Kazuko Shirakawa

Kazuko Shirakawa (白川 和子) was born on 30 September 1947 in Nagasaki, Japan, and emerged as one of the most iconic figures of the Japanese pink‑film era. Starting her screen career in 1967, she initially took supporting roles in low‑budget soft‑core productions, quickly becoming known for a naïve whore persona that resonated with audiences despite her own inexperience; she later confessed she remained a virgin until her breakthrough with Nikkatsu in 1971. Her decisive moment arrived when Nikkatsu launched its Roman Porno line with Apartment Wife: Affair in the Afternoon, casting Shirakawa as the lead. The film’s extraordinary box‑office success crowned her the first “Nikkatsu Queen,” and it spawned a flood of sequels that cemented her status as a mega‑star of 1970s erotic cinema. Throughout the early 1970s she headlined numerous titles—Apartment Wife: Secret Rendezvous, Midafternoon Love Affair, and Night of the Rape—each reinforcing her image while showcasing her growing confidence and screen presence. After 1976 Shirakawa deliberately shifted toward mainstream cinema, appearing in works by acclaimed directors such as Shohei Imamura and Hirokazu Koreeda, most notably the contemplative After Life (1998). This transition demonstrated her versatility, proving she could navigate both titillating genre fare and serious dramatic narratives with equal skill. Over the decades she accumulated a varied filmography that extends into the 2020s, including recent titles like Radiance (2017) and The Nikaidos' Fall (2019). In recognition of her contributions, she received the prestigious Kinuyo Tanaka Award in 2018. Today, Kazuko Shirakawa remains a celebrated veteran whose career reflects the evolution of Japanese cinema from pink‑film sensationalism to refined, internationally respected storytelling. Her enduring popularity endures among cult film enthusiasts, and she continues to be interviewed about the cultural impact of the Roman Porno period.