Setsuko Hara
Setsuko Hara was a legendary Japanese actress, celebrated for her collaborations with Yasujirō Ozu and her enduring status as an icon of Japanese cinema.
What do we know about Setsuko Hara?
Here are the key biographical details about Setsuko Hara:
- Name: Setsuko Hara
- Also Known As: 原 節子, Masae Aida, ستسوکو هارا
- Date of Birth: June 17, 1920
- Place of Birth: Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Date of Death: September 5, 2015
- Gender: Female
- Job Title: Actor
Who is Setsuko Hara?
Setsuko Hara (June 17, 1920 – September 5, 2015) was a Japanese actress who appeared in six of Yasujirō Ozu's films, most notably as Noriko in the "Noriko Trilogy": Late Spring (1949), Early Summer (1951), and Tokyo Story (1953). Her other films for Ozu were Tokyo Twilight (1957), Late Autumn (1960), and finally The End of Summer in 1961.
She was born Masae Aida in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture. She came to prominence as an actress at an early age, in the 1937 German-Japanese co-production Die Tochter des Samurai (Daughter of the Samurai), known in Japan as Atarashiki Tsuchi (The New Earth), directed by Arnold Fanck and Mansaku Itami.
She also starred in films by Akira Kurosawa, Mikio Naruse, and other prominent directors.
She was called "the Eternal Virgin" in Japan and is a symbol of the golden era of Japanese cinema of the 1950s. She suddenly quit acting in 1963 (the same year as Ozu's death), and led a secluded life in Kamakura, refusing all interviews and photographs. Her last major role was Riku, wife of Ōishi Yoshio, in the 1962 film Chushingura. She was the inspiration for the protagonist of the 2001 movie Millennium Actress.
What is Setsuko Hara known for?
With over 80 credits, Setsuko Hara's most celebrated film performances include:
- Tokyo Story (1953, Movie)
- Late Spring (1949, Movie)
- Early Summer (1951, Movie)
- Late Autumn (1960, Movie)
- Tokyo Twilight (1957, Movie)
- The Idiot (1951, Movie)
- The End of Summer (1961, Movie)
- No Regrets for Our Youth (1946, Movie)
- Sound of the Mountain (1954, Movie)
- Repast (1951, Movie)
External Links
Explore more about Setsuko Hara through these authoritative resources: