Japanese actress born in Otaru, Hokkaido, in 1945, best known as the muse of the director Juzo Itami, her husband. She led his run of internationally beloved satires, from The Funeral (1984) to Tampopo (1985), A Taxing Woman (1987) and Minbo (1992). Her mix of comic precision and steely femininity in those films remains a benchmark of the 1980s Japanese new comedy. She has continued acting on Japanese screens since Itami’s death, expanding her range in later films by directors including Naomi Kawase. Read more