Sumiko Kurishima(1902-1987)
- Actress
As the first female Japanese film star, Kurishima's pioneering
contributions to Japanese film cannot be overlooked. In 1921, she
joined Shochiku Kamata Studios and made her debut in Henry Kotani's
Bijinso. Her 1923 Sendo Kouta became a big hit and she was dubbed the
"Queen of Kamata." She eventually married longtime leading man
Yoshinobu Ikeda. In 1935, she starred in Eien no Ai, a film released in
commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the founding of Kamata
Studios, and retired shortly after, leaving the film world while still
a superstar. Later, apart from being called out of retirement a few
times for special film appearances, she devoted herself to dancing and
became active as head of the Mizuki school of dance, which has tens of
thousands of disciples across Japan. Two extant, though incomplete,
versions of her films are Fujoki (1922) and Hatachi no Koro
(1924).
