
Kinuyo Tanaka
Actor · Died March 21, 1977, aged 67 · Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan
Kinuyo Tanaka (田中 絹代 Tanaka Kinuyo, 29 November 1909 – 21 March 1977) was a Japanese actress and director. Tanaka was born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. She became a leading actress at seventeen years old, appearing in Heinosuke Gosho's An Embarrassing Dream in 1927. She proceeded to take leading parts in, among others, Yasujirō Ozu's I Graduated, But... in 1929, Gosho's Aiyoku no ki in 1930, and in 1931, Japan's first talkie, The Neighbor's Wife and Mine, directed by Gosho. She had a close working relationship with director Kenji Mizoguchi, having parts in 15 of his films, including leading roles in The Life of Oharu (1952), Ugetsu (1953) and Sansho the Bailiff (1954). Their working relationship ended when Mizoguchi countered a recommendation from the Directors Guild of Japan for the Nikkatsu studio to hire her as a director. Despite this, the production of her second film as director went ahead, but Tanaka never forgave Mizoguchi, and the reasons for his behaviour are unclear. She also played Noboru Yasumoto's mother in Akira Kurosawa's Red Beard (1965). For her portrayal in Kei Kumai's Sandakan N° 8 she won the Best Actress Award at the 25th Berlin International Film Festival in 1975. Her last screen appearance was in 1976 in Kei Kumai's Kita No Misaki. Tanaka was the second Japanese woman who worked as a film director, after Sakane Tazuko (1904‐1975). Her first directing job was on the film Love Letter in 1953, and she made five further films in that role.
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Biography from TMDB.
- November 28, 1909
- March 21, 1977 (aged 67)
- Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Actor
- 10 on MovieCove · 226 credits in all
What are Kinuyo Tanaka's films like?
Across their 9 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 9
Light 1 · Serious 3 · Dark 5
Grounded 2 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 3
Gentle 1 · Charged 5 · Intense 3
Steady 4 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1
Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 0
Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 1 · Relentless 0
Casual 2 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 3
Easy watch 2 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 6
A split, not a type: Resolved 5 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1
Roles they play
Usually the Hero: 3 of 9 analyzed roles.
Show the 9 rolesHide the roles
- Shadowas Tokiko in Dragnet Girl (1933)
- Threshold guardianas Setsuko Munekata in The Munekata Sisters (1950)
- Heroas Oharu in The Life of Oharu (1952)
- Allyas Miyagi in Ugetsu (1953)
- Mentoras Tamaki in Sansho the Bailiff (1954)
- Allyas Kiyoko Hirayama in Equinox Flower (1958)
- Heroas Orin in The Ballad of Narayama (1958)
- Mentoras Orin in The Ballad of Narayama (1958)
- Heroas Osaki Yamakawa (old woman) in Sandakan No. 8 (1974)
Moods and endings
- Happy1
- Bittersweet8
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 Kinuyo Tanaka's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 10 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (9).
Subscription and free streaming for Kinuyo Tanaka'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
226 credits, 10 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

Lullaby of the Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

Cape of the North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

Let's Go, Grandma! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

Sandakan No. 8(1974)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
Sanbaba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

Tora-san's Dream-Come-True (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

Mominoki wa Nokotta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

Red Beard(1965)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Kono sora no aru kagiri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

The Scent of Incense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

Bright Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

Alone Across the Pacific (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

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

Double Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

Mama, I Need You! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

The Fencing Master (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

A Wanderer's Notebook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

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

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

Eternity of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

Her Brother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

The Wandering Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

The Three Treasures(1959)
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

Hahakogusa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

The Eternal Rainbow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

Equinox Flower(1958)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
The Ballad of Narayama(1958)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Sorrow Is Only for Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

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

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

Stepbrothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

Yellow Crow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

Flowing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

The Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

Women in Prison (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)
How Sorrowful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

This Is Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

Confession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

Forever a Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

Tsukiyo no kasa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

Shōnen shikeishū (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

House of Many Pleasures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

The Moon Has Risen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

The Woman in the Rumor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

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

Sansho the Bailiff(1954)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Love Letter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

