ActressJapaneseFilm actress20th century

Akiko Koyama

Akiko Koyama is a Japanese actress, author, and lecturer recognized for her film career and advocacy for caregiving and mental well-being.

1. Early Life and Background

Akiko Koyama's early life was marked by a strong family foundation and an early inclination towards creative pursuits, which eventually led her to the world of acting.

1.1. Childhood and Education

Born Akiko Usui in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, on January 27, 1935, Koyama was the youngest of six children. She was raised in Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. After graduating from Kanagawa Prefectural Tsurumi High School in 1953, she pursued her interest in fashion design by enrolling in a dressmaking school.

1.2. Early Career

Koyama's entry into the entertainment industry began serendipitously when she appeared on the cover of Katei Yomiuri magazine after participating in a fashion show. This led to her being scouted by Shochiku film studios, where she made her screen debut in 1955 in the film Mama Yokoo Muiteite. During her time at Shochiku, she met Nagisa Ōshima, who was then an assistant director at the studio. They developed a relationship through their work and married in 1960. Ōshima's unconventional proposal famously stated, "I'll buy you anything from the department store." The following year, Koyama left Shochiku with Ōshima.

In 1959, before her marriage, Koyama also gained international exposure by participating in significant Japanese film promotion events in Germany. From March 2 to March 6, she attended the "Berlin Japan Film Art Days," followed by the "Munich Japan Film Fair" from March 6 to March 11. She departed for Germany on March 1, 1959, as a representative actress for Shochiku, alongside other prominent actresses such as Izumi Ashikawa (Nikkatsu), Keiko Okawa (Toei), Mayumi Ozora (Shintoho), Yoko Tsukasa (Toho), and Ayako Wakao (Daiei), as well as film executives. In Berlin, she stayed at the Hilton Berlin, attending a press conference on March 3 and visiting the CCC Studio on March 4. On March 5, she traveled to Munich, where she stayed at the Kempinski Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten. She participated in another press conference on March 7 and an autograph session on March 9. On March 10, she toured the Bavaria Studio. After the fair concluded on March 11, Koyama visited several other European cities, including London, Paris, Geneva, Zurich, and Rome, before making a stop in Hong Kong. She returned to Japan on March 26, approximately one month after her departure, arriving via Japan Airlines with Yamanashi, Ashikawa, and Ozora. A photograph exists depicting the four of them on the airplane's gangway upon their return, with Koyama notably wearing a fashionable hat and gloves. Films screened at these events included Muhomatsu no Issho (winner of the Golden Lion at the 19th Venice Film Festival), Keisuke Kinoshita's version of Narayama Bushikō, and the animated film Hakujaden.

2. Main Activities and Achievements

Akiko Koyama's career spans a wide array of roles across film, television, and theater, showcasing her versatility and enduring presence in the Japanese entertainment industry.

2.1. Filmography

After leaving Shochiku in 1961, Akiko Koyama became a co-founder of the independent film company Sozosha with her husband, Nagisa Ōshima. She regularly starred in the films produced by Sozosha, contributing significantly to Ōshima's distinctive cinematic vision. Her filmography includes a wide range of genres and collaborations with various directors and studios.

Her selected film roles include:

