
Sadako Sawamura
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- November 11, 1908
- Died
- August 16, 1996 (aged 87)
- Birthplace
- Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo, Japan
Biography
Sadako Sawamura (沢村貞子, Sawamura Sadako; 11 November 1908 – 16 August 1996) was a Japanese stage and film actress and essayist who appeared in more than 350 films between 1935 and 1976. Sawamura was born in the Asakusa district of Tokyo. After dropping out of Japan Women's University, she was active in left-wing theatre groups and was twice arrested for her political beliefs, spending over a year in prison with much of it in solitary confinement. She started acting in films in 1934, first at the Nikkatsu studio, later at Toho. She appeared in many supporting roles after the war, often working with director Mikio Naruse. Sawamura also acted in films by directors including Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujirō Ozu, Keisuke Kinoshita and Kaneto Shindō. Her brothers were the actors Daisuke Katō and Kunitarō Sawamura. Her autobiography Watashi no Asakusa has been translated into English as My Asakusa. She was married three times: to actor Shigeo Imamura (1931-33), actor Kamatari Fujiwara (1936-46) and subsequently to film magazine editor and critic Yasuhiko Ohashi (1968-96, though domestic partners from 1946 onward).
Known For
Filmography

The Foster Mother
Movie · as Otsuna

365日の献立日記
TV · as 献立 · 116 eps

When Winter Comes
Movie

Daikazoku
TV · 1 ep

Hikarugake
TV · 11 eps

Japan Beauty Story: A Woman Among Women
Movie
おれの義姉さん
TV · 27 eps

The Street Car Game
Movie · as Deguchi Ume

The Song from My Heart
Movie

The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
Movie

Nunnery Confidential
Movie

My Brother, My Love
Movie · as Kayo Kitagawa

Lemon in the Rainbow
Movie · as Setsuko Sasaki

A Comedy in Front of the Station: Fortune
Movie · as Sada Banno

Volcano of Station Front Plaza
Movie

Swift Current
Movie

Thoroughbred Women Gamblers
Movie

The Rickshaw Man’s Son
Movie · as Taki

Flower Cards Chivalry
Movie

A Sky Full of Tears
Movie · as Kikue Sugisaki

Night Bitch
Movie · as Matsu Komazaki
Once a Rainy Day
Movie

The Kii River
Movie · as Ichi, housekeeper

Bad Reputation: Cherry Blossoms
Movie

Sayonara ressha
Movie

A Fugitive from the Past
Movie · as Motojima's Wife

Nami kage
Movie

That Cute Girl
Movie

Snow Country
Movie · as Dance teacher

Love on the Rainbow
Movie · as Masako Yamashita

The Passionate Spinster
Movie · as Riki Tonobe

Salaryman's Medal
Movie

Finances in Front of the Train Station
Movie

Hospital in Front of the Train Station
Movie

Two Bitches
Movie · as Tetsu Kawabe

A Story from Echigo
Movie

Eddy Currents of Life
Movie · as Teacher Ikegami

Whirlpool of Flesh
Movie · as Tomiko Sekiguchi

Sweet Sweat
Movie · as Matsuko

I'm a Bodyguard
Movie

Taiyou wo Daku Onna
Movie

Mr. Giant's Victory Flag
Movie

Youth Season Continued
Movie · as Sawamura Sawako (Restaurant "Sawamura" proprietress and Keiko's older sister)

My Lover
Movie · as Sugiko's aunt

Heavenly Gods in Front of the Train Station
Movie

Mumu Dance
Movie

The Life of Rikisha-Man
Movie

Tale of Army Brutality
Movie · as Toki, Yahichi's mother

Double Wedding
Movie · as Shigeko

Crazy Operation: First Move
Movie

Dokuritsu bijin-tai
Movie

At the Side of the Bridge 3
Movie

At the Side of the Bridge 4
Movie

Miren
Movie · as Hostess at 'Mitsuda'

Police Precinct: Backing Investigation
Movie

Wakai yatsu
Movie

A Salaryman's Reckless Family
Movie

South Pacific Waves Are High
Movie

Lady Sen and Hideyori
Movie · as Yodogimi

Koshū
Movie

Zoku aizen katsura
Movie

Flower in a Storm
Movie

Ganko Oyaji to Edokko Shain
Movie

Pig and Goldfish
Movie

Ottamage ningyo monogatari
Movie

Our Marriage
Movie · as Mother

At the Side of the Bridge
Movie

A Comedy in Front of the Station: Onsen
Movie

Kyūjin ryokō
Movie

A Comedy in Front of the Station: Chinese Restaurant
Movie

At the Side of the Bridge 2
Movie

Curry Rice
Movie

A Roaring Trade
Movie

Youth Season
Movie

Star of Hong Kong
Movie · as Sugimoto Natsuko

Naite waratta hanayome
Movie

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha and the Girl of Osaka
Movie · as Otake

In Search of Mother
Movie · as Otora

Born in Sin
Movie

Glory on the Summit
Movie

Four Sisters
Movie · as Makiko

Chûshingura
Movie

Nippon no obaachan
Movie

Hikkoshi yatsure
Movie

Romance Express
Movie

Toilet Manager
Movie

Girls of the Night
Movie · as Kitamura

Women of Tokyo
Movie · as Yuki Takeuchi

The Estuary
Movie

Boss Takes to the Road
Movie · as Kimie Morikawa

Zero Focus
Movie · as Mrs. Sotaro Uhara

The Catch
Movie · as Katsu

Triangle Moods
Movie · as Kame

Awamori-kun uridasu
Movie

Wakai yatsura no kaidan
Movie

Door of Flowers
Movie

Sanctuary
Movie

Onna no hashi
Movie

Dare yori mo dare yori mo kimi o aisu
Movie

Police Precinct Part 13
Movie · as Madam next to Hikariso

Beyond the Hills
Movie · as Oiku Wada

Hito mo arukeba
Movie · as Kin Narikin

The Wandering Princess
Movie · as Kazuko Sugawara

Dare yori mo kimi o aisu
Movie

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
Movie · as Toshiko

Youth in Fury
Movie · as Aki Katsura

Towering Waves
Movie · as Mrs. Tazawa

Late Autumn
Movie · as Fumiko

Mahiru no wana
Movie · as Kikuyo

Hero of the Red Light District
Movie

Storm on the Silvery Peaks
Movie · as Kiyo

The Dangerous Kiss
Movie

Ponkotsu
Movie

Jiyūgaoka fujin
Movie

New Third Class Executive: Husband Education
Movie · as Kaneko Tsujikura

Salaryman Idea Book: Man of Worrisome Episodes
Movie · as Okane

Salaryman Idea Book: Concern for Success
Movie · as Okane

Salaryman Sampei Meijiro: A Wife's Virginal Face
Movie

Glory to the President of the Henpecked Political Party
Movie

Tōkyō no josei
Movie

Pineapple Butai
Movie · as Omine

Good Morning
Movie · as Kayoko Fukui

Whistling in the Morning
Movie

Police Precinct: The Woman Without A Face
Movie

The Cast-Off
Movie · as Fumiko

Koko ni otoko ari
Movie

The Human Wall
Movie

Souls in the Moonlight III
Movie

Someday I'll Know
Movie · as Fusako Kaneko

Echo Mountain
Movie · as Takako Hirasawa

Ripe and Marriageable
Movie · as Mrs. Nakazato

The Terrible Game
Movie · as Yabuki Toyo

Young Lovers
Movie · as Ayako Nozaki

People Waiting for Spring
Movie · as Chiyo Tsukagoshi

Vagabond Lovers
Movie

The Bell of Love
Movie

Work Hard, Happy Girls!
Movie

Musuko
Movie

直八子供旅
Movie

One Step to Happiness
Movie

Little Peach
Movie

Firefly Light
Movie
Romance Freestyle
Movie

Bright Young Maidens
Movie · as Chie Shibata, Sumiko's Mother

No Advice Taken
Movie

Beyond the Seasonal Wind
Movie · as Teru Namura

Souls in the Moonlight II
Movie · as Otsuno

The Naked General
Movie

Fearless Opposition
Movie

Shinkon nanatsu no tanoshimi
Movie

Hibi no haishin
Movie

Hanayome no teikō
Movie · as Seiko Maekawa

Edo wa aozora
Movie

Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen
Movie · as Tane

Ôban
Movie · as Tane, Ushinosuke's Mother

Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen
Movie · as Tane

The Betrothed
Movie

When It Rains, It Pours
Movie · as Tane Abe

The Blue Sky Maiden
Movie · as Tatsuko Ono

The Adorable Trio
Movie · as Sadako Kamiya

Young Lovers
Movie

The Beauty Expert
Movie

Untamed Woman
Movie · as Oshima's aunt

Morning Whistling
Movie

Haha to ko no mado
Movie

Story of a Detective's Assistant
Movie · as Mine

A Tale of Dung and Urine
Movie

Faraway Man
Movie
Story of a Detective's Assistant Sequel
Movie

Street of Shame
Movie · as Tatsuko Taya

Bridge of Japan
Movie

The President Talks Bank
Movie

The President's Boss
Movie

Avalanche
Movie

Cascading White Threads
Movie

A Wife's Heart
Movie

The Rose on His Arm
Movie · as Akiyama's mother

Love on Rainbow Island
Movie · as Omatsu Hayashi

Young Tree
Movie · as Kuniko's mother (uncredited)

Midori naru hito: zenpen wakare no yogisha
Movie

Midori naru hito: kōhen ai no honryū
Movie

Three Youngmen and a Dream Girl
Movie · as Taniyama’s Mother

Gendai no yokubô
Movie

The Lady Was Pawn
Movie

The Three Musketeers Reunite
Movie

Everyone's Sweetheart
Movie

I Love You
Movie

Next Door to Happiness
Movie

Ofukuro
Movie

The Romance of Yushima
Movie

Ejima and Ikushima
Movie · as 玉椿

So Young, So Bright
Movie · as Oine

Salaryman Mejiro Sanpei
Movie

Here Is a Spring
Movie

Policeman's Diary
Movie
Santōshain to onna hisho
Movie

The Big Ambition
Movie · as Sumie Shida

Iroha Elegy
Movie

Mother's Ambition
Movie

Frame of Snow
Movie · as Satoko (Ishiyama’s wife)

Beautiful Days
Movie · as Imanishi's Mother

Youth
Movie

Detour to Love
Movie · as Koto, mother

The Tears of Geisha Konatsu
Movie

I Was Tokichiro
Movie

Late Chrysanthemums
Movie · as Nobu

乾杯!女学生
Movie

The Cock Crows Twice
Movie

The Surf
Movie · as Tomi, Shinji's Mother

Itsuko to sono haha
Movie · as Fusako Tashiro

The Days of Youth are Days of Sadness
Movie

Geisha Hidekoma
Movie

All of Myself
Movie · as Kazama’s Aunt

The Valley Between Love and Death
Movie

お月様には悪いけど
Movie · as 鶴田はと子

Geisha Konatsu
Movie · as Kimiso's madame

One Night of Love
Movie · as Ohama

Mama's Diary
Movie

My Six Favorite Men — Speedy Men
Movie

Husband on the Run
Movie

Yearning
Movie

Princess Finds Her Prince
Movie

Sisters
Movie

Love Letter
Movie · as Bookstor's owner

Tokyo Profile
Movie · as Kiyoko

The End of the Night
Movie

The Lovers
Movie · as Mrs. Ushiyama

Dreaming People
Movie

The Blue Revolution
Movie

Miniature
Movie

Shinkon noroke bushi
Movie

Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
Movie

Third Class Executives
Movie · as Mrs. Kuwabara

Mother
Movie · as Osei

The Life of Oharu
Movie · as Sasaya's wife Owasa

The Woman Who Touched the Legs
Movie

Shanghai Rose
Movie · as Miss Shen

Adolescence
Movie · as Natsu, Mayumi's mother

Forbidden Path
Movie

Tokyo Sweetheart
Movie · as Jewelry shop proprietress

Mr. Lucky
Movie

Four Asakusa Sisters
Movie

One Thousand Ryo Ship in the Wind and Clouds
Movie

Oka wa hanazakari
Movie

Zoku santō jūyaku
Movie

Wedding March
Movie · as Kumako

Dancing Girl
Movie · as Mitsue

The White Orchid
Movie

Elegy
Movie

The Love Letter Trial
Movie

Dorei no machi
Movie
Aizenbashi
Movie

A Man from Akagi
Movie

Spring Snow
Movie
Beyond the Hills
Movie

First Love Questions and Answers
Movie

Guntō nanban-sen
Movie

Jiruba no Tetsu
Movie

Onna no ryūkō
Movie

Duel in Senjo Mountain
Movie

Ishimatsu of the Forest
Movie

The Flower That Crossed the Mountain
Movie

Broken Drum
Movie · as Yasuko

Flame of My Love
Movie

Goblin Courier
Movie

Haha koiboshi
Movie

Three Pearls
Movie
My Name Is Mistress
Movie
Onna goroshi abura jigoku
Movie

Twenty-One Fingerprints
Movie

Kōfuku no genkai
Movie

Ghosts Die at Dawn
Movie · as Takeko

Yakyukyō jidai
Movie
The Fifth Witness
Movie
Nerawareta onna
Movie
Sen-hime goten
Movie

Victory Song
Movie · as Captain's mother

Monpe-san
Movie

Miyamoto Musashi - Battle at Han'nya Hill
Movie · as Osaki
Onna keizu
Movie

Green Earth
Movie

Mother Never Dies
Movie

Sky of Hope
Movie · as Kiyo
Kodakara fūfu
Movie

Horse
Movie · as Kikuko Yamashita

A Man's Flower Road of Triumph
Movie

Dancers of Awa
Movie

The Night Before the Meiji Restoration
Movie

Bellflower
Movie · as Mother

Wedding Day
Movie

Hideko the Cheerleader
Movie · as Tomoko, Hideko's mother

Travels to the East
Movie · as Apprentice Geisha

Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki
Movie · as Otomi
Ichiyo Higuchi
Movie
Osanaki mono no hata
Movie · as Mother
The New Tange Sazen: The Chapter of the Two-Armed Swordsman
Movie

A Pebble by the Wayside
Movie · as Sumie
Sōbō
Movie

Passionate Poet Ishikawa Takuboku - Hometown
Movie