Film ActressJapanesePink Film ActorYakuza Film Actor

Yōko Mihara

Yōko Mihara was a prominent Japanese actress, erotic dancer, and pin-up model active from the 1950s to the 1970s, known for Shintoho exploitation and Toei pinky violence films.

1. Overview

Yōko Mihara (三原 葉子Mihara YōkoJapanese), born Masako Fujiwara (藤原 正子Japanese), was a prominent Japanese actress, erotic dancer, and pin-up model active from the 1950s to the 1970s. Known for her glamorous physique, she rose to fame as a "sexy star" during the Shintoho era, particularly in exploitation cinema and sexploitation films. Following Shintoho's bankruptcy, Mihara became a staple actress for Toei, contributing significantly to the studio's "pinky violence" subgenre. She was born on January 10, 1933, in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, and passed away on July 1, 2013. During her active career, she was publicly stated to be 64 in (162 cm) tall and weigh 115 lb (52 kg).

2. Early Life

Yōko Mihara's early life laid the foundation for her later career in Japanese cinema.

2.1. Birth and Childhood

Yōko Mihara was born Masako Fujiwara on January 10, 1933, in Nataiya-cho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Her family operated a furrier business, providing her with a unique upbringing environment.

2.2. Education

Mihara completed her formal education at Morioka Municipal Morioka First Girls' High School, now known as Morioka Municipal High School.

3. Acting Career

Yōko Mihara's acting career spanned over two decades, marked by her distinctive roles in Japanese exploitation cinema.

3.1. Shintoho Era

Mihara began her professional career in October 1951 when she joined Shintoho as a "First Generation Starlet." She made her silver screen debut in 1952 in the film Fūun Nanabake Tōge (風雲七化け峠), directed by Kyōtarō Namiki. In this debut role, Mihara performed a scene where she entered a river completely nude, a notable act for a Japanese actress at the time. Co-star Arashi Kanjūrō recounted her bravery in the freezing river, stating that she "entered the truly cutting-cold clear stream naked," and despite being visibly shaken, she completed the scene. This performance garnered significant attention, making her a topic of discussion for her rare glamour in Japanese cinema.

During her early career, Mihara also pursued work as a pin-up model and stripper. Her breakthrough came in 1957 with her lead role as a stripper in Teruo Ishii's film Nude Actress Murder Case: Five Criminals (肉体女優殺し 五人の犯罪者). Her portrayal in this film, showcasing her physical beauty and acting prowess, significantly boosted her popularity. The following year, Shintoho positioned Mihara as the star of their low-budget "ama" (diving girl) series, succeeding Michiko Maeda. She took her first starring role in Cannibal Ama (人喰海女) in 1958, directed by Yoshiki Onoda, followed by Girl Divers at Spook Mansion (海女の化物屋敷) in 1959. She quickly rose to become a top star in Shintoho's "sexy line," a central "vamp" actress in the studio's ero-guro (erotic-grotesque) film strategy under President Mitsugu Ōkura's "planning-first" policy.

3.2. Post-Shintoho and Toei Era

In October 1961, following Shintoho's bankruptcy, Yōko Mihara transitioned her career. She initially joined Daiichi Kyodan before becoming a freelance actress, primarily working with Toei Company. During this period, film appearances were reportedly a secondary activity for her, as her main occupation was in real estate, where she was said to have made a substantial fortune.

Despite this, Mihara maintained a prolific acting career with Toei. She appeared in four films within Ishii's popular Abashiri Prison yakuza film series between 1966 and 1967. She later featured in Toei's onsen geisha sexploitation films, further cementing her image in genre cinema. By the early 1970s, Mihara had established herself as a staple actress in Toei's distinctive "pinky violence" subgenre, a testament to her enduring appeal and versatility in the Japanese exploitation film landscape.

4. Personal Life and Episodes

Yōko Mihara was known for her captivating on-screen presence as a strong and alluring "vamp" actress, particularly in the ero-guro films of the Shintoho era. However, her off-screen personality was notably different from her public image.

