A compilation of beautiful actresses and singers from the Showa era: the beauties who captivated countless fans.
In the Showa era, numerous actresses and singers were active, and many of them have continued to shine and be loved across the Heisei and Reiwa eras as well.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of women who were especially popular at the time for their beauty.
Whether you remember those days or belong to a younger generation unfamiliar with how they looked back then, we hope you take this opportunity to have a look.
If someone catches your interest, try searching for their works or concert footage from that time.
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Compilation of beautiful actresses and singers from the Showa era: beauties who captivated many fans (1–10)
Shima Iwashita
When it comes to Shima Iwashita, many people might picture her performance in the Yakuza Wives series.
Born to actor and actress parents, she married film director Masahiro Shinoda.
Because of her image from Yakuza Wives, she’s often thought to be strong-willed, but in reality she’s said to be quite gentle.
Many actresses from the Showa era, even when young, had a mature and independent aura, and Iwashita can certainly be counted among them.
She’s effortlessly cool in every era—someone to admire.
Keiko Matsuzaka
Keiko Matsuzaka is an actress from Tokyo, and the fact that she pursued acting straight from her days as a child actress is a noteworthy part of her background.
From the 1970s through the 1980s, she starred in numerous films and TV dramas, establishing herself as a popular leading actress.
Her representative films include Kamata March and Sting of Death, and on television, Water Flower and Atsuhime are often cited.
She has also been active as a singer, leaving hit songs such as Ai no Suichuuka, which underscores her versatility.
Having received numerous film and television awards, she can surely be called a remarkably talented grande dame of the screen.
Ayako Wakao
Debuting in 1951 as part of Daiei’s fifth cohort of New Faces, she supported the golden age of Japanese cinema as an actress capable of expressing both delicacy and inner strength, blossoming in a wide variety of roles.
She also appeared many times in NHK’s Taiga dramas and can be called an actress who helped define an era.
As the wife of the renowned architect Kisho Kurokawa, their affectionate relationship was well known, and even with age, her refined beauty and steadfast strength remain undiminished.
It’s hard not to admire such a cool way of living.
Showa-era beautiful actresses and singers: A roundup of the beauties who captivated many fans (11–20)
Reiko Ohara
The Suntory Old Whisky commercial featuring Reiko Ohara is known for her memorable lines: “Welcome home.
Darling! I’m off.
Darling!” In the video, her gentle expression creates a warm, at-home atmosphere and presents an adult lifestyle of enjoying whisky.
Reiko Ohara’s graceful presence and heartfelt message made this one of the most memorable works in Japanese advertising culture, likely lingering in the hearts of many people.
Jun Fubuki
Jun Fubuki was born in 1952 in Toyama Prefecture.
After debuting as a singer, she made her mark as an actress.
When she debuted as a singer, she was promoted with catchphrases like “Rumored Jun” and “Jun Who Came From the Land of Stars,” and songs such as “Ai ga Hajimaru Toki” became well loved.
She then overcame various challenges and made her full-fledged acting debut in Terauchi Kantarō Ikka 2, going on to show a wide range of talent.
Representative works include the TV drama Asura no Gotoku and the film Our Little Sister (Umimachi Diary).
Even as she has aged, she continues to captivate people with her beauty and acting prowess, and she is also cherished as a great actress known for her free-spirited demeanor.
Sayuri Yoshinaga
Speaking of Sayuri Yoshinaga, she’s an actress with a large fan base known as “Sayurists,” who has been active in film and entertainment since the 1960s.
Alongside her acting career, she graduated from Waseda University, showing her keen intellect; she also plays the piano well, and the beauty that radiates from both her appearance and character has captivated even celebrities.
She’s also said to be an unexpectedly heavy drinker, making her a very charming actress.
We may not see many actresses like her in the future.
Yuko Natori
Hiroko Natori is from Yokosuka City in Kanagawa Prefecture, and she began her path as an actress after placing runner-up in Kanebo’s “Miss Salad Girl Contest.” Her full-fledged debut as an actress is said to be the TV drama Oyuki, after which she appeared in 3-nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei and gained popularity as an actress.
As her nickname “Seichō Actress” suggests, she has appeared in many works by Seichō Matsumoto, including Matsumoto Seichō no Yubi, which is a notable point.
She is a great actress known for her immersive, full-commitment performances and for appearing in many continuing series.