back

1963 · Sachiko

A Modern Samurai Village

A Modern Samurai Village

1963 · Yasu Tajima

Beyond the Green Hills

Beyond the Green Hills

1963 · Umetaro

The Guys Who Put Money on Me

The Guys Who Put Money on Me

1962 · Sanae Kitazawa

Glass-Hearted Johnny

Glass-Hearted Johnny

1962 · Yumi

The Rambler Returns Home

The Rambler Returns Home

1962

Last Round

Last Round

1962

Sun and Stars

Sun and Stars

1962

Black Dice

Black Dice

1962

A City Where Men Live

A City Where Men Live

1962

Zurari oretacha yōjinbō

Zurari oretacha yōjinbō

1961

Wind and waves of the South

Wind and waves of the South

1961 · Yasuko, Kazuo's foster mother

Gun of Nosappu

Gun of Nosappu

1961

The Crimson Plains

The Crimson Plains

1961 · Sakie Yazaki

The Man with a Shotgun

The Man with a Shotgun

1961 · Harue

Quick Draw Joe

Quick Draw Joe

1961 · Jane, the dancer

Joe of Aces: Gambling for a Living

Joe of Aces: Gambling for a Living

1961 · Yuri Harada

Tokyo Knights

Tokyo Knights

1961 · Koji's Mother

Pigs and Battleships

Pigs and Battleships

1961 · Katsuyo

He Killed Dad

He Killed Dad

1961

Tales of a Gunman: The Man Without Tomorrow

Tales of a Gunman: The Man Without Tomorrow

1960 · Sumi

The Rambler Rides Again

The Rambler Rides Again

1960

Bet on a Seaside Romance

Bet on a Seaside Romance

1960

Lone Wolf

Lone Wolf

1960 · Naomi

Jungle Block

Jungle Block

1960 · Kayoko Komuro

Return of the Vagabond

Return of the Vagabond

1960

Yakuza Song

Yakuza Song

1960

The Law's Bloody Wounds

The Law's Bloody Wounds

1960 · 榎本吟子

When a Man Risks His Life

When a Man Risks His Life

1959 · Yuko Kanzawa

A Turning to Hell

A Turning to Hell

1959 · Takako

Elegy to Youth

Elegy to Youth

1959

Farewell to Southern Tosa

Farewell to Southern Tosa

1959

Yuganda tsuki

Yuganda tsuki

1959 · Namiko Eda

Umi wa kurutte iru

Umi wa kurutte iru

1959

Wounded Beast

Wounded Beast

1959

We Live Today

We Live Today

1959

Masked Woman

Masked Woman

1959

Get Over Her

Get Over Her

1959 · Yukie

Osaka no kaze

Osaka no kaze

1958

Voice Without a Shadow

Voice Without a Shadow

1958 · Asako Kotani

Taiyō o buchi otose

Taiyō o buchi otose

1958

Unga

Unga

1958 · Ryôko Fujiyama

死の壁の脱出

死の壁の脱出

1958 · Sayan, Sakin

Stolen Desire

Stolen Desire

1958 · Chidori Yamamura

The Awakening

The Awakening

1957

Mountain Pass

Mountain Pass

1957

But the Flesh is Weak

But the Flesh is Weak

1957

The Barefoot Girl

The Barefoot Girl

1957

A Sun-Tribe Myth from the Bakumatsu Era

A Sun-Tribe Myth from the Bakumatsu Era

1957 · Koharu

The Champion

The Champion

1957 · Natsuko Miyagawa

Streetlights

Streetlights

1957 · 早川千鶴子

Aishū no sono

Aishū no sono

1957

Dancing Sisters

Dancing Sisters

1957

Hungry Soul, Part II

Hungry Soul, Part II

1956 · Reiko Shiba

Hungry Soul

Hungry Soul

1956 · Reiko Shiba

Tonari no yome

Tonari no yome

1956

Our Town

Our Town

1956 · Otsuru / Kimie

Season of the Sun

Season of the Sun

1956 · Eiko Takeda

The Happy Dancers

The Happy Dancers

1956 · Michiko Morishita

The Motherless

The Motherless

1955 · Tomiko

The Doctor

The Doctor

1955

A Daughter's Life Guide

A Daughter's Life Guide

1955 · 田部三津子

Inhibited Love

Inhibited Love

1955

Princess Yang Kwei-fei

Princess Yang Kwei-fei

1955 · Hung-tao

A Girl Isn't Allowed to Love

A Girl Isn't Allowed to Love

1955

Miss Teacher

Miss Teacher

1955

Haru no uzumaki

Haru no uzumaki

1954

Chikamatsu Monogatari

Chikamatsu Monogatari

1954 · Otama

Atarashiki ten

Atarashiki ten

1954

Kimi machifune

Kimi machifune

1954

Mashiroki Fuji no mine

Mashiroki Fuji no mine

1954

Haha tokidori

Haha tokidori

1954

Teenage Secrets

Teenage Secrets

1954

Konna bidanshi mita kotonai

Konna bidanshi mita kotonai

1954

Itsuki no komori uta

Itsuki no komori uta

1954

Four Mothers

Four Mothers

1954

Rakka no mon

Rakka no mon

1954

Konna beppin mita koto nai

Konna beppin mita koto nai

1954

Jūdai no yūwaku

Jūdai no yūwaku

1953

Zenigata heiji torimono hikae: Kiniro no ōkami

Zenigata heiji torimono hikae: Kiniro no ōkami

1953

Red Camellia

Red Camellia

1953

Kinseimei shōbu monogatari: Kettō

Kinseimei shōbu monogatari: Kettō

1953

Zoku zoku Jûdai no seiten

Zoku zoku Jûdai no seiten

1953

New Enoshima Elegy

New Enoshima Elegy

1953

Zoku jūdai no seiten

Zoku jūdai no seiten

1953 · Akiko Yasutomi

Haha nami

Haha nami

1953

Gendai shojo

Gendai shojo

1953

Shinkon noroke bushi

Shinkon noroke bushi

1953

Jūdai no seiten

Jūdai no seiten

1953

Haha no hitomi

Haha no hitomi

1953

Her Secret

Her Secret

1952

Musume hatsukoi yatton-bushi

Musume hatsukoi yatton-bushi

1952

TV shows (8)