, now known by her married name , (born October 29, 1955 in

Okayama City is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan. The Okayama metropolitan area, centered around the city, has the largest urban employment zone in the Chugoku region of western Japan. The city was founded on June 1, ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

as ) is a Japanese actress and martial artist who appeared in several Japanese

martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...

films and

samurai The samurai () were members of the warrior class in Japan. They were originally provincial warriors who came from wealthy landowning families who could afford to train their men to be mounted archers. In the 8th century AD, the imperial court d ...

film and TV productions of the 1970s and 1980s.

Life and career

A skilled martial artist trained in

Karate (; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ), also , is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tī'' in Okinawan) un ...

, Kenjitsu and

Shorinji Kempo is a Japanese martial arts, Japanese martial art. The name ''Shōrinji Kempo'' is the On'yomi, Japanese reading of ''Shàolínsì Quánfǎ''. It was established in 1947 by orn a Japanese martial artist and former military intelligence ...

Etsuko was a member of

Sonny Chiba , known internationally as Sonny Chiba, was a Japanese actor and martial artist. Chiba was one of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, initially in Japan and later to an international audience. Born in Fukuo ...

's "Japan Action Club" (JAC) and appeared in several film and TV productions with Chiba,

Hiroyuki Sanada Hiroyuki Sanada (; ; born 12 October 1960) is a Japanese actor. He has received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, a British Academy Television Award, a Japan Academy Film Prize, two Hochi Film Award ...

, and other members of the JAC, including her big screen debut in '' Bodyguard Kiba 2'' (1973), ''

The Street Fighter is a 1974 Japanese martial arts film produced by Toei Company, directed by Shigehiro Ozawa, and starring Sonny Chiba. It was released in the United States by New Line Cinema and became one of the first films to be a commercial success for the d ...

'' (1974), ''Shorinji Kempo'' also known misleadingly as ''Killing Machine'' (1975), ''The Gorilla Seven'' TV series (1975), ''The Defensive Power of Aikido'' (1975), ''

Shogun's Samurai ''Shogun's Samurai'', known in Japan as , is a 1978 Japanese historical martial arts period film directed and co-written by Kinji Fukasaku. The film is the first of two unrelated Fukasaku films to star Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba as Jūbei Mitsuyos ...

'' (aka ''The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy'') (1978), ''

The Yagyu Conspiracy is a Japanese television jidaigeki (period drama) that was broadcast from 1978 to 1979. It is adapted from the 1978 film ''Shogun's Samurai'' starring Sonny Chiba, who reprises his role in the series. Plot After the death of Tokugawa Hidetada, h ...

'' TV series (1978), Message from Space'' (1978), Shadow Warriors I-V'' TV series (1980–1985), ''Shogun's Ninja'' (1980), ''Roaring Fire'' (1982), and ''

Legend of the Eight Samurai is a 1983 Japanese fantasyLawrence Ellsworth. "Legend of the Eight Samurai". Cinema of Swords. Globe Pequot. 2023. p170& 171. film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. The script is adapted from Toshio Kamata's 1982 novel ''Shin Satomi Hakkenden'' (新� ...

'' (1983). Etsuko was also the lead in a number of films and TV series, starring in the ''

Sister Street Fighter is a 1974 martial arts film directed by Kazuhiko Yamaguchi. Produced and distributed by Toei Company, it is a spin-off of ''The Street Fighter'' (1974), and is the first entry in a trilogy of films starring Etsuko Shihomi as Kōryū Li. It was ...

'' trilogy (1974–1975), ''The 13 Steps of Maki'' (1975), ''The Magnificent Chase'' (1975), '' Dragon Princess'' (1976), '' Lethal Woman: Fifth Level Fist'' (1976), the ''Yagyu Jubei Abaretabi'' TV series (1982–1983) where she reprised her role as Akane Yagyū alongside Sonny Chiba as Jūbei Yagyū from ''Shogun's Samurai'' (1978) and ''The Yagyu Conspiracy'' (1978), and ''The Second is a Christian'' (1985) an action comedy about a nun who becomes the successor to the head of a

Yakuza , also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media (by request of the police) call them , while the yakuza call themselves . The English equivalent for the term ''yak ...

group. Along with her work in numerous contemporary martial arts and period samurai films and TV programs, Etsuko also appeared in

tokusatsu is a Japanese term for live-action films or television programs that make heavy use of practical special effects. Credited to special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya, ''tokusatsu'' mainly refers to science fiction film, science fiction, War fi ...

