Sadako Sawamura

November 11, 1908(87 at death)|Died August 16, 1996
Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo, Japan|Acting

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).

Movies (247)

When Winter Comes

When Winter Comes

1985

Japan Beauty Story: A Woman Among Women

Japan Beauty Story: A Woman Among Women

1975

The Street Car Game

The Street Car Game

1969

The Song from My Heart
7.0

The Song from My Heart

1969

My Brother, My Love
10.0

My Brother, My Love

1968

Lemon in the Rainbow
7.0

Lemon in the Rainbow

1968

The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
7.7

The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze

1968

Nunnery Confidential
5.5

Nunnery Confidential

1968

Thoroughbred Women Gamblers

Thoroughbred Women Gamblers

1967

The Rickshaw Man’s Son
8.0

The Rickshaw Man’s Son

1967

Swift Current

Swift Current

1967

Flower Cards Chivalry
10.0

Flower Cards Chivalry

1967

Sayonara ressha

Sayonara ressha

1966

The Kii River
7.5

The Kii River

1966

A Sky Full of Tears
6.0

A Sky Full of Tears

1966

Bad Reputation: Cherry Blossoms

Bad Reputation: Cherry Blossoms

1966

Night Bitch

Night Bitch

1966

The Passionate Spinster

The Passionate Spinster

1965

Snow Country
6.7

Snow Country

1965

That Cute Girl

That Cute Girl

1965

Love on the Rainbow

Love on the Rainbow

1965

Salaryman's Medal

Salaryman's Medal

1965

Nami kage
8.0

Nami kage

1965

A Fugitive from the Past
7.3

A Fugitive from the Past

1965

Eddy Currents of Life

Eddy Currents of Life

1964

Whirlpool of Flesh
10.0

Whirlpool of Flesh

1964

Sweet Sweat
8.3

Sweet Sweat

1964

Taiyou wo Daku Onna

Taiyou wo Daku Onna

1964

I'm a Bodyguard
8.0

I'm a Bodyguard

1964

A Story from Echigo
7.2

A Story from Echigo

1964

Youth Season Continued
7.0

Youth Season Continued

1964

Night Scandal in Japan
10.0

Night Scandal in Japan

1964

Mr. Giant's Victory Flag
8.0

Mr. Giant's Victory Flag

1964

Miren

Miren

1963

At the Side of the Bridge 4

At the Side of the Bridge 4

1963

Double Wedding

Double Wedding

1963

Tale of Army Brutality
9.5

Tale of Army Brutality

1963

The Life of Rikisha-Man
8.0

The Life of Rikisha-Man

1963

Dokuritsu bijin-tai

Dokuritsu bijin-tai

1963

Crazy Operation: First Move
10.0

Crazy Operation: First Move

1963

Police Precinct: Backing Investigation

Police Precinct: Backing Investigation

1963

At the Side of the Bridge 3

At the Side of the Bridge 3

1963

A Comedy in Front of the Station: Chinese Restaurant
8.0

A Comedy in Front of the Station: Chinese Restaurant

1962

Naite waratta hanayome

Naite waratta hanayome

1962

Curry Rice
9.0

Curry Rice

1962

Born in Sin
9.0

Born in Sin

1962

Chûshingura
7.1

Chûshingura

1962

Zoku aizen katsura

Zoku aizen katsura

1962

Youth Season
10.0

Youth Season

1962

At the Side of the Bridge 2

At the Side of the Bridge 2

1962

Ganko Oyaji to Edokko Shain

Ganko Oyaji to Edokko Shain

1962

Kyūjin ryokō

Kyūjin ryokō

1962

A Comedy in Front of the Station: Onsen
10.0

A Comedy in Front of the Station: Onsen

1962

Glory on the Summit
9.0

Glory on the Summit

1962

Star of Hong Kong
8.0

Star of Hong Kong

1962

At the Side of the Bridge

