Biography and filmography

Isuzu Yamada

Isuzu Yamada (山田 五十鈴, Yamada Isuzu, 5 February 1917 – 9 July 2012) was a Japanese stage and screen actress whose career spanned seven decades.

Yamada was born in Osaka as Mitsu Yamada, the daughter of Kusudu Yamada, a shinpa actor specialising in onnagata roles, and Ritsu, a geisha. Yamada debuted as a film actress in 1930 at age twelve, appearing in the Nikkatsu film Tsurugi wo koete. She soon became one of Nikkatsu's top actresses, but it was her portrayals of strong-willed modern girls in Kenji Mizoguchi's Osaka Elegy and Sisters of the Gion in 1936 at the new Daiichi Eiga studio that earned her popularity and critical acclaim. Moving to Shinkō Kinema and then to Toho, she became a star with Mikio Naruse's Tsuruhachi and Tsurujiro (1938).

During the second half of the 1950s, Yamada's main attention shifted towards the stage, but she still appeared in a number of distinguished films like Naruse's Flowing (1956), Yasujirō Ozu's Tokyo Twilight (1957) and Akira Kurosawa's The Lower Depths (1957) and Throne of Blood (1957). Other directors she worked with during this decade include Keisuke Kinoshita, Kaneto Shindō and Shirō Toyoda. In addition to her theatre engagements, she appeared on television, including the long-running Hissatsu series. Her last TV appearance was in 2002.

Yamada died from multiple organ failure in Tokyo on 9 July 2012 at the age of 95. She was married four times, to actor Ichirō Tsukita, to producer Kazuo Takimura, to actor Yoshi Katō, and to actor Tsutomu Shimomoto. Her daughter with Tsukita, Michiko, became known as the actress Michiko Saga (1935–1992).

Description above from the Wikipedia article Isuzu Yamada, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia​

Photos

Movies (165)

Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Throne of Blood'

Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Throne of Blood'

2002 · Self

Kurosawa

Kurosawa

2000 · Self

Sure Death! Brown, You Bounder!

Sure Death! Brown, You Bounder!

1985 · Oriku

Sure Death

Sure Death

1984

Suspicion

Suspicion

1982 · Tokie Horiuchi

Arashi Tatsunari

Arashi Tatsunari

1982 · Tatsu

Japanese Ghost Story Masterpiece Theater: The Ghost of Yotsuya

Japanese Ghost Story Masterpiece Theater: The Ghost of Yotsuya

1979

Ameyuki-san

Ameyuki-san

1979 · Waka Yamada

Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy

Shogun's Samurai: The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy

1978 · Oeyo

Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director

Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director

1975 · Self

Woman Boss

Woman Boss

1970

Sakiko-san chotto

Sakiko-san chotto

1963 · 中川しの

The Body

The Body

1962

The Great Wall

The Great Wall

1962 · Dowager Empress

365 Nights

365 Nights

1962

假名手本忠臣蔵

假名手本忠臣蔵

1962

Glory on the Summit

Glory on the Summit

1962 · Taka Hirooka

Four Sisters

Four Sisters

1962 · Tatsuko Katagiri

Buddha

Buddha

1961 · Kalideva

Case of a Young Lord 9: Black Camellia

Case of a Young Lord 9: Black Camellia

1961

The Orphan Brother

The Orphan Brother

1961 · Yashio (voice)

Yojimbo

Yojimbo

1961 · Orin

The Shrikes

The Shrikes

1961

誰よりも金を愛す

誰よりも金を愛す

1961

Daredevil in the Castle

Daredevil in the Castle

1961 · Yodogami

Wanderer's Story: Checkmate

Wanderer's Story: Checkmate

1960

Deep River Melody

Deep River Melody

1960

Onatsu Detective Case: Mad Slasher

Onatsu Detective Case: Mad Slasher

1960

The Lovelorn Geisha

The Lovelorn Geisha

1960

Hanjiro of Kusama: Bird of Passage

Hanjiro of Kusama: Bird of Passage

1960 · Otoku

Bonchi

Bonchi

1960 · Sei

Secret

Secret

1960

Goodbye to Glory

Goodbye to Glory

1960 · Otake

Mission Accomplished

Mission Accomplished

1960

Princess Sen in Edo

Princess Sen in Edo

1960 · Kisaragi

Pineapple Butai

Pineapple Butai

1959 · Shigeyo (Mother)

