Skip to content
MovieCove
Sayuri Yoshinaga

Sayuri Yoshinaga

Actor · Born March 13, 1945 (81) · Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Sayuri Yoshinaga (吉永 小百合) is a Japanese actress.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 13, 1945 (81)
From
Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
8 on MovieCove · 128 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 24% in 30 days

What are Sayuri Yoshinaga's films like?

Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Survival.

Genres

Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile
: browse their Animation movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
27%
Survival
24%
Bonds
15%
Society
15%
Power
11%
Ideas
5%
Morality
3%
Purpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 2 · Dark 6

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 4 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 6 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 0

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 0 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 5

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 5 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 4 of 5 analyzed roles.

Hero
4 of 5
Herald
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
6
Contemplative
4
Tense
3
Warm
2
Triumphant
1
Other
4

How their films linger

Thought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Sayuri Yoshinaga's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 1 of their 8 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, on The Criterion Channel (1).

Subscription and free streaming for Sayuri Yoshinaga's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

128 credits, 8 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Climbing for Life(2025)

    as Junko Tabe

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Mom, Is That You?! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Kanzaki Fukue

  • A Morning of Farewell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Sawako Shiraishi

  • 戦争童画集 ～75年目のショートストーリー～ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Actor

  • The Bucket List (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Yukie Kitahara

  • Sakura Guardian in the North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Theme Song Performance · as Tetsu Ezure

  • Nagasaki: Memories of My Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Nobuko Fukuhara

  • Cape Nostalgia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Producer · as Etsuko Kashiwagi

  • Buddha 2: The Endless Journey(2014)

    as Lady Maya (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • A Chorus of Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Haru

  • Buddha: The Great Departure(2011)

    as Narration / Chapra's Mother (voice)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • About Her Brother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Ginko Takano

  • Where The Legend Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • Kabei: Our Mother(2008)

    as Kayo Nogami

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Kita no zeronen(2005)

    as Komatsubara Shino

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Sennen no koi - Hikaru Genji monogatari(2001)

    as Murasaki Shikibu

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • It Is a Long Walk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Aihachi

  • Diary of Early Winter Shower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Tae Horikawa

  • Lost in Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Yae Sawada

  • Turning Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Yumiko Minami

  • Yearning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Onami

  • Heavenly Sin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Ryoko Kinuhata

  • Gekashitsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Countess Takafune

  • Until Spring Comes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • A Chaos of Flowers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Akiko Yosano

  • Crane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Tsuru (crane)

  • A Boy Named Hiroshima (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Narration

  • Actress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Kinuyo Tanaka

  • The Ballad of the Sea of Genkai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Yume-Chiyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Yumechiyo

  • Ohan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Ohan

  • Heaven Station (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Kayo

  • Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • The Makioka Sisters(1983)

    as Yukiko Makioka

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Kaikyô(1982)

    as Tae Makimura

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • 空よ海よ息子たちよ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Actor

  • Yumechiyo Nikki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 20 episodes · Actor

  • The Revolt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Kaoru Mizoguchi

  • 不断草 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ayu no uta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 158 episodes · as 母・すず

  • Oh, My Son! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Yasuko Shibata

  • Taro the Dragon Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Tatsuya (voice)

  • August Without Emperor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Kyoko Fujisaki

  • The Young (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Actor

  • Hikarugake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 11 episodes · Actor

  • The New Class of the Sewage Canal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Actor

  • The Gate of Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • Tora-san's Lovesick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as 歌子

  • Men and War III: The Final Chapter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Yoriko Godai

  • Tora-san's Dear Old Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as 歌子

  • Men and War II: Land of Love and Sorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Yoriko Godai

  • Love of Saturday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • Journey of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Actor

  • 二人の縁 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Ambitious (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Oryo

  • Second generation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Mominoki wa Nokotta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 52 episodes · as Uno

  • The Cleanup (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • Monument to the Girl's Corps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Kazuko Yonamine

