Mariko Miyagi

Mariko Miyagi
宮城まり子
Born
Mariko Honme

(1927-03-21)March 21, 1927
Tokyo, Japan
DiedMarch 21, 2020(2020-03-21) (aged 93)
NationalityJapanese
Occupation(s)Actress and singer

Mariko Miyagi (宮城 まり子) (March 21, 1927 – March 21, 2020) was a Japanese actress, singer, and advocate for children with disabilities. She founded the Kusunoki Gakuen, a school for disabled children.

Early life

Miyagi was born Mariko Honme in Tokyo, Japan.[1] She was the older of two siblings. Her family moved to Osaka when she was in the third grade because of her father's work. When she graduated from elementary school the family underwent a series of misfortunes, including her mother's death. Miyagi and her brother entered the Yoshimoto Kogyo production company and became singers.[2]

Career

Miyagi's first stage appearance was in October 1944. After the end of World War II in Asia, she continued performing at several theaters before releasing her first record in 1950 with Teichiku Records. Her first hit was "Anta Honto ni Sugoi wa ne", which was released by Victor Records. She continued releasing hits like "Gado-shita no Kutsumigaki" throughout the fifties,[1] and appeared on the Kohaku Uta Gassen several times.

While preparing for a role in which she would play a child with cerebral palsy, Miyagi visited a facility for disabled children. Inspired by this, Miyagi started the Nemunoki Gakuen, a school for children with disabilities, in Omaezaki, Shizuoka in 1968. It was the first school of its kind, built when education for disabled children wasn't yet mandatory.[3] The school's curriculum especially focused on music and the arts.[4] It later moved to Kakegawa, Shizuoka. Miyagi directed and produced a documentary about the school called "Nemunoki no Uta".[3]

In 2012 Miyagi was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure.[4]

Miyagi died on March 21, 2020, of lymphoma.[1]

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1956 Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko Reiko Suzumura
1956 Daigaku no kengo keiraku no abarenbo
1956 Gojugô mênme no uwaki
1956 Tenten musume dainibu: Tenten musume ni hana ga saku
1956 Tenten musume daiichibu: Tenten musume ki wa nihon hare
1957 Gokurakuto monogatari
1958 Onboro jinsei Mariko
1958 Tôkyô no kyûjitsu Singer
1958 Yajikata dôchû sugoroku Omari
1958 Panda and the magic serpent Voice
1959 Gurama-to no yuwaku Ai
1961 Ten dark women Miwako
1962 Kigeki: Detatoko shôbu - 'Chinjarara monogatari' yori Chôko
1964 Zoku Haikei Tenno Heika Sama Keiko
1964 Haikei sôri daijin sama
1975 Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid Fritz Voice
1975[5] Children Drawing Rainbows Director[6]
1977 Barefoot Gen Kimie Nakaoka
1978 Oyayubihime Bunbu Voice, (final film role)

References

  1. ^ a b c "Singer and welfare facility founder Mariko Miyagi dies". The Japan Times Online. 2020-03-23. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  2. ^ "女立志伝 私はこうして世に出た 流行歌手 宮城まり子さん". Yomiuri Shinbun. July 30, 1957.
  3. ^ a b "Japan actress, child welfare facility pioneer Mariko Miyagi dies at 93". Mainichi Daily News. 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  4. ^ a b "Mariko Miyagi, singer committed to child welfare, dies at age 93". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  5. ^ Lentz, Harris M. (2006). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2005: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland & Company. p. 283. ISBN 978-0786424894.
  6. ^ Galbraith IV, Stuart (1996). The Japanese Filmography: A Complete Reference to 209 Filmmakers and the Over 1250 Films Released in the United States, 1900 through 1994. McFarland & Company. p. 133. ISBN 978-0786400324.