Disappearance in the Night

Disappearance in the Night

1959

A Gambler as I Am

A Gambler as I Am

1959

Love in the Mountains

Love in the Mountains

1959

Man of Edo

Man of Edo

1959

Hear My Mother's Cry

Hear My Mother's Cry

1959

The Canary Cage, Spellbound Love

The Canary Cage, Spellbound Love

1959

The Hidden Treasure

The Hidden Treasure

1959

The Days of Evil Women

The Days of Evil Women

1958

The Undefeated Woman

The Undefeated Woman

1958

The Spell of the Hidden Gold

The Spell of the Hidden Gold

1958 · Chizuin

Taikoki - The Saga of Hideyoshi

Taikoki - The Saga of Hideyoshi

1958

The Shop Curtain

The Shop Curtain

1958

The Seasons of Love

The Seasons of Love

1958 · Urako

A Boy and Three Mothers

A Boy and Three Mothers

1958 · Natsu, the Foster Mother

Samurai Nippon

Samurai Nippon

1957

Downtown

Downtown

1957 · Riyo Yazawa

Black River

Black River

1957 · Mikiko, Landlady

The Lower Depths

The Lower Depths

1957 · Osugi the Landlady

A Matter of Valour

A Matter of Valour

1957

The Shadow Daughter

The Shadow Daughter

1957 · Okinu

Tokyo Twilight

Tokyo Twilight

1957 · Kisako Soma

The Horse Boy

The Horse Boy

1957

Throne of Blood

Throne of Blood

1957 · Lady Asaji Washizu

The Mandarin Room

The Mandarin Room

1956 · Inako

Flowing

Flowing

1956 · Otsuta

Shozo, a Cat and Two Women

Shozo, a Cat and Two Women

1956 · Shinako

Five Patriots of Kyoto

Five Patriots of Kyoto

1956

How Sorrowful

How Sorrowful

1956

Mother and Child

Mother and Child

1956

Farewell to Dream

Farewell to Dream

1956 · Seiji's mother, Kiyo

Namida no hanamichi

Namida no hanamichi

1956 · 江戸紫女将そよ

大当り男一代

大当り男一代

1956 · お吉

Ishigassen

Ishigassen

1955

Such is Life

Such is Life

1955 · Oharu

Christ in Bronze

Christ in Bronze

1955 · Kimika

荒木又右衛門

荒木又右衛門

1955 · 妻みね

Minamoto Yoshitsune

Minamoto Yoshitsune

1955

振袖釼法

振袖釼法

1955 · 母つじ

If Indeed One Loves

If Indeed One Loves

1955 · Yaeko (segment 3)

Growing Up

Growing Up

1955

The Big Ambition

The Big Ambition

1955

Chutaro of Banba

Chutaro of Banba

1955

Burden of Love

Burden of Love

1955 · Some Kaita

Three Loves

Three Loves

1954 · Mother

A Billionaire

A Billionaire

1954 · Hanakuma

Karatachi no hana

Karatachi no hana

1954

Hirate Miki the Swordman

Hirate Miki the Swordman

1954

Chushingura

Chushingura

1954 · Oishi Riku

Hiroshima

Hiroshima

1953 · Mineh Obah

Wild Lion

Wild Lion

1953

At the End of the Clouds

At the End of the Clouds

1953

Miniature

Miniature

1953 · Tamiko

A Lonely Woman in a Lonely Land

A Lonely Woman in a Lonely Land

1953 · Sayo Yamada

江戸いろは祭

江戸いろは祭

1953 · 女房おなか

Modern People

Modern People

1952

Tsukigata Hanpeita

Tsukigata Hanpeita

1952 · Somehachi

Devil’s Statue

Devil’s Statue

1952

Castle of Revenge

Castle of Revenge

1952

The Stand in Hakone

The Stand in Hakone

1952

Miss Hanaogi and Santa

Miss Hanaogi and Santa

1952

Become a Mother, Become a Woman

Become a Mother, Become a Woman

1952 · Harue Yasukawa

Satsuma-bikyaku

Satsuma-bikyaku

1951

Five Men of Edo

Five Men of Edo

1951 · Okane, Chobei's wife

Fireworks Over the Sea

Fireworks Over the Sea

1951 · Kaoru Uozumi

Orizuru kasa

Orizuru kasa

1951

木曽路の決闘 夏祭り三度笠

木曽路の決闘 夏祭り三度笠

1951

Kurama Tengu: Acrobat in a lion mask

Kurama Tengu: Acrobat in a lion mask

1951

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home

1951 · Namiko, Kosaku's wife

The Killing of Otsuya

The Killing of Otsuya

1951 · Otsuya

The Inner Palace Conspiracy

The Inner Palace Conspiracy

1951 · Misawa

A Man from Akagi

A Man from Akagi

1950

風雲金毘羅山

風雲金毘羅山

1950

Fencing Master

Fencing Master

1950 · Oharu

A Mother's Love

A Mother's Love

1950

The Motherland Far Far Away

The Motherland Far Far Away

1950 · Masako

Zoku kagebōshi ryūkoaiutsutsu

Zoku kagebōshi ryūkoaiutsutsu

1950

Kagebōshi

Kagebōshi

1950 · お夏

Hebi hime dōchū

Hebi hime dōchū

1949

Koga Manshion

Koga Manshion

1949

Hana no jitsugetsu

Hana no jitsugetsu

1949

Koi rōka

Koi rōka

1949

Actress

Actress

1947 · Sumako Matsui

Lord for a Night

Lord for a Night

1946

Hinoki Butai

Hinoki Butai

1946

The Famous Sword Bijomaru

The Famous Sword Bijomaru

1945 · Sasae Onoda

Until Victory Day

Until Victory Day

1945

Four Marriages

Four Marriages

1944

The Way of Drama

The Way of Drama

1944

The Sculpture of Master Choji

The Sculpture of Master Choji

1943 · Outa

音楽大進軍

音楽大進軍

1943 · Isuzu Yamada

The Song Lantern

The Song Lantern

1943 · O-Sode

Kantaro of Ina

Kantaro of Ina

1943

Onna keizu

Onna keizu

1942 · Otsuta

The Man Who Waited

The Man Who Waited

1942

Musashibo Benkei

Musashibo Benkei

1942

The Battle of Kawanakajima

The Battle of Kawanakajima

1941 · Oshino

Schoolgirl Records

Schoolgirl Records

1941

Yukiko and Natsuyo

Yukiko and Natsuyo

1941 · Natsuyo

Shanghai Moon

Shanghai Moon

1941

The Man Who Disappeared Yesterday

The Man Who Disappeared Yesterday

1941

The Snake Princess

The Snake Princess

1940 · Oshima

Keshô yuki

Keshô yuki

1940

Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki

Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki

1939 · Oshiho

The Day Before

The Day Before

1939 · Osaki

The Fighting Firemen

The Fighting Firemen

1939 · Koina

Ichiyo Higuchi

Ichiyo Higuchi

1939 · Ichiyo Higuchi

The New Tange Sazen: The Chapter of the Two-Armed Swordsman

The New Tange Sazen: The Chapter of the Two-Armed Swordsman

1939

Tsuruhachi and Tsurujiro

Tsuruhachi and Tsurujiro

1938 · Tsuruhachi

The Siege of Osaka

The Siege of Osaka

1937 · Senhime

Sisters of the Gion

Sisters of the Gion

1936 · O-mocha

Osaka Elegy

Osaka Elegy

1936 · Ayako Murai

Miss Okichi

Miss Okichi

1935 · Okichi

Oyuki the Virgin

Oyuki the Virgin

1935 · Oyuki

The Comb of Oroku

The Comb of Oroku

1935 · Okinu

The Downfall of Osen

The Downfall of Osen

1935 · Osen

Happy Daughter

Happy Daughter

1934 · Michiko Yamada

The Elegant Swordsman

The Elegant Swordsman

1934

Martial Arts Encyclopedia

Martial Arts Encyclopedia

1934

Bangaku no issho

Bangaku no issho

1933

Tange Sazen - Dai-ippen

Tange Sazen - Dai-ippen

1933

Banquet Under the Midnight Sun

Banquet Under the Midnight Sun

1932 · Oichi

Professional Killer

Professional Killer

1932

Yataro's Hat - Comings and Goings

Yataro's Hat - Comings and Goings

1932

The Greatest Man in the World

The Greatest Man in the World

1932 · Oyae

The Revenge Champion

The Revenge Champion

1931

The 26 Martyrs of Japan

The 26 Martyrs of Japan

1931

In Search of Mother

In Search of Mother

1931 · Otose

Suronin Chuya

Suronin Chuya

1930

Zoku hebi hime dōchū

Zoku hebi hime dōchū

TV shows (4)