Kumeko Urabe

Acting

Biography

Kumeko Urabe (Japanese: 浦辺粂子), born Kimura Kume ((木村くめ)), (October 5, 1902 – October 26, 1989) was a Japanese movie actress, one of the first in the country. She worked on stage and in film and television. Urabe was born in a rural part of the Shizuoka Prefecture. She lived in several homes while growing up, as she relocated with her father, a Buddhist priest, among the temples to which he was assigned. Urabe completed her education in Numazu, and left school in 1919 to join a theatre company, touring under various stage names as an actor and dancer. In 1923, Urabe auditioned at the film studio Nikkatsu, and adopted the name Kumeko Urabe, by which she was known for the rest of her life. She appeared in her first film the following year, and continued to act until 1987. She worked with such directors as Kenji Mizoguchi and Mikio Naruse, and performed in over 320 films, including Ikiru, Older Brother, Younger Sister, Portrait of Madame Yuki, She Was Like a Wild Chrysanthemum, and Street of Shame. She also starred in television dramas, including thirteen episodes of Toshiba Sunday Theatre between 1958 and 1980. In the following decade, she carved a niche as a Grandma idol, until her death in 1989.

Filmography Movies

Acting

MOVIE

Early Spring

7.5(0.1K)

A young salaryman and his wife struggle within the confines of their passionless relationship while he embarks on an extramarital affair.

Hachiko

7.8(0.2K)

The tragic, true story about Hachikō, an Akita dog who was loyal to his master, Professor Ueno, even after Ueno's death.

Scarred Yosaburo

9.0(0.0K)

The film depicts the scarring of Yosaburo at the hands of yakuza thugs who catch him with mistress of the gang boss. Despite the physical and emotional scars he now carries with him, Yosaburo falls for a young noblewoman. The rest of the film follows the two as they fend off attacks from gangs and the police.

The Salaryman's Carefree Life: What a Relaxed Job This Is!

The salaryman is the object of admiration in the world. Because there is no more carefree job than this, this cheerful song comedy is set to the hit melody of the Hajime Hana and the Crazy Cats.

Play Trailer

The Salaryman's Carefree Life: What a Relaxed Job This Is!

MOVIE

Haru no sanmyaku

1962 Japanese movie

Play Trailer

Haru no sanmyaku

MOVIE

Teppo Yasu no Shogai

1962 Japanese movie

Play Trailer

Teppo Yasu no Shogai

MOVIE

Yaji and Kita: Yasuda's Rescue

6.0(0.0K)

Yaji and Kita: Yasuda's Rescue is a 1927 black and white Japanese silent film directed by Tomiyasu Ikeda.[1] This comedy film showcases the comic talent of Denjiro Okochi, which contrasts markedly with his heroic performance in Oatsurae Jirokichi Koshi. The humorous exchanges with Goro Kawabe, his senior at Nikkatsu, can be priceless, with the expressions and movements of the two goofy characters making for pure, hilarious slapstick comedy. A 15-minute remnant of the film was released on DVD by Digital Meme with benshi accompaniment by Midori Sawato and Ryubi Kato.

Play Trailer

Yaji and Kita: Yasuda's Rescue

Otoku