Keiko Awaji

Keiko Awaji (淡路 恵子, Awaji Keiko, 17 July 1933 – 11 January 2014) was a Japanese film actress.

Keiko Awaji
淡路 恵子
Awaji in 1954
Born(1933-07-17)17 July 1933
Tokyo, Japan
Died11 January 2014(2014-01-11) (aged 80)
Tokyo, Japan
OccupationActress
Years active1949–2014
Height1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Spouse(s)Rolando "Bimbo" Danao, Yorozuya Kinnosuke
ChildrenEtsuo Shima, Akihiro, Kichinosuke

Notable highlights of her career were an appearance in Akira Kurosawa's Stray Dog, and a role as Kimiko in The Bridges at Toko-Ri, in which she appeared alongside William Holden and Mickey Rooney.

Her first husband was Filipino musician and actor Rodrigo "Bimbo" Danao; they had two children together. Their eldest is actor Etsuo Shima.

Her second husband was Japanese actor Yorozuya Kinnosuke, but they divorced in 1987. Their eldest son, Akihiro, died in a car crash in 1990. In 2004, their youngest son, Kichinosuke Yorozuya (Satoshi Ida), was arrested for breaking into her home, for which he served six months in prison.[1] On 16 June 2010, Kichinosuke committed suicide by jumping off her apartment in Shinjuku.[2][3]

She died of esophageal cancer in Tokyo on 11 January 2014, aged 80. [4]

Partial filmography

She has appeared in more than 160 movies since 1949:[5][6]

Year Title Role Notes
1949 Stray Dog Harumi Namiki
1953 A Japanese Tragedy Wakamaru, a geisha
1954 The Bridges at Toko-Ri Kimiko
1958 The Badger Palace
1958 A Holiday in Tokyo Bus Guide
1960 When a Woman Ascends the Stairs Yuri
1960 Scar Yosaburo
1962 Chūshingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki Otoki
1965 Illusion of Blood Omaki
1987 Tora-san Goes North Etsuko
1988 Hope and Pain Coffee shop's madame
1989 Tora-san Goes to Vienna Madam

References
  1. "Japan Entertainment News Archives for July 2004". japan-zone.com. Retrieved 2014-01-24.
  2. 淡路恵子が自殺四男の葬儀に出席せず
  3. 淡路恵子の四男萬屋吉之亮さん自殺
  4. "Actress Awaji dies". Kyodo News. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  5. http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/person/p0265320.htm accessed 29 January 2009
  6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0043396/ accessed 29 January 2009
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