Brother and Sister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

An Heir's Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

Ugetsu(1953)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Where Chimneys Are Seen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

Sincere Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

Her Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

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

The Ataka Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

Sisters of Nishijin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

The Life of Oharu(1952)
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films
Story of Lightning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)
Aizenbashi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

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

Miss Oyu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

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

The Inner Palace Conspiracy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)
The Actress and the Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

The Munekata Sisters(1950)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
Wedding Ring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

Yotsuya Ghost Story Part 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

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

A Hen in the Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

Women of the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

Phoenix (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

The Love of the Actress Sumako (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

Marriage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

Utamaro and His Five Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

Victory of Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)
Kanojo no hatsugen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

A Tale of Archery at the Sanjusangendo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

Victory Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

Miyamoto Musashi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

Army (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

The Man Who Has Returned (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

Air Raid of the Enemy Plane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

Kaisen no Zenya (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

A Certain Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

Record of a Woman Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

Ornamental Hairpin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

Let's Go in Good Spirits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

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

Osaka Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)
Seisen aiba fu: Akatsuki ni inoru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

Kinuyo's First Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

Weeds with flowers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

Zoku aizen katsura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

Spring Thunder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

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

The Tree of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

Mother and Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

Banchō sarayashiki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

A Man's Recompense: Part 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

A Man's Recompense: Part 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

Lady Doctor Kinuyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

Song of the Flower Basket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

The New Road: Ryota (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

The New Road: Akemi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

Men vs. Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

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

Okoto and Sasuke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

An Innocent Maid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

My Elder Brother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
That Night's Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

Osayo Koi Sugata (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Storm in the City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Honeymoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Constellations on Earth, Part 2: Constellations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Constellations on Earth, Part One: Earth Chapter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Sakura Ondo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

The Genealogy of Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Mother of the East (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Sôbô (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

Daphne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

Before the Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)
The Road to Marriage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)
Clear and Cloudy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

Dragnet Girl(1933)
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all filmsThe Cheerleading Captain's Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

Woman of Tokyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

The Dancing Girl of Izu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

The Bride Talks in Her Sleep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)
Storm Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

The Loyal 47 Ronin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Where Now Are the Dreams of Youth? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)
Love in Tokyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Shine, Japanese Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Studio Romance: A Guide to Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)
The Sun Rises from the East (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)
The Willows of Ginza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)
My Brother's a Fool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

Victory or Defeat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)
The Golden Demon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)
Woman of Suffering (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

ABC Lifeline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

ABC Lifeline: Fujieda Chapter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
The Tramp and His Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

The Neighbour's Wife and Mine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
Sisters: Part 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
Sisters: Part 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
Cry Cheerfully! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

Love, Be with Humanity: Part 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

Love, Be with Humanity: Part 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

Young Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Youth, Why Do You Cry? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Record of Love and Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

The Tale of Kinuyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Mother, Don't Tarnish Your Name (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
The Great Ship (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
The Big City: Explosion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
A Smiling Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Where Do Women Go? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

I Flunked, But... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
Song of Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

Marching On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
The Beating (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
The Father and His Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Triumphant Song of the Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

I Graduated, But... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Cheerful Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
The Model of New Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
The Big City: Labor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
The Village Where the Skylark Sings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Him and Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Echigo Lion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

The Blacksmith of the Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Symphony of Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

The Glory of the Shōwa Era (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

King of the Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
Thank You for Your Hard Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
A Wife Quits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
The Face of Humanity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
What a Handsome Man! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
Iron Virgin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

The Eternal Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
Immortal Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
The Age of Emotion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
The Village Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
If Only She... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

Chronicles of a Sea Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
Modern Warrior Training (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
Night is a Trickster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
Lovers' Suicide at Kiso (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
Sankichi the Flying Squirrel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
The Oath of a Thousand Kills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
Madame Pearl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
Song of the Border Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
Magic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
An Embarrassing Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
Takada no Baba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
The Harakiri at Tennōji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
The Basement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
Yakko no Koman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
Secret Struggle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
Flashing Blade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
Her (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
Buried Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
The Complete Story of Jirocho Shimizu, Part 2: Ashura's Revenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
Useless Button (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
The Cursed Sword (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
Love and Courage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
The Betrayed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
Torrent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

