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Shima Iwashita

Shima Iwashita

Actor · Born January 3, 1941 (85) · Tokyo, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan

Shima Shinoda, better known as Shima Iwashita (born January 3, 1941, in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actress. She was married to film director Shinoda Masahiro. She won the award for best actress at the 2nd Hochi Film Award for Ballad of Orin. In junior high school, she aspired to become a psychiatrist, but gave up on that dream when she was 16-17 years old and suffered from childhood rheumatism and was hospitalized for a long time. To divert her energy , she appeared in the 1958 NHK drama Bus Street Back. This was the beginning of her acting career. She made her film debut two years later in 1960. In 1999, she launched her brand "Kimono Shima" with kimono manufacturer Kyoto Marubeni, and made her debut as a kimono designer. In 2004, she was awarded the Purple Ribbon Medal. In 2012 , she was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 3, 1941 (85)
From
Tokyo, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
13 on Motif · 142 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 21% in 30 days

What are Shima Iwashita's films like?

Across their 11 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
43%
Morality
23%
Power
18%
Self
7%
Survival
5%
Ideas
4%
Romantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 1 · Dark 9

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 7 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 3

Intense: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their intense movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 2 · Intense 8

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 3 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 1

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 0 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 9

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 7 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.

Hero
3 of 8
Ally
2 of 8
Shadow
2 of 8
Shapeshifter
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Melancholic
9
Elegiac
4
Contemplative
4
Dread
1
Other
4

How their films linger

Haunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Shima Iwashita's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 8 of their 13 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Shima Iwashita's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

142 credits, 13 with a Motif page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Mary of Magdalene Restaurant (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · as 桐江怜子

  • Out Burn (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    as Eirei Ryu

  • Doctor X(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Masae Mihara（三原 雅恵）

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Toire no kamisama (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    as Waka Uemura

  • Chushingura〜Sono Otoko, Oishi Kuranosuke (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    as Riku Ōishi

  • Akanezora Beyond the Crimson Sky (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    as Oshino

  • Hanayome wa Yakudoshi! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • Spy Sorge (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    as Mrs. Konoe

  • Honke no Yome (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • My Marriage (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 10 episodes · as 山田キン

  • 優雅な悪事 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Aoi: Tokugawa Three Generations (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 49 episodes · as O-Go [Hidetada's wife]

  • I Don't Have a Grave! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Yakuza Ladies: Decision (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Moonlight Serenade (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Fuji Onda

  • After the Wind Has Gone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Yakuza Ladies: Dangerous Gamble (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Lost in Time (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    as Kiyoko Torigai

  • Onihei's Detective Records (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Yakuza Ladies: Blood Ties (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Kiwa Domoto

  • Sharaku (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Okan

  • Yoru ni Dakarete (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 8 episodes · as 中里苑子

  • Yakuza Ladies Revisited: Love is Hell (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Devil's Kiss (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • Lone Wolf and Cub: The Final Conflict (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as Abandoned woman bearing a daughter

  • Yakuza Ladies Revisited 2 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1993)

    as Atsumi Nogi

  • Taira no Kiyomori (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • Yakuza Ladies Revisited (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    as Kanae Fujinami

  • Heat Wave (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    as Yoshi

  • Takeda Shingen (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Minamoto Yoshitsune (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    as Taira no Tokiko

  • Yakuza Ladies: The Final Battle(1990)

    as Fuyu Segami

    Motif score: 25th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Takeshi: Childhood Days (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    as Shizue Kazama (Shinji's mother)

  • Sakura no ki no shita de(1989)

    as Kikuno Tatsumura

    Motif score: 10th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Hana no Furu Gogo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Dai Chuushingura (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • マルゴォの杯 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • My Beloved Is My Husband's Boss?! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    as Shoko

  • Masamune Shogun (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 50 episodes · Actor

  • Yakuza Ladies(1986)

    as Tamaki Awazu

    Motif score: 50th percentile of all films

  • 「松本清張サスペンス 隠花の飾り」足袋 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    as 京子

  • Gonza the Spearman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    as Osai

  • The Empty Table (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    as Kiwa Nakahara

  • No More God, No More Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • Time of Wickedness(1985)

    as Ryoko / Fukashi's mother

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Kita no hotaru(1984)

    as Yu Nakamura

    Motif score: 57th percentile of all films

  • MacArthur's Children (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    as Tome Anabuki

  • The Women of Osaka Castle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    as Chacha

  • The Politicians (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    as Ayako Teranishi

  • Sketchbook of Early Spring (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • Lullaby of Death (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    as Yukiko

  • Suspicion (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    as Ritsuko Sahara

  • Onimasa(1982)

    as Uta Kiryûin

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Island of the Evil Spirits (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    as Tomoe Goryōnin / Fubuki

  • Nukata no Ōkimi (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Kusa Moeru (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 51 episodes · as Hōjō Masako

  • The Demon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    as Oume

  • Monument to Holy Service (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    as Chiyo

  • Ballad of Orin(1977)

    as Orin

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Under the Blossoming Cherry Trees(1975)

    as Shrewish Wife

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Nagare no Fu Part I: Disturbance, Part II: Dawn (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • Himiko (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Himiko

  • Professional Killers – Assignment by Night (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1974)

    as Ochiyo

  • The Petrified Forest (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Kage no tsume (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    as Michiko

  • Sono hito wa hono no yo ni (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • Jealousy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    as Shizuko Noguchi

  • Silence (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    as Kiku

  • Law of the Outlaw (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    as Rika

  • Man on a False Flight (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • A Woman Called En (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    as En Nonaka

  • Shadow of Deception (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1971)

    as Minako Nishida

  • Fun on the Run (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    as Reiko

  • Forbidden Affair (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    as Maki Hayami

  • The Shadow Within (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    as Yasuko Koiso

  • The Rokumeikan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    as Michitose

  • The Song from My Heart (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • Red Lion (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    as Tomi

  • Lady with Seven Faces (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    as Yumiko

  • Double Suicide(1969)

    as Koharu / Osan

    Motif score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Through Days and Months (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    as Matsuko

  • Big, Big Fellow (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    as Shizuko Yamaguchi

  • The Day the Sun Rose (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    as Ayame

  • Sôshun (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    as Yuriko Andō

  • Onna no issho (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Swift Current (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Portrait of Chieko (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    as Chieko Takamura

  • 春日和 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Rebellion of Japan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    as Suzuko Kanze

  • Clouds at Sunset (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Inochi hateru hi made (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Ohana han: Dai ni bu (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    as Hana Asao

  • Ohana han (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    as Hana Asao

  • Captive's Island (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    as Aya, Daigoku's daughter

  • The Kii River (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    as Shintani Fumio, Hana's daughter

  • Warm Current (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    as Keiko Shima

  • Danshun (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    as Chizuru Sasaki

  • Sword of the Beast (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    as Taka

  • Good Evening (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    as Yuriko Shido, Akiko Sonoda

  • Snow Country (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    as Komako

  • Ane to imôto (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    as Fumiko

  • The Radish and the Carrot (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

  • The Donkey Comes on a Tank (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • The Scarlet Camellia (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    as Oshino

  • Assassination (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    as Oren

  • The Irresponsible Fool (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Destroyer Yukikaze (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    as Yukiko Tejima

  • Samurai from Nowhere (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    as Tae

  • To Your Majesty, The Emperor 2 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    as Female teacher

  • A Million Girls (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    as Yūko Ichinose

  • A Legend or Was It? (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    as Kieko Sonobe

  • Double Wedding (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    as Noriko Kosaka

  • Raised on an Island (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • The House Where Flowers Bloom (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Ano hito wa ima (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • The Hidden Profile (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Twin Sisters of Kyoto (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    as Chieko / Naeko

  • Sing, Young People! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    as Noriko Atsugi

  • Pachinko (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • An Autumn Afternoon(1962)

    as Michiko Hirayama

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Harakiri(1962)

    as Miho Tsugumo

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Records of loyal vassals (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    as Oshima

  • Gakusei geisha koi to kenka (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Glory on the Summit (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    as Misa Takahashi

  • San'nin musume kanpai! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • August Moon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    as Kyoko Mishima

  • Kono ni uruwashi (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • A Roaring Trade (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • 京化粧 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • A Good Man, A Good Day (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    as Tokiko

  • Epitaph to My Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    as Chie Higashi

  • Enraptured (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Killers on Parade (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    as Mana Arisaka

  • Uzu (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Mahiru no wana (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    as Yoshie

  • Late Autumn(1960)

    as Uketuske

    Motif score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The River Fuefuki (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    as Ume - Daughter

  • Youth in Fury (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    as Yoko Katsura

  • 松本清張サスペンス 隠花の飾り (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 142 titles, 141 of them dated from 1960 to 2025; peak year 1963.

Biggest box office

An Autumn Afternoon (1962)

$27K worldwide

Highest rated

Harakiri (1962)

Motif 99th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19602025

Peak 1963 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 Motif titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1960Screen debut· Late Autumn
  • 1962Breakout· Harakiri
  • 1974First top-billed film· Himiko

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting142 of 142: 142 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Motif score73rd

By decade

1960s62 · acting1970s23 · acting1980s23 · acting1990s21 · acting2000s7 · acting2010s4 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 8% of 12 roles
6070

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Shima Iwashita's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 81st percentile, the median of all 12; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 69th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Motif score across 13 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 13 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

Time of Wickedness (1985)

68th percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Harakiri (1962)

Motif 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 79/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 54. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Shima Iwashita work with?

People who share at least 2 of Shima Iwashita's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kôji Takada shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers