Veteran Actress Kirin Kiki Dies at 75

September 17, 2018

Tokyo- Kirin Kiki, a Japanese television and film actress known for her unique performances, died at her home in Tokyo on Saturday. She was 75. Kiki, a Tokyo native whose real name was Keiko Uchida, disclosed five years ago that cancer had spread throughout her body. Last month, she broke her thighbone.

Her popularity increased when she played supporting roles under the stage name Chiho Yuki in such TV drama series as "Shichinin no Mago" (Seven Grandchildren) and "Jikan desu yo" (It's Time) in the 1960s.

She became further popular as she acted in TV drama series "Terauchi Kantaro Ikka" (Kantaro Terauchi Family) as the mother of the main feature in 1974. She changed the stage name to Kirin Kiki in 1977.

In recent years, she was particularly active in movies, receiving the best actress award at the Three Continents Film Festival and the Japan Academy best actress prize.

She also played a part in Hirokazu Koreeda's "Manbiki Kazoku" (Shoplifters), which won the Plame d'Or at the 71st Cannes Film Festival in May this year.

She married rock musician Yuya Uchida in 1973. Their daughter Yayako's husband is actor Masahiro Motoki. Jiji Press