Machiko Kyō
Motoko Yano, better known as March 25, 1924 – May 12, 2019, 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. Kyō received the Lifetime Achievement Japan Academy Film Prize in 1995.
Also recorded as Machiko Kyo · Machiko Kyou
Machiko Kyō

濱谷浩 · 「昭和女人集」 · Public domain
- Name
- Machiko Kyō
- Birth Name
- Motoko Yano
- Born
- 25 March 1924
- Birthplace
- Osaka, Japan
- Died
- 12 May 2019
- Place of death
- Tokyo, Japan
- Occupation
- Actress
- Full name
- 矢野元子.
- Nationality
- Japan and Empire of Japan.
- Honours
- Medal with Purple Ribbon, Kikuta Kazuo engeki shō, Order of the Precious Crown, 4th Class and Mainichi Film Award for Best Actress.
- Languages
- Japanese.
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Documentary summary
Motoko Yano, better known as March 25, 1924 – May 12, 2019, 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. Kyō received the Lifetime Achievement Japan Academy Film Prize in 1995.
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Note VALÉORINE
Machiko Kyō (1924–2019) was an actor, actress and film actor, among other activities, of Japanese and Japanese nationality. The actor was born 矢野元子 in Osaka and died in Tokyo.
Languages used include Japanese. Honours include Kikuta Kazuo engeki shō, Mainichi Film Award for Best Actress and Medal with Purple Ribbon, among others.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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wikidata · Q180602 · wikipedia · Machiko Kyō
In this article
Biography
Biography
For her contributions to the arts, she received the Japanese government's Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Precious Crown (4th Class).

「地獄門」がカンヌ映画祭パルム・ドールをとった頃の京マチ子
影山光洋 · 「昭和の女」
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Machiko Kyō • Native Name — 京 マチ子 • Birth Name — Motoko Yano • Born — 25 March 1924 • Birthplace — Osaka, Japan • Died — 12 May 2019 • Place of death — Tokyo, Japan • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 1936–2006
Early life and education
Early life and education
Kyō, an only child, was born Motoko Yano 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.
Career
Career
• Illustration — Kyō as the title character in Princess Yang Kwei-Fei (1955) Kyō 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. 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 for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. She also played the title role in the Japanese-Hong Kong co-production Princess Yang Kwei-Fei (1955), directed by Mizoguchi. 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. After retiring from film, she moved back to Osaka, where she resided until her death.
Personal life
Personal life
Kyō never married, but her romantic relationship with Daiei Film's president Masaichi Nagata was well-publicized in Japan. Fujiko Yamamoto described Kyo as a very friendly person and loved the older actress like a big sister.
Death
Death
Kyō died from heart failure at her home in Tokyo on May 12, 2019 at the age of 95. She was the last main surviving cast member of Rashomon.
Selected filmography
Selected filmography
• Illustration — 1950 film Rashomon with Toshiro Mifune • Illustration — 1953 film Jigokumon with Kazuo Hasegawa • Illustration — 1954 film The Princess Sen with Kenji Sugawara • Illustration — 1955 film Princess Yang Kwei-Fei with Masayuki Mori
Television
Television
• Hissatsu Shimainin (1981) • Shin Hissatsu Shimainin (1982) • Hissatsu Shikirinin (1984) • Hana no Ran (1994) - Hino Shigeko • Genroku Ryōran (1999) - Keishō'in
Identity
Identity
Machiko Kyō is recorded with the occupation stage actor. Recorded at birth as 矢野元子. Recorded as having received Medal with Purple Ribbon, Kikuta Kazuo engeki shō and Order of the Precious Crown, 4th Class. Recognition and collections. Kyō received Medal with Purple Ribbon, Kikuta Kazuo engeki shō, Order of the Precious Crown, 4th Class and Mainichi Film Award for Best Actress.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1924
Machiko Kyō was born on 25 March 1924.
2019
Machiko Kyō died on 12 May 2019.
Films
• Hana kurabe tanuki-goten (1949) - Aiai, witch • Chijin no ai (1949) - Naomi • Harukanari haha no kuni (1950) - Mari, daughter • Fukkatsu (1950) - Yukiko Ohara • Rashomon (1950) - Masako Kanazawa • Hi no tori (1950) • Itsuwareru seiso (1950) - Kimicho • Koi no Oranda-zaka (1951) - Chigusa • Jiyû gakkô (1951) - Yuri • Joen no hatoba (1951) • Mesu inu (1951) - Emmy • Genji monogatari (1951) - Awaji no ue • Bakurô ichidai (1951) - Yuki • Asakusa kurenaidan (1952) - Ryûko Beni • Daibutsu kaigen (1952) - Mayame • Nagasaki No Uta Wa Wasureji (1952) - Okumura, Ayako • Taki no Shiraito (1952) - Taki no Shiraito • Bijo to touzoku (1952) - Sakin • Kanojo no tokudane (1952) • Ugetsu (1953) - Lady Wakasa • Older Brother, Younger Sister (1953) - Mon • Gate of Hell (1953) - Kesa • Aru onna (1954) - Yoko Hayazuki • Shunkin monogatari (1954) - Shunkin • Asakusa no yoru (1954) - Setsuko Takashima • The Princess Sen (1954) - the princess Sen • Bazoku geisha (1954) - Nobukichi • A Girl Isn't Allowed to Love (1955) - Sachiko Nonomiya • Princess Yang Kwei-Fei (1955) - Princess Yang Kwei-fei • Tōjūrō no Koi (1955) - Okaji • Shin, Heike monogatari: Yoshinaka o meguru sannin no onna (1956) - Tomoe • Niji ikutabi (1956) - Momoko Mizuhara • Street of Shame (1956) - Mickey • Tsukigata Hanpeita: Hana no maki; Arashi no maki (1956) - Hagino • The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956) - Lotus Blossom • Itohan monogatari (1957) - Okatsu • Odoriko (1957) - Chiyomi Hanamura • Jigoku bana (1957) - Sute • Yoru no chô (1957) - Mari • The Hole (1957) - Nagako Kita • Yūrakuchō de Aimashō (1958) - Aya Koyanagi • Sorrow Is Only for Women (1958) - Michiko • The Loyal 47 Ronin (1958) - Orui (spy) • Haha (1958) - Takako Ômachi • Ôsaka no onna (1958) - Osen • Akasen no hi wa kiezu (1958) - Nobuko Araki • Yoru no sugao (1958) - Akemi • Satsujin to kenjû (1958) • Musume no boken (1958) • Anata to watashi no aikotoba: Sayônara, konnichiwa (1959) - Umeko Ichige • Sasameyuki (1959) - Sachiko • Onna to Kaizoku (1959) - Ayaginu / Oito • Yoru no togyo (1959) - Ryoko Kashiwabara • Jirôchô Fuji (1959) - Okatsu • Odd Obsession (1959) - Ikuko / Wife • Floating Weeds (1959) - Sumiko • Jokyo (1960) - Omitsu • Ruten no ôhi (1960) - Ryûko Korinkakura (Hiroko Aishinkakura) • Bonchi (1960) - Ofuku • San'nin no kaoyaku (1960) - Chizuru • Ashi ni sawatta onna (1960) - Saya Shiozawa • Oden jigoku (1960) - Oden Takahashi • Konki (1961) - Shizu, Takuo's wife • Nuregami botan (1961) - Kiyomigata no Omon • Onna no kunshô (1961) - Shikiko Ohba • Kodachi o tsukau onna (1961) - Ritsu Ikeda • Buda (1961) - Nandabala • Black Lizard (1962) - Mrs. Midorikawa • Shin no shikôtei (1962) • Onna no issho (1962) - Kei • Budda (1962) • Nyokei kazoku (1963) - Fujiyo Yajima • Sweet Sweat (1964) - Umeko • Gendai inchiki monogatari: Dotanuki (1964) • The Face of Another (1966) - Mrs. Okuyama • Jinchoge (1966) - Kikuko, Ueno, 1st Daughter • Chiisai tôbôsha (1966) - Yayoi Yamamura • Senba zuru (1969) - Chikako Kurimoto • Genkai yûkyôden: Yabure kabure (1970) - Sue Yoshida • Karei-naru Ichizoku (1974) - Aiko Takasu • Kinkanshoku (1955) - Prime Minister's wife • Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director (1975, documentary) - Herself • Yoba (1976) - Oshima • Tora's Pure Love (1976) - Aya Yagyû • Kesho (1984) - Tsune Tsutano
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Machiko Kyō”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q180602: Machiko Kyō
General reference · Wikidata
Honors
• Medal with Purple Ribbon (1987) • Order of the Precious Crown, 4th Class, Wisteria (1994)
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.The Rashomon effect
- 2.会長特別賞. Japan Academy Film Prize.
- 3.「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. 14 May 2019.
- 4.Sandomir, Richard. Machiko Kyo, Star of 'Rashomon' and Other Films, Dies at 95. The New York Times. 2019-05-17. 0362-4331.
- 5.14 May 2019.
- 6.Blair, Gavin J. Machiko Kyo, Star of Akira Kurosawa's 'Rashomon,' Dies at 95. The Hollywood Reporter. 2019-05-14.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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