According to her co-star Arashi Kanjūrō, Mihara was "the complete opposite of her strong roles, kind, and very considerate." He recalled an anecdote from the filming of Joo-bachi to Daigaku no Ryuu (女王蜂と大学の竜) in 1960, which was shot in the intense heat of summer. Despite being a major star, Mihara would stay by Arashi's side, promptly wiping his sweat even after her own scenes were finished. Arashi expressed his fondness for her, stating, "She took care of me like a real daughter, even after her turn was over, and I was charmed by her for this."

Mihara, despite being celebrated for her glamorous and voluptuous figure, reportedly struggled with maintaining her weight. Arashi Kanjūrō mentioned that her "glamour had gone too far and she had become plump," which was a constant source of worry for her, leading her to eat "only salads." This highlights the personal effort she made to conform to the image expected of a "glamour actress."

5. Filmography

5.1. Film

  • Fūun Nanabake Tōge (風雲七化け峠) (1952, Shintoho)
  • Tokyo no Ekubo (東京のえくぼ) (1952, Shintoho)
  • Ittou Nyoubou to Santou Teishu (一等女房と三等亭主) (1953, Shintoho)
  • Kyōfu no Carbine-jū (恐怖のカービン銃) (1954, Shintoho)
  • Seishun Kaidan (青春怪談) (1955, Shintoho)
  • Fūryū Kōban Nikki (風流交番日記) (1955, Shintoho)
  • Nagasaki no Uta wa Wasureji (長崎の歌は忘れじ) (1955, Shintoho)
  • Nagasaki no Uta wa Wasureji (人形佐七捕物帖 妖艶六死美人) (1956, Shintoho)
  • Nude Actress Murder Case: Five Criminals (肉体女優殺し 五人の犯罪者) (1957, Shintoho)
  • Pier of Woman Body (女体桟橋, Nyotai Sanbashi) (1958, Shintoho)
  • Kenpei to yurei (憲兵と幽霊) (1958, Shintoho)
  • Cannibal Ama (人喰海女) (1958, Shintoho)
  • Joo-bachi no Ikari (女王蜂の怒り) (1958, Shintoho)
  • Joo-bachi (女王蜂) (1958, Shintoho)
  • Shirosen Himitsu Chitai (白線秘密地帯) (1958, Shintoho)
  • Nude Model Satsujin Jiken (ヌードモデル殺人事件) (1958, Shintoho)
  • Irokurabe Gonin Onna (色競べ五人女) (1958, Shintoho)
  • Star Dokusatsu Jiken (スター毒殺事件) (1958, Shintoho)
  • Kieta Shiritsu Tantei (消えた私立探偵) (1958, Shintoho)
  • Soldiers' Girls (女の防波堤, Onna no Bōhatei) (1958, Shintoho)
  • Woman Vampire (女吸血鬼) (1959, Shintoho)
  • Onna Kanja Akatsuki no Chōsen (女間諜暁の挑戦) (1959, Shintoho)
  • Girl Divers at Spook Mansion (海女の化物屋敷, Ama no Bakemono Yashiki) (1959, Shintoho)
