A Smile Walking between Light and Righteousness: Satomi Hill - Toei's "Princess" Shines a Light on Postwar Period Dramas (1955-1965)

A Smile Walking between Light and Righteousness: Satomi Hill - Toei's "Princess" Shines a Light on Postwar Period Dramas (1955-1965)

When the postwar movie theaters came back to life and double feature "program pictures" were marking the time of the town, Satomi Oka appeared as the face of Toei's polished purity. She grew up in Takarazuka, Hyogo. She was chosen as "Miss Cinderella" by RKO and Mainichi Newspaper when she was in high school and went to the U.S. After returning to Japan, she joined Toei. After her debut, she quickly rose to the top of the leading roles and established her popularity under the nickname "Princess of Toei Castle. She died in April 2004 at the age of 88. Her career of more than 150 films during her lifetime shows the mass production of her golden age and her pride in being an actress.

One of her best-known works is "Daibosatsu Touge" (1957), which was reconstructed by Tomu Uchida. As Omatsu, the granddaughter of a pilgrim, she played the role of a soft light shining on the destiny of the pilgrim, and played the "pause" that softens the deadly atmosphere of the pass. This juxtaposition of the sparks from sword fights and the innocent gaze resonated with the restoration of the "lost dignity" sought by period dramas of the time. In addition, the "Miyamoto Musashi" (61-65) series also gave shadows to the female characters in this series of dueling tales.

He also made his mark in the epic works "Ako Ronin" (1961) and "Bushido Zankoku Monogatari" (1963). In a world where men's orders and codes ruled the day, Oka took on the role of bringing the "ethics of storytelling" to the audience. His elegant but not obstinate manners and the determination that lies behind his smiling face were another light that stood in opposition to the light of the sword. His major works include "Thirteen Assassins" (1963), "Musashi Miyamoto: The Battle of Ichijyoji" (1964), and "Musashi Miyamoto: The Battle of Ganryujima" (1965).

The foundation of his hit series was his work in the "signature series. In each of his Hatamoto Boredom Otoko films, he played the role of a woman with both elegance and romance, matching the good and evil of Utaemon Ichikawa and raising the purity of his entertainment. Her name can also be seen in the credits of "The Mysterious Red Lotus Tower," a New Year's movie that graced billboards in the city in 1977.

On television, he appeared twice as a guest in "Shinsengumi kenpuroku" (65- 66). She played the role of "Omine," a woman in the winds of the closing days of the Tokugawa shogunate, and closed out the period drama with her signature film-like gestures and timing. The casting of the first episode "A Sword Named Toratoru" and the sixth episode "Kamo Chidori" are clearly indicated in the materials.

In comparison with her contemporaries, she was called "Toei Castle's Three Daughters/Three Princesses" along with Keiko Okawa and Hiroko Sakuramachi at Toei. In contrast to Okawa's intensity and Sakuramachi's flamboyance, Oka's "gentle core" connects the group. While Ruriko Asaoka of Nikkatsu's "Ruriko Asaoka" had an urban strength, Izumi Ashikawa's "Izumi Ashikawa" had a swaying neatness, and Yoko Tsukasa of Toho's "Yoko Tsukasa" pushed modern sophistication, the smiles of the hills lit up the realm of "righteousness and propriety".

The historical background of the time was a passage from reconstruction to rapid economic growth, and period dramas were a place where the ethics of "good old Japan" were confirmed. Toei's sword fights were the excitement of the struggle, and Satomi Oka was the balance of the story. The moment when a flash of a sword conquers the scene, the silence she keeps and the look she gives gives the story another sense of rightness--this is what the audience will remember.