Young Master (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
Oh! Carefree, Aren't You? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
Townspeople (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
Troubled Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
No Need for Your Opinion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

Fallen Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)
Love's Snare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)
Nature Is the Judge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)
The Killing of a Hundred Men at Isshinji Temple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)
Brave Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)
Cry of the Raging Current (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)
The Little Traveling Entertainer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

Village Pasture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)
A Woman from the Genroku Era (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)
Career shape
Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 226 titles from 1924 to 1976.

Biggest box office
Ugetsu (1953)

Highest rated
Sansho the Bailiff (1954)

Most popular right now
The Ballad of Narayama (1958)
Film career
Top draw in 6 MovieCove titles.
- 1929Screen debut· I Graduated, But...
- 1933First top-billed film· Dragnet Girl
- 1954Career best· Sansho the Bailiff
Billing
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 Kinuyo Tanaka's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 97th percentile, the median of all 10; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 95th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up9
- 50th to 74th1
Shape of the crowd
None of their 10 titles divides audiences: 7 are Universally Loved.
- Universally Loved7
- Crowd Pleaser3
Reviewers score the acting 80/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 50. 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 Kinuyo Tanaka work with?
People who share at least 2 of Kinuyo Tanaka's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Yasujirō Ozu shares the most, 3.
Directors
- Yasujirō OzuShared titles: Equinox Flower (1958), The Munekata Sisters (1950), Dragnet Girl (1933)See all 3 shared titles with Yasujirō Ozu

- Kenji MizoguchiShared titles: Sansho the Bailiff (1954), Ugetsu (1953), The Life of Oharu (1952)See all 3 shared titles with Kenji Mizoguchi

Writers
- Yoshikata YodaShared titles: Sansho the Bailiff (1954), Ugetsu (1953), The Life of Oharu (1952)See all 3 shared titles with Yoshikata Yoda
- Kōgo NodaShared titles: Equinox Flower (1958), The Munekata Sisters (1950)See all 2 shared titles with Kōgo Noda

Actors
- Chishū RyūShared titles: Equinox Flower (1958), The Munekata Sisters (1950), Dragnet Girl (1933)See all 3 shared titles with Chishū Ryū

- Eitarō OzawaShared titles: Sandakan No. 8 (1974), Ugetsu (1953)See all 2 shared titles with Eitarō Ozawa

- Kyōko KagawaShared titles: The Three Treasures (1959), Sansho the Bailiff (1954)See all 2 shared titles with Kyōko Kagawa

- Toshirō MifuneShared titles: The Three Treasures (1959), The Life of Oharu (1952)See all 2 shared titles with Toshirō Mifune

Composers and cinematographers
- Ichirō SaitōShared titles: Ugetsu (1953), The Life of Oharu (1952), The Munekata Sisters (1950)See all 3 shared titles with Ichirō Saitō
- Akira IfukubeShared titles: Sandakan No. 8 (1974), The Three Treasures (1959)See all 2 shared titles with Akira Ifukube

- Fumio HayasakaShared titles: Sansho the Bailiff (1954), Ugetsu (1953)See all 2 shared titles with Fumio Hayasaka

- Kazuo MiyagawaShared titles: Sansho the Bailiff (1954), Ugetsu (1953)See all 2 shared titles with Kazuo Miyagawa

Producers
- Masaichi NagataShared titles: Sansho the Bailiff (1954), Ugetsu (1953)See all 2 shared titles with Masaichi Nagata

- Eisei KoiShared titles: The Life of Oharu (1952), The Munekata Sisters (1950)See all 2 shared titles with Eisei Koi
Mixed roles
- Isamu YoshiiShared titles: Ugetsu (1953), The Life of Oharu (1952)See all 2 shared titles with Isamu Yoshii