  • Mōfubuki no Shitō (猛吹雪の死闘) (1959, Shintoho)
  • The Ninety-Ninth Virgin (九十九本目の生娘) (1959, Shintoho)
  • Kurosen Chitai (黒線地帯) (1959, Shintoho)
  • Joo-bachi to Daigaku no Ryuu (女王蜂と大学の竜) (1960, Shintoho)
  • Ōsen Chitai (黄線地帯) (1960, Shintoho)
  • Onna Gankutsu-ō (女巌窟王) (1960, Shintoho)
  • Nyotai Usumaki Shima (女体渦巻島) (1960, Shintoho)
  • Yellow Line (黄線地帯 イエローライン) (1960, Shintoho)
  • Onna Doreisen (女奴隷船) (1960, Shintoho)
  • Nikutai no Yajū (肉体の野獣) (1960, Shintoho)
  • Kenjū to Tsutabashiri (拳銃と蔦走) (1960, Shintoho)
  • Ren'ai Zubari Kōza (恋愛ズバリ講座) (1961, Shintoho)
  • Sexy Line (セクシー地帯, Sekushī Chitai) (1961, Shintoho)
  • Joo-bachi no Gyakushū (女王蜂の逆襲) (1961, Shintoho)
  • Kasen Chitai (火線地帯) (1961, Shintoho)
  • Nangō Jirō Tanteichō: Kagenaki Satsujinsha (南郷次郎探偵帖・影なき殺人者) (1961, Shintoho)
  • Shiiku (飼育) (1961, Daihō)
  • Gonkurō Tabinikki (権九郎旅日記) (1961, Toei)
  • Kigeki Ekimae Bentō (喜劇 駅前弁当) (1961, Toho)
  • Ore ga Sabakunda (俺が裁くんだ) (1962, Shintoho / Nikkatsu)
  • Kidō Sōsahan Tokyo Gozen Reiji (機動捜査班 東京午前零時) (1962, Nikkatsu)
  • Ottamage Ningyohime (おったまげ人魚姫) (1962, Shochiku)
  • Ankokugai no Kaoyaku Jūichinin no Gang (暗黒街の顔役 十一人のギャング) (1963, Toei)
  • Yōjinbō Ichiba (用心棒市場) (1963, Toei)
  • Narazumono (ならず者) (1964, Toei)
  • Ankokugai Ōdōri (暗黒街大通り) (1964, Toei)
  • Three Outlaw Samurai (三匹の侍) (1964, Shochiku)
  • Irezumi Totsugekitai (いれずみ突撃隊) (1964, Toei)
  • Zoku Abashiri Bangaichi (続 網走番外地) (1965, Toei)
  • Sword of the Beast (獣の剣) (1965, Toei)
  • Nihon Zero Chitai Yoru o Nerae (日本ゼロ地帯 夜を狙え) (1966, Shochiku)
  • Kutsukake Tokijirō Yūkyō Ippiki (沓掛時次郎 遊侠一匹) (1966, Toei)
  • Woman's Morality (女犯破戒) (1966, Toei)
  • Rampaging Dragon of the North (狂暴なる季節) (1966, Toei)
  • Abashiri Prison: Duel in the Wilderness (網走番外地 荒野の対決, Abashiri Bangaichi: Kōya no Taiketsu) (1966, Toei)
  • Hone made Shaburu (骨までしゃぶる) (1966, Toei)
  • Dai Akutō Sakusen (大悪党作戦) (1966, Shochiku)
  • Abashiri Prison: Duel in the South (網走番外地 南国の対決, Abashiri Bangaichi: Nangoku no Taiketsu) (1966, Toei)
  • Abashiri Prison: Duel at 30 Degrees Below Zero (網走番外地 決斗零下30度, Abashiri Bangaichi: Ketto Reika Sanjū-do) (1967, Toei)
