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Noriko Sengoku

Noriko Sengoku

Actor · Died December 27, 2012, aged 90 · Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan

Reiko Mori (April 29, 1922 – December 27, 2012), known by her stage name Noriko Sengoku, was a Japanese film and television actress active primarily in the 1950s and 1960s. She made her film debut in 1947 and starred in several of Akira Kurosawa's early films such as Drunken Angel, The Quiet Duel, Stray Dog, Scandal, The Idiot and Seven Samurai. During the war, she was a member of the traveling theater troupe Sakura-tai , which was wiped out in the Hiroshima atomic bombing . However, she escaped the atomic bombing because she was away from Hiroshima giving birth She was highly praised as a great supporting actress, and excelled in the role of a spiteful landlady. She believed that "a supporting role is like a 'screw in each corner'; if even one screw comes loose, the whole thing falls apart."

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 29, 1922
Died
December 27, 2012 (aged 90)
From
Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
19 on MovieCove · 137 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 37 days to Oct 26Up 27% in 30 days

What are Noriko Sengoku's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 96th 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
34%
Self
20%
Bonds
19%
Survival
13%
Power
8%
Society
3%
Ideas
3%
Obsession3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 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 0 · Dark 9

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

Grounded 4 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 7 · Intense 3

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 7 · 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 1 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 0

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

Easy watch 1 · Affecting 0 · 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 5 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Herald
1 of 3
Ally
1 of 3
Threshold guardian
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Melancholic
8
Warm
3
Contemplative
3
Dread
2
Other
5

How their films linger

Thought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic3
  • 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 Noriko Sengoku's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 19 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Noriko Sengoku'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

137 credits, 19 with a MovieCove page.

  • Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad(2007)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Karaoke Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Old Woman at the Inn

  • Dr. Coto's Clinic(2003)

    Show 11 episodes · as 内つる子

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Time Limit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Out(2002)

    as Chiyoko Azuma

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Hotoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Shinako

  • Wana(1996)

    as Asa

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Stairway to the Distant Past (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Asa

  • The Most Terrible Time in My Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Asa

  • Okoge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Kinoe Yoshino

  • Hole in the Pants 5: I Found a Glittering Star! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Virgin Story 5 Only You Want to Be Cuddled (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Roppongi Banana Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • The Young Wife Rolls Her Arms! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 12 episodes · as Hirose Tatsu

  • There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Whisper of the Spirits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Leave My Girl Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Landlord

  • The Sea and Poison (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Old Woman

  • Takeshi-kun, Hai! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 30 episodes · as Nishino Kiku

  • Sotsugyou -GRADUATION- (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • Legend of the Cat Monster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Manager

  • Lowly Ronin 6: Betrayal at Yatate Pass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Lowly Ronin 2: The Spray of Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • Seducer of the Night: Terror in the summer resort, bloodsucking fangs for blonde beauties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • The Lowly Ronin 3: Duel at Dawn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • School in the Crosshairs(1981)

    as Koji's Grandmother

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The House of Evil: Dangerous Temptation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • Nurse's Husband (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • The Bride of the Ghost Lake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Toku (Housekeeper)

  • Suddenly, Like a Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Yuki's mother

  • Stray Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Attention Please (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 32 episodes · Actor

  • Bonds of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Tobacco Shop Owner

  • Blind Beast(1969)

    as Shino

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Eternal Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Actor

  • Great Incidents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

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

    Actor

  • Invasion of Astro-Monster(1965)

    as Delegate

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Masseur War Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

  • Beast Alley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

  • Kwaidan(1964)

    as Village Woman (segment "The Woman of the Snow")

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Housing Estates: The Seven Deadly Sins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as 3rd Sin

  • The Shape of Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Sweet Sweat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Okesa's owner

  • I Am a Medical Examiner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Dear Mr. Prime Minister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Ken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Kiuchi

  • Trap of Suicide Kilometer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

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

    Actor

  • Apple Blossom Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Fifty-Fifty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • A Salaryman's Reckless Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • The Weed of Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • College Champ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • This Madding Crowd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • A Woman's Identity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Hagure kigeki mandara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • The Inheritance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Sayo Iida

