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Kuniko Miyake

Kuniko Miyake

Actor · Died November 4, 1992, aged 76 · Saitama, Japon

Kuniko Miyake (三宅邦子, September 17, 1916 – November 4, 1992) was a legendary Japanese actress. She was a prominent member of director Yasujirō Ozu's recurring ensemble cast, frequently portraying compassionate mothers, wives, and family figures. Her notable filmography includes timeless cinema classics such as "Late Spring" (1949), "Early Summer" (1951), "Tokyo Story" (1953), and "An Autumn Afternoon" (1962).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 17, 1916
Died
November 4, 1992 (aged 76)
From
Saitama, Japon
Works as
Actor
Titles
12 on MovieCove · 132 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 30% in 30 days

What are Kuniko Miyake's films like?

Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 98th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 98th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
Bonds
52%
Self
24%
Society
20%
Morality
4%
Family bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTradition vs change2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 5 · Serious 3 · Dark 0

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 5 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 3 · Intense 0

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 1 · 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 4 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 3 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Contemplative
7
Melancholic
6
Warm
4
Bittersweet
4
Dread
1
Other
1

How their films linger

Bittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous1

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 Kuniko Miyake's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 12 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (10).

Subscription and free streaming for Kuniko Miyake'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

132 credits, 12 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Until the End of the World(1991)

    as Mrs. Mori

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

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

    as Iwaki's wife

  • The Makioka Sisters(1983)

    as Tominaga's Aunt

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Jirocho of Shimizu 1: The Glorious Port of Shimizu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • The Viper Brothers: Up on 30 Charges (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch(1968)

    as Sister Yamakawa

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Daring Nun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Mother Superior

  • The Final Winner? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Actor

  • The Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Setsuko

  • Sodachi zakari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • Dianas of the Campus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • The Eternal Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Under the Roof of Young Tokyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Fumi Kuwano (Fukiko's mother)

  • Police Precinct Part 22: Teenage Footsteps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Youth After School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Fumi

  • Parakin to Kyū-chan mōshiwakenai yarō-tachi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • An Autumn Afternoon(1962)

    as Nobuko

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Zoku aizen katsura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Hibari's Tale of Pathos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Mount Hakone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Tokyo's Business District (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

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

    Actor

  • Love Under the Crucifix (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Flower in a Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

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

    Actor

  • The Burdened Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Mother Setsuko

  • The Radiant Prince (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Shiroi minamikaze (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • 夕やけ小やけの赤とんぼ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as 千代崎信子

  • 北上川悲歌 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Door of Flowers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • 東京の夜は泣いている (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Kikuko, Masaya Taki's mother

  • 若い涙を吹きとばせ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Les Mesdemoiselles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Late Autumn(1960)

    as Nobuko

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Just Barely (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • White Cliffs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Young Nude (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Modern Salaryman: Bushido Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Sonoda Shizuko (Setsuko's mother)

  • Tokyo Omnibus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • Someday I'll Know (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Haruko Shiroyama

  • Etajima, the Naval Academy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • Good Morning(1959)

    as Tamiko Hayashi

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Tasogare no Tokyo Tower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • The Makioka Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • The Snowy Heron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Bright Young Maidens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Mihoko Ishizawa, Kanako's Mother

  • Love River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Family Safety (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Escapade in Japan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Michiko Tanaka

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

    as Yoshie, Wakako's mum

  • The Blue Sky Maiden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Machiko Mimura

  • Chikaiteshi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Actor

  • Love of the Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Actor

  • The Rose on His Arm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Masahiro's mother

  • Ai no kaikyō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Kobushi no hana no sakukoro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Summer in Eclipse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Akiko Mishima

  • Children Seeking a Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Shizuko Fujisawa

  • Asashio yushio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Three Youngmen and a Dream Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as President’s Wife

  • Sabakareru jūdai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Housewives Are Suing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Early Spring(1956)

    as Yukiko Kawai

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Teen-ager's Resistance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • Ejima and Ikushima (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as 天英院

  • Hanamazu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • Mother's Ambition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • The Phantom Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Hagino

  • Farewell, Innocence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Mother Shizuko

  • Tomorrow's Happiness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Masae Taki

  • Farewell Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • Haru no uzumaki(1954)

    Actor

  • Brotherly Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

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

    Actor

  • Firefly Grass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • Youth’s Romance Seat: Sitting on the Green Grass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • Teenage Secrets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • Tree of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • Four Mothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • Bannai Tarao Series Demon King of Kyokumadan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

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

    Actor

  • Tokyo Story(1953)

    as Fumiko Hirayama

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Wild Geese (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Osada

  • Zoku jūdai no seiten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Hisako Yasutomi

  • Haha nami (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Actor

  • Kanojo no tokudane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

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

    Actor

  • The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice(1952)

    as Chizu Yamauchi

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Sado Island Elegy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Hibari's Circus: The Sad Little Dove (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

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

    Actor

  • Youth of the Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

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

    as Kayo

  • A Meeting of Youths (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Muneko

  • Early Summer(1951)

    as Fumiko Mamiya

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Ah, Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • I Yearn for Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • Homecoming (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • Battle of Roses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • Alps Story: The Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • A Female Doctor's Examination Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Mrs. Kawamura

  • 獄門島 総集篇 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • Gokumon Jima: Kaimei Hen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Actor

  • Island of Horrors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Sanae

  • Late Spring(1949)

    as Akiko Miwa

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Late Night Confession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Actor

  • Flame of My Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Toshiko Kishida

  • The Portrait (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Kumiko

  • Fujisancho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Actor

  • You and I (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Kubo's wife

  • Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Kazuko

  • Introspection Tower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Ms. Natsumura

  • Okinu and Banto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Actor

  • Namida no Sekinin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Actor

  • Haha o tataeru uta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Actor

  • New Woman Question and Answer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Actor

  • A Brother and His Younger Sister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Akiko Mamiya

  • Okayo's Preparedness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Osumi - Dance master

  • Family Diary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Kikue Hara

  • Half Virgin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Actor

  • Queen of the Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Actor

  • The Trio's Engagements (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Junko

  • The Golden Demon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mitsue Akagashi

  • Renai muteki kantai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Actor

  • Housewife Camellia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Actor

  • Boy Aviation Pilots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Actor

  • Burden of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Actor

  • Poppy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Fujio Kono

  • 一つの貞操 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Actor

  • Eclipse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Tomone's friend

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 132 titles from 1934 to 1991; peak year 1961.

Biggest box office

Tokyo Story (1953)

$110K worldwide

Highest rated

Late Spring (1949)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

19341991

Peak 1961 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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.

  • 1941Screen debut· Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting132 of 132: 132 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score97th

By decade

1930s16 · acting1940s12 · acting1950s65 · acting1960s34 · acting1970s1 · acting1980s3 · acting1990s1 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 12 roles
4156

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 Kuniko Miyake's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 97th percentile, the median of the 11 of 12 with a score; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 97th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

97thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

96thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 11 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th1

Shape of the crowd

None of their 11 titles divides audiences: 8 are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Crowd Pleaser3

Most loved · actor

Late Spring (1949)

Midcredits 98th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 83/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 85, detractors 41. 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 Kuniko Miyake's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 10 · minimalMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Kuniko Miyake work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kuniko Miyake's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Yasujirō Ozu shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers