### The Phantom of Glamour: The Trajectory of Kyoko Izumi, an Actress from the 1950s to the 1960s

### The Phantom of Glamour: The Trajectory of Kyoko Izumi, an Actress from the 1950s to the 1960s

Kyoko Izumi was born in Asakusa, Tokyo in 1937, and her real name is Hisayo Takenaka. Her 165cm height and buxom body earned her the nickname "Japanese Silvana Mangano," and she was a unique figure in the Japanese film industry at the time. Alongside Setsuko Hara, Hideko Takamine, and the urbane Chikage Awashima, Izumi was a unique "glamour actress" who reflected the postwar era. In her best-known work, "Forbidden Men's Sands," she played the role of a woman diver, and her portrayal of a woman's destiny, along with her physical beauty, made her unwaveringly popular. She also appeared in Yasujiro Ozu's "Ohayo" and challenged the boundaries of glamour and everyday drama. 1963 saw her retire, but in 1968 she returned to Toei films such as "Bancho the Delinquent" and "Tabi ni de Gokudo" and once again showed her bewitching charm. Although her career was limited, her presence was a moment of brilliance that symbolized the affluence and freedom of postwar Japan.