  • Mama Yokoo Muiteite (1955, Shochiku) - Namiki
  • Akogare (1955, Shochiku) - Yukiko Shimizu
  • Furisode Kenpō (1955, Shochiku) - Okin
  • Shinkon Hakusho (1955, Shochiku) - Haruko Yamaguchi
  • Taiyō wa Hibi Atarinaru (1955, Shochiku) - Junko Toyama
  • Hana Futatabi (1956, Shochiku) - Mayumi
  • Dadakko Shachō (1956, Shochiku) - Ayako Kazuki
  • Kimi wa Hana no Gotoku (1956, Shochiku) - Wakako Horikawa
  • Koko ni Sachi Ari (1956, Shochiku) - Minako Mine
  • Aozora Kenpō Benten Yasha (1956, Shochiku) - Osen
  • Shochiku Matsuri Star Sōdōin Studio Chōtokkyū Joyū Tanjō (1956, Shochiku)
  • Kakubō Sanbagarasu (1956, Shochiku) - Kinomi
  • Tsuruhachi Tsurujirō (1956, Shochiku) - Oshin
  • "Shōnen Miyamoto Musashi" yori Hare Sugata Chigo no Kenpō (1956, Shochiku) - Otaka
  • Mariya Kannon Zen/Kōhen (1956, Shochiku) - Shinobu
  • Bantsuma Tsuizen Kinen Eiga Kyōraku Gonin Otoko (1956, Shochiku) - Shino
  • Koko wa Shizuka Nari (1956, Shochiku) - Akiko Takeda
  • Hareta Hi ni (1956, Shochiku) - Yukiji Satake
  • Nigedashita Endan (1957, Shochiku) - Tomie Kojima
  • Sesoro Momoiro Goten (1957, Shochiku) - Chiyo
  • Hakuji no Hito (1957, Shochiku) - Tsunemi Motoba
  • Musume Sanbagarasu (1957, Shochiku) - Emi Hosaka
  • Hana Kurenai ni (1957, Shochiku) - Asako Wakasugi
  • Akuma no Kao (1957, Shochiku) - Yuri
  • Aoi Hana no Nagare (1957, Shochiku) - Mako
  • Jōchi no Naka no Shojo Tenshi no Jikan (1957, Shochiku) - Kumiko
  • Onna Dake no Machi (1957, Shochiku) - Daughter in suit
  • Hana wa Nagekazu (1957, Shochiku) - Shinobu Natsukawa
  • Kateikyōshi to Joseito (1957, Shochiku) - Junko Ishihara
  • "Funsui" yori Teikō Suru Nenrei (1958, Shochiku)
  • Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari Boroie no Shunju (1958, Shochiku)
  • Kuroi Kafun (1958, Shochiku)
  • Sono Te ni Noruna (1958, Shochiku)
  • Hanayome no Teikō (1958, Shochiku)
  • Hana no Uzushio (1958, Shochiku)
  • Josei ni Tsuite no 103 Shō yori Niizuma to Onna Hisho (1958, Shochiku)
  • Doronko Tengoku (1958, Shochiku)
  • Beni Kōmori (1958, Shochiku)
  • Taigan Jōju (1959, Shochiku)
  • Sanbagarasu Sandaiki (1959, Shochiku)
  • Zokuzoku Kindan no Suna Akai Pantsu (1959, Shochiku)
  • "Kafun" yori Sora Kakeru Hanayome (1959, Shochiku)
  • Koko ni Otoko Ari (1959, Shochiku)
  • Fūfu Gasshō (1959, Shochiku)
  • "Good Night" yori Mayonaka no Shojo (1959, Shochiku)
  • Ai o Chikaishi Kimi Naraba (1959, Shochiku)
  • Kōfuku na Kazoku (1959, Shochiku)
  • Kindan no Suna Manatsu no Jōji (1960, Shochiku)
  • Shu no Kafun (1960, Shochiku)
  • Shiroi Hatō (1960, Shochiku)
  • Tsūkai Naru Hanayome (1960, Shochiku)
  • Dangai ni Tatsu Onna (1960, Shochiku)
  • Shisha to no Kekkon (1960, Shochiku)
  • Kanojo Dake ga Shitte Iru (1960, Shochiku)
  • Night and Fog in Japan (1960, Shochiku)
  • Shikō (1961, Taihō)
  • Sandai no Sakazuki (1962, Daiei)
  • Chiisana Bōken Ryokō (1963, Nissei Gekijō Eigabu)
  • Kanto Nagareru Mono (1965, Toei)
  • Zoku Heitai Yakuza (1965, Daiei)
  • Waka Oyabun Kenkajō (1966, Daiei)
  • Hakuchū no Tōrima (1966, Shochiku)
  • Ichiman Sanzen-nin no Yōgisha (1966, Toei)
  • Tabiji (1967, Toei) - Haruko
  • Zoku Rōkyoku Komoriuta (1967, Toei) - Iku
  • Hana to Kajitsu (1967, Nikkatsu) - Mitsuko Tagawa
  • Ninja Bugeichō (1967, ATG) - Akemi
  • Nihon Shunka Kō (1967, Shochiku) - Takako Tanigawa
  • Kōshikei (1968, ATG) - Woman
  • Rikugun Nakano Gakkō Kaisen Zenya (1968, Daiei) - Akiko Ichinose
  • Sengo Saidai no Tobakuba (1969, Toei) - Masae Itsuki
  • Zoku Onna no Keisatsu (1969, Nikkatsu) - Hisayo Nishizawa
  • Shōnen (1969, ATG) - Mother
  • Shōwa Zankyōden Hitokiri Karajishi (1969, Toei) - Masayo Minagawa
  • Onna Gokaku Chō (1970, Daiei) - Umeno
  • Kigeki Omedetai Yatsu (1971, Toho) - Waitress-like woman
  • Gishiki (1971, ATG) - Setsuko Sakurada
  • Onna Banchō Blues Mesubachi no Chōsen (1972, Toei) - Kyōko
  • Gincho Wataridori (1972, Toei) - Kayo
  • Natsu no Imōto (1972, ATG) - Tsuru Ōmura
  • Kozure Satsujin Ken (1976, Toei) - Kyōko Okabe
  • Ai no Corrida (1976, Toho-Towa) - Geisha at "Masaki"
  • Sayama Saiban (1976, Toei) - Setsu Nomoto
  • Inugami no Akuryō (1977, Toei) - Sawa Kenmochi
  • Kiri no Hata (1977, Toho) - Keiko Kōno
  • Ai no Bōrei (1978, Toho-Towa) - Mistress of Nishi's house
  • Manji (1983, Toei) - Chigusa Shitō
  • Akasabi-iro no Sora (1983) - Naoko Takeda
  • Purumeria no Densetsu Tengoku no Kissu (1983, Toho) - Chie Hayasaka
  • Setouchi Shōnen Yakyū-dan: Seishun-hen Saigo no Rakuen (1987, Nippon Herald Eiga) - Naki's mother
  • Terebi ni Chōsen Shita Otoko: Ushiyama Jun'ichi (2012) - Herself (documentary)
  • Intermission (2013, Obscura/Tohokushinsha) - Akiko

