Fujiko Yamamoto

Fujiko Yamamoto 山本富士子 Yamamoto Fujiko born 11 December 1931 is a Japanese stage film and television actress She was the winner of the first Miss Nippon Grand Prix in 1950 and appeared in over 100 films between 1953 and 1963 including works by directors Yasujirō Ozu Kon Ichikawa Shirō Toyoda and Kōzaburō Yoshimura Yamamoto was born on 11 December 1931 in Nishi ward Osaka In 1953 she made her film debut at Daiei Film and became one of the studios top actresses Yamamoto was considered one of Japans most beautiful women with in the words of film historian Catherine Russell noble features that represented the classic ideal of Japanese beauty As such she was wellsuited for costumed parts in the eras popular period dramas with her lessfrequent modern roles in films like Ozus Equinox Flower and Ichikawas Being Two Isnt Easy often shot in movie star closeups that placed her apart from the films contemporary storytelling In 1963 when her contract came up for renewal she insisted on changes The head of Daiei Masaichi Nagata refused dismissed her and prevented her from finding work at other film studios via the FiveCompany Agreement After the Daiei dismissal Yamamoto acted in the TV series Toshiba Sunday Theatre and on Fuji TV Even though she has appeared frequently on stage and on television she has not appeared in a film since then