Kumi Mizuno

Kumi Mizuno (水野久美 Mizuno Kumi), born Maya Igarashi (五十嵐麻耶 Igarashi Maya), is a Japanese actress. Despite the large number of films she appeared in early on in her career, Mizuno is best known for her roles in Toho's 1960's kaiju films Matango, Frankenstein vs. Baragon, Invasion of Astro-Monster, Ebirah, Horror of the Deep, and The War of the Gargantuas. Her most iconic role is undoubtedly that of the Xilien agent Namikawa in Invasion of Astro-Monster. She became such a cult figure among kaiju fans that Toho brought her back in 2002 to play a role in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and again in 2004 for Godzilla: Final Wars. Mizuno also appeared in Toho's 2009 stage adaptation of its 1960 science fiction film The Human Vapor.

2 3 4

Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965)

During WWII, Germans obtain the immortal heart of Frankenstein's monster and transport it to Japan to prevent it being seized by the Allies. Kept in a Hiroshima laboratory, it is seeming lost when the United States destroys the city with the atomic bomb. Years ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ishirō Honda
CAST:  Tadao Takashima  •  Nick Adams  •  Kumi Mizuno  •  Yoshio Tsuchiya

During WWII, Germans obtain the immortal heart of Frankenstein's monster and transport it to Japan to prevent it being seized by the Allies. Kept in a Hiroshima laboratory, it is seeming lost when the United States destroys the city with the atomic bomb. Years ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ishirō Honda
CAST:  Tadao Takashima  •  Nick Adams  •  Kumi Mizuno  •  Yoshio Tsuchiya

Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla (2002)

JSDF pilot Akane has a fateful encounter when a new Godzilla emerges in Tateyama. As a countermeasure, a cyborg named Kiryu is constructed from the remains of the original. The machine is discovered to harbor the restless soul of the original monster as Akane must ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masaaki Tezuka
CAST:  Yumiko Shaku  •  Shin Takuma  •  Kana Onodera  •  Koh Takasugi

JSDF pilot Akane has a fateful encounter when a new Godzilla emerges in Tateyama. As a countermeasure, a cyborg named Kiryu is constructed from the remains of the original. The machine is discovered to harbor the restless soul of the original monster as Akane must ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masaaki Tezuka
CAST:  Yumiko Shaku  •  Shin Takuma  •  Kana Onodera  •  Koh Takasugi

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)

Searching for his brother, Ryota stows away on a boat belonging to a criminal alongside two other teenagers. The group shipwrecks on Letchi island and discover the Infant Island natives have been enslaved by a terrorist organization controlling a crustacean monster ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jun Fukuda
CAST:  Akira Takarada  •  Kumi Mizuno  •  Chōtarō Tōgin  •  Hideo Sunazuka

Searching for his brother, Ryota stows away on a boat belonging to a criminal alongside two other teenagers. The group shipwrecks on Letchi island and discover the Infant Island natives have been enslaved by a terrorist organization controlling a crustacean monster ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jun Fukuda
CAST:  Akira Takarada  •  Kumi Mizuno  •  Chōtarō Tōgin  •  Hideo Sunazuka

Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

Humanity finally rids themselves of Godzilla, imprisoning him in an icy tomb in the South Pole. All is peaceful until various monsters emerge to lay waste to Earth's cities. Overwhelmed, humanity is seemingly saved by a race of benevolent aliens known as Xiliens. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryûhei Kitamura
CAST:  Masahiro Matsuoka  •  Rei Kikukawa  •  Don Frye  •  Akira Takarada

Humanity finally rids themselves of Godzilla, imprisoning him in an icy tomb in the South Pole. All is peaceful until various monsters emerge to lay waste to Earth's cities. Overwhelmed, humanity is seemingly saved by a race of benevolent aliens known as Xiliens. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryûhei Kitamura
CAST:  Masahiro Matsuoka  •  Rei Kikukawa  •  Don Frye  •  Akira Takarada

Gorath (1962)

In 1976, a drifting star named Gorath is discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. Although it is smaller than Earth, its enormous mass is enough to destroy the planet totally. A mission sent to observe Gorath is destroyed after the ship is drawn into the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ishirō Honda
CAST:  Ryō Ikebe  •  Yumi Shirakawa  •  Akira Kubo  •  Kumi Mizuno

In 1976, a drifting star named Gorath is discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. Although it is smaller than Earth, its enormous mass is enough to destroy the planet totally. A mission sent to observe Gorath is destroyed after the ship is drawn into the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ishirō Honda
CAST:  Ryō Ikebe  •  Yumi Shirakawa  •  Akira Kubo  •  Kumi Mizuno

Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)

Astronauts Glenn and Fuji investigate Planet X and encounter mysterious aliens known as the Xiliens, who ask Earth's people to help save their world from "Monster Zero". In exchange for borrowing Godzilla and Rodan, the Xiliens offer a cure for cancer. As Glenn ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ishirō Honda
CAST:  Nick Adams  •  Akira Takarada  •  Jun Tazaki  •  Akira Kubo

