Tokuko Sugiyama

Tokuko Sugiyama (杉山 とく子), also known by her birth name and former stage name Tokuko Sugiyama (杉山 徳子), was a Japanese actress born on August 16, 1926, in Tokyo. She is renowned for her notable roles in the film "The Town with a View of the Capsule" (キューポラのある街) and the TV dramas "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" (男はつらいよ) and "Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari Series" (渡る世間は鬼ばかりシリーズ). After completing her education at Jissen Women's Academy Second High School, Sugiyama initially worked as a nursery school teacher and in Chiba Newspaper's advertising department. Her journey into the entertainment industry began when she applied to Toho's New Face audition and later joined the Bungakuza theater company in 1946. Following two years of training, she became a part of the Haiyūza theater company in 1948 and marked her stage debut with "Tooku e no Hitsuji Goya" (遠くへの羊飼い) the same year. Sugiyama's film debut occurred in 1949 with "Shiratori wa Kanashikarazu ya" (白鳥は悲しからずや). She played significant supporting roles throughout her career. Notably, in the TV drama "Otoko wa Tsurai yo," she portrayed Tora-san's sister, Tsune, and featured in various roles in the film series. From 1990 onward, she portrayed Hanako Noda, the mother-in-law of the main character, in the TV drama "Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari." Even at the age of 66 in 1992, she continued her acting career from a nursing home in Saitama Prefecture. Sugiyama retired from the entertainment industry in 2005, with her final appearance in the 7th ...

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A Taxing Woman (1987)

Intrepid tax investigator Ryoko Itakura sets her sights on the mysterious and philandering Hideki Gondo, a suspected millionaire and proprietor of a thriving chain of seedy hourly hotels, who has for years succeeded at hiding the true extent of his assets from the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jūzō Itami
CAST:  Nobuko Miyamoto  •  Tsutomu Yamazaki  •  Masahiko Tsugawa  •  Yasuo Daichi

Intrepid tax investigator Ryoko Itakura sets her sights on the mysterious and philandering Hideki Gondo, a suspected millionaire and proprietor of a thriving chain of seedy hourly hotels, who has for years succeeded at hiding the true extent of his assets from the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jūzō Itami
CAST:  Nobuko Miyamoto  •  Tsutomu Yamazaki  •  Masahiko Tsugawa  •  Yasuo Daichi

Tales of a Golden Geisha (1990)

The film stars two of Itami's regular actors, Nobuko Miyamoto as a geisha who brings luck to the men with whom she sleeps, and Masahiko Tsugawa as her unfaithful, sometimes partner. As well as showing her relationships with the man she loves and the men who employ ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jūzō Itami
CAST:  Nobuko Miyamoto  •  Masahiko Tsugawa  •  Hiroshi Okochi  •  Ryūnosuke Kaneda

The film stars two of Itami's regular actors, Nobuko Miyamoto as a geisha who brings luck to the men with whom she sleeps, and Masahiko Tsugawa as her unfaithful, sometimes partner. As well as showing her relationships with the man she loves and the men who employ ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jūzō Itami
CAST:  Nobuko Miyamoto  •  Masahiko Tsugawa  •  Hiroshi Okochi  •  Ryūnosuke Kaneda

Horus: Prince of the Sun (1968)

Young Horus lives in a mythical Scandinavia of the Iron Age. Recovering the stolen Sword of the Sun from a rock giant, he learns he must travel to the lands of his ancestors, encountering the beautiful but enigmatic Hilda as his journey leads to a series of adventures.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Isao Takahata
CAST:  Yukari Asai  •  Mikijiro Hira  •  Etsuko Ichihara  •  Masao Mishima

Young Horus lives in a mythical Scandinavia of the Iron Age. Recovering the stolen Sword of the Sun from a rock giant, he learns he must travel to the lands of his ancestors, encountering the beautiful but enigmatic Hilda as his journey leads to a series of adventures.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Isao Takahata
CAST:  Yukari Asai  •  Mikijiro Hira  •  Etsuko Ichihara  •  Masao Mishima

Tora-san's Runaway (1970)

After an encounter with a dying yakuza's son and at his sister Sakura's urging, Torajiro attempts to change his vagrant lifestyle and become an honest worker with a steady job.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Aiko Nagayama  •  Shin Morikawa

After an encounter with a dying yakuza's son and at his sister Sakura's urging, Torajiro attempts to change his vagrant lifestyle and become an honest worker with a steady job.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Aiko Nagayama  •  Shin Morikawa

Tora-san Plays Cupid (1977)

Tora-san becomes friends with Toraya's newest tenant, a pachinko-playing electrician that goes by the nickname Watt. Tora attempts to match Watt with a young waitress.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Masatoshi Nakamura  •  Shiho Fujimura

Tora-san becomes friends with Toraya's newest tenant, a pachinko-playing electrician that goes by the nickname Watt. Tora attempts to match Watt with a young waitress.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Masatoshi Nakamura  •  Shiho Fujimura

Foster Daddy, Tora! (1980)

After a friend and business colleague dies, Tora-san visits the man's daughter, then takes her to Tokyo so she can study for a night school exam.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Ran Ito  •  Masami Shimojō

After a friend and business colleague dies, Tora-san visits the man's daughter, then takes her to Tokyo so she can study for a night school exam.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Ran Ito  •  Masami Shimojō

Stage-Struck Tora-san (1978)

Tora-san leaves Shibamata once again after an argument with his family and finds himself at an inn where he meets Tomekichi, a young man who looks up to Tora-san.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Nana Kinomi  •  Tetsuya Takeda

Tora-san leaves Shibamata once again after an argument with his family and finds himself at an inn where he meets Tomekichi, a young man who looks up to Tora-san.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Nana Kinomi  •  Tetsuya Takeda

Tora-san's Promise (1981)

Tora-san returns to his family's home to attend an elementary school class reunion. After he embarrasses himself by getting drunk and insulting all his ex-classmates, he resumes his travels. In Kyushu he meets an outspoken 18-year-old girl who becomes enamored of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Kayoko Kishimoto  •  Masami Shimojō

Tora-san returns to his family's home to attend an elementary school class reunion. After he embarrasses himself by getting drunk and insulting all his ex-classmates, he resumes his travels. In Kyushu he meets an outspoken 18-year-old girl who becomes enamored of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Kayoko Kishimoto  •  Masami Shimojō

Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san (1982)

During his travels, Tora-san gets drunk with an old man in Kyoto. Though Tora-san never fully comprehends his importance, the old man is a Living National Treasure ceramist. At his home, Tora-san makes a good impression on the old man's maid, who apparently falls ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Hidetaka Yoshioka  •  Ayumi Ishida

During his travels, Tora-san gets drunk with an old man in Kyoto. Though Tora-san never fully comprehends his importance, the old man is a Living National Treasure ceramist. At his home, Tora-san makes a good impression on the old man's maid, who apparently falls ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Hidetaka Yoshioka  •  Ayumi Ishida

Tora-san, the Go-Between (1985)

In Nagasaki, Tora-san and an acquaintance help an old woman who has fallen and injured herself. She invites them to her home where the three share a night of eating and drinking. The old woman's health deteriorates and she dies. At her funeral, Tora-san falls in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Kanako Higuchi  •  Masami Shimojō

In Nagasaki, Tora-san and an acquaintance help an old woman who has fallen and injured herself. She invites them to her home where the three share a night of eating and drinking. The old woman's health deteriorates and she dies. At her funeral, Tora-san falls in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Kiyoshi Atsumi  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Kanako Higuchi  •  Masami Shimojō

Village of Dreams (1996)

Tells of the childhood of two nine-year-old twins in a rural village in Japan after World War 2. Includes the boys relationships with their schoolteacher mother, civil servant father, elderly landlord, a rough new boy at the school, and three mysterious spirits in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yōichi Higashi
CAST:  Mieko Harada  •  Keigo Matsuyama  •  Shogo Matsuyama  •  Kyōzō Nagatsuka

Tells of the childhood of two nine-year-old twins in a rural village in Japan after World War 2. Includes the boys relationships with their schoolteacher mother, civil servant father, elderly landlord, a rough new boy at the school, and three mysterious spirits in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yōichi Higashi
CAST:  Mieko Harada  •  Keigo Matsuyama  •  Shogo Matsuyama  •  Kyōzō Nagatsuka

The Village (1976)

This appears to be a labor of love. Its about a village which is given the opportunity to put on a musical. They would have to pay the overhead and, being that they are farmers and always busy and not rich, question the wisdom and feasibility of such an idea. A ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Akira Terao  •  Atom Shimojo  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Kiyoshi Atsumi

This appears to be a labor of love. Its about a village which is given the opportunity to put on a musical. They would have to pay the overhead and, being that they are farmers and always busy and not rich, question the wisdom and feasibility of such an idea. A ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Akira Terao  •  Atom Shimojo  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Kiyoshi Atsumi

The Empty Table (1985)

One year has passed since the Kidojis' eldest son Otohiko was arrested for his part in a terrorist kidnapping, which resulted in multiple deaths. Although the parents of all the other perpetrators have either resigned from their professional positions or taken ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masaki Kobayashi
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Shima Iwashita  •  Kiichi Nakai  •  Mayumi Ogawa

One year has passed since the Kidojis' eldest son Otohiko was arrested for his part in a terrorist kidnapping, which resulted in multiple deaths. Although the parents of all the other perpetrators have either resigned from their professional positions or taken ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masaki Kobayashi
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Shima Iwashita  •  Kiichi Nakai  •  Mayumi Ogawa

The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (1959)

After handing in a report on the treatment of Chinese colonial labor, Kaji is offered the post of labor chief at a large mining operation in Manchuria, which also grants him exemption from military service. He accepts, and moves to Manchuria with his newly-wed wife ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masaki Kobayashi
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Michiyo Aratama  •  Chikage Awashima  •  Ineko Arima

After handing in a report on the treatment of Chinese colonial labor, Kaji is offered the post of labor chief at a large mining operation in Manchuria, which also grants him exemption from military service. He accepts, and moves to Manchuria with his newly-wed wife ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masaki Kobayashi
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Michiyo Aratama  •  Chikage Awashima  •  Ineko Arima

Twelve Months (1980)

A young queen requests a bouquet of snowdrop flowers for New Year's Day in exchange for a reward. One greedy woman sends her stepdaughter, whom she does not like, to look for the flowers in a cold forest, knowing the task will be impossible for her. The girl almost ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tetsuo Imazawa  •  Kimio Yabuki  •  Yugo Serikawa
CAST:  Ai Kanzaki  •  Tokuko Sugiyama  •  Mariko Mukai  •  Ichiro Nagai

A young queen requests a bouquet of snowdrop flowers for New Year's Day in exchange for a reward. One greedy woman sends her stepdaughter, whom she does not like, to look for the flowers in a cold forest, knowing the task will be impossible for her. The girl almost ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tetsuo Imazawa  •  Kimio Yabuki  •  Yugo Serikawa
CAST:  Ai Kanzaki  •  Tokuko Sugiyama  •  Mariko Mukai  •  Ichiro Nagai

A Distant Cry from Spring (1980)

The quiet life of a mother and her young son living on a farm in Hokkaido is changed by the arrival of a man who ignites flames of romance in the heart of the mother and shows her boy the importance of grit and kindness, but then he leaves with the autumn wind.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Ken Takakura  •  Hidetaka Yoshioka  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Tetsuya Takeda

The quiet life of a mother and her young son living on a farm in Hokkaido is changed by the arrival of a man who ignites flames of romance in the heart of the mother and shows her boy the importance of grit and kindness, but then he leaves with the autumn wind.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoji Yamada
CAST:  Ken Takakura  •  Hidetaka Yoshioka  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Tetsuya Takeda

Cupola, Where the Furnaces Glow (1962)

Set in Kawaguchi in the early 60s, this simple story chronicles the lives of foundry families and one girl's dreams of higher education.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kirio Urayama
CAST:  Sayuri Yoshinaga  •  Mitsuo Hamada  •  Eijirō Tōno  •  Shoichi Ozawa

Set in Kawaguchi in the early 60s, this simple story chronicles the lives of foundry families and one girl's dreams of higher education.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kirio Urayama
CAST:  Sayuri Yoshinaga  •  Mitsuo Hamada  •  Eijirō Tōno  •  Shoichi Ozawa

Metamorphosis (1986)

A sensuous movie based on a literary work. Hitomi Kuroki stars as the film’s heroine.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yōichi Higashi
CAST:  Hitomi Kuroki  •  Tatsuya Fuji  •  Yoko Aki  •  Yoshiko Mita

A sensuous movie based on a literary work. Hitomi Kuroki stars as the film’s heroine.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yōichi Higashi
CAST:  Hitomi Kuroki  •  Tatsuya Fuji  •  Yoko Aki  •  Yoshiko Mita

Mofuku no niau hitozuma futari (1986)

Yuki Kimura, a company president's secretary, agrees to marry his son Yutaka on the president's recommendation. When Yutaka breaks up with his lover, a hostess, she implies she's going to commit suicide. In a panic to get to her quickly, Yutaka punches a man at a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akira Inoue
CAST:  Wakiko Kano  •  Shinichi Ogishima  •  Shinobu Yuki  •  Atom Shimojo

Yuki Kimura, a company president's secretary, agrees to marry his son Yutaka on the president's recommendation. When Yutaka breaks up with his lover, a hostess, she implies she's going to commit suicide. In a panic to get to her quickly, Yutaka punches a man at a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akira Inoue
CAST:  Wakiko Kano  •  Shinichi Ogishima  •  Shinobu Yuki  •  Atom Shimojo

Great Jailbreak (1975)

A group of prisoners attempts to break the Abashiri prison. This film can be considered a sequel to the Abashiri Bangaichi series, written and directed by Ishii Teruo. The friendship between two men on death row, a fleeting love affair with a traveling dancer and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Teruo Ishii
CAST:  Ken Takakura  •  Nana Kinomi  •  Bunta Sugawara  •  Eiji Gō

A group of prisoners attempts to break the Abashiri prison. This film can be considered a sequel to the Abashiri Bangaichi series, written and directed by Ishii Teruo. The friendship between two men on death row, a fleeting love affair with a traveling dancer and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Teruo Ishii
CAST:  Ken Takakura  •  Nana Kinomi  •  Bunta Sugawara  •  Eiji Gō
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