Photo: Leo Medvedev/Лев Леонидович Медведев / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
For me, Yōko Shimada will always be Mariko in Shōgun, and honestly, what a thing that was. Picture it: 1980, a Japanese actress crossing the Pacific to hold her own opposite a full Western cast in a sprawling American miniseries, and not just keeping up but quietly stealing scenes. At 171cm with that straight-backed poise, she carried a kind of grace and steel at the same time, the sort of presence that shifts the air the second she's on screen. She'd done bright, youthful TV work back home too, so the range was real. Long careers have their rough patches, sure, and hers wasn't without them, but that world-class composure is what sticks with me. She passed in 2022, and I just think, what a genuinely fine actress she was.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
Overview
Yōko Shimada (May 17, 1953 – July 25, 2022) was a Japanese actress born in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture. She rose to wide recognition through her roles in works including the television drama Ware ra Seishun!, the Kon Ichikawa film The Inugami Family, and the American miniseries Shogun, in which she starred opposite Richard Chamberlain and gained international attention. Standing 171 cm tall, she brought a commanding screen presence throughout her career and received the Elan d'Or New Actress Award in 1974 as well as the Golden Arrow Award. She passed away on July 25, 2022.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Yōko Shimada
- Name (Japanese)
- 島田陽子
- Reading
- しまだ ようこ
- Born
- May 17, 1953 – July 25, 2022
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Snake
- Origin
- Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
- Blood type
- O
- Height
- 171 cm
- Active years
- 1970 - 2022
- Occupation
- Actress / Film Actress / Adult Model / Nude Model
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 1974 – Elan d'Or Award, New Actress
- Year Unknown – Golden Arrow Award
3. Works & records
Works summary
- Appearances
- 131 (1970–2022)
- By year
- 1970: 1, 1971: 2, 1972: 8, 1973: 10, 1974: 6, 1975: 8, 1976: 8, 1977: 4, 1978: 3, 1979: 6, 1980: 5, 1981: 3, 1982: 1, 1983: 2, 1984: 2, 1985: 1, 1986: 2, 1987: 3, 1988: 3, 1989: 3, 1990: 5, 1991: 5, 1992: 1, 1993: 3, 1994: 2, 1995: 4, 1996: 1, 2000: 1, 2002: 1, 2004: 1, 2005: 1, 2008: 1, 2009: 2, 2010: 1, 2011: 4, 2012: 1, 2015: 2, 2016: 2, 2022: 1
- Main labels/studios
- EP (4)
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title |
|---|---|
| Notable Work | Ware ra Seishun! |
| Notable Work | Shogun (SHŌGUN) |
| Notable Work | The Inugami Family |
4. Links
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B3%B6%E7%94%B0%E9%99%BD%E5%AD%90
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q271854
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-08-26
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Works and profile fields sourced from Wikipedia reflect content as of 2026-08-26. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Yōko Shimada born?
Born May 17, 1953.
When did Yōko Shimada die?
Died July 25, 2022, aged 69.
Where was Yōko Shimada from?
Yōko Shimada was from Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.
What did Yōko Shimada do?
Yōko Shimada worked as Actress, Film Actress, Adult Model, Nude Model.
How tall was Yōko Shimada?
Yōko Shimada was 171 cm.
What was Yōko Shimada's blood type?
O.
When was Yōko Shimada active?
1970 - 2022.
What was Yōko Shimada known for?
Notable works include Ware ra Seishun!, Shogun (SHŌGUN), The Inugami Family.
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