Ayako Wakao


Ayako Wakao is a Japanese actress who was one of the country's biggest stars of the 20th century.

Biography

Wakao began her career contracted to Daiei Studios in 1951 as part of the fifth "New Face" group. She has gone on to appear in over 100 feature films, plus numerous television movies and series. She was a favorite actress of director Yasuzo Masumura, starring in 25 of his films. In addition to her many collaborations with Masumura, she was a favorite of Kon Ichikawa, having starred or co-starred in seven of the director's works. She appeared in Kenji Mizoguchi's A Geisha and Street of Shame. She also appeared in Yasujirō Ozu's Floating Weeds.
Yuzo Kawashima made three films Women Are Born Twice, The Temple of Wild Geese and The Graceful Brute with her.
Wakao married architect Kisho Kurokawa in 1983. They did not have any children. In 2007, both ran unsuccessful campaigns for seats in the upper house of the Japanese Parliament, before Kurokawa died in October of that year.

Selected filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
1952Shino machi o NogareteSetsuko MinamiEiichi Koishi
1952Mōjū Tsukai no ShōjoAikoKozo Saeki
1952Ashita wa Nichiyobi Momoko YamabukiKozo SaekiLead
1953Judai no seitenEiko TakanashiKoji ShimaLead
1953A GeishaEiko/MiyoeiKenji MizoguchiLead
1953Jūdai no YūwakuSeiji HisamatsuLead
1955A Girl Isn't Allowed to LoveYumiko KiryuTeinosuke KinugasaLead
1955The Phantom HorseYuki ShiraishiKoji ShimaLead
1956Street of ShameYasumiKenji MizoguchiLead
1957SuzakumonPrincess KazuKazuo MoriLead
1957The Blue Sky MaidenYukoYasuzo MasumuraLead
1958The Loyal 47 RoninOsuzuKunio Watanabe
1959Floating WeedsKayoYasujirō Ozu
1960Afraid to DieYoshie KoizumiYasuzo MasumuraLead
1960A False StudentMutsukoYasuzo MasumuraLead
1960A Woman's TestamentKimiYasuzo MasumuraLead
1961A Wife ConfessesSaeko TakigawaYasuzo MasumuraLead
1961Women Are Born TwiceKoenYuzo KawashimaLead
1962The Temple of Wild GeeseSatoko KiriharaYuzo KawashimaLead
1962The Graceful Brute Yukie MitaniYuzo KawashimaLead
1963An Actor's RevengeNamijiKon Ichikawa
1964ManjiMitsuko TokumitsuYasuzo MasumuraLead
1966IrezumiOenYasuzo MasumuraLead
1966Red AngelSakura NishiYasuzo MasumuraLead
1970Zatoichi Meets YojimboUmenoKihachi Okamoto
1971Tora-san's Shattered RomanceYūko AkashiYoji Yamada
1975HerselfKaneto ShindoDocumentary film
1987Princess from the MoonTayoshimeKon Ichikawa
2005Spring SnowGesshuji monzekiIsao Yukisada

Television

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
1961Blue Ribbon AwardBest ActressA Wife Confesses, Women Are Born Twice, and The Age of Marriage
1962Kinema Junpo AwardBest ActressA Wife Confesses and Women Are Born Twice
1965Blue Ribbon AwardBest ActressSeisaku's Wife and Nami Kage
1966Kinema Junpo AwardBest ActressSeisaku's Wife and Nami Kage
1969Kinema Junpo AwardBest ActressOne Day at Summer's End, The House of Wooden Blocks, and The Time of Reckoning
2006Mainichi Film AwardsKinuyo Tanaka AwardLifetime Achievement