2.2. Television Dramas and Theater

In the 1980s, Akiko Koyama shifted her primary focus from film to television work, while still maintaining a presence on stage. She appeared in a vast number of television dramas across various networks and genres.

Notable television roles include:

  • Sanyo Television Theater (TBS)
    • "Kiri no Naka no Shōjo" (December 9, 1960)
    • "Onna wa Onaji Monogatari" (January 6, 1961)
    • "Onna de Aru Koto 1 Taeko no Shō" (March 3, 1961)
    • "Onna de Aru Koto 2 Oto no Shō" (March 10, 1961)
    • "Onna de Aru Koto 3 Sakae no Shō" (March 17, 1961)
    • "Onna de Aru Koto 4 Ichiko no Shō" (March 24, 1961)
  • Green Gekijō Episode 13 "Ikari no Kajitsu" (December 24, 1960, TBS)
  • Ai no Gekijō "Tokaku Onna to Iu Mono wa" (December 26, 1960, NTV)
  • NEC Sunday Gekijō "Kotoshi mo Tanoshiku" (January 1, 1961, NET)
  • Getsuyō Gekijō "Yukiguni" (January 23, 1961, NET)
  • Zassō no Uta Episode 148 "Sukima Kaze" (February 1, 1961, KR)
  • Meishōbu Monogatari Episodes 19-24 "Hana no Kōdōkan" (March 23, 1961, NTV)
  • Yashika Golden Gekijō "Waga Machi" (April 12, 1961, NTV)
  • Miyamoto Musashi Ichijōji no Kettō (April 16, 1961, CX)
  • Genji Keita Series "Kenka Tarō" (April 16, 1961, TBS)
  • Kenji (1961, CX)
  • Yamamoto Shūgorō Hour "Shugyō Kidan" (July 12, 1961, TBS)
  • Bungei Gekijō Episode 1 "Mizuumi no Musume" (October 6, 1961, NHK)
  • Kintetsu Kin'yō Gekijō (TBS)
    • "Kazoku Kaigi (Zenpen/Kōhen)" (December 15, 22, 1961)
    • "Konjiki Yasha (Kōhen) Akagashi Mitsue no Maki" (January 19, 1962)
    • "Itsuka Kyokkō no Kagayaku Machi ni" (August 23, 1963)
  • Tōshiba Sunday Gekijō (TBS)
    • Episode 267 "Hachinosu no Onnatachi" (January 14, 1962)
    • Episode 358 "Moyuru Kagiri" (October 13, 1963, CBC)
    • Episode 513 "Shūsō" (October 2, 1966, RKB)
    • Episode 561 "Onna Kazoku" (September 10, 1967)
    • Episode 564 "Tsujigahana" (October 1, 1967, HBC)
  • Hitachi Family Stage "Kage no Chitai Zenpen/Kōhen" (February 20, 27, 1962, TBS)
  • Oka wa Hanazakari (1962, NTV)
  • Matsumoto Seichō Series Kuro no Kumikyoku / Koe (May 10, 11, 1962, NHK)
  • Haruka na Uta, Haruka na Sato (May 27, 1962, NHK)
  • Tsuki to Tebukuro (July 25, 1962, NHK)
  • Jūdō Ichidai (1962, TBS)
  • Okāsan 2 (TBS)
    • Episode 191 "Watashi wa Kamome" (June 27, 1963)
    • Episode 225 "Kanashige ni" (February 20, 1964)
    • Episode 282 "Kagi wa Ikutsu ni" (April 8, 1965)
    • Episode 308 "Shima no Aru Ha" (October 7, 1965)
    • Episode 338 "Tsubame Tobu Hi ni" (May 5, 1966)
  • Nihon Eiga Meisaku Drama "Ninjo Kamifūsen" (July 14, 1963, NET)
  • Shichinin no Keiji Episode 95 "Kaettekita Musume" (July 25, 1963, TBS)
  • Akusen (1963, YTV)
  • Bungei Gekijō Episode 83 "Yoru no Haiyaku" (August 23, 1963, NHK)
  • Sanbiki no Samurai (CX)
    • Season 1 Episode 21 "Shunrai Yūjō" (1964)
    • Season 4 Episode 19 "Kogarashi no Onna" (1967) - Yae
  • Musume no Kekkon Episode 18 "Maiorita Hanayome" (February 12, 1964, NTV)
  • Jōi (1964, 12ch)
  • Chichi Ko Taka (1964, TBS)
  • Kumo o Tsukamu Otoko (1964, KTV)
  • Jōi Ki (October 29, 1964, NHK)
  • Mito Kōmon Episode 26 (1964, TBS)
  • Asia no Akebono (1964, TBS)
  • Shiroi Magyo (1965, CX)
  • Unagi Hanjōki (1965, NHK)
  • Benkei (1965-1966, NTV)
  • Tange Sazen 1 (1965-1966, TBS)
  • Genji Monogatari (1965, MBS)
  • Naite Tamaru ka (TBS)
    • Episode 1 "Rappa no Zen-san" (1966)
    • Episode 35 "Tsubasa Areba" (February 26, 1967)
