Nobuko Otowa - Motherhood and Sorrow of the Common People in Postwar Cinema (1924-1994)

Nobuko Otowa - Motherhood and Sorrow of the Common People in Postwar Cinema (1924-1994)

Nobuko Otowa, a member of the Takarazuka Revue, was known as "the dimple of a million dollars" and gained popularity with her fresh charm during the chaotic postwar period. However, her encounter with director Kaneto Shindo marked a turning point in her career, and she transformed herself from a mere star into a talented actress. In 1951, she played the role of a young wife who succumbed to tuberculosis in "Aisai Monogatari (A Wife's Tale)," and her realistic performance brought tears to the eyes of the audience. After this success, she established her reputation as an actress by embodying the contradictions of society and the sorrows of the common people in Shindo's films such as "Shikuzu," "A-Bomb Children," and "The Naked Island. In particular, she played the role of a mother in "Koka" and established herself steadfastly as a character actor. Her rounded face and gentle gaze gave the impression of being a commoner, and she presented a "familiar maternal image," different f
rom Setsuko Hara, who embodied an ideal image with her gorgeous beauty, and Hideko Takamine, who gained national popularity with her commoner's intelligence. Another characteristic of Otowa Nobuko is that she supported Shindo Kaneto in his private life, and they continued their creative activities as a couple. Thus, Nobuko Otowa has long been remembered as a symbol of motherhood and joy of the common people in postwar Japanese cinema.