Nobuko Otowa
1 October 1924 – 22 December 1994 was a Japanese actress who appeared in more than 100 films between 1950 and 1994.
Also recorded as Otowa Nobuko
Nobuko Otowa
時事世界社 (Jiji Sekai-sha). · 『映画と演劇』1955年10月号、時事世界社、1955年、p. 17 Magazine for "Eiga to Engeki (Movies and theater)" October 1955 issue, Jiji Sekai-sha. 1955, p. 17 · Public domain
- Name
- Nobuko Otowa
- Birth Name
- Nobuko Kaji
- Born
- 1 October 1924
- Birthplace
- Yonago, Tottori, Japan
- Died
- 22 December 1994
- Occupation
- Actress
- Spouse
- * Kaneto Shindo (1977–1994, her death)
- Nationality
- Japan · Empire of Japan
- Fields
- film
- Honours
- Medal with Purple Ribbon · Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Actress · Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Supporting Actress · Kikuta Kazuo engeki shō · Mainichi Film Award for Best Actress
- Languages
- Japanese
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Documentary summary
1 October 1924 – 22 December 1994 was a Japanese actress who appeared in more than 100 films between 1950 and 1994.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
Nobuko Otowa (1924–1994) was an actress, of Japanese and Japanese nationality. The actress was born in Yonago and died in Tokyo.
Nobuko Otowa was a member of Takarazuka Revue. Activity centred on film.
Languages used include Japanese. Honours include Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Actress, Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Supporting Actress and Kikuta Kazuo engeki shō, among others.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Nobuko Otowa • Native Name — 乙羽 信子 • Birth Name — Nobuko Kaji • Born — 1 October 1924 • Birthplace — Yonago, Tottori, Japan • Died — 22 December 1994 • Occupation — Actress • Spouse — * Kaneto Shindo (1977–1994, her death) • Years Active — 1950–1994
Life and career
Life and career
A graduate of Takarazuka Girl's Opera School, Otowa was first signed to Daiei studios, before becoming a freelance actress by the early 1950s. After starring in Kaneto Shindo's Story of a Beloved Wife, she became the director's mistress and appeared in nearly all of his following films. She finally married him in 1977, after his previous wife divorced him. Although closely associated with Shindo's films, with Children of Hiroshima, The Naked Island and Onibaba being among the most well-known, Otowa also worked for noted directors such as Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Heinosuke Gosho, Keisuke Kinoshita and Nagisa Ōshima. Devoted to her profession, she frequently wrote and lectured on the art of film acting. In 1995, she was posthumously awarded as best actress in a supporting role at the 19th Japan Academy Prize for A Last Note, having been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer during its production. Half of her ashes are scattered on the island of Sukune in Mihara, Hiroshima, where The Naked Island was filmed.
Television (selection)
Television (selection)
• Tadaima (1964–1967) • Taikōki (1965) – Oetsu • Saigo no jigazō (1977) • Yokomizo Seishi Shirīzu (1977–1978) • Nagisa no onna (1980) • Kazunomiya sama otome (1981) • Oshin (1983–1984) – Oshin • Shinju yoi goshin (1984) • The Asami Mitsuhiko Mystery (1987–1990) • Ōinaru gen'ei (1989) • Haha: Inochi yomigaeru hi (1992) • Asahina Shūhei misuterī 3: Tangoji satsujin jiken (1992) • Ude ni oboe ari (1992–1993)
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Yonago.
Birth place
Tokyo.
