Yōko Ishino

• Name — Yōko Ishino • Born — 20 February 1968 • Birthplace — Ashiya, Hyōgo, Japan • Occupation — Actress, tarento • Years Active — 1986–present • Website — https: grandslam.ciao.jp/ishinoyoko/

Yōko was born on February 20, 1968, in Ashiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, into a wealthy family; her parents ran a beaded handbag manufacturing company. She grew up there as the second of three daughters. Her older sister is actress and singer Mako Ishino, and her younger sister is actress and talent Jun Takano. In first grade, concerned about her health, Yōko's parents enrolled her in figure skating lessons. Three months later, she won a competition, earning a spot as a trainee under coach Sonoko Nakano. She practiced daily before school and into the evening, often travelling to a rink in Osaka. Her only leisure time was spent watching television on Sunday mornings. When her mother began accompanying her older sister Mako to Tokyo for her entertainment career, Yōko took on household chores and stopped skating in her first year of junior high school. During spring and summer breaks, she visited Mako in Tokyo, dreaming of becoming a hair and makeup artist. She attended a public junior high school in Ashiya City before graduating from Koshien Gakuin High School and later Horikoshi High School.

Yōko was noticed by a talent scout while visiting her older sister, the singer Mako Ishino, on set. She made her first appearance on television in 1985, when she was seventeen, as an idol singer with "Teddy Boy Blues". In her late teens, she appeared on a travel show alongside the comedian Ken Shimura. During a chat on the location bus, Shimura remarked, "You're funny." This led to an invitation to join his comedy program Dorifu Daibakusho, where she took part in a thief skit. After the recording, Shimura asked her to become a regular on his new show Daijobudaa. Initially inclined to decline, she was persuaded when Shimura assured her, "Think of it as a study session; it's perfectly fine if you commit just for three months (one season)," and so she accepted the offer. After a roughly five-year run on Daijobudaa, Ishino went on to appear regularly on Shimura Ken wa Ikaga Deshou (1993–1995). Following the end of that show, she took a break from comedy sketches. Then, upon reuniting with Shimura for the first time in over a decade, he invited her to perform in a comedy sketch for the 2012 stage production Shimura Tamashii.

In 1991, she was spotted by Shukan Josei magazine with Shimura as they left his Tokyo house on their way to work. When the reporter inquired, "Is she (Ishino) your girlfriend?", Shimura nodded and replied, "Yes!" "They lived together for about a year after that, but eventually broke up."

Film • Year — Title — Role — Reference • 1987 — Aitsu ni Koishite — the Kyoto girl • 1987 — Tokyo Blackout — Mieko Matsunaga • 1995 — Godzilla vs. Destoroyah — Yukari Yamane • 2005 — Shichinin no Tomurai — Someko Hashimoto • 1999 — The King of Minami: Bankruptcy - Loan Shark Murder • 1998 — The King of Minami: Fallen Women • 1997 — The King of Minami: Revenge Shot • 1997 — The King of Minami: Con Man Exterminator • 1995 — Nanba kin'yû-den, Minami no teiô: Supesharu gekijô-ban — Ryôko • 1995 — The King of Minami: The Special Movie — Ryoko • 1992 — Yonigeya hompo — Cast • 1990 — Fûsen • 1988 — Ikidomari no Banka (Break Out) — Miku Sawano • 1987 — Shuto shôshitsu — Matsunaga Mieko Television series • Year — Title — Role — Reference • 2020 — Ochoyan — Kiku Tomikawa • October 3, 2016 — Beppinsan — Kotoko Murata • 2023 — Akinai Seiden: Kin to Gin — お竹 • 2023 — Mai Sekando Aoharu — Shiratama Kumiko • 2023 — Jiken — Cast • 2022 — ISHIKO and HANEO: You're Suing Me? • 2021 — Stories Within 5 Meters Radius — Shoko • 2020 — High Position 1986 — 天野幸子 • 2019 — Detective Zero — Asuka Enjo • 2018 — Unnatural — 敷島直美 • 2017 — Reverse (JP) — Hiroko Ochi • 2015 — Dating: What's it like to be in love? — Cast • 2014 — Kono Mystery ga Sugoi!: Bestseller Sakka kara no Chôsenjô — Cast • 2012 — Akai ito no onna — Toyoko Akagi • 2012 — Kaidan Shin Mimibukuro - Igyô • 2012 — Solitary Gourmet • 2012 — Heart Beat — cast • 2011 — Garo: Makai Senki — Toshiko Hoshikawa • 2011 — Sakura shinjuu • 2010 — Softball Boys • 2008 — Samurai Gangsters • 2008 — Yûbae Shôjo — Cast • 2006 — Strawberry Shortcakes — Doctor • 2005 — One Missed Call • 2005 — Garo • 2000 — AIBOU — Nijiko Hakamada • 1999 — The Woman of S.R.I. — Cast • 1978 — The Unfettered Shogun — Okyo Fuji TV - Monday Drama Land • Year — Title — Role — Reference • August 19, 1985 — Transfer Student! I'm Him and He's Me • December 12, 1985 — Cyborg High School Girl Vanilla 37°C — Vanilla Amai • April 21, 1986 — Transfer Student! I'm Him and He's Me 2 • January 6, 1986 — Sailor Suit Love Classroom Love Lessons A!B!!C!? • Summer Vacation Special Projects: Dear Milk House — Female College Student • August 3, 1987 — Zenryaku Milk House — Serika Matsumoto • 1987 — TV Man in the Wilderness