Mieko Takamine

I have such a soft spot for Mieko Takamine. She's one of those genuine Showa-era greats, born back in 1918 and a star of Japanese cinema when the screen was still black-and-white and the whole vibe was pure old-world glamour. What gets me is that she didn't just act, she sang too, and there's something so classy about a performer who could do both and make it look effortless. I love that she was the kind of star who let the work do the talking instead of the gossip, and the fact that she picked up a Blue Ribbon supporting award and later the Medal with Purple Ribbon tells me people knew it. To me she's the picture of a grown-up, dignified leading lady, the sort of elegance that just doesn't really get made anymore, and I find myself quietly missing it.

Mieko Takamine (December 2, 1918 – May 27, 1990) was a Japanese actress and singer born in Minato, Tokyo. Active from the prewar era, she built a distinguished career spanning both film and music. In 1977 she received the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actress, and in 1985 she was honored with the Medal with Purple Ribbon (Shiju-hosho) for her contributions to the arts.

Name (English)

Mieko Takamine

Name (Japanese)

高峰三枝子

Reading

たかみね みえこ

Born

December 2, 1918 – May 27, 1990

Zodiac / Chinese zodiac

Sagittarius / Horse (午)

Origin

Minato, Tokyo, Japan

Occupation

Actress / Singer

Awards & achievements

• 1985 — Medal with Purple Ribbon (Shiju-hosho)
• 1977 — Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actress

Motto

Private

• Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%AB%98%E5%B3%B0%E4%B8%89%E6%9E%9D%E5%AD%90

Tags

• From Tokyo
• Actress
• Singer

Last updated

2026-06-02

Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.