  • Abashiri Prison: Fight against Vice (網走番外地 悪への挑戦, Abashiri Bangaichi: Aku e no Chōsen) (1967, Toei)
  • Tokugawa Onna Keizu (徳川女系図) (1968, Toei)
  • Hot Springs Geisha (温泉あんま芸者, Onsen Anma Geisha) (1968, Toei)
  • Hakuchū Dōdō (白昼堂々) (1968, Shochiku)
  • Shakoku-ken 'Ai' yori: (Hi) Seito Seikatsu (謝国権「愛」より (秘)性と生活) (1969, Toei)
  • Furyō Banchō Inoshika Ochō (不良番長 猪の鹿お蝶) (1969, Toei)
  • Furyō Banchō Okuri Ōkami (不良番長 送り狼) (1969, Toei)
  • King of the Night Play (夜遊びの帝王) (1970, Toei)
  • Keiken (経験) (1970, Toei)
  • Furyō Banchō Bōsō Buggy-dan (不良番長 暴走バギー団) (1970, Toei)
  • The Brutal Executive (未亡人ごろしの帝王) (1971, Toei)
  • Zubekō Banchō Hamagure Kazoeuta (ずべ公番長 はまぐれ数え唄) (1971, Toei)
  • Sex Comedy: Nosebleed Boo (セックス喜劇 鼻血ブー) (1971, Toei)
  • Hot Springs Mimizu Geisha (温泉みみず芸者) (1971, Toei)
  • Conte 55-gō to Mīko no Zettaizetsumei (コント55号とミーコの絶体絶命) (1971, Shochiku)
  • Gendai Poruno Den: Sentensei Inpu (現代ポルノ伝 先天性淫婦) (1971, Toei)
  • King of Porn: Fainting Turkish Bath (ポルノの帝王 失神トルコ風呂) (1972, Toei)
  • Tokugawa Sex Ban: Lewd Daimyo (徳川セックス禁止令 色情大名) (1972, Toei)
  • Zorome no San Kyōdai (ゾロ目の三兄弟) (1972, Toei)
  • Hot Springs Kiss Geisha (温泉スッポン芸者, Onsen Suppon Geisha) (1972, Toei)
  • Delinquent Girl Boss: Guerrilla (女番長ゲリラ) (1972, Toei)
  • Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion (女囚701号/さそり) (1972, Toei)
  • Terrifying Girls' High School: Women's Violent Classroom (恐怖女子高校 女暴力教室) (1972, Toei)
  • Ero Shogun and 21 Mistresses (エロ将軍と二十一人の愛妾) (1972, Toei)
  • Girl Boss (女番長) (1973, Toei)
  • Sex & Fury (不良姐御伝 猪の鹿お蝶, Furyō Anego Den: Inoshika O-Chō) (1973, Toei)
  • Terrifying Girls' High School: Lynch Mob Classroom (恐怖女子高校 暴行リンチ教室) (1973, Toei)
  • Violent Sex Gang (狂走セックス族) (1973, Toei)
  • Terrifying Girls' High School: Delinquent Group in Ecstasy (恐怖女子高校 不良悶絶グループ) (1973, Toei)
  • School of the Holy Beast (聖獣学園, Seijū Gakuen) (1974, Toei)
  • Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs (0課の女 赤い手錠, Zeroka no Onna: Akai Wappa) (1974, Toei)
  • Jūgun Ianfu (従軍慰安婦) (1974, Toei)
  • Truck Yarō: Bakusō Ichibanhoshi (トラック野郎・爆走一番星) (1975, Toei)
  • Tokyo Fundoshi Geisha (東京ふんどし芸者) (1975, Toei)
  • Omatsuri Yarō Uogashi no Kyōdaibun (お祭り野郎 魚河岸の兄弟分) (1976, Toei)
  • Nishijin Shinjū (西陣心中) (1977, ATG)

