Yukiji Asaoka

Yukiji Asaoka (朝丘 雪路, 23 July 1935 – 27 April 2018) was a celebrated Japanese singer and actress whose career spanned more than six decades. Born in the Chūō district of Tokyo to the renowned shin‑hanga painter Shinsui Itō, she was immersed in an artistic environment from an early age, which fostered her own talents in performance and music. In 1952 she entered the prestigious Takarazuka Revue, joining the Moon (Tsuki) Troupe as a musumeyaku and quickly gaining fame for her graceful stage presence; she remained with the troupe until 1955, when she transitioned to film and television. Her performances were praised for their emotional depth and technical precision, earning her a loyal fan base that followed her transition to screen work. Asaoka’s on‑screen break‑out came through a series of popular television dramas in the 1960s, and she became a household name after starring opposite Shintarō Katsu in the Zatoichi film and the inaugural Hanzo the Razor movie, showcasing her versatility between dramatic and action roles. Beyond acting, she was equally revered for her singing career, releasing numerous records that blended traditional Japanese melodies with contemporary pop sensibilities, earning her multiple awards and a devoted fan base. In the late 1990s she returned to the screen as a voice actress, lending her distinctive voice to the 1999 Studio Ghibli‑produced anime My Neighbours the Yamadas under director Isao Takahata. Her personal life was marked by her marriage in 1973 to fellow actor Masahiko Tsugawa, a partnership that endured until her death. Unfortunately, the final years of her life were shadowed by Alzheimer’s disease, which ultimately led to her passing on 27 April 2018 at the age of 82. Asaoka’s legacy endures through her extensive filmography, timeless music recordings, and the lasting influence she had on Japanese popular culture.