Astronauts Glenn and Fuji investigate Planet X and encounter mysterious aliens known as the Xiliens, who ask Earth's people to help save their world from "Monster Zero". In exchange for borrowing Godzilla and Rodan, the Xiliens offer a cure for cancer. As Glenn ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ishirō Honda
CAST:  Nick Adams  •  Akira Takarada  •  Jun Tazaki  •  Akira Kubo

Matango (1963)

Five vacationers and two crewmen become stranded on a tropical island near the equator. The island has little edible food for them to use as they try to live in a fungus covered hulk while repairing Kessei's yacht. Eventually they struggle over the food rations ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ishirō Honda
CAST:  Akira Kubo  •  Kumi Mizuno  •  Hiroshi Koizumi  •  Kenji Sahara

Five vacationers and two crewmen become stranded on a tropical island near the equator. The island has little edible food for them to use as they try to live in a fungus covered hulk while repairing Kessei's yacht. Eventually they struggle over the food rations ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ishirō Honda
CAST:  Akira Kubo  •  Kumi Mizuno  •  Hiroshi Koizumi  •  Kenji Sahara

The War of the Gargantuas (1966)

Gaira, a humanoid sea beast spawned from the discarded cells of Frankenstein's monster, attacks the shores of Tokyo. While the Japanese military prepares to take action, Gaira's Gargantua brother, Sanda, descends from the mountains to defend his kin. A battle ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ishirō Honda
CAST:  Russ Tamblyn  •  Kumi Mizuno  •  Kenji Sahara  •  Nobuo Nakamura

Gaira, a humanoid sea beast spawned from the discarded cells of Frankenstein's monster, attacks the shores of Tokyo. While the Japanese military prepares to take action, Gaira's Gargantua brother, Sanda, descends from the mountains to defend his kin. A battle ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ishirō Honda
CAST:  Russ Tamblyn  •  Kumi Mizuno  •  Kenji Sahara  •  Nobuo Nakamura

The Three Treasures (1959)

The legend of the birth of Shintoism. In Fourth Century Japan, the Emperor's son Ouso expects to succeed his father on the throne, but Otomo, the Emperor's vassal, prefers Ouso's stepbrother, and conspires to have Ouso die on a dangerous mission he has contrived. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Inagaki
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Takashi Shimura  •  Setsuko Hara  •  Kinuyo Tanaka

The legend of the birth of Shintoism. In Fourth Century Japan, the Emperor's son Ouso expects to succeed his father on the throne, but Otomo, the Emperor's vassal, prefers Ouso's stepbrother, and conspires to have Ouso die on a dangerous mission he has contrived. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Inagaki
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Takashi Shimura  •  Setsuko Hara  •  Kinuyo Tanaka

Kaito Ruby (1988)

Toru Hayashi is an unremarkable bachelor who lives with his mother, until one day a young woman named Rumi moves in in the apartment upstairs. Rumi is a self-proclaimed master thief, but she needs socially awkward Toru's help to actually kickstart her so-called career.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Makoto Wada
CAST:  Kyoko Koizumi  •  Hiroyuki Sanada  •  Taisaku Akino  •  Manami Fuji

Toru Hayashi is an unremarkable bachelor who lives with his mother, until one day a young woman named Rumi moves in in the apartment upstairs. Rumi is a self-proclaimed master thief, but she needs socially awkward Toru's help to actually kickstart her so-called career.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Makoto Wada
CAST:  Kyoko Koizumi  •  Hiroyuki Sanada  •  Taisaku Akino  •  Manami Fuji

Big Shots Die at Dawn (1961)

An early Okamoto yakuza film, though it's not in the Underworld series (along with The Last Gunfight and The Big Boss) despite being alternatively known as "Death of the Boss." While Okamoto did not write this film and took on the project because he was assigned ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kihachi Okamoto
CAST:  Yūzō Kayama  •  Jun Tazaki  •  Yukiko Shimazaki  •  Akihiko Hirata

An early Okamoto yakuza film, though it's not in the Underworld series (along with The Last Gunfight and The Big Boss) despite being alternatively known as "Death of the Boss." While Okamoto did not write this film and took on the project because he was assigned ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kihachi Okamoto
CAST:  Yūzō Kayama  •  Jun Tazaki  •  Yukiko Shimazaki  •  Akihiko Hirata

Gambler's Legacy (1969)

A yakuza member embarks on a trail of revenge for his murdered boss. Senzo, the successor of the Mita Family, searches for the man bearing a tattoo of a dragon who is said to be responsible for the death of their former leader.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shigehiro Ozawa
CAST:  Koji Tsuruta  •  Tomisaburō Wakayama  •  Sumiko Fuji  •  Minoru Ōki

A yakuza member embarks on a trail of revenge for his murdered boss. Senzo, the successor of the Mita Family, searches for the man bearing a tattoo of a dragon who is said to be responsible for the death of their former leader.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shigehiro Ozawa
CAST:  Koji Tsuruta  •  Tomisaburō Wakayama  •  Sumiko Fuji  •  Minoru Ōki

