Haruko Sawamura(1901-1989)
- Actress
Sawamura was born in 1901 in Hokkaido, entering the Shochiku Cinema
School of Acting in 1920. After graduating she entered the Shochiku
Cinema Research Center, making her debut in the Center's first film,
Rojo no Reikon. Following this Sawamura featured in Yama Kururu, going
over to Shochiku Kamata upon the dissolution of the Research Center.
She then resigned from Kamata after failing to receive any major roles,
and took a leading part in Tanaka Yushutu Films' Haru no Inochi (The
Life of Spring). In 1923 Sawamura joined Nikkatsu Mukojima. Beginning
with Hakuchi no Musume (Daughter of a Fool), she became an actress
frequently cast in the role of the "tragic woman." After the Great
Kanto Earthquake, Sawamura moved to the Nikkatsu Daishogun Studios,
where she appeared in Toge no Uta. After moving to their period drama
section in 1924, she established a reputation with her appearances in
various films, including Gero (The Servant) and Dohatsu (Towering
Rage). From around 1928 the roles began to dry up, and she left the
company in 1932 at the time of the Nikkatsu strike. Sawamura was later
to return to Nikkatsu Tamagawa, but she retired after being unable to
reproduce her past form.