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...

productions like ''

Kikaider 01 (Pronounced as ''Kikaider Zero One''), is a tokusatsu superhero TV series, and a sequel series to '' Android Kikaider''. Produced by Toei Company and Ishimori Productions, it was broadcast on NET (now TV Asahi) from May 12, 1973 to March 30, 19 ...

'' (1973–1974) and ''

Moonlight Mask , a.k.a. Moonbeam Man, is a superhero appearing in Japanese tokusatsu and anime television shows and movies since his TV debut in 1958. The six theatrical films were made (between 1958–1959) in black and white/ToeiScope format. Created by write ...

'' (aka ''The Moon Mask Rider'') (1981), investigative dramas such as ''Detective of Tomorrow'' (1977) and ''Detectives of Rumour: Tommy And Matsu'' (1979), fantasy films like ''Black Jack: The Visitor in the Eye'' (1977) and ''

Exchange Students International students or exchange students, also known as foreign students, are students who undertake all or part of their secondary or tertiary education in a country other than their own. In 2022, there were over 6.9 million international ...

'' (1982), and mysteries like ''The Atami Murder Case'' (1986). Etsuko also had a singing career from 1975 to 1984, although her last solo album, ''Three Dimension'', was also released on CD in 1985. Two books were released relating to her in the 1970s and 1980s. Etsuko met singer-actor

Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, poet, and human-rights advocate, who is a prominent figure in Japanese popular music. He has sold more than 20 million records worldwide and has appeared in movies and television dramas. His wife Etsu ...

on the set of the ''

Otoko wa Tsurai yo is a Japanese film series starring Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma, whose nickname is , a kind-hearted vagabond who is always unlucky in love. The series itself is often referred to as "''Tora-san''" by its fans. Spanning 48 installments rel ...

'' film ''

Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy ''aka'' ''Tora-san, Bluebird of Happiness'' is a 1986 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Etsuko Shihomi as his love interest or "Madonna". ''Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy'' is ...

'' (

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. ** Spain and Portugal en ...

), when she was around 30 years old. She retired from acting after marrying him the following year, in 1987, when she was 31. Their daughter Ayane Nagabuchi is also an actress. After her retirement, Etsuko stayed out of the limelight but returned to the public eye in 2011 with the release of her photography book ''Flower Arrangement INSPIRE'' and has been involved in charity work. She has written subsequent books on flower arrangement and made a number of public appearances, with the proceeds also being donated to charities.

Acting credits

Film

Television

Theater

Miscellaneous

Discography

Singles: * ''13 Steps of Maki'' – ''13階段のマキ'' (1975) * ''Silhouette'' – ''影法師'' (1975) * ''Saturday Night of Love'' – ''恋のサタディー・ナイト'' (1977) * ''Only Two at the Wedding'' – ''ふたりだけの結婚式'' (1977) * ''I dance like tomorrow'' – ''明日よ風に舞え'' (1982) * ''Airmail in the Southern Sands'' – ''南のーー砂のエアメール'' (1984) Albums: * ''Female Killing Fist – Calling on Etsuko Shihomi!!'' – ''女必殺拳志穂美悦子参上!!'' (1976) * ''Saturday Night of Love'' – ''恋のサタディー・ナイト'' (1977) * ''Three Dimension'' (1983) (also released on CD in 1985)

Books

* ''Shihomi Etsuko : Endless Road to action'' (1976) * ''Actress : Shihomi Etsuko'' (1981) * ''Flower Arrangement INSPIRE ～いちかばちか～ Vol.1'' (2011) * ''Flower Fighting INSPIRE ～いちかばちか～ Vol.2'' (2012) * ''Flower Arrangement Works INSPIRE 3 In New York'' (2013)

Notes

References

External links

*
Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shihomi, Etsuko 1955 births Living people Japanese film actresses Japanese female karateka Actresses from Okayama 20th-century Japanese actresses 20th-century Japanese sportswomen