Art Encouragement Prize for Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
1 appearances
-
Edition 33 (1983) award
Misako Watanabe
わたなべ みさこ
Watanabe Misako
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1932-10-23 （Nishiazabu, Azabu (former Azabu Ward, Tokyo City) (now Minato-ku, Nishiazabu, Tokyo)）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
Career
- Occupations
- Actress
- Active Years
- 1953-
- Affiliations
- Shinjinkai Theatre Company, Theatre Group 'Chou' (Chō)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jissen Women's Academy (High School) | — | — | — | — | Japan |
| Haiyuza Actor Training School (3rd class) | — | — | — | — | Japan |
Jissen Women's Academy (High School)
Country:
Japan
Graduated high school. Later attended Haiyuza Actor Training School.
Haiyuza Actor Training School (3rd class)
Country:
Japan
Member of Haiyuza training class No.3. After graduation joined the Shinjinkai theatre troupe.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Blue Ribbon Awards — Best Supporting Actress | Unending Desire (Kurosawa/Imamura era title: 'Hashinaki Yokubou') | — | Blue Ribbon Awards (film critics/journalists) | 受賞 |
| 1960 | Shingeki Acting Award | Maria's Head | — | Shingeki-related organizations | 受賞 |
| 1979 | Kinokuniya Theatre Award — Individual Award | Oppekepe / Kobayashi Issa | — | Kinokuniya Theatre Awards | 受賞 |
| 1983 | Arts Festival Minister of Education Award | — | — | Agency for Cultural Affairs (Arts Awards) | 受賞 |
| 1987 | Japan Essayists' Club Award | Solo Journey — One-Woman Play | — | Japan Essayists' Club | 受賞 |
| 1997 | Purple Ribbon Medal | — | — | Government of Japan | 受章 |
| 2000 | Yomiuri Theatre Awards — Best Actress (Excellence) | — | — | Yomiuri Shimbun (Yomiuri Theatre Awards) | 受賞 |
| 2004 | Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays | — | — | Government of Japan | 受章 |
| 2009 | Broadcasting Culture Fund Award — Acting | Okaimono (TV special / drama) | — | Broadcasting Culture Foundation | 受賞 |
| 2009 | TAMA Film Festival — Best Film (as cast member) | Ultramiracle Love Story | — | TAMA Film Festival | 受賞（作品として） |
| 2011 | Matsuo Performing Arts Award — Special Prize | Kesho (Two Acts) | — | Matsuo Performing Arts Award | 受賞 |
| 2014 | Kikuta Kazuo Theatre Award — Special Prize | — | — | Kikuta Kazuo Theatre Award | 受賞 |
| 2016 | Tsubouchi Shoyo Grand Prize | — | — | Tsubouchi Shoyo Prize Committee | 受賞 |
| 2024 | Japan Academy Prize — Chairperson's Lifetime Achievement | — | — | Japan Academy Prize Association | 受賞 |
Blue Ribbon Awards — Best Supporting Actress
1958
Work:
Unending Desire (Kurosawa/Imamura era title: 'Hashinaki Yokubou')
Organization:
Blue Ribbon Awards (film critics/journalists)
Result:
受賞
Shingeki Acting Award
1960
Work:
Maria's Head
Organization:
Shingeki-related organizations
Result:
受賞
Kinokuniya Theatre Award — Individual Award
1979
Work:
Oppekepe / Kobayashi Issa
Organization:
Kinokuniya Theatre Awards
Result:
受賞
Arts Festival Minister of Education Award
1983
Organization:
Agency for Cultural Affairs (Arts Awards)
Result:
受賞
Japan Essayists' Club Award
1987
Work:
Solo Journey — One-Woman Play
Organization:
Japan Essayists' Club
Result:
受賞
Purple Ribbon Medal
1997
Organization:
Government of Japan
Result:
受章
Yomiuri Theatre Awards — Best Actress (Excellence)
2000
Organization:
Yomiuri Shimbun (Yomiuri Theatre Awards)
Result:
受賞
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays
2004
Organization:
Government of Japan
Result:
受章
Broadcasting Culture Fund Award — Acting
2009
Work:
Okaimono (TV special / drama)
Organization:
Broadcasting Culture Foundation
Result:
受賞
TAMA Film Festival — Best Film (as cast member)
2009
Work:
Ultramiracle Love Story
Organization:
TAMA Film Festival
Result:
受賞（作品として）
Matsuo Performing Arts Award — Special Prize
2011
Work:
Kesho (Two Acts)
Organization:
Matsuo Performing Arts Award
Result:
受賞
Kikuta Kazuo Theatre Award — Special Prize
2014
Organization:
Kikuta Kazuo Theatre Award
Result:
受賞
Tsubouchi Shoyo Grand Prize
2016
Organization:
Tsubouchi Shoyo Prize Committee
Result:
受賞
Japan Academy Prize — Chairperson's Lifetime Achievement
2024
Organization:
Japan Academy Prize Association
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Nihon Essayist Club Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 35 (1987) award
Works
Major Works
Himeyuri no Tō (Tower of the Himeyuri)
1953 Film (war drama)An ensemble film set in Okinawa near the end of World War II. Watanabe debuted in the role of Yasumi Ryoko.
War and its effectsSacrifice and survival
Hashinaki Yokubou (Unending Desire)
1958 Film (drama)Directed by Shohei Imamura. Watanabe played Shima and won the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actress for this role.
Human desireSocial contradictions
Kesho (Makeup) — one-woman play by Hisashi Inoue
1982 Theatre (one-woman play)A one-woman play by Hisashi Inoue. A second act was added after early performances; Watanabe made it a lifelong work and performed it extensively (648 performances in total).
Women's livesMemory and time
Tugumi
1990 Film (drama)A film adaptation (Tugumi). Watanabe appeared in a principal role, demonstrating mature acting.
FamilyGrowth and loss
Bibliography
- Solo Journey — One-Woman Play (Kodansha, 1987)
- Stella MOOK Radio: Late Night — Actresses Talk About Their Lives (co-author, 2012)
- The Grace of Life (co-author, Shin Nihon Publishing, 2017)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Naturalistic, understated acting styleSubtle emotional expression and fine psychological detail
- Recurring Motifs
- War and memoryStrength in everyday women
Legacy
A prominent actress active from the 1950s into the 21st century across film, television and theatre. Recipient of numerous honors (Purple Ribbon, Order of the Rising Sun, etc.). Made Hisashi Inoue's Kesho a lifelong work and left an intergenerational legacy.
Trivia
- Blood type: AB.
- Debuted in 1953 in the film Himeyuri no To.
- Married producer Katsumi Oyama in 1965; they had one son. Widowed in 2014.
- Made Hisashi Inoue's 'Kesho' her life work and performed it 648 times in total.
- Announced retirement as a 'stage actress' in 2022, while stating she would continue non-stage activities.