Sadako Sawamura
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).
Filmography
When Winter Comes
When Winter Comes
Japan Beauty Story: A Woman Among Women
Japan Beauty Story: A Woman Among Women
The Street Car Game
as Deguchi Ume
The Street Car Game
as Deguchi Ume
The Song from My Heart
The Song from My Heart
My Brother, My Love
as Kayo Kitagawa
My Brother, My Love
as Kayo Kitagawa
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
Volcano of Station Front Plaza
Volcano of Station Front Plaza
Nunnery Confidential
Nunnery Confidential
A Comedy in Front of the Station: Fortune
as Sada Banno
A Comedy in Front of the Station: Fortune
as Sada Banno
Thoroughbred Women Gamblers
Thoroughbred Women Gamblers
The Rickshaw Man’s Son
as Taki
The Rickshaw Man’s Son
as Taki
Swift Current
Swift Current
Flower Cards Chivalry
Flower Cards Chivalry
Sayonara ressha
Sayonara ressha
Once a Rainy Day
Once a Rainy Day
The Kii River
as Ichi, housekeeper
The Kii River
as Ichi, housekeeper
A Sky Full of Tears
as Kikue Sugisaki
A Sky Full of Tears
as Kikue Sugisaki
Bad Reputation: Cherry Blossoms
Bad Reputation: Cherry Blossoms
Night Bitch
as Matsu Komazaki
Night Bitch
as Matsu Komazaki
The Passionate Spinster
as Riki Tonobe
The Passionate Spinster
as Riki Tonobe
Snow Country
as Dance teacher
Snow Country
as Dance teacher
That Cute Girl
That Cute Girl
Love on the Rainbow
as Masako Yamashita
Love on the Rainbow
as Masako Yamashita
Salaryman's Medal
Salaryman's Medal
Nami kage
Nami kage
A Fugitive from the Past
as Motojima's Wife
A Fugitive from the Past
as Motojima's Wife
Eddy Currents of Life
as Teacher Ikegami
Eddy Currents of Life
as Teacher Ikegami
My Lover
as Sugiko's aunt
My Lover
as Sugiko's aunt
Whirlpool of Flesh
as Tomiko Sekiguchi
Whirlpool of Flesh
as Tomiko Sekiguchi
Sweet Sweat
as Matsuko
Sweet Sweat
as Matsuko
I'm a Bodyguard
I'm a Bodyguard
Youth Season Continued
as Sawamura Sawako (Restaurant "Sawamura" proprietress and Keiko's older sister)
Youth Season Continued
as Sawamura Sawako (Restaurant "Sawamura" proprietress and Keiko's older sister)
Night Scandal in Japan
as Tetsu Kawabe
Night Scandal in Japan
as Tetsu Kawabe
Mr. Giant's Victory Flag
Mr. Giant's Victory Flag
Miren
as Hostess at 'Mitsuda'
Miren
as Hostess at 'Mitsuda'
At the Side of the Bridge 4
At the Side of the Bridge 4
Double Wedding
as Shigeko
Double Wedding
as Shigeko
Tale of Army Brutality
as Toki, Yahichi's mother
Tale of Army Brutality
as Toki, Yahichi's mother
The Life of Rikisha-Man
The Life of Rikisha-Man
Dokuritsu bijin-tai
Dokuritsu bijin-tai
Crazy Operation: First Move
Crazy Operation: First Move
Wakai yatsu
Wakai yatsu
Police Precinct: Backing Investigation
Police Precinct: Backing Investigation
A Salaryman's Reckless Family
A Salaryman's Reckless Family
At the Side of the Bridge 3
At the Side of the Bridge 3
A Comedy in Front of the Station: Chinese Restaurant
A Comedy in Front of the Station: Chinese Restaurant
Naite waratta hanayome
Naite waratta hanayome
Born in Sin
Born in Sin
Chûshingura
Chûshingura
Zoku aizen katsura
Zoku aizen katsura
Youth Season
Youth Season
At the Side of the Bridge 2
At the Side of the Bridge 2
Ganko Oyaji to Edokko Shain
Ganko Oyaji to Edokko Shain
Kyūjin ryokō
Kyūjin ryokō
A Comedy in Front of the Station: Onsen
A Comedy in Front of the Station: Onsen
Glory on the Summit
Glory on the Summit
Star of Hong Kong
as Sugimoto Natsuko
Star of Hong Kong
as Sugimoto Natsuko
At the Side of the Bridge
At the Side of the Bridge
Four Sisters
as Makiko
Four Sisters
as Makiko
Pig and Goldfish
Pig and Goldfish
Ottamage ningyo monogatari
Ottamage ningyo monogatari
Lady Sen and Hideyori
as Yodogimi
Lady Sen and Hideyori
as Yodogimi
Our Marriage
as Mother
Our Marriage
as Mother
Koshū
Koshū
South Pacific Waves Are High
South Pacific Waves Are High
A Roaring Trade
A Roaring Trade
Nippon no obaachan
Nippon no obaachan
Wakai yatsura no kaidan
Wakai yatsura no kaidan
The Catch
as Katsu
The Catch
as Katsu
Toilet Manager
Toilet Manager
The Estuary
The Estuary
Hikkoshi yatsure
Hikkoshi yatsure
Door of Flowers
Door of Flowers
Zero Focus
as Mrs. Sotaro Uhara
Zero Focus
as Mrs. Sotaro Uhara
Women of Tokyo
as Yuki Takeuchi
Women of Tokyo
as Yuki Takeuchi
Mahiru no wana
as Kikuyo
Mahiru no wana
as Kikuyo
Late Autumn
as Fumiko
Late Autumn
as Fumiko
Ponkotsu
Ponkotsu
Towering Waves
as Mrs. Tazawa
Towering Waves
as Mrs. Tazawa
Dare yori mo kimi o aisu
Dare yori mo kimi o aisu
Jiyūgaoka fujin
Jiyūgaoka fujin
Hero of the Red Light District
Hero of the Red Light District
Youth in Fury
as Aki Katsura
Youth in Fury
as Aki Katsura
New Third Class Executive: Husband Education
as Kaneko Tsujikura
New Third Class Executive: Husband Education
as Kaneko Tsujikura
The Dangerous Kiss
The Dangerous Kiss
Salaryman Sampei Meijiro: A Wife's Virginal Face
Salaryman Sampei Meijiro: A Wife's Virginal Face
Police Precinct Part 13
Police Precinct Part 13
Salaryman Idea Book: Concern for Success
as Okane
Salaryman Idea Book: Concern for Success
as Okane
Storm on the Silvery Peaks
as Kiyo
Storm on the Silvery Peaks
as Kiyo
Salaryman Idea Book: Man of Worrisome Episodes
as Okane
Salaryman Idea Book: Man of Worrisome Episodes
as Okane
Hito mo arukeba
as Kin Narikin
Hito mo arukeba
as Kin Narikin
Beyond the Hills
as Oiku Wada
Beyond the Hills
as Oiku Wada
The Wandering Princess
as Kazuko Sugawara
The Wandering Princess
as Kazuko Sugawara
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
as Toshiko
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
as Toshiko
Pineapple Butai
as Omine
Pineapple Butai
as Omine
The Terrible Game
as Yabuki Toyo
The Terrible Game
as Yabuki Toyo
The Human Wall
The Human Wall
Young Lovers
as Ayako Nozaki
Young Lovers
as Ayako Nozaki
Ripe and Marriageable
as Mrs. Nakazato
Ripe and Marriageable
as Mrs. Nakazato
Someday I'll Know
as Fusako Kaneko
Someday I'll Know
as Fusako Kaneko
Koko ni otoko ari
Koko ni otoko ari
Vagabond Lovers
Vagabond Lovers
The Bell of Love
The Bell of Love
Good Morning
as Kayoko Fukui
Good Morning
as Kayoko Fukui
Souls in the Moonlight III
Souls in the Moonlight III
Whistling in the Morning
Whistling in the Morning
Police Precinct: The Woman Without A Face
Police Precinct: The Woman Without A Face
Echo Mountain
as Takako Hirasawa
Echo Mountain
as Takako Hirasawa
People Waiting for Spring
as Chiyo Tsukagoshi
People Waiting for Spring
as Chiyo Tsukagoshi
Bright Young Maidens
as Chie Shibata, Sumiko's Mother
Bright Young Maidens
as Chie Shibata, Sumiko's Mother
Hanayome no teikō
as Seiko Maekawa
Hanayome no teikō
as Seiko Maekawa
Beyond the Seasonal Wind
Beyond the Seasonal Wind
Little Peach
Little Peach
Fearless Opposition
Fearless Opposition
Romance Freestyle
Romance Freestyle
Souls in the Moonlight II
as Otsuno
Souls in the Moonlight II
as Otsuno
直八子供旅
直八子供旅
Hibi no haishin
Hibi no haishin
Shinkon nanatsu no tanoshimi
Shinkon nanatsu no tanoshimi
No Advice Taken
No Advice Taken
Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen
as Tane
Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen
as Tane
The Blue Sky Maiden
as Tatsuko Ono
The Blue Sky Maiden
as Tatsuko Ono
The Beauty Expert
The Beauty Expert
Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen
as Tane
Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen
as Tane
When It Rains, It Pours
as Tane Abe
When It Rains, It Pours
as Tane Abe
Haha to ko no mado
Haha to ko no mado
A Tale of Dung and Urine
A Tale of Dung and Urine
Morning Whistling
Morning Whistling
Ôban
as Tane, Ushinosuke's Mother
Ôban
as Tane, Ushinosuke's Mother
Story of a Detective's Assistant
as Mine
Story of a Detective's Assistant
as Mine
The Rose on His Arm
as Akiyama's mother
The Rose on His Arm
as Akiyama's mother
Love on Rainbow Island
as Omatsu Hayashi
Love on Rainbow Island
as Omatsu Hayashi
Bridge of Japan
Bridge of Japan
The Three Musketeers Reunite
The Three Musketeers Reunite
Gendai no yokubô
Gendai no yokubô
Midori naru hito: kōhen ai no honryū
Midori naru hito: kōhen ai no honryū
Midori naru hito: zenpen wakare no yogisha
Midori naru hito: zenpen wakare no yogisha
A Wife's Heart
A Wife's Heart
Three Youngmen and a Dream Girl
as Taniyama’s Mother
Three Youngmen and a Dream Girl
as Taniyama’s Mother
Street of Shame
as Tatsuko Taya
Street of Shame
as Tatsuko Taya
The President's Boss
The President's Boss
So Young, So Bright
as Oine
So Young, So Bright
as Oine
Iroha Elegy
Iroha Elegy
Detour to Love
as Koto, mother
Detour to Love
as Koto, mother
The Romance of Yushima
The Romance of Yushima
Santōshain to onna hisho
Santōshain to onna hisho
Mother's Ambition
Mother's Ambition
Beautiful Days
as Imanishi's Mother
Beautiful Days
as Imanishi's Mother
Salaryman Mejiro Sanpei
Salaryman Mejiro Sanpei
Ofukuro
Ofukuro
Frame of Snow
as Satoko (Ishiyama’s wife)
Frame of Snow
as Satoko (Ishiyama’s wife)
Here Is a Spring
Here Is a Spring
Policeman's Diary
Policeman's Diary
The Cock Crows Twice
The Cock Crows Twice
The Surf
as Tomi, Shinji's Mother
The Surf
as Tomi, Shinji's Mother
The Days of Youth are Days of Sadness
The Days of Youth are Days of Sadness
Husband on the Run
Husband on the Run
Geisha Hidekoma
Geisha Hidekoma
乾杯！女学生
乾杯！女学生
All of Myself
as Kazama’s Aunt
All of Myself
as Kazama’s Aunt
My Six Favorite Men — Speedy Men
My Six Favorite Men — Speedy Men
One Night of Love
as Ohama
One Night of Love
as Ohama
Mama's Diary
Mama's Diary
The Lovers
as Mrs. Ushiyama
The Lovers
as Mrs. Ushiyama
Princess Finds Her Prince
Princess Finds Her Prince
Dreaming People
Dreaming People
Sisters
Sisters
Miniature
Miniature
Shinkon noroke bushi
Shinkon noroke bushi
One Thousand Ryo Ship in the Wind and Clouds
One Thousand Ryo Ship in the Wind and Clouds
Shanghai Rose
as Miss Shen
Shanghai Rose
as Miss Shen
Four Asakusa Sisters
Four Asakusa Sisters
Tokyo Sweetheart
as Jewelry shop proprietress
Tokyo Sweetheart
as Jewelry shop proprietress
Forbidden Path
Forbidden Path
Mother
as Osei
Mother
as Osei
Third Class Executives
as Mrs. Kuwabara
Third Class Executives
as Mrs. Kuwabara
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
The Life of Oharu
as Sasaya's wife Owasa
The Life of Oharu
as Sasaya's wife Owasa
Wedding March
as Kumako
Wedding March
as Kumako
Aizenbashi
Aizenbashi
Dorei no machi
Dorei no machi
Dancing Girl
as Mitsue
Dancing Girl
as Mitsue
The Love Letter Trial
The Love Letter Trial
A Man from Akagi
A Man from Akagi
Sarutobi Sasuke: Senjō ke goku no hi matsuri
Sarutobi Sasuke: Senjō ke goku no hi matsuri
First Love Questions and Answers
First Love Questions and Answers
Broken Drum
as Yasuko
Broken Drum
as Yasuko
Onna goroshi abura jigoku
Onna goroshi abura jigoku
The Flower That Crossed the Mountain
The Flower That Crossed the Mountain
Haha koiboshi
Haha koiboshi
Ishimatsu of the Forest
Ishimatsu of the Forest
Flame of My Love
Flame of My Love
Goblin Courier
Goblin Courier
Kōfuku no genkai
Kōfuku no genkai
The Fifth Witness
The Fifth Witness
Victory Song
as Captain's mother
Victory Song
as Captain's mother
Monpe-san
Monpe-san
Miyamoto Musashi - Battle at Han'nya Hill
as Osaki
Miyamoto Musashi - Battle at Han'nya Hill
as Osaki
Mother Never Dies
Mother Never Dies
Onna keizu
Onna keizu
Green Earth
Green Earth
Sky of Hope
as Kiyo
Sky of Hope
as Kiyo
A Man's Flower Road of Triumph
A Man's Flower Road of Triumph
The Night Before the Meiji Restoration
The Night Before the Meiji Restoration
Dancers of Awa
Dancers of Awa
Horse
as Kikuko Yamashita
Horse
as Kikuko Yamashita
Kodakara fūfu
Kodakara fūfu
Bellflower
as Mother
Bellflower
as Mother
Hideko the Cheerleader
as Tomoko, Hideko's mother
Hideko the Cheerleader
as Tomoko, Hideko's mother
Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki
as Otomi
Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki
as Otomi
Ichiyo Higuchi
Ichiyo Higuchi
Sōbō
Sōbō
Passionate Poet Ishikawa Takuboku - Hometown
Passionate Poet Ishikawa Takuboku - Hometown
The Foster Mother
as Otsuna
The Foster Mother
as Otsuna