
Sadako Sawamura
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Sadako Sawamura (沢村貞子, Sawamura Sadako; 11 November 1908 – 16 August 1996) was a Japanese stage and film actress and essayist who appeared in more than 350 films between 1935 and 1976. Sawamura was born in the Asakusa district of Tokyo. After dropping out of Japan Women's University, she was active in left-wing theatre groups and was twice arrested for her political beliefs, spending over a year in prison with much of it in solitary confinement. She started acting in films in 1934, first at the Nikkatsu studio, later at Toho. She appeared in many supporting roles after the war, often working with director Mikio Naruse. Sawamura also acted in films by directors including Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujirō Ozu, Keisuke Kinoshita and Kaneto Shindō. Her brothers were the actors Daisuke Katō and Kunitarō Sawamura. Her autobiography Watashi no Asakusa has been translated into English as My Asakusa. She was married three times: to actor Shigeo Imamura (1931-33), actor Kamatari Fujiwara (1936-46) and subsequently to film magazine editor and critic Yasuhiko Ohashi (1968-96, though domestic partners from 1946 onward).
Known for
Credits

Good Morning (1959)
as Kayoko Fukui

Chûshingura (1962)
Actor

Late Autumn (1960)
as Fumiko

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (1960)
as Toshiko

A Fugitive from the Past (1965)
as Motojima's Wife

The Life of Oharu (1952)
as Sasaya's wife Owasa

The Wandering Princess (1960)
as Kazuko Sugawara

Late Chrysanthemums (1954)
as Nobu

Street of Shame (1956)
as Tatsuko Taya

Untamed Woman (1957)
as Oshima's aunt

A Wife's Heart (1956)
Actor

Nunnery Confidential (1968)
Actor

Girls of the Night (1961)
as Kitamura

Little Peach (1958)
Actor

New Third Class Executive: Husband Education (1960)
as Kaneko Tsujikura

My Brother, My Love (1968)
as Kayo Kitagawa

Tokyo Sweetheart (1952)
as Jewelry shop proprietress

The Catch (1961)
as Katsu

Four Sisters (1962)
as Makiko

The White Orchid (1951)
Actor

Zero Focus (1961)
as Mrs. Sotaro Uhara

Snow Country (1965)
as Dance teacher

Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen (1957)
as Tane

Ôban (1957)
as Tane, Ushinosuke's Mother

Tale of Army Brutality (1963)
as Toki, Yahichi's mother

The Rickshaw Man’s Son (1967)
as Taki

Forbidden Path (1952)
Actor

The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze (1968)
Actor

Mother (1952)
as Osei

Whirlpool of Flesh (1964)
as Tomiko Sekiguchi

Crazy Operation: First Move (1963)
Actor

The Blue Sky Maiden (1957)
as Tatsuko Ono

Firefly Light (1958)
Actor

The Rose on His Arm (1956)
as Akiyama's mother

The Human Wall (1959)
Actor

The Surf (1954)
as Tomi, Shinji's Mother

Glory on the Summit (1962)
Actor

Hero of the Red Light District (1960)
Actor

Elegy (1951)
Actor

All of Myself (1954)
as Kazama’s Aunt

A Story from Echigo (1964)
Actor

Bridge of Japan (1956)
Actor

Born in Sin (1962)
Actor

The Woman Who Touched the Legs (1952)
Actor

Mr. Lucky (1952)
Actor

直八子供旅 (1958)
Actor

So Young, So Bright (1955)
Actor

Beautiful Days (1955)
as Imanishi's Mother

South Pacific Waves Are High (1962)
Actor

A Comedy in Front of the Station: Onsen (1962)
Actor

The Kii River (1966)
as Ichi, housekeeper

Zoku aizen katsura (1962)
Actor

A Comedy in Front of the Station: Chinese Restaurant (1962)
Actor

Sweet Sweat (1964)
as Matsuko
Onna keizu (1942)
Actor

The Street Car Game (1969)
as Deguchi Ume

Souls in the Moonlight II (1958)
as Otsuno

Japan Beauty Story: A Woman Among Women (1975)
Actor

Ofukuro (1955)
Actor

Love on Rainbow Island (1956)
as Omatsu Hayashi

Miniature (1953)
Actor

Souls in the Moonlight III (1959)
Actor

Jiyūgaoka fujin (1960)
Actor

A Roaring Trade (1962)
Actor

Nami kage (1965)
Actor

A Sky Full of Tears (1966)
as Kikue Sugisaki

Someday I'll Know (1959)
as Fusako Kaneko

Towering Waves (1960)
as Mrs. Tazawa

Star of Hong Kong (1962)
as Sugimoto Natsuko

Beyond the Hills (1960)
as Oiku Wada

Ripe and Marriageable (1959)
as Mrs. Nakazato

Night Scandal in Japan (1964)
as Tetsu Kawabe

Love Letter (1953)
as Bookstor's owner

At the Side of the Bridge 4 (1963)
Actor

The End of the Night (1953)
Actor

Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki (1939)
as Otomi

The Valley Between Love and Death (1954)
Actor

Tokyo Profile (1953)
as Kiyoko
Dare yori mo kimi o aisu (1960)
Actor
Beyond the Hills (1950)
Actor