    • "Sensei Hatsukoi no Hito ni Au" (May 27, 1967)
    • "Aa Gunka" (December 10, 1967)
  • Nichiyōbi (1966, NHK)
  • Grand Prix Gekijō "Utage" (1966-1967, NTV)
  • Shingo Jūban Shōbu Episode 12 "Ōkamiya no Kettō" (1966, TBS/Shochiku TV Shitsu) - Shino
  • Ushiro Sugata (December 15, 1966, NHK)
  • Onna de Aru Koto (1967, MBS)
  • Natsu no Yoru no Jūji Series "Shisha to no Kekkon" (June 12, 1967, NET)
  • National Golden Theater "Fuchi no Soko" (1968, NET)
  • Dōtonbori (1968, YTV) - Portrayed a woman from Osaka with nostalgic Naniwa charm.
  • Ōoku Episodes 8-10 (1968, KTV) - O-Aku
  • 37-kai no Otoko Episode 3 "Bara-iro no Shi" (1968, NTV)
  • Kaettekita Yōjinbō Episode 12 "Ano Takeyabu o Nukete" (1968, NET)
  • The Guardman Episode 260 "Futari no Tsuma o Motsu Otto" (1970, TBS) - Mrs. Itsuki
  • Ginga Drama Kuyashi Namida (1970, NHK) - Ritsuko Inami
  • Sabaki no Ie (1970, KTV) - Yūko Odajima
  • Kao Soap Ai no Gekijō Hyōten (1971, TBS) - Natsue Tsujiguchi
  • Dai Chūshingura (1971, NET) - Omaki
  • Suki! Suki!! Majō Sensei Episode 6 "Boku no Otōto wa Robot da!" (1971, ABC)
  • Banka (1971, NHK)
  • Shin Heike Monogatari (1972, NHK) - Bifukumonin
  • Yonaoshi Bugyō (1972, NET) - Okuni
  • Kogarashi Monjirō Season 2 Episode 9 "Nishikie wa Jūgoya ni Naita" (1972, CX) - Okon Yamashiroya
  • Shinshokoku Monogatari Fuefuki Dōji (1972, TBS) - Ise
  • Ōkubo Hikozaemon (1973, KTV)
  • Hissatsu Series (ABC/Shochiku)
    • Tasuke-nin Hashiru (1973-1974) - Aya Tsuji
    • Hissatsu Shiokinin Episode 4 "Anta Kono Oyako o Dō Omou" (1976) - Oyu
    • Tobe! Hissatsu Uragoroshi Episode 2 "Totsujo Okugata to Geisha no Jinkaku ga Irekawatta" (1978) - Kinji
  • Dokyō Jidai (1974, CBC)
  • Akai Meiro (1974, TBS) - Taeko Yūki
  • Denhichi Torimonochō (NTV)
    • Episode 41 "Koroshi no Nagefumi" (1974) - Osae
    • Episode 61 "Shimagaeri Namida no Yobukodori" (1975) - Onatsu
  • Sanbaba (1974, MBS)
  • Furimukuna Tsurukichi Episode 15 "Fūfu Sujikaibashi" (1975, NHK)
  • Kirinukeru Episode 17 "Aya Hime Goten" (1975, ABC) - Kuni
  • Hijō no License (NET)
    • Season 2 Episode 24 "Kyōaku no Kenshin" (1975) - Ayaka Mizushina
    • Season 2 Episode 54 "Kyōaku no Sakyū" (1975) - Kazuko Makihara
  • Akantare (1976-1977, THK) - O-Hisa, the mistress of Naritaya
  • Doyō Drama / Matsumoto Seichō Series "Tazune Hito" (1977, NHK) - Kyōko Tachibana
  • Yokomizo Seishi Series / Inugami-ke no Ichizoku (1977, MBS) - Umeko Inugami
  • Zoku Akantare (1978, THK) - Continued her role as O-Hisa, the mistress of Semba district in Osaka during the Meiji and Taisho eras.
  • Comet-san (1978-1979, TBS)
  • Tokusō Saizensen Episode 87 "Haha Satsui no Canvas!" (1978, ANB)
  • Joppari (1979, THK)
  • Lion Okusama Gekijō Tokugawa no Onnatachi Part 3 "Aiseki Haha Hitori" (1980, CX) - Takigawa
  • Kayō Suspense Gekijō Kōkō Yakyū Satsujin Jiken (1982, NTV)
  • Sono Toki ga Kita (1982, MBS)
  • Fukei-san wa Majo (1983, TBS) - Taka Tatsumi
  • Ōoku (1983, KTV)
    • Episode 1 "Ōoku Tanjō" - Yodo-dono
    • Episode 12 "Mizaru Iwazaru Kikazaru" - Masao
  • Munasawagu Ichigo-tachi (1983, TBS)
  • Doyō Wide Gekijō Kekkon Annai Mystery Fū (1984, ANB)
  • Shinshun Drama Special Tenjōin Atsuhime (1985, ANB)
  • Buchō Keiji Episode 1379 "Kieta Mitsukin" (1985, ABC)
  • Sanada Taiheiki (1985-1986, NHK) - Yamate-dono
  • Kyō Ichirin (1989, YTV)
  • Shugyoku no Onna (1992, YTV)
  • Oda Nobunaga (1994, TX) - Tsuchida Gozen
  • Kaikyō (2007, NHK)