At the Side of the Bridge

1962

Four Sisters
6.0

Four Sisters

1962

Pig and Goldfish

Pig and Goldfish

1962

Ottamage ningyo monogatari

Ottamage ningyo monogatari

1962

Flower in a Storm

Flower in a Storm

1962

Lady Sen and Hideyori
8.0

Lady Sen and Hideyori

1962

Our Marriage
7.1

Our Marriage

1962

Koshū

Koshū

1962

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha and the Girl of Osaka

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha and the Girl of Osaka

1962

In Search of Mother
6.6

In Search of Mother

1962

South Pacific Waves Are High

South Pacific Waves Are High

1962

A Roaring Trade

A Roaring Trade

1962

Nippon no obaachan
7.0

Nippon no obaachan

1962

Wakai yatsura no kaidan

Wakai yatsura no kaidan

1961

The Catch
6.5

The Catch

1961

Sanctuary

Sanctuary

1961

Boss Takes to the Road

Boss Takes to the Road

1961

Girls of the Night
6.5

Girls of the Night

1961

Toilet Manager

Toilet Manager

1961

Awamori-kun uridasu

Awamori-kun uridasu

1961

The Estuary

The Estuary

1961

Hikkoshi yatsure

Hikkoshi yatsure

1961

Onna no hashi

Onna no hashi

1961

Door of Flowers

Door of Flowers

1961

Triangle Moods

Triangle Moods

1961

Romance Express
7.0

Romance Express

1961

Zero Focus
6.3

Zero Focus

1961

Women of Tokyo

Women of Tokyo

1961

Mahiru no wana

Mahiru no wana

1960

Late Autumn
7.7

Late Autumn

1960

Ponkotsu
10.0

Ponkotsu

1960

Towering Waves
1.0

Towering Waves

1960

Jiyūgaoka fujin
10.0

Jiyūgaoka fujin

1960

Hero of the Red Light District
8.7

Hero of the Red Light District

1960

Youth in Fury
7.0

Youth in Fury

1960

New Third Class Executive: Husband Education
8.0

New Third Class Executive: Husband Education

1960

The Dangerous Kiss
10.0

The Dangerous Kiss

1960

Salaryman Sampei Meijiro: A Wife's Virginal Face

Salaryman Sampei Meijiro: A Wife's Virginal Face

1960

Police Precinct Part 13

Police Precinct Part 13

1960

Police Precinct Part 13

Police Precinct Part 13

1960

Salaryman Idea Book: Concern for Success

Salaryman Idea Book: Concern for Success

1960

Storm on the Silvery Peaks

Storm on the Silvery Peaks

1960

Salaryman Idea Book: Man of Worrisome Episodes

Salaryman Idea Book: Man of Worrisome Episodes

1960

Hito mo arukeba
9.0

Hito mo arukeba

1960

Beyond the Hills

Beyond the Hills

1960

The Wandering Princess
6.8

The Wandering Princess

1960

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
8.0

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

1960

Pineapple Butai
10.0

Pineapple Butai

1959

The Terrible Game
7.0

The Terrible Game

1959

The Human Wall
6.3

The Human Wall

1959

Young Lovers

Young Lovers

1959

Ripe and Marriageable
10.0

Ripe and Marriageable

1959

Someday I'll Know
9.0

Someday I'll Know

1959

Koko ni otoko ari

Koko ni otoko ari

1959

Vagabond Lovers

Vagabond Lovers

1959

The Cast-Off
8.0

The Cast-Off

1959

Good Morning
7.7

Good Morning

1959

Souls in the Moonlight III
6.6

Souls in the Moonlight III

1959

Whistling in the Morning

Whistling in the Morning

1959

Police Precinct: The Woman Without A Face

Police Precinct: The Woman Without A Face

1959

Echo Mountain
9.0

Echo Mountain

1959

People Waiting for Spring

People Waiting for Spring

