Acting
Yoko Shimada
Born May 17, 1953 · Kumamoto, Japan · Died Jul 25, 2022
Kumamoto City-born Shimada Yoko is best known in the west as Mariko from the 1980 mini-series Shogun. The lady-in-waiting role created an interest in Japan and its culture overseas and introduced Japanese history to foreign audiences. She won the Golden Globe For Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Drama category and was nominated for a Prime-time Emmy Award for her work on the serial in 1981. Shimada, who spoke some English for the serial, had been acting for years prior to Shogun however. She began learning ballet since age three and wanted to become a ballerina until her high high school days. Her family had moved to Tokyo when she was eight. She obtained an agent and began acting while in junior high school. The TV serial Zoku Hyouten made her famous beginning 1970. She released a nude photo book, called Kir Royal, in 1992. She was 39 and the photo book became a bestseller shifting half a million copies. At 57 she starred in an 'AV' pornography video called Mikkai in 2011. This was a tribute to her body even at that age. Shimada has a reservation for a space burial.
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Acting
Bridge
Mystery
Kanon
2016
Drama
God in Jail
2016
Drama
The Faithless Love
2011
Romance
Mikkai
2011
Romance
I Want to Meet Yoko Shimada
2010
Drama · Romance
Dear Heart
2009
Horror
The Deep Red
2005
Black Corridor
2004
Mystery
Undiscovered Tomb
2003
Action · Thriller
The Sino-Dutch War 1661
2001
War · Drama · Action
Sister Yakuza, Bodhisattva Ryuko
2000
Gotoshi Co. Ltd. Special Police Department Crime Prevention Division No. 5104 Case
1995
Crying Freeman
1995
Action · Crime
The Hunted
1995
Action · Drama · Thriller
Ring! Ring! Ring! The Champion Belt of Tears
1993
Sunflower on the Hill
1993
Drama
Slow Down
1991
Drama
Kazu no Fūkei
1991
TV Movie · Mystery · Drama
Dohten
1991
History · Drama
Minamoto Yoshitsune
1990
TV Movie
Sea of Whitetail
1990
氷点
1989
Drama · Mystery
Labyrinth Romanesque
1988
Mystery
The Man Who Assassinated Ryoma
1987
Drama
Tuesday Suspense Theater
1981
My Champion
1981
Drama
Shogun
1980
Adventure · History
Shōgun
1980
Action & Adventure · Drama · War & Politics
Dead Angle
1979
Crime · Thriller · Drama
Dog of Fortune
1979
Drama
Lupin the Thief: Enigma of the 813
1979
Adventure · TV Movie · Action
Ōgon no Hibi
1978
Drama
Fushoku no kōzō
1977
The Inugami Family
1976
Horror · Mystery
Truckster Goes to Hokkaido
1976
Action · Comedy · Romance
Visitor After Dark
1975
Thriller
Kyukei no Koya
1975
I Am a Cat
1975
Drama · Comedy
The Castle of Sand
1974
Crime · Mystery · Drama
Nagare no Fu Part I: Disturbance, Part II: Dawn
1974
Drama
First Love
1972
Romance · Drama
Go Go Kamen Rider
1971
Action · Adventure · Science Fiction
Brothers Serving Time
1969
Crime · Drama
River Without a Bridge
1969
Drama