Yoko Shimada died on Monday, July 25th of cancer in a Tokyo hospital and I’m sad

2 comments

1. After Toshirô Mifune, she was probably the most recognizable Japanese actor internationally after *Shogun* aired.

   At least until anime overwhelmed Western impressions of *Dai Nippon*….

2. She was my childhood idol and she is the reason I discovered Japan and fell in love with its history culture and people. The early 80’s were ablaze with a strong “Let’s Japan!” vibe that really permeated so much of what we saw in the art world. In 1983 the Japanese filmmaker made the gorgeous film “Sasameyuki” (“The Makioka Sisters” would debut in US cinemas two years later and I saw it then and was absolutely enthralled). That same year Nagisa Oshima directed “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence” starring David Bowie and Ryuichi Sakamoto, who also scored the music for the film. It’s absolutely mesmerizing. And then in 1985 Juzo Itami’s wonderful film “Tampopo” (which I saw in the summer of 1987 in the cinema in Seattle). So much Japanese culture was welcomed in to the USA after Shogun aired on TV in September 1980. And for me, Yoko’s brilliant acting as the female lead Mariko just captured me heart and I was forever in love with her and Japan too. She was my friend on Facebook and she’d message me every so often and more than once asked me to come to Tokyo and we could meet and have dinner. Well sadly that never happened because of Covid. But I planned to go as soon as the border opened. Such a shock she is gone.