  • A Comedy in Front of the Station: Lunchbox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Love's Family Tree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • The Youth and His Amulet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

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

    as Shizuka

  • Sararīman yajikita dōchū (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • The Big Wave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Toru's mother

  • Aces Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Chikuhō no kodomotachi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Utamatsuri romansu dochu(1960)

    Actor

  • Jiyūgaoka fujin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • The Curio Master (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • New Third Class Executive: Travel, Women and Drinking (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Chie (Proprietress)

  • When a Woman Ascends the Stairs(1960)

    as Fortune Teller

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Fox and Raccoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Wife Tomi

  • Echo Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Osen Miyoshi

  • The Naked General (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • The Undefeated Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Don't Make a Mistake! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Actor

  • Police Precinct: The Pickpocket Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Actor

  • Geisha in the Old City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Okura

  • Hateful Things (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Actor

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

    Actor

  • Snow Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Masseuse

  • Here Is Tokyo, Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Actor

  • Evening Calm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Actor

  • Sanpei Mejiro Story: My Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Actor

  • The Face (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Hisako

  • The Life of a Uniquely Interesting Man: Katsura Harudanji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

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

    Actor

  • Shin ono ga tsumi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Osaku

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

    as Kumi

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

    as Tenko Takahashi, prisoner

  • Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Ghost Ship (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Twice on a Certain Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Police Precinct Part 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Masura no Hashitsu Sequel: It's Hard to Be a Company (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • Masura o hashutsu fukai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • The Seven Faces of Bannai Tarao, Private Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Actor

  • I Live in Fear(1955)

    as Kimie Nakajima

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Gojūen yokochō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • Here Is a Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • Policeman's Diary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Sei

  • Floating Clouds(1955)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Clan Revival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • The Devil comes and plays the Flute (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Actor

  • Seven Samurai(1954)

    as Wife of Gono Family

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Itsuko to sono haha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Chie Sasaki

  • Kisan Detective Story: The Mysterious Doll-Maker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Actor

  • An Edoite Judge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Wife Ohana

  • The Whisper of Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • 恐妻時代 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Zoku santō jūyaku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Third Class Executives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Personnel Chief's wife

  • Escape from the City of Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

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

    Actor

  • Kōruisō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • Yatsuhaka-mura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • The Lady of Musashino (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Maid in the Ono house

  • Dorei no machi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • The Idiot(1951)

    as Takako

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Weeping Doll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Ochika

  • The White Orchid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

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

    Actor

  • Bored Hatamoto Detective, Part 2: Poisoning of the Demon Lord (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • The Munekata Sisters(1950)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • City of the Spider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • White Beast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • Scandal(1950)

    as Sumie

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Four Seasons of Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Dancer-style woman

  • 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 Tsukiyo

  • Stray Dog(1949)

    as Girl

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Utako's Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Actor

  • The Quiet Duel(1949)

    as Apprentice Nurse

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • A Woman's Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Actor

  • Drunken Angel(1948)

    as Gin

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Actress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as daughter Kuniko

  • Donden Family (Pretend Divorce) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 137 titles, 136 of them dated from 1947 to 2007; peak year 1960.

Biggest box office

Out (2002)

$1.1M worldwide

Highest rated

Stray Dog (1949)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Dr. Coto's Clinic (2003)

Film career

19472007

Peak 1960 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 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.

  • 1948Screen debut· Drunken Angel

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting137 of 137: 137 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score89th

By decade

1940s8 · acting1950s57 · acting1960s39 · acting1970s4 · acting1980s16 · acting1990s6 · acting2000s6 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 15 roles
4853

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 Noriko Sengoku's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 89th percentile, the median of the 17 of 18 with a score; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 84th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 18 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th1

Shape of the crowd

None of their 18 titles divides audiences: 10 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Mixed2

Most loved · actor

Seven Samurai (1954)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 79/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 57. 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 Noriko Sengoku'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 Noriko Sengoku work with?

People who share at least 2 of Noriko Sengoku's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Akira Kurosawa shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles