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Yasuko Sawaguchi

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Yasuko Sawaguchi
Born (1965-06-11) June 11, 1965 (age 59)
Sakai, Osaka, Japan
OccupationActress
Years active1984–present

Yasuko Sawaguchi (沢口 靖子, Sawaguchi Yasuko, born June 11, 1965) is a Japanese actress.

Biography

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She was born in Osaka. In early 1984, the Japanese movie studio Toho Company Ltd. held their first "Toho Cinderella Audition", and Yasuko, almost 19 at the time, was chosen as the first Toho Cinderella, beating out the other 30,000 contestants.

Shortly after, she made her film debut in the film Karate Cop III: Song of the Sea, before co-starring as the heroine Naoko Okumura in The Return of Godzilla, which was the grand comeback film for the famous movie monster Godzilla. She appeared in the next Godzilla film 5 years later, 1989's Godzilla vs. Biollante, but as another character (Erika Shiragami, who later becomes Godzilla's titular adversary). At the Toho Cinderella beauty contest that same year, she took place with the 2nd Toho Cinderella, 1987 winner Megumi Odaka (who was also in Biollante, starting her Miki Saegusa character).

She has since appeared in numerous movies and television (her TV show debut was Miotsukushi [jp] in 1985), and is considered one of Japan's most beautiful and talented actresses.[citation needed] She has played scientific criminal investigator Mariko Sakaki, the lead role in the television show Kasōken no Onna (and its successor Shin Kasōken no Onna), which have aired on TV Asahi since 1999. In NHK Taiga dramas she has portrayed Iroha-hime in the Dokuganryū Masamune (1987), Akahashi Tōko in Taiheiki (1991), and Nene in Hideyoshi (1996). She starred as Rui in the jidaigeki Shin On'yado Kawasemi (TV Asahi, 1997). She has also played the villain in one episode of Furuhata Ninzaburo in 1996.

She also voiced Chihiro's mother in the original Japanese version of Spirited Away. This involved her sounding as though she was talking with her mouth full, so she initially tried biting her finger while acting. When this didn't create the desired effect, some KFC chicken was ordered into the recording studio.

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1984 Taiyō ni Hoero! Mitsuko Episode 623
1985 Miotsukushi Kaoru Lead role, Asadora [1]
1986 Tsūkai! OL Dōri Midori Yonamine Lead role
1987 Dokuganryū Masamune Irohahime Taiga drama
1988 The Old Capital Chieko / Naeko Lead role, TV movie
1990 Minamoto no Yoshitsune Shizuka Gozen TV movie
1991 Taiheiki Akahashi Tōko (Tōshi) Taiga drama
1996 Hideyoshi One Taiga drama [2]
Furuhata Ninzaburō Yorie Usami Episode 15
1997–1998 On'yado Kawasemi Shōji Rui Lead role
1999–present The Woman of S.R.I. Mariko Sakaki Lead role, 24 seasons [3]
2000 Salaryman Kintarō 2 Yōko Shinozuka
2004 Shinsengumi! Okita Mitsu Taiga drama
2012 Single Mothers [jp] Nao Kamimura Lead role
2018 Crime Scene Talks Mariko Sakaki The final episode, season 5
2019 Crayon Shin-chan Mariko Sakaki (voice) Episode 1009 [4]

Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1984 Karate Cop 3: Song of the Sea Umiko Matsumura
The Return of Godzilla Naoko Okumura [5]
1985 Four Sisters Anne Kitazawa
1986 Rokumeikan Setsuko Shimizu
1987 Film Actress Seiko Kawashima [6]
Princess from the Moon Kaya Lead role
1989 Godzilla vs. Biollante Erika Shiragami
1994 Orochi, the Eight-Headed Dragon Ototachibana
1995 The Tower of Lilies Chiyoko Miyagi Lead role
2001 Spirited Away Yūko Ogino (voice)
2007 Autumn Relics: Homage to Ozu Akiko Sasaki Lead role
2016 Kōtei ni Kochi Fuite Tomoyo Miki Lead role
2021 The Woman of S.R.I. the Movie Mariko Sakaki Lead role [7]

Awards

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Year Award Category Work(s) Result Ref.
1986 10th Elan d'or Awards Newcomer of the Year Herself Won [8]
9th Japan Academy Film Prize Newcomer of the Year The Return of Godzilla Won [9]

References

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  1. ^ "連続テレビ小説『澪つくし』". NHK. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  2. ^ "秀吉の出演者・キャスト一覧". The Television. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "科捜研の女:season24が7月3日スタート 25周年の節目に「原点回帰」 沢口靖子「科学をより分かりやすく」". Mantan-web. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  4. ^ "「科捜研の女」マリコと「クレヨンしんちゃん」共演！沢口靖子がコラボアニメ参加". Cinematoday. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  5. ^ "ゴジラ". eiga.com. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  6. ^ "映画女優(1987)". Movie Walker Press. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  7. ^ "『科捜研の女』シリーズ21年目で初の映画化 沢口靖子も驚き「本当に夢のようです」". Oricon. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  8. ^ "エランドール賞歴代受賞者一覧". All Nippon Producers Association. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  9. ^ "第9回 日本アカデミー賞特集 (1986)". eiga.com. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
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