Japanese Actress Harue Akagi Dies at 94

November 29, 2018

Tokyo--Japanese actress Harue Akagi, who played a variety of roles in television family dramas, died of cardiac arrest at a Tokyo hospital on Thursday. She was 94.

Born in former Manchuria, currently a northeastern part of China, Akagi, whose real name was Ayako Oda, made her debut as an actress in 1940.

After working for movie studios Shochiku, Daiei and Toei, Akagi joined a theatrical group led by actor Hisaya Morishige and appeared in many stage dramas.

In TV dramas, she was known for her successful roles as a junior high school principal in "Sannen B Gumi Kinpachi Sensei" and as the mother-in-law of the heroine in "Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari."

Akagi also took part in such TV dramas as "Onna Taiko Ki" and "Oshin."

She was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1993.

In 2013, Akagi played the lead role in movie "Pekorosu no Haha ni Ai ni Iku." At 88 years and 175 days old on the first day of shooting, she was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest first-time leading actress in a movie.

Akagi broke a thighbone three years ago. She was also receiving treatment for Parkinson's disease. Jiji Press