The Maid of the Silver Screen Who Went to the North Pole: The 1960s and 1970s

The Maid of the Silver Screen Who Went to the North Pole: The 1960s and 1970s

Masako Izumi joined Nikkatsu at the age of 16 and made her screen debut in 1961, at a time when the Japanese film industry was still gloriously vibrant, riding the wave of rapid economic growth. Fifteen years after the war, even with the rapid spread of television, movies remained at the center of youth culture. Nikkatsu, in particular, was gaining momentum with its youth and action lines, and young actresses were in demand to play the roles of their counterparts, with Asahi Kobayashi, Keiichiro Akagi, Tetsuya Watari, and others gracing the screen.

Masako Izumi emerged as a heroine with purity and a healthy brightness. In her best-known work, "A Tale of Love in Ginza," she teamed up with Asahi Kobayashi to play an urban and passionate love interest, bringing the fervor of postwar reconstruction and a new view of love to young audiences. In "Young General of the Sea," he vividly portrayed a fresh image of youth, and his presence was both urban sophistication and simple cuteness. It can be said that these works embodied the ideal image sought by young people during the period of rapid economic growth.

However, the environment changed rapidly after the mid-1960s, with the spread of the student movement and social unrest, and the decline of the film industry due to the rise of television. In the midst of these changes, Izumi expanded her activities beyond the screen and continued to maintain a presence on stage and television. In 1971, she made the extraordinary transition from silver screen star to adventurer by becoming the first woman to reach the North Pole.

Compared to other actresses of her generation, while Sayuri Yoshinaga consistently maintained her national popularity as a movie actress, Izumi stands out in that she has gone beyond the silver screen to forge a new path for herself. Also, unlike Ruriko Asaoka, who expanded her roles with her bewitching charm, Izumi maintained a healthy and dynamic character. Masako Izumi's path was a rare life trajectory that reflects Japanese society's progress from postwar reconstruction to the era of diversification.