Death place
Film
• Shojoho (1950) • Miyagi Hiroba (1951) • Arabiya monogatari (1951) • Tsuki no wataridori (1951) – Oichi • Dare ga watashi o sabaku no ka (1951) • Miss Oyu (1951) – Shizu • Meigetsu somato (1951) • Story of a Beloved Wife (1951) – Takako Ishikawa • The Tale of Genji (1951) – Murasaki no ue • Izayoi kaido (1951) • Asakusa kurenaidan (1952) – Maki Ayukawa • Avalanche (1952) – Atsuko Fujikawa • Atakake no hitobito (1952) • Children of Hiroshima (1952) – Takako Ishikawa • Kantarou tsukiyo-uta (1952) – Okyo • Senba zuru (1953) – Ayako Ohta • Onna to iu shiro – Mari no maki (1953) • Onna to iu shiro – Yuko no maki (1953) • Hatamoto Taikutsu Otoko 808 Chome (1953) • Mura hatibu (1953) • Epitome (1953) – Ginko • Yokubo (1953) – Shizue Kitami • Yoake mae (1953) – Hanzo's Daughter • Life of a Woman (1953) – Fujiko Shirakawa • Koina no Ginpei (1954) – Oichi • Utsukushī hito (1954) • An Inn at Osaka (1954) – Uwabami • Dobu (1954) – Tsuru • Dorodarake no seishun (1954) – Nanako • Ai to shi no tanima (1954) • Wakai hitotachi (1954) • Aisureba koso (1955) – Michie (segment 1) • Ginza no onna (1955) • Wolf (1955) – Akiko Yano • Kabuki juhachiban: Narukami – Bijo to kairyu (1955) • Shirogane Shinjū (1956) – Sakie / Umeko • Ryūri no Kishi (1956) – Hagiyo, Chiho's mother • Shin ono ga tsumi (1956) • Yoake Asaake (1956) • An Actress (1956) – Kakuko Mori • Aru yo futatabi (1956) • Kottaisan yori: Nyotai wa kanashiku (1957) – Tamasode • Hadairo no tsuki (1957) – Kumiko Uno • Ukifune (1957) – Naka-no-kimi • Yagyū bugeichō: Sōryū hiken (1958) – the Princess • Makeraremasen katsumadewa (1958) – Odama • Kanashimi wa onna dakeni (1958) – Taka • A Holiday in Tokyo (1958) – Nobuko • Yajikita Dochuuki (1958) • Noren (1958) • Tsuzurikata kyodai (1958) – Aunt • Mimizuku (1958) • Nora neko (1958) • Yajikita dōchū sugoroku (1958) – Ofutsu / maid • Hana noren (1959) • Lucky Dragon No. 5 (1959) – Shizu Kuboyama • Aisaiki (1959) • Okaasan no yume (僕らの母さん) (1959) • Kashima ari (1959) • Ai no kane (1959) • The Three Treasures (1959) – Goddess of Anenouzume • Hanayome-san wa sekai-ichi (1959) • Waga ai (1960) – Hideya • Tenka no Odorobo Shiranami Gonin Man (1960) • Chinpindō shujin (1960) • Onna no saka (1960) • Shin jōdaigaku (1960) • The Twilight Story (1960) – Kyōko Yamai • The Approach of Autumn (1960) – Shigeko Fukatani – Hideo's Mother • The Naked Island (1960) – Toyo, the mother • Hunting Rifle (1961) – Choko's mother • Mozu (1961) • Tōkyō yawa (1961) – Yukari • Kojin koujitsu (1961) • Netsuai sha (1961) – Tamiko • Immortal Love (1961) – Tomoko, Takashi's wife • Gen to fudō myō-ō (1961) • The Last War (1961) – Oyoshi Tamura • Awamori-kun Kanpai (1961) • Aijo no keifu (1961) • Neko to katsuobushi (1961) • Ashita aru kagiri (1962) • Nagashi hina (1962) • Long Way to Okinawa (1962) • Ika naru hoshi no moto ni (1962) – Mitoji • Sei Kurabe (1962) • Aobeka monogatari (1962) – Kimino • Ningen (1962) – Gorosuke • Kawa no hotori de (1962) – Tamako Sekiguchi • Kigeki ekimae hanten (1962) • Yushu Heiya (1963) • Kanojo ni mukatte tosshinsayo (1963) • Uso (1963) – (segment "San jyotai") • Shiro to kuro (1963) – Ochiai's Wife • Daidokoro taiheiki (1963) • Wanpaku tenshi (1963) • Hyakumannin no musumetachi (1963) • Miren (1963) – Hatsu Kakinuma • Mother (1963) – Tamiko • Wakai nakamatachi: uchira Gion no maikohan (1963) • Kigeki ekimae okami (1964) – Kyōko Yamamoto • Kigeki yōki-na mibōjin (1964) – Kume Tanabe • The Scent of Incense (Kōge – Nibu: Mitsumata no shō/Ichibu: Waremokō no shō) (1964) – Ikuyo • Okaasan no baka (1964) • Kigeki ekimae kaidan (1964) • Onibaba (1964) – Kichi's Mother • Daikon to ninjin (1965) – Nobuyo Yamaki • Nami kage (1965) – Masa, Kichitaro's wife • Kigeki ekimae kin'yū (1965) • Daiku taiheki (1965) • Akuto (1965) – Jiju • Abare Gōemon (1966) – Osasa • Kigeki ekimae benten (1966) • Lost Sex (1966) – The Housemaid • Akogare (1966) • Kigeki ekimae keiba (1966) • Danshun (1966) • Kigeki ekimae mangan (1967) • Izu no odoriko (1967) • Kigeki ekimae gakuen (1967) • Zoku Na mo naku mazushiku utsukushiku: Chichi to ko (1967) – Taeko Sakai • Sei no kigen (1967) – Wife • Kigeki ekimae hyakku-nen (1967) • Kuroneko (1968) – Yone (Mother) • Tsuyomushi onna to yowamushi otoko (1968) – Fumiko • Āh himeyuri no tō (1968) – Hatsu Yonamine • Machi ni izumi ga atta (1968) – Toki Yano • Red Lion (1969) – Oharu • Heat Wave Island (1969) – Otoyo • Shokkaku (1970) – Tamiko / Prostitute Yuki • Live Today, Die Tomorrow! (1970) – Take Yamada • The Ceremony (1971) – Sakurada Shizu • Kanawa (1972) – Middle aged woman • Sanka (1972) – Teru Kamozawa • The Heart (1973) – Mrs. M • Kōkotsu no hito (1973) – Kyōko • Shiawase (1974) • Waga michi (1974) – Mino Kawamura • Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director (documentary) (1975) – Herself • Kyukei no Koya (1975) • The Life of Chikuzan (1977) • The Incident (1978) • The Strangling (1979) – Ryoko, Mother • Haitatsu sarenai santsu no tegami (1979) – Sumie, Mitsumasa's wife • Kangofu no oyaji ganbaru (1980) • Omoeba tōkue kitamonda (1980) • Asshii-tachi no machi (1981) – Haru Hayasaka • Ore to aitsu no monogatari (1981) • Edo Porn (1981) – Omomo, Sashichi's Wife • Ekisutora (1982) – Kinuyo Adachi • Mikan no taikyoku (1982) • The Go Masters (1983) • The Horizon (1984) – Hideyo, after age 40 • Location (1984) – Katsue • Tengoku ni ichiban chikai shima (1984) – Tei Ishikawa • Shiroi machi hiroshima (1985) • Yasha (1985) – Ume • Lost in the Wilderness (1986) – Yasuko Muto • Burakkubōdo (1986) – Namie Yasui • Tree Without Leaves (1986) – Mother • Nijushi no hitomi (1987) – Okami • Sakura-tai Chiru (1988) – Narration • Yumemi-dōri no hitobito (1989) • Donmai (1990) – Toyo Murakami • Pachinko monogatari (1990) • Bokuto kidan (1992) – Masa • Tsuribaka nisshi 5 (1992) – Densuke's mother • A Last Note (1995) – Toyoko Yanagawa • By Player (2000) – herself
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Nobuko Otowa”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q2483977: Nobuko Otowa
General reference · Wikidata
Awards and honors
Japan Academy Prize • 1996: Best Supporting Actress, A Last Note Blue Ribbon Awards • 1966: Best Supporting Actress, Lost Sex • 1953: Best Actress, Epitome, Life of a Woman and Yokubo Kinema Junpo Awards • 1996: Best Supporting Actress, A Last Note Mainichi Film Awards • 1996: Lifetime Achievement Award • 1993: Best Supporting Actress, The Strange Story of Oyuki • 1968: Best Actress, Operation Negligee and Kuroneko 36th Venice International Film Festival • 1979: Pasinetti Award (Best Actress), The Strangling
Nobuko Otowa and Jukichi Uno in 1951 Japanese movie Aisai Monogatari (Story of a Beloved Wife).
Directed by en:Kaneto Shindo, produced by en:Daiei Film · Screenshot of the movie
![Collectie / Archief: Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie: [onbekend] Beschrijving: Reprodukties Hiroschima (Royal Film) Datum: 4 maart 1954 Locatie: Hiroshima Trefwoorden: FILM, Reprodukties Persoonsnaam: ROYAL Fotograaf: Doka / Anefo Auteursrechthebbende: Nationaal Archief Materiaalsoort: Glasnegatief Nummer archiefinventaris: bekijk toegang 2.24.01.09 Bestanddeelnummer: 906-3237](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Reprodukties_Hiroschima_%28Royal_Film%29%2C_Bestanddeelnr_906-3237.jpg/800px-Reprodukties_Hiroschima_%28Royal_Film%29%2C_Bestanddeelnr_906-3237.jpg)
Collectie / Archief: Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie: [onbekend] Beschrijving: Reprodukties Hiroschima (Royal Film) Datum: 4 maart 1954 Locatie: Hiroshima Trefwoorden: FILM, Reprodukties Persoonsnaam: ROYAL Fotograaf: Doka / Anefo Auteursrechthebbende: Nationaal Archief Materiaalsoort: Glasnegatief Nummer archiefinventaris: bekijk toegang 2.24.01.09 Bestanddeelnummer: 906-3237
Anefo
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.乙羽 信子 (Nobuko Otowa). Kinenote.
- 2.乙羽信子 (Nobuko Otowa). Japanese Movie Database.
- 3.kaneto-shindo-ikite-iru-kagiri
- 4.Anderson, Joseph L. The Japanese Film – Art & Industry. Charles E. Tuttle Company. 407. 1959.
- 5.第 19 回日本アカデミー賞優秀作品 (19th Japan Academy Film Prize). Japan Academy Film Prize.
- 6.Japan: Cinema Japan: A Wreath for Madame Kawakita. Seniors World Chronicle.
- 7.新藤兼人監督「裸の島」に散骨へ (Director Kaneto Shindo's ashes scattered on "Naked Island"). Nikkan Sports. 1 June 2012.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
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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 18 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
37,409 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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- Nobutoshi CannaPerson
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