A Keg of Powder (1964)

In the third installment in the "Kokusai himitsu keisatsu" series, agent Jiro Kitami investigates the mysterious disappearance of a prominent scientist. Edited into Woody Allen's "What's Up, Tiger Lily?" along with the 4th film in the series, "Key of Keys".  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Tsuboshima
CAST:  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Makoto Satō  •  Yuriko Hoshi  •  Tadao Nakamaru

In the third installment in the "Kokusai himitsu keisatsu" series, agent Jiro Kitami investigates the mysterious disappearance of a prominent scientist. Edited into Woody Allen's "What's Up, Tiger Lily?" along with the 4th film in the series, "Key of Keys".  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Tsuboshima
CAST:  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Makoto Satō  •  Yuriko Hoshi  •  Tadao Nakamaru

The Weed of Crime (1962)

Toho-produced crime drama involving the drug trade.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jun Fukuda
CAST:  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Kumi Mizuno  •  Makoto Satō  •  Mie Hama

Toho-produced crime drama involving the drug trade.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jun Fukuda
CAST:  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Kumi Mizuno  •  Makoto Satō  •  Mie Hama

Operation Enemy Fort (1962)

Soldiers on the front lines in China during World War II are besieged by guerrilla attacks and attempt to destroy an enemy fort.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Senkichi Taniguchi
CAST:  Makoto Satō  •  Tôru Ibuki  •  Yōsuke Natsuki  •  Yuriko Hoshi

Soldiers on the front lines in China during World War II are besieged by guerrilla attacks and attempt to destroy an enemy fort.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Senkichi Taniguchi
CAST:  Makoto Satō  •  Tôru Ibuki  •  Yōsuke Natsuki  •  Yuriko Hoshi

Night Train (1987)

A woman faces betrayal, which tests her love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kōsaku Yamashita
CAST:  Yukiyo Toake  •  Kumiko Akiyoshi  •  Hisako Manda  •  Masahiko Tsugawa

A woman faces betrayal, which tests her love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kōsaku Yamashita
CAST:  Yukiyo Toake  •  Kumiko Akiyoshi  •  Hisako Manda  •  Masahiko Tsugawa

Warring Clans (1963)

A brave, highly principled warrior resigns his post as a body guard to the head of a powerful clan after he learns that his employers have been smuggling arms to the enemy. The remaining samurai try in vain to coerce him back, but their efforts are thwarted by ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kihachi Okamoto
CAST:  Yūzō Kayama  •  Yuriko Hoshi  •  Makoto Satō  •  Ichirō Nakatani

A brave, highly principled warrior resigns his post as a body guard to the head of a powerful clan after he learns that his employers have been smuggling arms to the enemy. The remaining samurai try in vain to coerce him back, but their efforts are thwarted by ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kihachi Okamoto
CAST:  Yūzō Kayama  •  Yuriko Hoshi  •  Makoto Satō  •  Ichirō Nakatani

47 Ronin (1962)

Thought provokingGrippingBeautiful

The story tells of a group of samurai who were left leaderless (becoming ronin) after their daimyo (feudal lord) was forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official named Kira Yoshinaka, whose title was Kōzuke no suke. The ronin avenged ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Inagaki
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Takashi Shimura  •  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Matsumoto Hakuō I

The story tells of a group of samurai who were left leaderless (becoming ronin) after their daimyo (feudal lord) was forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official named Kira Yoshinaka, whose title was Kōzuke no suke. The ronin avenged ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Inagaki
CAST:  Toshirō Mifune  •  Takashi Shimura  •  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Matsumoto Hakuō I

Rainbow Kids (1991)

A wealthy matriarch is kidnapped by a gang of three. She is insulted by the amount of money they propose to demand as ransom, and a strange interchange of roles takes place.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kihachi Okamoto
CAST:  Ken Ogata  •  Toru Kazama  •  Hiroshi Nishikawa  •  Katsuyasu Uchida

A wealthy matriarch is kidnapped by a gang of three. She is insulted by the amount of money they propose to demand as ransom, and a strange interchange of roles takes place.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kihachi Okamoto
CAST:  Ken Ogata  •  Toru Kazama  •  Hiroshi Nishikawa  •  Katsuyasu Uchida

The Killing Bottle (1967)

In Hong Kong an International Secret Police (ISP) Agent is murdered while investigating ZZZ, a group bent on assassinating the Prime Minister of Buddhabal. ISP Agents Carter and Kitami are assigned to the case. When the Prime Minister arrives in Tokyo for a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Senkichi Taniguchi
CAST:  Nick Adams  •  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Kumi Mizuno  •  Annu Mari

In Hong Kong an International Secret Police (ISP) Agent is murdered while investigating ZZZ, a group bent on assassinating the Prime Minister of Buddhabal. ISP Agents Carter and Kitami are assigned to the case. When the Prime Minister arrives in Tokyo for a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Senkichi Taniguchi
CAST:  Nick Adams  •  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Kumi Mizuno  •  Annu Mari
2 3 4