Kinuyo Tanaka (田中 絹代 Tanaka Kinuyo, 29 November 1909 – 21 March 1977) was a Japanese actress and director.
Tanaka was born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. She became a leading actress at seventeen years old, appearing in Heinosuke Gosho's An Embarrassing Dream in 1927. She proceeded to take leading parts in, among others, Yasujirō Ozu's I Graduated, But... in 1929, Gosho's Aiyoku no ki in 1930, and in 1931, Japan's first talkie, The Neighbor's Wife and Mine, directed by Gosho.
She had a close working relationship with director Kenji Mizoguchi, having parts in 15 of his films, including leading roles in The Life of Oharu (1952), Ugetsu (1953) and Sansho the Bailiff (1954). Their working relationship ended when Mizoguchi countered a recommendation from the Directors Guild of Japan for the Nikkatsu studio to hire her as a director. Despite this, the production of her second film as director went ahead, but Tanaka never forgave Mizoguchi, and the reasons for his behaviour are unclear. She also played Noboru Yasumoto's mother in Akira Kurosawa's Red Beard (1965). For her portrayal in Kei Kumai's Sandakan N° 8 she won the Best Actress Award at the 25th Berlin International Film Festival in 1975. Her last screen appearance was in 1976 in Kei Kumai's Kita No Misaki.
Tanaka was the second Japanese woman who worked as a film director, after Sakane Tazuko (1904‐1975). Her first directing job was on the film Love Letter in 1953, and she made five further films in that role.
Acting
231
Female
1909-11-28
Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan
다나카 키누요, کینو تاناکا, 田中 絹代
Cape of the North
Sansho the Bailiff
Sandakan No. 8
Equinox Flower
Kaisen no Zenya
Mother
The Life of Oharu
The Woman in the Rumor
The Love of the Actress Sumako
Miss Oyu
Flowing
Kono sora no aru kagiri
The Munekata Sisters
Zoku aizen katsura
Alone Across the Pacific
Women of the Night
Miyamoto Musashi
Utamaro and His Five Women
Her Brother
Flame of My Love
Woman of Tokyo
Phoenix
Bright Sea
Ornamental Hairpin
Sincere Heart
The Village Bride
King of the Land
A Tale of Archery at the Sanjusangendo
Useless Button
The Big City: Labor
The Ballad of Narayama
A Wanderer's Notebook
The Neighbour's Wife and Mine
The Dancing Girl of Izu
A Legend or Was It?
Burden of Life
Army
Youth, Why Do You Cry?
The Three Treasures
The Eternal Rainbow
Banchō sarayashiki
Wedding Ring
Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 2
A Man's Recompense: Part 2
Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 1
A Man's Recompense: Part 1
Flower
A Certain Woman
The Travels of Kinuyo Tanaka
Forever a Woman
The Moon Has Risen
Record of a Woman Doctor
Okoto and Sasuke
An Heir's Place
Victory of Women
Five Sisters
Yellow Crow
I Graduated, But...
The Scent of Incense
The New Road: Akemi
Eternity of Love
Hahakogusa
The Storm
Where Chimneys Are Seen
Kinuyo Tanaka, a Woman We Talk About
The Man Who Has Returned
Marching On
I Flunked, But...
Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth?
Dragnet Girl
Okayo's Preparedness
Red Beard
Mama, I Need You!
House of Many Pleasures
Osayo Koi Sugata
The Bride Talks in Her Sleep
Lullaby of the Earth
The Loyal 47 Ronin
Ginza Cosmetics
The Inner Palace Conspiracy
The Tree of Love
Tsukiyo no kasa
The Lady of Musashino
Marriage
Sôbô
Geisha in the Old City
Love Letter
How Sorrowful
The Ataka Family
The Fencing Master
The Genealogy of Women
Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka
The Age of Emotion
Victory Song
My Elder Brother
On This Earth
Lady Doctor Kinuyo
Seisen aiba fu: Akatsuki ni inoru
Song of the Flower Basket
Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director
Men vs. Women
Sisters of Nishijin
Sanbaba
Stepbrothers
An Innocent Maid
Young Lady
A Hen in the Wind
Women in Prison
Ugetsu
Double Wedding
Sorrow Is Only for Women
Tora-san's Dream-Come-True
Air Raid of the Enemy Plane
Spring Thunder
Confession
The New Road: Ryota
The Blacksmith of the Forest
Let's Go in Good Spirits
Let's Go, Grandma!
Mother and Child
Kinuyo's First Love
Osaka Woman
Weeds with flowers
Okinu and Banto
That Night's Woman
Story of Lightning
Shōnen shikeishū
A Woman from the Genroku Era
Village Pasture
The Little Traveling Entertainer
Cry of the Raging Current
Brave Love
The Killing of a Hundred Men at Isshinji Temple
Nature Is the Judge
Fallen Samurai
Love's Snare
No Need for Your Opinion
Troubled Days
Townspeople
Oh! Carefree, Aren't You?
Young Master
Torrent
The Betrayed
Love and Courage
The Cursed Sword
The Complete Story of Jirocho Shimizu, Part 2: Ashura's Revenge
Her
Flashing Blade
Buried Youth
Secret Struggle
The Basement
Yakko no Koman
The Harakiri at Tennōji
Takada no Baba
An Embarrassing Dream
Magic
Song of the Border Patrol
Madame Pearl
The Oath of a Thousand Kills
Sankichi the Flying Squirrel
Night is a Trickster
Lovers' Suicide at Kiso
Modern Warrior Training
Chronicles of a Sea Country
If Only She...
Immortal Love
The Eternal Heart
Iron Virgin
What a Handsome Man!
The Face of Humanity
A Wife Quits
Thank You for Your Hard Work
The Glory of the Shōwa Era
Symphony of Youth
Mother, Don't Tarnish Your Name
Echigo Lion
Him and Life
The Village Where the Skylark Sings
The Model of New Women
Cheerful Song
Triumphant Song of the Mountain
The Father and His Son
The Beating
Song of Youth
Where Do Women Go?
A Smiling Life
The Big City: Explosion
The Great Ship
The Tale of Kinuyo
Record of Love and Desire
Love, Be with Humanity: Part 1
Love, Be with Humanity: Part 2
Cry Cheerfully!
Sisters: Part 1
Sisters: Part 2
The Tramp and His Daughter
ABC Lifeline: Fujieda Chapter
ABC Lifeline
Woman of Suffering
The Golden Demon
Victory or Defeat
My Brother's a Fool
The Willows of Ginza
The Sun Rises from the East
Studio Romance: A Guide to Love
Shine, Japanese Women
Love in Tokyo
Storm Zone
The Cheerleading Captain's Love
Clear and Cloudy
The Road to Marriage
Before the Wedding
Daphne
Mother of the East
Sakura Ondo
Constellations on Earth, Part One: Earth Chapter
Constellations on Earth, Part 2: Constellations
Honeymoon
Storm in the City
Her Secret
Kanojo no hatsugen
This Is Home
The Actress and the Detective
Aizenbashi
Girls of the Night
The Wandering Princess
Love Under the Crucifix