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Kyōko Kagawa

Kyōko Kagawa

Actor · Born December 5, 1931 (94) · Aso [now Namegata], Ibaraki, Japan

Kyōko Kagawa (香川 京子 Kagawa Kyōko, born 5 December 1931) is a Japanese actress. She has appeared in leading and supporting roles in such films as Akira Kurosawa's The Bad Sleep Well and High and Low, Yasujiro Ozu's Tokyo Story, and Kenji Mizoguchi's Sansho the Bailiff. She won the "New Face Nomination" sponsored by the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper out of about 6,000 applicants and joined Shintoho. She was also taking entrance exams for a regular company at the same time, and her final interview and the final exam for the New Faces camera test overlapped, but with her mother's advice, she decided to pursue acting. After appearing in Red Beard in 1965 , she gave birth to a child and accompanied her husband to New York where he was posted overseas, leaving the film industry for about three years. She returned to Japan in 1968. As film began to decline, she expanded her field of work to include television dramas and stage productions. She was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1998 and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in 2004 .

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 5, 1931 (94)
From
Aso [now Namegata], Ibaraki, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
13 on MovieCove · 122 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 38 days to Oct 27Down 8% in 30 days

What are Kyōko Kagawa's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 97th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 99th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
22%
Bonds
19%
Power
18%
Self
15%
Society
13%
Survival
10%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 3 · Serious 4 · Dark 6

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

Grounded 6 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 7 · Intense 4

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 6 · 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 2 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 3 · 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 2 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 3

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 3 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 7

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 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 7 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 7
Hero
1 of 7
Herald
1 of 7
Mentor
1 of 7
Shapeshifter
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
8
Contemplative
6
Tense
3
Warm
4
Triumphant
3
Other
7

How their films linger

Thought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic1

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 Kyōko Kagawa's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 11 of their 13 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (9).

Subscription and free streaming for Kyōko Kagawa's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits 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

122 credits, 13 with a MovieCove page; 10 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Shimamori Tower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Mo-Ruerani (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Fukiko

  • Omotenashi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Shimizu-sensei

  • Tenshi no Iru Toshokan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Reiko Ashitaka

  • Beautiful 2016 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Somewhere in Kamakura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Tokyo Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Michiko

  • Silent Poor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 9 episodes · as Fusae Eda

  • The Intermission (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Actor

  • Tokyo Rendezvous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Fujiko Natsumi

  • Red Whale, White Snake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Imo Tako Nankin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 151 episodes · as 花岡和代

  • Bluestockings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Heaven's Bookstore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Sachi Hiyama

  • Kokoro no Koukyougaku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as (Voice)

  • 明るいほうへ 明るいほうへ -童謡詩人 金子みすゞ- (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • After Life(1998)

    as Kyoko Watanabe

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Futarikko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 150 episodes · Actor

  • Shall We Dance?(1996)

    as Keiko Kishikawa

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Kura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Deep River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Isobe's wife

  • Madadayo(1993)

    as Professor's Wife

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Tale of Genji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Shikibu monogatari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Isa Otomo

  • Song of the Spring Pony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • Tora-san's Dream of Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as 圭子

  • Have Wings on Your Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • Mizuiro no toki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 156 episodes · as 知子の母・松宮房子

  • The Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Ichiko Mima

  • Red Beard(1965)

    as Madwoman ("The Mantis")

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Giant's Victory Flag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • The Prodigal Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as His Sister

  • Life of a Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 39 episodes · as Akiyama Shizu

  • High and Low(1963)

    as Reiko Gondo

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Daughters of the Saotome Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Love at the Fogged Harbor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Till Tomorrow Is (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Natsuko

  • Girls of the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Mrs. Shima

  • Mothra(1961)

    as Michi Hanamura

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Death on the Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Masako Iwase

  • Daredevil in the Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Ai

  • Scars of Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • The Bad Sleep Well(1960)

    as Yoshiko Nishi

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • My Friend Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Lord of Red Banner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • The Chivalrous Youth of Great Edo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • The Three Treasures(1959)

    as Princess Miyazu

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Fuunji Oda Nobunaga(1959)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Human Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Fumiko

