Takako Irie
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese film actress. Born in Tokyo
into the aristocratic Higashibōjō family (her birth name was ), she graduated from Bunka Gakuin before debuting as an actress at Nikkatsu
in 1927. She became a major star, even starting her own production company, Irie Productions, in 1932. One of Kenji Mizoguchi
's silent film
masterpieces, The Water Magician
, was produced at that company with Irie starring. She appeared in many advertisements, as well as on fans and other commercial goods. Irie was also the subject of a folding screen painting by Nihonga
artist Nakamura Daizaburō, which appeared in the 1930 Teiten (Imperial Exhibition), and which is today in the collection of the Honolulu Academy of Arts
; toy dolls were also produced based on this image.
In the postwar period, Irie became known as a "ghost cat
actress" (bakeneko joyū) for appearing in a series of kaidan
(ghost story) movies. One of her late memorable roles was in Akira Kurosawa
's Sanjuro
, where she plays Mutsuta's wife, the lady who warns Sanjuro (Toshirō Mifune
) that "the best sword stays in its scabbard".
Her husband, Michiyoshi Tamura, was a film producer who disappeared without a trace. Their daughter, Wakaba Irie, is also an actress. Irie's brother, Yasunaga Higashibōjō, was a film director and screenwriter
.
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
into the aristocratic Higashibōjō family (her birth name was ), she graduated from Bunka Gakuin before debuting as an actress at Nikkatsu
Nikkatsu
is a Japanese entertainment company well known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio. The name Nikkatsu is an abbreviation of Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally "Japan Cinematograph Company".-History:...
in 1927. She became a major star, even starting her own production company, Irie Productions, in 1932. One of Kenji Mizoguchi
Kenji Mizoguchi
Kenji Mizoguchi was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. His film Ugetsu won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and appeared in the Sight & Sound Critics' Top Ten Poll in 1962 and 1972. Mizoguchi is renowned for his mastery of the long take and mise-en-scène...
's silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
masterpieces, The Water Magician
The Water Magician
is a 1933 black and white Japanese silent film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi and based on a story by Kyōka Izumi. It is one of the most popular titles from the silent film work of Mizoguchi and tells a tragic love story which realistically depicts the beauty and strength of the women of the Meiji...
, was produced at that company with Irie starring. She appeared in many advertisements, as well as on fans and other commercial goods. Irie was also the subject of a folding screen painting by Nihonga
Nihonga
or literally "Japanese-style paintings" is a term used to describe paintings that have been made in accordance with traditional Japanese artistic conventions, techniques and materials...
artist Nakamura Daizaburō, which appeared in the 1930 Teiten (Imperial Exhibition), and which is today in the collection of the Honolulu Academy of Arts
Honolulu Academy of Arts
The Honolulu Academy of Arts is an art museum in Honolulu in the state of Hawaii. Since its founding in 1922 by Anna Rice Cooke and opening April 8, 1927, its collections have grown to over 40,000 works of art.-Description:...
; toy dolls were also produced based on this image.
In the postwar period, Irie became known as a "ghost cat
Bakeneko
A is, in Japanese folklore, a cat with supernatural abilities akin to those of the fox or raccoon dog. A cat may become a bakeneko in a number of ways: it may reach a certain age, be kept for a certain number of years, grow to a certain size, or be allowed to keep a long tail. In the last case,...
actress" (bakeneko joyū) for appearing in a series of kaidan
Kaidan
Kaidan is a Japanese word consisting of two kanji: 怪 meaning “strange, mysterious, rare or bewitching apparition" and 談 meaning “talk” or “recited narrative.”-Overall meaning and usage:...
(ghost story) movies. One of her late memorable roles was in Akira Kurosawa
Akira Kurosawa
was a Japanese film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. Regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, Kurosawa directed 30 filmsIn 1946, Kurosawa co-directed, with Hideo Sekigawa and Kajiro Yamamoto, the feature Those Who Make Tomorrow ;...
's Sanjuro
Sanjuro
is a 1962 black-and-white Japanese samurai film directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshirō Mifune. It is a sequel to Kurosawa's previous film Yojimbo, with Mifune reprising his role as a wandering ronin...
, where she plays Mutsuta's wife, the lady who warns Sanjuro (Toshirō Mifune
Toshiro Mifune
Toshirō Mifune was a Japanese actor who appeared in almost 170 feature films. He is best known for his 16-film collaboration with filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, from 1948 to 1965, in works such as Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Throne of Blood, and Yojimbo...
) that "the best sword stays in its scabbard".
Her husband, Michiyoshi Tamura, was a film producer who disappeared without a trace. Their daughter, Wakaba Irie, is also an actress. Irie's brother, Yasunaga Higashibōjō, was a film director and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
.
Selected filmography
- Tokyo MarchTokyo Marchis a 1929 black and white Japanese silent film, originally presented with benshi accompaniment, directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. It is a classic melodramatic love tragedy addressing social inequality in modern Japan, depicted in Mizoguchi's typical style...
(東京行進曲, Tōkyō kōshinkyoku) (1929) - The Water MagicianThe Water Magicianis a 1933 black and white Japanese silent film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi and based on a story by Kyōka Izumi. It is one of the most popular titles from the silent film work of Mizoguchi and tells a tragic love story which realistically depicts the beauty and strength of the women of the Meiji...
(滝の白糸, Taki no Shiraito) (1933) - The Most BeautifulThe Most Beautifulis a 1944 propaganda drama film written and directed by Akira Kurosawa.The film is set in an optics factory during the Second World War.The film depicts the struggle for the workers at a lens factory to meet production targets during World War II...
(一番美しく, Ichiban utsukushiku) (1944) - Odoroki ikkaOdoroki ikkais a 1949 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Torajiro Saito.- Cast :* Hibari Misora* Takako Irie * Harume Tone * Nijiko Kiyokawa * Achako Hanabishi * Shintarō Kido * Robba Furukawa...
(おどろき一家) (1949) - SanjuroSanjurois a 1962 black-and-white Japanese samurai film directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshirō Mifune. It is a sequel to Kurosawa's previous film Yojimbo, with Mifune reprising his role as a wandering ronin...
(椿三十郎, Tsubaki Sanjūrō) (1962) - Toki o Kakeru ShōjoToki o Kakeru Shojo (1983 film)is a 1983 Japanese science fiction film directed and edited by Nobuhiko Obayashi, written by Wataru Kenmotsu, and starring idol Tomoyo Harada in her first film...
(時をかける少女) (1983)
External links
- Find-A-Grave Takako Irie's grave