1959

One Step to Happiness

One Step to Happiness

1958

The Naked General
7.0

The Naked General

1958

Bright Young Maidens
10.0

Bright Young Maidens

1958

Hanayome no teikō

Hanayome no teikō

1958

Beyond the Seasonal Wind
9.0

Beyond the Seasonal Wind

1958

Little Peach
6.1

Little Peach

1958

Fearless Opposition

Fearless Opposition

1958

Souls in the Moonlight II
6.6

Souls in the Moonlight II

1958

Firefly Light
9.0

Firefly Light

1958

直八子供旅

直八子供旅

1958

Hibi no haishin

Hibi no haishin

1958

Shinkon nanatsu no tanoshimi

Shinkon nanatsu no tanoshimi

1958

No Advice Taken

No Advice Taken

1958

The Adorable Trio

The Adorable Trio

1957

Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen
8.0

Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotô hen

1957

The Blue Sky Maiden
6.9

The Blue Sky Maiden

1957

The Beauty Expert

The Beauty Expert

1957

Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen
9.0

Zoku Ôban: Fûun hen

1957

When It Rains, It Pours
6.0

When It Rains, It Pours

1957

The Betrothed
8.0

The Betrothed

1957

Untamed Woman
7.5

Untamed Woman

1957

Haha to ko no mado

Haha to ko no mado

1957

A Tale of Dung and Urine

A Tale of Dung and Urine

1957

Morning Whistling

Morning Whistling

1957

Ôban
9.0

Ôban

1957

Story of a Detective's Assistant

Story of a Detective's Assistant

1957

Young Lovers

Young Lovers

1957

The Rose on His Arm
5.8

The Rose on His Arm

1956

Love on Rainbow Island
8.0

Love on Rainbow Island

1956

Bridge of Japan
7.8

Bridge of Japan

1956

The Three Musketeers Reunite

The Three Musketeers Reunite

1956

Cascading White Threads

Cascading White Threads

1956

Gendai no yokubô

Gendai no yokubô

1956

Midori naru hito: kōhen ai no honryū

Midori naru hito: kōhen ai no honryū

1956

Midori naru hito: zenpen wakare no yogisha

Midori naru hito: zenpen wakare no yogisha

1956

A Wife's Heart
6.9

A Wife's Heart

1956

The Lady Was Pawn

The Lady Was Pawn

1956

Three Youngmen and a Dream Girl

Three Youngmen and a Dream Girl

1956

Avalanche

Avalanche

1956

The President Talks Bank

The President Talks Bank

1956

Street of Shame
7.7

Street of Shame

1956

Young Tree
8.0

Young Tree

1956

The President's Boss
8.0

The President's Boss

1956

So Young, So Bright
7.4

So Young, So Bright

1955

Iroha Elegy

Iroha Elegy

1955

Ejima and Ikushima

Ejima and Ikushima

1955

Youth

Youth

1955

Detour to Love

Detour to Love

1955

The Romance of Yushima
8.0

The Romance of Yushima

1955

Next Door to Happiness

Next Door to Happiness

1955

Mother's Ambition

Mother's Ambition

1955

Beautiful Days
6.8

Beautiful Days

1955

Salaryman Mejiro Sanpei

Salaryman Mejiro Sanpei

1955

Ofukuro
7.0

Ofukuro

1955

The Big Ambition

The Big Ambition

1955

Frame of Snow
10.0

Frame of Snow

1955

Here Is a Spring
8.2

Here Is a Spring

1955

Policeman's Diary
7.0

Policeman's Diary

1955

お月様には悪いけど
8.0

お月様には悪いけど

1954

The Cock Crows Twice
7.0

The Cock Crows Twice

1954

The Surf
8.0

The Surf

1954

The Days of Youth are Days of Sadness

The Days of Youth are Days of Sadness

1954

The Valley Between Love and Death
8.0

The Valley Between Love and Death

1954

Geisha Hidekoma

Geisha Hidekoma

