Japanese Literary Awards

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Kirin Kiki

きき きりん

Kiki Kirin

Aliases: 内田 啓子 / 中谷（旧姓） / 悠木 千帆
Pen Names: Yūki Chiho（Early stage name; later sold at auction (first generation stage name).）

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1943-01-15 （Kanda, Tokyo (now Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan)）
Died
2018-09-15 （Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan） age 75
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Kanda, Tokyo (birthplace; now Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan) → Shibuya, Tokyo (residence in later life)

Career

Occupations
Actress
Active Years
1961-2018
Affiliations
Bungaku-za (former affiliation), Kikikan Co., Ltd. (personal office)
Influenced By
Haruko Sugimura, Hisaya Morishige

Education

Chiyoda Jogakuen (Chiyoda Girls' School)
Drama club (member)
Period: 在学期間不明
Country: Japan
She was a member of the school's drama club. She once aspired to be a pharmacist but an injury before university entrance exams caused her to abandon that plan.

Awards

Japan Female Broadcasters Association Award
1986
Organization: Japan Female Broadcasters Association
Result: 受賞
Art Encouragement Prize
2005
Work: Hane Komma (TV series)
Category: 文部大臣賞
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Art Encouragement Prize)
Result: 受賞
Yokohama Film Festival
2005
Work: Half Fallen
Category: 助演女優賞
Organization: Yokohama Film Festival
Result: 受賞
Japan Academy Prize
2005
Work: Half Fallen
Category: 優秀助演女優賞
Organization: Japan Academy Prize Association
Result: 受賞
Japan Academy Prize
2007
Work: Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad
Category: 最優秀主演女優賞
Organization: Japan Academy Prize Association
Result: 受賞
Nikkan Sports Film Award
2007
Work: Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad
Category: 助演女優賞
Organization: Nikkan Sports
Result: 受賞
Order of the Purple Ribbon
2008
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
Nantes Three Continents Film Festival
2009
Work: Still Walking
Category: 最優秀女優賞
Organization: Nantes Three Continents Film Festival
Result: 受賞
Blue Ribbon Awards
2009
Work: Still Walking
Category: 助演女優賞
Organization: The Association of Tokyo Film Journalists
Result: 受賞
Kinema Junpo
2009
Work: Still Walking
Category: 助演女優賞
Organization: Kinema Junpo
Result: 受賞
Japan Academy Prize
2011
Work: Akunin (Villain)
Category: 最優秀助演女優賞
Organization: Japan Academy Prize Association
Result: 受賞
TAMA Film Award
2012
Work: Chronicle of My Mother
Category: 最優秀女優賞
Organization: TAMA Film Festival (TAMA Cinema Forum)
Result: 受賞
Japan Academy Prize
2013
Work: Chronicle of My Mother
Category: 最優秀主演女優賞
Organization: Japan Academy Prize Association
Result: 受賞
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays
2014
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章
Tokyo International Film Festival
2015
Category: ARIGATO賞
Organization: Tokyo International Film Festival
Result: 受賞
Yamaji Fumiko Film Award
2015
Work: An / Sweet Bean
Category: 女優賞
Organization: Yamaji Fumiko Film Award
Result: 受賞
TAMA Film Award
2015
Work: An / The Little House / Our Little Sister (selected works)
Category: 最優秀女優
Organization: TAMA Film Festival
Result: 受賞
Asia Pacific Screen Awards
2016
Work: An / Sweet Bean
Category: 女優賞
Organization: Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Result: 受賞
Asia Film Awards
2016
Category: 特別功労賞
Organization: Asia Film Awards
Result: 受賞
Japan Academy Prize
2018
Work: Shoplifters
Category: 最優秀助演女優賞
Organization: Japan Academy Prize Association
Result: 受賞
Mainichi Film Awards
2018
Work: Shoplifters
Category: 女優助演賞
Organization: Mainichi Shimbun
Result: 受賞
ATP Award TV Grand Prix
2018
Category: 特別賞
Organization: All Japan TV Program Producers Association (ATP)
Result: 受賞
ACC Tokyo Creativity Awards
2019
Work: Fujifilm commercial 'Kirin Kiki 2018 Year-End Special'
Category: 演技賞
Organization: ACC (All Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

