Eri Watanabe

Eri Watanabe, born Eriko Watanabe on January 5, 1955 in Yamagata, Japan, is a celebrated Japanese actress whose career spans more than four decades. She began her professional journey in 1978, quickly gaining recognition for her versatile performances in both television dramas and feature films. Her early television work includes a memorable role in the iconic series Oshin (1983), which helped establish her as a reliable supporting talent in the industry. Throughout the 1990s she transitioned to cinema, delivering a standout performance in Shall We Dance? (1996), a film that earned her the Best Supporting Actress award at the 21st Hochi Film Awards and solidified her reputation among Japan’s elite performers. Subsequent roles such as Sanae Suzuki in Swing Girls (2004) and a voice part as Banks in the animated feature Mary and the Witch's Flower (2017) demonstrate her adaptability across genres ranging from comedy to drama and animation. In addition to her on‑screen work, Watanabe has contributed to dubbing, most recently providing the voice for Tūtū in the upcoming Japanese release of Lilo & Stitch (2025). Her filmography also includes critically acclaimed titles like Memories of Tomorrow (2006), Ichi (2008), and Labyrinth of Cinema (2020), each showcasing her nuanced ability to convey complex emotions with subtlety. Despite maintaining a relatively private personal life—she has not publicly disclosed a spouse or children—her professional legacy continues to grow, with recent appearances in television hits like Amachan (2013) and a steady stream of film projects that underline her enduring relevance in Japanese entertainment.