5.2. Television Drama

  • Kyōfu no Mummy (恐怖のミイラ) (1961, NTV)
  • Kaze no Shisen (風の視線) (1962, NET)
  • Three Outlaw Samurai (三匹の侍) (1963-1964, CX)
    • "Kenpō Burai" (剣法無頼) (1963)
    • "Shiraha Mujō" (白刃無情) (1964)
  • Alps Taishō (あるぷす大将) (1964-1965, 12ch)
  • Tokubetsu Kidō Sōsatai (特別機動捜査隊) (NET / Toei)
    • "Kimyō na Onna" (奇妙な女) (1965)
    • "Aru Okinawa no Onna" (ある沖縄の女) - Mizue (1971)
    • "Ore no Koroshita Onna" (俺の殺した女) - Kazuko Kurishima (1974)
    • "Keiba Jinsei" (競馬人生) - Wakako (1976)
    • "Akuma no Bōsō" (悪魔の暴走) - Keiko Kosaka (1976)
    • "Aa Fūfu" (あヽ夫婦) - Michiko Hiramatsu (1977)
  • Shiroi Kyotō (白い巨塔) (1967, NET / Toei)
  • Zenigata Heiji (銭形平次) (CX / Toei)
    • "Kubinashi Botoke" (首なし仏) (1967)
    • "Makeru na Kā-chan" (負けるな母ちゃん) (1970)
  • Surōnin Tsukikage Hyōgo Season 2 (素浪人 月影兵庫 第2シリーズ) - O-Tsuya (1967)
  • Ōoku (大奥) - O-Chō no Kata (1968, KTV / Toei)
    • "Jūhachibanme no On-Sokushitsu" (十八番目の御側室)
    • "Namida no Umakouta" (涙の馬子唄)
  • Surōnin Hanayama Daikichi (素浪人 花山大吉) (NET / Toei)
    • "Yappari Fuzaketa Naka Datta" (やっぱりふざけた仲だった) (1969)
    • "Hotoke o Seotte Mometeita" (佛を背負ってモメていた) - O-Toku (1969)
  • Playgirl (プレイガール) (12ch / Toei)
    • "Onna Ippiki Koi Gurui" (女一匹恋狂い) - Kyōko Toda (1970)
    • "Otoko Goroshi Hadaka no Mesuneko" (男殺し裸の牝猫) - Ninako (1970)
    • "Thriller: Yokushitsu no Shibijin" (スリラー・浴室の死美人) - Yōko (1970)
    • "Ikiteita Hanayome" (生きていた花嫁) - Hanae (1970)
    • "Onna Inochi no Azuke Kata" (女命の預け方) - Masayo (1970)
    • "Onna wa Hadaka de Guam-tō Kōro" (女は裸でグァム島航路) (1971)
    • "Yume no Guam-tō Satsujin Jiken" (夢のグァム島殺人事件) - Asako (1971)
    • "Teishu no Koroshikata Oshiemasu" (亭主の殺し方教えます) - Tomiko Yuge (1973)
    • "Onna ga Otoko o Nekasu Toki" (女が男を寝かすとき) - Rie Tachibana (1974)
    • "Torukoburo Satsujin Jiken" (トルコ風呂殺人事件) - Michiyo Nakazawa (1974)
  • Playgirl Q (プレイガールQ) (12ch / Toei)
    • "Seiya ni Moeru Atsui Hada" (聖夜に燃える熱い肌) - Yuka (1975)
    • "Hadaka no Hanayome Jigoku Yuki" (裸の花嫁地獄行き) - Masae Itagaki (1976)
  • Key Hunter (キイハンター) (TBS / Toei)
    • "Sore Ike! Gaikotsu Gōtōdan" (それ行け! がい骨強盗団) (1971)
    • "Kigeki Oheso Tokkōtai" (喜劇 おへそ特攻隊) (1972)
  • Hanshichi Torimonochō (半七捕物帳) - "Tengu Sawagi" (天狗さわぎ) (1972, NET / Toei)
  • Ninpō Kagerōgiri (忍法かげろう斬り) - O-Man (1972, KTV / Toei)
  • Kōya no Surōnin Season 2 (荒野の素浪人 第2シリーズ) - "Norainu Muzan" (野良犬無残) (1974, NET / Mifune Productions)
  • Furimukuna Tsurukichi (ふりむくな鶴吉) - O-Toki (1975, NHK)
  • G-Men '75 (Gメン'75) - Snack Mama (1975, TBS / Toei)
  • Hijō no License Season 2 (非情のライセンス 第2シリーズ) - Madam of Irefune (1976, NET / Toei)
  • Hissatsu Shiokinin (必殺仕業人) - Kaede (1976, ABC / Shochiku)
  • Guruguru Medaman (ぐるぐるメダマン) - Yoshie Yamada (1976, 12ch / Toei)
  • Yokomizo Seishi Series: Mitsukubi Tō (横溝正史シリーズ / 三つ首塔) - Akemi Shimabara (1977, MBS / Toho)

6. Death

Yōko Mihara passed away on July 1, 2013. Her grave is located at Tōkenji Temple (東顕寺) in Morioka City, Japan.