Hideko Takamine

Biography

Hideko Takamine (高峰 秀子, Takamine Hideko, March 27, 1924 – December 28, 2010) was a Japanese actress who began as a child actress and maintained her fame in a career that spanned 50 years. She is particularly known for her collaborations with directors Mikio Naruse and Keisuke Kinoshita, with Twenty-Four Eyes (1954) and Floating Clouds (1955) being among her most noted films. Takamine was born in Hakodate, Hokkaidō, in 1924. At the age of four, following the death of her mother, she was placed in the care of her aunt in Tokyo. Her first role was in the Shochiku studio's 1929 film Mother (Haha), which brought her tremendous popularity as a child actor. She toured as a singer to entertain Japanese troops and, after the war, sang for American occupation troops in Tokyo. In 1950, she left Shintoho and became a freelance actress. She was especially favoured as leading actress by Naruse, appearing in 17 of his films between 1941 and 1966, which are considered "some of her finest performances." She married writer-director Zenzo Matsuyama in 1955, but continued her acting career, stating that she wanted to "create a new style of wife who has a job". After retiring as an actress in 1979, she published her autobiography and several essay collections. She died of lung cancer on 28 December 2010 at the age of 86.

Known For

The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer

as Hinanmin no Onna

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

as Keiko Yashiro

Floating Clouds

as Yukiko Koda

Twenty-Four Eyes

as Ôishi Sensei

Yearning

as Reiko Morita

Tokyo Chorus

as Sono Choujo

The Rickshaw Man

as Yoshiko Yoshioka

Flowing

as Katsuyo

The Munekata Sisters

as Mariko Munekata

Lightning

as Kiyoko