  • The Final Winner? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Actor

  • Wind of Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Actor

  • The Sweet Interns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Actor

  • My Sweetheart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Yuri Yoshinaga

  • The Last Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Machiko Kita

  • When You Were Young (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Kaori

  • The Black Sheep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • The Swan Elegy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • The Heart of Hiroshima (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Kazue Matsui

  • Watashi, chigatteiru kashira (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Katsura Shiraishi

  • A Windmill, Tulips and Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Mariko Miura

  • 青春のお通り 愛して泣いて突っ走れ！ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as 南原桜子

  • Cheers to the Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • The Four Loves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Miyako Misawa

  • The Song of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

  • When the Flowers Bloom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

  • 青春のお通り (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

  • The Start of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Jun Ishiguro

  • Song of Farewell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Yuriko Nomura

  • Four Young Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Shizuka Komura

  • Eddy Currents of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Fumiko Hayashi

  • Gazing at Love and Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • Homecoming (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as 守屋伴子

  • Kaze to Ki to Sora to (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Actor

  • The Sound of Waves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Hatsue Miyata

  • Welcome, My Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Keiko Udagawa

  • Kon'nichiwa 20 sai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Songs · as Kanako Ishizawa

  • Bright Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Mieko Ishida

  • The White Peaks of Mt. Fuji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Azusa Isomura

  • 波浮の港 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Beautiful Calendar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • Under the Roof of Young Tokyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Fukiko Kuwano

  • Love Comes with Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • I Have the Sun in My Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Asako

  • Gone in the Rain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Ayako Kawaji

  • Itsudemo yume o (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • The Mud-Spattered Pure Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Mami Yokoyama

  • Beyond the Green Hills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Shinko Terazawa

  • Two People, Yet All Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Fresh Leaves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Keiko Enami

  • Asu no hanayome (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • The Man With Starry Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • The Man From the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Red Bud and White Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • A Torrent of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • Foundry Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Jun

  • Keep Your Chin Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Noriko Nagai

  • Season of Farewell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Actor

  • The Black Scar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Kusa wo karu musume (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • That Guy and I (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Lost in the Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • That Young May Be Eternal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Whistling in the Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Aoime no Sugao (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Doing What I Please (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Quick Draw Joe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Misa Mayama

  • The Diary of a Police Officer: The Slammer Is Full (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Joe of Aces: Gambling for a Living (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Sumiko

  • Hana to musume to shiroi michi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Miyako

  • An Angel is Chasing Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Dai shusse monogatari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Girl in the Glass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Yasuyo Okinaka

  • Everything Goes Wrong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Noriko

  • The Man with a Sinister Laugh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Noriko Dan

  • The Call of the Foghorn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • The Gun Like Lightning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Setsuko

  • Whistling in the Morning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Miwako Kariya

  • Zoku Yumechiyo Nikki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 5 episodes · as Yumechiyo

Career shape

Star power in the 89th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 128 titles, 127 of them dated from 1959 to 2025; peak year 2014.

Biggest box office

Kita no zeronen (2005)

$21M worldwide

Highest rated

Kabei: Our Mother (2008)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

Buddha 2: The Endless Journey (2014)

Film career

19592025

Peak 2014 · at the high point of their film career. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1983Screen debut· The Makioka Sisters
  • 2011First top-billed film· Buddha: The Great Departure

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting128 of 128: 125 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thProducing1 of 128: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew2 of 128: 0 only other crew, 2 with another role

128 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and other crew overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1950s1 · acting1960s69 · 69 acting · 1 crew1970s18 · acting1980s16 · acting1990s6 · acting2000s5 · acting2010s8 · 8 acting · 2 crew2020s4 · acting

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Sayuri Yoshinaga's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 8; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 74th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 8 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th1

Shape of the crowd

4 of their 8 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

Kita no zeronen (2005)

70th percentile spread · 18% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Kabei: Our Mother (2008)

Midcredits 91st · 78% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 4 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 55. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Sayuri Yoshinaga work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sayuri Yoshinaga's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rioko Tominaga shares the most, 4.

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers

Mixed roles