An (Sweet Bean)

2015 Film

A human drama about the relationship between a dorayaki shop owner and an elderly woman who makes anko (sweet bean paste). Kiki plays Tokue, delivering a memorable central performance.

aginglonelinessrenewalsolidarity
Translations
  • English title: An (Sweet Bean)

Still Walking

2008 Film

A family ensemble drama by Hirokazu Kore-eda in which accumulated emotions surface quietly. Kiki gives a restrained yet powerful supporting performance.

familymemoryreconciliationsubtleties of everyday life
Translations
  • English title: Still Walking

Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad

2007 Film

A film about family memories of parents. Kiki's portrayal of the mother resonated with audiences and earned critical recognition including at the Japan Academy Prize.

parent-child relationshiprecollectionwarmth of everyday life
Translations
  • English title: Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad

Shoplifters

2018 Film

A film by Hirokazu Kore-eda examining a makeshift family's life on society's margins and questions of human solidarity and ethics. Kiki's supporting role is notably powerful.

familypovertyethicssolidarity
Translations
  • English title: Shoplifters

Bibliography

  • The Taste of Saury (accompanied filming, 1962)
  • Seven Grandchildren (TV, 1964)
  • It's Time (TV, 1970)
  • Yumechiyo Nikki (TV series / film)
  • Still Walking (2008)
  • An / Sweet Bean (2015)
  • Shoplifters (2018)
  • Everyday is a Good Day (2018)

Translations of Works

  • 万引き家族 — Shoplifters (English title)
  • 歩いても 歩いても — Still Walking (English title)
  • あん — An / Sweet Bean (English title)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
naturalistic actingrestrained and sincere performancedry, understated humor
Recurring Motifs
motherhoodagingfamilysubtleties of everyday life

Health

  • Retinal detachment (left-eye blindness)
    2003年
    Suffered retinal detachment in 2003 resulting in loss of vision in her left eye. She continued to work thereafter.
  • Breast cancer (surgical removal)
    2005年
    Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and underwent surgical removal. Treatment affected her personal and professional life.
  • Cancer throughout the body (publicly disclosed)
    2013年（公表）〜2014年治療終了一時報告
    She revealed during a 2013 awards speech that she had cancer throughout her body. She underwent treatment and reported periods of convalescence.
  • Femoral fracture
    2018年8月
    In August 2018 she broke her femur and underwent emergency surgery, causing her to miss some scheduled appearances.

Legacy

One of Japan's most distinctive actresses. Active across film, television, stage and commercials, she left a cross-generational influence with her naturalistic acting and dry wit. She won numerous film awards and national honors, and continues to be celebrated posthumously in exhibitions and retrospectives.

Museums

  • FUJIFILM SQUARE Photo Exhibition 'Ai: Kirin Kiki' Minato, Tokyo (FUJIFILM SQUARE) Opened in 2018

Archives

  • NHK Archives (programs and documentaries featuring Kirin Kiki)
  • KINENOTE (Japanese film database - person page)

In Popular Culture

  • Her long-running PIP Elekiban commercials (from 1979) are widely recognized.
  • Appeared for decades in Fujicolor commercials; some exchange lines became catchphrases.
  • The phrase 'Let me do as I please when I die' from a Tokashima/Takarajima ad became a topic of discussion.

Quotes

  • Let me do as I please when I die.
    Source: Takarajima (advertising campaign / related publications; widely quoted phrase) (2018)
  • In her acceptance speech she revealed, 'I have cancer throughout my body.'
    Source: 36th Japan Academy Prize acceptance speech (2013) (2013)

Trivia

  • She auctioned her former stage name 'Yūki Chiho' in 1977 and donated the proceeds to charity.
  • Established a personal office, Kikikan Co., Ltd., in 1967.
  • Appeared in Fujicolor commercials for around 40 years.
  • Lost vision in her left eye due to retinal detachment in 2003 but continued to work.
  • Numerous photo exhibitions and memorial programs were held after her death.