  • The Bell of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • The Canary Cage, Spellbound Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • Gambler and the Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Princess Kiku

  • The Footmark of a Snow Fairy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • The Outsiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Yukiko Saeki

  • I Am Three People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • His Scarlet Cloak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • The Child Writers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Fumio's Teacher

  • Zenigata Heiji torimono hikae: Onibi tōrō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Little Peach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Anzukko

  • Holiday in Tokyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Woman Unveiled (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Kampai! Miai Kekkon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Emiko Toda

  • Yagyu Secret Scrolls: Ninjitsu - Part II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Oki

  • On This Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Fuyuko

  • The Oil-Hell Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Actor

  • The Lower Depths(1957)

    as Okayo, Osugi's Sister

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Shadow Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Fusako

  • Yagyu Secret Scrolls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Oki

  • An Osaka Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Onatsu

  • A Man in the Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Akiko

  • New Tale of Genji: Shizuka and Yoshitsune (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • A Strong Wind Blows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Takako Hiyoshi

  • Shozo, a Cat and Two Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Fukuko

  • Women in Prison (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Taeko Hara, prisoner

  • Morishige, where are you going? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Megumi Mori

  • Nezumi Kozō shinobi komi hikae (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • 流轉 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as お秋

  • The Wife is a University Student (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Keiko Hiyoshi (Student Wife)

  • Girl's Reform School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Rainy Night Duel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Shizue Amaji

  • Sudden Rain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Ayako (Fumiko's niece)

  • Love at Forty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • Christ in Bronze (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Mónica

  • If Indeed One Loves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Kuniko (segment 2)

  • The Shiinomi School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Kayoko Atsumi

  • Nonki saiban (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • Dawn Chorus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • Ginji of the Seven Faces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • A Story from Chikamatsu(1954)

    as Osan

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Mother's First Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • Tekka bugyō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • Tomoshibi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • Five Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • The Glorious Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • Sansho the Bailiff(1954)

    as Anju

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Hanran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • Love Letter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Yasuko

  • Tokyo Story(1953)

    as Kyoko Hirayama

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Moth Lamp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Actor

  • Aiyoku no sabaki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Fujikawa Motoko

  • Tower of Lilies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Fumi Uehara

  • Kanpai! Tokyo Musume (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Lightning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Tsubomi

  • Muntinlupa no yo wa fukete (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Mitsuko Kawai

  • Kantarou zukiyo-uta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Daigaku no kotengu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Toshiko Fukuhara

  • Kin no tamago: Golden Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • A Ripple in a Morning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Sister

  • August 15, 1945, New Dawn For Japan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Kimiko Sasaki

  • Chakkari fujin to ukkari fujin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Lil's Return from Shanghai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Lil Takemoto / Katsuko Suzuki

  • Man in the Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Tomi Tsuboi

  • Karate Sanshiro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • Who Knows a Woman's Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • Akatsuki no Kyūshū (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Yukie Murata

  • Farewell to the Highland Station (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Yuki

  • Ginza Cosmetics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Kyôko

  • Tenpo Suikoden - Otone's Night Fog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as O-Rie

  • Snow-Flake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Itakura's sister

  • Mado Kara Tobidase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Mariko Fujieda

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 122 titles from 1950 to 2022; peak year 1960.

Biggest box office

After Life (1998)

$802K worldwide

Highest rated

High and Low (1963)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19502022

Peak 1960 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 MovieCove 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting122 of 122: 122 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score96th

By decade

1950s75 · acting1960s17 · acting1970s4 · acting1980s1 · acting1990s8 · acting2000s7 · acting2010s7 · acting2020s3 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 0% of 13 roles
5262

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 Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, 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 Kyōko Kagawa's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 96th percentile, the median of all 13; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 95th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

95thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

91stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

83rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 13 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th3

Shape of the crowd

None of their 13 titles divides audiences: 8 are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Crowd Pleaser5

Most loved · actor

High and Low (1963)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 81/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 84, detractors 53. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; 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 Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove 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.

Is Kyōko Kagawa's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 35 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles5–33 · median 10 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 6 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 40 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 50 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Kyōko Kagawa work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kyōko Kagawa's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tomoyuki Tanaka shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles