Machiko Kyō Explained

Machiko Kyō
Native Name:京 マチ子
Native Name Lang:ja
Birth Name:Motoko Yano (矢野 元子)
Birth Date:25 March 1924
Birth Place:Osaka, Japan
Death Place:Tokyo, Japan
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1936–2006

Motoko Yano, better known as, was a Japanese actress who was active primarily in the 1950s. Considered one of Japan's first sex symbols and one of its greatest screen actresses, Kyō is best known for her critically acclaimed work with directors Akira Kurosawa, Yasujirō Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Kon Ichikawa, Teinosuke Kinugasa, Kōzaburō Yoshimura, Shirō Toyoda and Hiroshi Teshigahara, appearing in films such as Rashomon, Ugetsu, Gate of Hell, Street of Shame, Floating Weeds, Odd Obsession and The Face of Another.

Early life and education

Kyō, an only child, was born in Osaka in 1924. Her father left when she was age 5, and she was raised by her mother and grandmother. She adopted Machiko Kyō as her stage name when she entered the Osaka Shochiku Kagekidan in 1936 at age 12. She trained as a revue dancer and then entered the film industry through Daiei Film in 1949. Two years later, she achieved international fame as the female lead in Akira Kurosawa's film Rashomon, which won first prize at the Venice Film Festival and stunned audiences with its nonlinear narrative.[1]

Career

Kyō starred in many more Japanese productions, including Kenji Mizoguchi's Ugetsu (1953), Teinosuke Kinugasa's Gate of Hell (1953), Kon Ichikawa's Odd Obsession (1959), and Yasujirō Ozu's Floating Weeds (1959).

Her sole role in a non-Japanese film was as Lotus Blossom, the young geisha in The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956), for which she received a Golden Globe nomination.

Kyō continued to act through her 80s. Her final role was as Matsuura Shino in the NHK television drama series Haregi Koko Ichiban in 2000. In 2017, she was presented with an award of merit at the 40th Japanese Academy Awards.[2] After retiring from film, she moved back to Osaka, where she resided until her death.

Personal life and death

Kyō never married, but her romantic relationship with Daiei Film's president Masaichi Nagata was well-publicized in Japan.

Kyō died from heart failure at her home in Tokyo on May 12, 2019 at the age of 95.[3] [4] [5] She was one of the first famous Japanese people who died in the Reiwa period.

Fujiko Yamamoto described Kyo as a very friendly person and loved the older actress like a big sister.[6]

Selected filmography

Films

Television

Honors

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/195-the-rashomon-effect The Rashomon effect
  2. Web site: 会長特別賞. Japan Academy Film Prize. Japan Academy Film Prize. 30 January 2017.
  3. News: Sandomir . Richard . 2019-05-17 . Machiko Kyo, Star of ‘Rashomon’ and Other Films, Dies at 95 . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-12-20 . 0362-4331.
  4. Web site: ja:女優の京マチ子さん 心不全で死去 95歳 「羅生門」などに出演 . https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2019/05/14/kiji/20190514s00041000283000c.html . 14 May 2019 . 14 May 2019 . ja .
  5. Web site: Blair . Gavin J. . 2019-05-14 . Machiko Kyo, Star of Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Rashomon,’ Dies at 95 . 2023-12-20 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  6. Web site: 「納得した作品に出演」　京マチ子さん死去で女優の山本富士子さん.

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