Kyoko Enami: The Red Flower that Bloomed between Man and Woman: The 1960s and 1970s

Kyoko Enami: The Red Flower that Bloomed between Man and Woman: The 1960s and 1970s

Kyoko Enami left a vivid impression on the silver screen in the Showa era with her portrayal of the female gambler Ginko in the "Onna no betsoba" series that began in 1966. She wore a kimono and smoked cigarettes, with a resolute gaze and a hint of female sorrow. In the 1960s and 1970s, Japan was experiencing a period of rapid economic growth, but also a time of anxiety and loneliness as the country was driven by urbanization. The character of Ginko symbolized the strength and fragility of women in such a time of turmoil.

While Junko Fuji and Meiko Kaji, who were active at the same time, are remembered as chivalrous women who lived a life of righteousness and violence, Enami was unique as an actress who portrayed a sensitive inner life swayed by emotion. On October 27, 2018, he passed away due to respiratory failure caused by emphysema at the age of 76. She was one of the last actresses who carried the tension and romance of the Showa era.