She also appeared in the children's educational program Tan-ken Boku no Machi (1984, NHK) as Chō-san's mother.

3. Marriage and Family

Akiko Koyama's personal life was deeply intertwined with her professional career, particularly through her marriage to film director Nagisa Ōshima. They married in 1960 and remained together until Ōshima's passing in 2013. Their union produced two sons: Takeshi Ōshima (born 1963), who became a professor at Tokyo Polytechnic University, and Shin Ōshima (born 1969), a former Fuji TV director and now a film director. Koyama's legal name became Akiko Ōshima after her marriage.

Akiko Koyama and Nagisa Ōshima in 1960
Akiko Koyama and Nagisa Ōshima in 1960

4. Later Activities and Writings

Akiko Koyama's life took a significant turn in 1996 when her husband, Nagisa Ōshima, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. She temporarily stepped back from her acting career, which often involved long hours, to dedicate herself to caring for him. This period of intensive caregiving, however, led to personal challenges, including the development of depression exacerbated by fatigue and insensitive remarks from staff at Ōshima Production. Despite these difficulties, Koyama bravely overcame her depression.

In 2001, she established her personal agency, Akiko Koyama Office. Since then, she has focused her activities on lecturing, commentary, and writing, primarily on the subject of nursing care. Her experiences as a caregiver provided profound insights that she shared through her publications. Her book, Papa wa Minus 50-ten (Papa is Minus 50 Points), published in 2005, chronicled her decade-long journey supporting her husband and her triumph over caregiving-induced depression. This work was highly acclaimed, earning her the 25th Japan Essayist Club Award (part of the Japan Bungei Taishō) in 2008. She further contributed to the literature on well-being with Koyama Akiko no Shiawase Biyori (Akiko Koyama's Happy Days), published in 2010. Koyama also co-authored two books with Nagisa Ōshima: Nakayoki koto wa, Meiwaku ka: Watashitachi no Jinsei Sahō (Is Being on Good Terms a Nuisance?: Our Way of Life) in 1987, and Otoko to Onna no Chotto Ki ni Naru Hanashi (A Little Something About Men and Women) in 1991.

Nagisa Ōshima passed away on January 15, 2013, at the age of 80, due to pneumonia. The day after his death, Koyama, demonstrating remarkable strength, performed as the lead in a stage play. In an interview following the performance, she tearfully expressed her gratitude to her late husband, stating, "Thank you for your hard work. I have no regrets." She served as the chief mourner at his funeral, offering words of thanks to the numerous attendees. In 2013, Koyama made a return to film after a quarter-century hiatus, appearing in the movie Intermission, directed by Naofumi Higuchi.

5. Awards

Akiko Koyama has been recognized for her significant contributions to both acting and literature throughout her career.

  • 1969: Mainichi Film Awards - Best Supporting Actress for Boy
  • 2021: Japan Academy Film Prize - Chairman's Special Award (44th ceremony, for achievements in 2020)

6. Evaluation and Impact

Akiko Koyama's career reflects not only her artistic talent as an actress but also her profound impact as an author and advocate in her later life.

6.1. Positive Evaluation

Koyama's enduring acting career, particularly her collaborations with Nagisa Ōshima, solidified her place in Japanese cinema. Beyond her screen presence, her later work as a lecturer and author has had a significant positive impact on society. Through her writings, such as Papa wa Minus 50-ten, and her public speaking, she openly shared her experiences with caregiving and overcoming depression. This candidness fostered greater empathy and awareness regarding the challenges faced by caregivers and the importance of mental well-being. Her resilience in the face of personal adversity, such as continuing her stage performance the day after her husband's death, further highlights her strength and dedication. Her advocacy has contributed to a broader societal understanding of caregiving and mental health issues.

6.2. Criticism and Controversy

While her career is largely celebrated, Koyama's later life included significant personal challenges that she has openly discussed. Her experience with depression, triggered by the intense demands of caregiving for her husband and compounded by abusive remarks from staff at Ōshima Production, represents a difficult period. These experiences, however, have been presented objectively in her public discourse, serving as a testament to her struggle and subsequent recovery rather than a source of controversy.