Kyūjin ryokō (1962)
Actor

Spring Snow (1950)
Actor

The President's Boss (1956)
Actor

The President Talks Bank (1956)
Actor

Horse (1941)
as Kikuko Yamashita

The Foster Mother (—)
Actor

Sisters (1953)
Actor

Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen (1957)
as Tane

Women of Tokyo (1961)
as Yuki Takeuchi
Once a Rainy Day (1966)
Actor

Love on the Rainbow (1965)
as Masako Yamashita

Youth Season (1962)
Actor

Police Precinct: The Woman Without A Face (1959)
Actor

Double Wedding (1963)
as Shigeko

At the Side of the Bridge (1962)
Actor

Dancing Girl (1951)
as Mitsue

Wedding March (1951)
as Kumako

Salaryman Idea Book: Man of Worrisome Episodes (1960)
as Okane

I'm a Bodyguard (1964)
Actor

Romance Express (1961)
Actor

The Romance of Yushima (1955)
Actor

Ghosts Die at Dawn (1948)
as Takeko

Flower Cards Chivalry (1967)
Actor

Here Is a Spring (1955)
Actor

Night Bitch (1966)
as Matsu Komazaki
Santōshain to onna hisho (1955)
Actor

Youth in Fury (1960)
as Aki Katsura

Beyond the Seasonal Wind (1958)
Actor

Pig and Goldfish (1962)
Actor

Midori naru hito: kōhen ai no honryū (1956)
Actor

Flower in a Storm (1962)
Actor

Mr. Giant's Victory Flag (1964)
Actor

Flame of My Love (1949)
Actor

Iroha Elegy (1955)
Actor

At the Side of the Bridge 2 (1962)
Actor

Goblin Courier (1949)
Actor

Geisha Hidekoma (1954)
Actor

Salaryman Mejiro Sanpei (1955)
Actor

Kin no tamago: Golden Girl (1952)
Actor

Pineapple Butai (1959)
as Omine

When Winter Comes (1985)
Actor

Wedding Day (1940)
Actor

A Man from Akagi (1950)
Actor

Guntō nanban-sen (1950)
Actor

Salaryman's Medal (1965)
Actor

Eddy Currents of Life (1964)
as Teacher Ikegami
A Comedy in Front of the Station: Fortune (1968)
as Sada Banno

Bright Young Maidens (1958)
as Chie Shibata, Sumiko's Mother

Koshū (1962)
Actor
Ichiyo Higuchi (1939)
Actor

One Thousand Ryo Ship in the Wind and Clouds (1952)
Actor

Shanghai Rose (1952)
as Miss Shen

Hikkoshi yatsure (1961)
Actor

Itsuko to sono haha (1954)
as Fusako Tashiro

That Cute Girl (1965)
Actor

Koko ni otoko ari (1959)
Actor

The Passionate Spinster (1965)
as Riki Tonobe

The Life of Rikisha-Man (1963)
Actor

Awamori-kun uridasu (1961)
Actor

Triangle Moods (1961)
as Kame

Nippon no obaachan (1962)
Actor

Lady Sen and Hideyori (1962)
as Yodogimi

A Man's Flower Road of Triumph (1941)
Actor

Princess Finds Her Prince (1953)
Actor

Whistling in the Morning (1959)
Actor

乾杯!女学生 (1954)
Actor

At the Side of the Bridge 3 (1963)
Actor

The Terrible Game (1959)
as Yabuki Toyo

Dreaming People (1953)
Actor

Young Tree (1956)
as Kuniko's mother (uncredited)

The Cast-Off (1959)
as Fumiko

The Betrothed (1957)
Actor

Ottamage ningyo monogatari (1962)
Actor

The Adorable Trio (1957)
as Sadako Kamiya

Storm on the Silvery Peaks (1960)
as Kiyo

Shinkon nanatsu no tanoshimi (1958)
Actor

Policeman's Diary (1955)
Actor

Broken Drum (1949)
as Yasuko

The Blue Revolution (1953)
Actor

Miren (1963)
as Hostess at 'Mitsuda'

