Sumiko Fuji

Sumiko Fuji (born Junko Shundo on 1945-12-01 in Gobō, Wakayama, Japan) is a celebrated Japanese actress whose career spans more than six decades. She entered the entertainment world as a teenager after her family moved to Kyoto, where she and her older sister appeared on a local TV show and caught the eye of director Masahiro Makino, leading to her film debut in Hashu Yukyoden: Otoko no Sakazuki in 1963. During the mid‑1960s Fuji quickly became Toei’s leading lady, starring opposite yakuza icons Kōji Tsuruta and Ken Takakura in numerous ninkyo (chivalrous) films, and she gained iconic status as the sword‑wielding gambler Red Peony in the wildly popular Hibotan Bakuto series. By the late 1960s she was appearing in more than ten films a year, while also maintaining a strong presence on NHK and TV Asahi drama series, demonstrating a versatility that set her apart from many contemporaries. In 1972 she married the renowned kabuki actor Onoe Kikugorō VII, retired from cinema, and briefly stepped back from the limelight, but she soon returned to television under her birth name, proving her adaptability across mediums. The 1980s saw her re‑emerge on the big screen using the professional name Sumiko Fuji, expanding her repertoire to include complex supporting roles in award‑winning films such as The Geisha House (1999) and Hula Girls (2006). Her performances earned her the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Supporting Actress twice, in 1999 and 2006, underscoring her enduring talent. Beyond acting, Fuji has been honored with the Kinuyo Tanaka Award (1999), the Medal with Purple Ribbon (2007), and the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class (2016), reflecting her cultural impact. She is the mother of two accomplished performers: actress Shinobu Terajima and kabuki star Onoe Kikugorō VIII, continuing a family legacy in Japanese performing arts.