Yumi Shirakawa's journey with Toho began in 1956, when she was just 19 years old. By the end of that year, the talented actress had already landed her first starring role, opposite Kenji Sahara in the sci-fi classic RODAN (Sora no Daikaiju Radon, 1956). Director Ishiro Honda took notice of her exceptional beauty and cast her in several of his subsequent films, including both science fiction and non-genre titles like THE MYSTERIANS, THE H-MAN, INAO-STORY OF AN IRON ARM, and THE SCARLET MAN.
Shirakawa's striking features often led to her being typecast in early roles, typically portraying beleaguered victims or patrician ice princesses. However, one notable exception was her charming performance as an ingenue in THE TELEGRAPHED MAN (aka DENSO NINGEN, 1960). By 1961, Shirakawa had caught the attention of renowned directors like Yasujiro Ozu, who featured her in his critically acclaimed AUTUMN FOR THE KOBAYAKAWA FAMILY (aka EARLY AUTUMN, 1961).
The same year, Shirakawa delivered a nuanced performance as a brave schoolteacher facing the end of the world in SEKAI DAISENSO (aka THE LAST WAR). Despite getting married to Hideaki Nitani in 1962, Shirakawa did not follow the typical path of many Japanese actresses, whose careers often ended with marriage. Instead, she continued to act, primarily in television performances, throughout the late 1980s.
Biography:
Yumi Shirakawa was born in Japan and began her acting career with Toho in 1956.