Police Precinct: Backing Investigation (1963)
Actor

Dancers of Awa (1941)
Actor
Romance Freestyle (1958)
Actor

Boss Takes to the Road (1961)
as Kimie Morikawa

Fearless Opposition (1958)
Actor

Mother Never Dies (1942)
Actor

Lemon in the Rainbow (1968)
as Setsuko Sasaki

Green Earth (1942)
Actor

Bellflower (1940)
as Mother

Wakai yatsura no kaidan (1961)
Actor

Sky of Hope (1942)
as Kiyo

The Days of Youth are Days of Sadness (1954)
Actor

A Pebble by the Wayside (1938)
as Sumie

Dokuritsu bijin-tai (1963)
Actor

Adolescence (1952)
as Natsu, Mayumi's mother

Four Asakusa Sisters (1952)
Actor

Sanctuary (1961)
Actor

Avalanche (1956)
Actor

In Search of Mother (1962)
as Otora

Ejima and Ikushima (1955)
as 玉椿

Next Door to Happiness (1955)
Actor

One Step to Happiness (1958)
Actor

Our Marriage (1962)
as Mother

Midori naru hito: zenpen wakare no yogisha (1956)
Actor

Police Precinct Part 13 (1960)
as Madam next to Hikariso

No Advice Taken (1958)
Actor

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha and the Girl of Osaka (1962)
as Otake

First Love Questions and Answers (1950)
Actor

Ganko Oyaji to Edokko Shain (1962)
Actor

The Beauty Expert (1957)
Actor

Mahiru no wana (1960)
as Kikuyo

Third Class Executives (1952)
as Mrs. Kuwabara

The Cock Crows Twice (1954)
Actor

Travels to the East (1940)
as Apprentice Geisha

The Big Ambition (1955)
as Sumie Shida

Curry Rice (1962)
Actor

The Naked General (1958)
Actor

Three Youngmen and a Dream Girl (1956)
as Taniyama’s Mother

Jiruba no Tetsu (1950)
Actor

Victory Song (1945)
as Captain's mother

Salaryman Idea Book: Concern for Success (1960)
as Okane

Naite waratta hanayome (1962)
Actor

Morning Whistling (1957)
Actor

Thoroughbred Women Gamblers (1967)
Actor

Hibi no haishin (1958)
Actor

Passionate Poet Ishikawa Takuboku - Hometown (1936)
Actor

A Tale of Dung and Urine (1957)
Actor

The Estuary (1961)
Actor

Gendai no yokubô (1956)
Actor

Door of Flowers (1961)
Actor

Ponkotsu (1960)
Actor

Hideko the Cheerleader (1940)
as Tomoko, Hideko's mother

Ishimatsu of the Forest (1949)
Actor

When It Rains, It Pours (1957)
as Tane Abe

Swift Current (1967)
Actor

Echo Mountain (1959)
as Takako Hirasawa

Story of a Detective's Assistant (1957)
as Mine

Youth Season Continued (1964)
as Sawamura Sawako (Restaurant "Sawamura" proprietress and Keiko's older sister)

The Dangerous Kiss (1960)
Actor

Haha to ko no mado (1957)
Actor
Sōbō (1937)
Actor

Oka wa hanazakari (1952)
Actor

Young Lovers (1957)
Actor

Toilet Manager (1961)
Actor

Twenty-One Fingerprints (1948)
Actor

Kōfuku no genkai (1948)
Actor
Kodakara fūfu (1941)
Actor

Frame of Snow (1955)
as Satoko (Ishiyama’s wife)

Hito mo arukeba (1960)
as Kin Narikin

Geisha Konatsu (1954)
as Kimiso's madame

Mother's Ambition (1955)
Actor

The Song from My Heart (1969)
Actor

The Flower That Crossed the Mountain (1949)
Actor
The New Tange Sazen: The Chapter of the Two-Armed Swordsman (1939)
Actor

Miyamoto Musashi - Battle at Han'nya Hill (1943)
as Osaki

The Three Musketeers Reunite (1956)
Actor

The Lovers (1953)
as Mrs. Ushiyama

Young Lovers (1959)
as Ayako Nozaki

Onna no hashi (1961)
Actor

Cascading White Threads (1956)
Actor

Detour to Love (1955)
as Koto, mother

Zoku santō jūyaku (1952)
Actor

Bad Reputation: Cherry Blossoms (1966)
Actor

Vagabond Lovers (1959)
Actor

お月様には悪いけど (1954)
as 鶴田はと子

The Lady Was Pawn (1956)
Actor
Osanaki mono no hata (1939)
as Mother

Sayonara ressha (1966)
Actor

Mama's Diary (1954)
Actor

Salaryman Sampei Meijiro: A Wife's Virginal Face (1960)
Actor

Yakyukyō jidai (1948)
Actor

Hanayome no teikō (1958)
as Seiko Maekawa

The Night Before the Meiji Restoration (1941)
Actor

One Night of Love (1954)
as Ohama

People Waiting for Spring (1959)
as Chiyo Tsukagoshi

Youth (1955)
Actor

Onna no ryūkō (1950)
Actor

Taiyou wo Daku Onna (1964)
Actor

The Love Letter Trial (1951)
Actor





