Skip to content
MovieCove
Etsuko Shihomi

Etsuko Shihomi

Actor · Born October 29, 1955 (70) · Okayama, Japan

Etsuko Shihomi (also known as Sue Shihomi) is a former Japanese actress and martial artist best known for her roles in 1970s action films. Born in 1955, she was a protégé of Sonny Chiba and a key member of the Japan Action Club. Shihomi gained fame as the lead in the "Sister Street Fighter" film series, showcasing her impressive martial arts skills. She also appeared in other notable films such as "The Street Fighter" (1974) and "The Executioner" (1974). Shihomi retired from acting in the 1980s, leaving behind a legacy as one of Japan’s pioneering female action stars.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 29, 1955 (70)
From
Okayama, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
14 on MovieCove · 50 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 15% in 30 days

What are Etsuko Shihomi's films like?

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

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
37%
Survival
23%
Self
13%
Bonds
12%
Power
6%
Society
5%
Ideas
5%
Revenge4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 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 6 · Serious 1 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 1 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 5

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 3 · Intense 8

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

Steady 0 · Shifting 11 · 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 3

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 6

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

Casual 5 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 7 of 8 analyzed roles.

Ally
7 of 8
Hero
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling
9
Tense
7
Absurd
5
Joyful
2
Manic
1
Other
5

How their films linger

Fun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • 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 Etsuko Shihomi's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 14 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Etsuko Shihomi'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

50 credits, 14 with a MovieCove page.

  • Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as 美保

  • Atami Murder Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Tomoko Mizuno

  • Cabaret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Bar maid

  • The Second Is a Christian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Kyoko

  • The Audition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Reiko Nanase

  • Shanghai Rhapsody (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • Kotaro, An Audacious Karate Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Crimson Rose

  • Legend of the Eight Samurai(1983)

    as Inusaka Keno Tanetomo

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Kabamaru the Ninja Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Yagyu Jubei Secret Quest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 26 episodes · as Yagyu Akane

  • Fall Guy(1982)

    as Actress

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • I Are You, You Am Me(1982)

    as Mitsuko Ono

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Ninja Gangsters 2: The Lullaby of Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Actor

  • Roaring Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Chihiro

  • The Moon Mask Rider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Ikuko

  • Shogun's Ninja(1980)

    as Ai-Lian

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Shadow Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 27 episodes · as Ochō

  • Peman 80 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Actor

  • The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Kindaichi's Neighbor

  • Netchū Jidai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 26 episodes · Actor

  • The Yagyu Conspiracy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 39 episodes · as Yagyu Akane

  • Message from Space(1978)

    as Emeralida

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Yagyu Clan Conspiracy(1978)

    as Yagyu Akane

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Black Jack: The Visitor in the Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Kyoko Nanbu

  • Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon(1977)

    as Lin Li

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Natsuko Kono

  • Soul of Chiba(1977)

    as Lihua

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Festival Champ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Actor

  • Sister Street Fighter: Fifth Level Fist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Kiku Nakagawa

  • Karate Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Fisherwoman

  • Dragon Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Yumi Higaki

  • Daihijôsen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • The Decisive Power of Aikido (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • The Return of Sister Street Fighter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Li Koryu

  • Karate Bullfighter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Geisha

  • Bullet Train(1975)

    as Telephone Operator

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Great Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Shinobu Yashiro

  • 13 Steps of Maki: The Young Aristocrats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Maki Hyuga (13-kaidan no Maki)

  • The Killing Machine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Miho Tomoda

  • The Executioner II: Karate Inferno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Miko Kurenai / Siu Rei

  • Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Li Koryu

  • The Street Fighter's Last Revenge(1974)

    as Huǒ Fèng

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Sister Street Fighter(1974)

    as Li Koryu

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Street Fighter(1974)

    as Nachi Shikenbaru

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

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

    Show 26 episodes · Actor

  • Bodyguard Kiba 2(1973)

    as Maki

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Murderous Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Bodyguard Kiba(1973)

    as Maki

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Kikaida 01 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 46 episodes · as Mari / Bijinda

  • Ōedo Sōsamō (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 50 titles from 1970 to 1986; peak year 1975.

Highest rated

The Street Fighter (1974)

Midcredits 79th

Most popular right now

Bullet Train (1975)

Film career

19701986

Peak 1975 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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
Acting50 of 50: 50 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score56th

By decade

1970s33 · acting1980s17 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 29% of 14 roles
7378

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 Etsuko Shihomi's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 14; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 14 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 14 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

Soul of Chiba (1977)

66th percentile spread · 26% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Yagyu Clan Conspiracy (1978)

Midcredits 82nd · 72% liked

Reviewers score the acting 60/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 67, 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.

Who does Etsuko Shihomi work with?

People who share at least 2 of Etsuko Shihomi's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Shin'ichi Chiba shares the most, 9.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles