YM
Yōko Minamida
Actor
Born March 1, 1933Died October 21, 2009 (76 years)
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.
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.
Known For
Yōko Minamida Filmography
| 2004 | The Reason · as Kinue Ishida |
| 1995 | |
| 1990 | Yellow Fangs · as Kiyo |
| 1989 | Onihei Hankachō (1989) (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1987 | |
| 1984 | Zero · as Ine Hamada |
| 1978 | |
| 1978 | Take Me Away! · as Tomi Oguchi |
| 1977 | House · as Hausu Karei |
| 1977 | Nogiku no haka · as Fuki - Masao's Mother |
| 1977 | |
| 1975 | |
| 1972 | |
| 1970 | |
| 1969 | |
| 1967 | |
| 1967 | Portrait of Chieko · as Kazuko Tsubaki |
| 1967 | |
| 1966 | |
| 1965 | |
| 1965 | |
| 1965 | |
| 1965 | |
| 1964 | NET Playhouse (TV Series) · as Nobuko Muroi |
| 1964 | Kangoku bakuto · as Kimura Uta |
| 1964 | |
| 1964 | |
| 1964 | Jakoman and Tetsu · as Masa |
| 1964 | Zoku Haikei Tenno Heika Sama · as Misato |
| 1963 | Kiriko no tango · as Tae |
| 1963 | |
| 1963 | Samurai no ko · as Yasu Tajima |
| 1963 | Aoi sanmyaku · as Umetaro |
| 1962 | The Guys Who Put Money on Me · as Sanae Kitazawa |
| 1962 | Garasu no Jonî: Yajû no yô ni miete · as Yumi |
| 1962 | |
| 1961 | Wind and Waves of the South · as Yasuko, Kazuo's Foster Mother |
| 1961 | The Man with a Shotgun · as Harue |
| 1961 | Quick Draw Joe · as Jane, The Dancer |
| 1961 | Tokyo Knights · as Koji's Mother |
| 1961 | Pigs and Battleships · as Katsuyo |
| 1961 | |
| 1960 | |
| 1959 | |
| 1959 | Jigoku no magarikado · as Takako |
| 1959 | |
| 1959 | Sekai o kakeru koi · as Kaoru Nonomura |
| 1959 | Onna o wasurero · as Yukie |
| 1959 | Nirenjû no tetsu · as Cast |
| 1958 | Voice Without a Shadow · as Asako Kotani |
| 1958 | |
| 1958 | Taiyô o buchi otose · as Cast |
| 1958 | Escape from the Wall of Death · as Cast |
| 1958 | Stolen Desire · as Chidori Yamamura |
| 1958 | Kokoro to nikutai no tabi · as Naomi Inamura |
| 1957 | |
| 1957 | Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate · as Koharu |
| 1957 | Seishun no kôgi · as Cast |
| 1957 | |
| 1956 | Hungry Soul, Part II · as Reiko Shiba |
| 1956 | Hungry Soul · as Reiko Shiba |
| 1956 | Our Town · as Otsuru / Kimie |
| 1956 | Season of the Sun · as Eiko Takeda |
| 1956 | Tange Sazen: Kenun no maki · as Cast |
| 1955 | Princess Yang Kwei-fei · as Hung-Tao |
| 1954 | A Story from Chikamatsu · as Otama |