1954

乾杯!女学生

乾杯!女学生

1954

Late Chrysanthemums
7.3

Late Chrysanthemums

1954

All of Myself

All of Myself

1954

Geisha Konatsu

Geisha Konatsu

1954

Itsuko to sono haha
8.0

Itsuko to sono haha

1954

One Night of Love

One Night of Love

1954

Mama's Diary

Mama's Diary

1954

Love Letter
6.8

Love Letter

1953

The Lovers
9.0

The Lovers

1953

Princess Finds Her Prince

Princess Finds Her Prince

1953

Tokyo Profile
6.5

Tokyo Profile

1953

Dreaming People

Dreaming People

1953

The Blue Revolution
8.0

The Blue Revolution

1953

Sisters

Sisters

1953

The End of the Night
10.0

The End of the Night

1953

Miniature
7.8

Miniature

1953

One Thousand Ryo Ship in the Wind and  Clouds
9.0

One Thousand Ryo Ship in the Wind and Clouds

1952

Oka wa hanazakari
9.0

Oka wa hanazakari

1952

The Woman Who Touched the Legs
8.0

The Woman Who Touched the Legs

1952

Zoku santō jūyaku

Zoku santō jūyaku

1952

Adolescence
10.0

Adolescence

1952

Shanghai Rose
8.0

Shanghai Rose

1952

Four Asakusa Sisters

Four Asakusa Sisters

1952

Tokyo Sweetheart
8.0

Tokyo Sweetheart

1952

Forbidden Path
8.0

Forbidden Path

1952

Mother
7.0

Mother

1952

Third Class Executives
7.0

Third Class Executives

1952

Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
9.0

Kin no tamago: Golden Girl

1952

The Life of Oharu
7.7

The Life of Oharu

1952

Mr. Lucky
10.0

Mr. Lucky

1952

Wedding March
10.0

Wedding March

1951

Dancing Girl
6.4

Dancing Girl

1951

The White Orchid

The White Orchid

1951

Elegy
9.0

Elegy

1951

A Man from Akagi

A Man from Akagi

1950

Jiruba no Tetsu
10.0

Jiruba no Tetsu

1950

Guntō nanban-sen
8.0

Guntō nanban-sen

1950

Spring Snow

Spring Snow

1950

Onna no ryūkō
9.0

Onna no ryūkō

1950

First Love Questions and Answers
10.0

First Love Questions and Answers

1950

Broken Drum
6.7

Broken Drum

1949

The Flower That Crossed the Mountain

The Flower That Crossed the Mountain

1949

Ishimatsu of the Forest
7.0

Ishimatsu of the Forest

1949

Flame of My Love
5.4

Flame of My Love

1949

Goblin Courier
6.0

Goblin Courier

1949

Kōfuku no genkai

Kōfuku no genkai

1948

Ghosts Die at Dawn

Ghosts Die at Dawn

1948

Yakyukyō jidai

Yakyukyō jidai

1948

Twenty-One Fingerprints

Twenty-One Fingerprints

1948

Victory Song
6.0

Victory Song

1945

Miyamoto Musashi - Battle at Han'nya Hill

Miyamoto Musashi - Battle at Han'nya Hill

1943

Mother Never Dies
6.2

Mother Never Dies

1942

Green Earth

Green Earth

1942

Sky of Hope
8.0

Sky of Hope

1942

A Man's Flower Road of Triumph
7.0

A Man's Flower Road of Triumph

1941

The Night Before the Meiji Restoration

The Night Before the Meiji Restoration

1941

Dancers of Awa
7.0

Dancers of Awa

1941

Horse
6.3

Horse

1941

Bellflower
10.0

Bellflower

1940

Wedding Day

Wedding Day

1940

Toyuki
8.0

Toyuki

1940

Hideko the Cheerleader
9.0

Hideko the Cheerleader

1940

Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki
8.0

Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki

1939

A Pebble by the Wayside
6.3

A Pebble by the Wayside

1938

Passionate Poet Ishikawa Takuboku - Hometown

Passionate Poet Ishikawa Takuboku - Hometown

1936

The Foster Mother

The Foster Mother

TV Shows (3)