--- name: "Chieko Baishō" canonical: "https://film.one/person/chieko-baisho" fi1m_id: "chieko-baisho" imdb_id: "nm0047962" tmdb_id: 533325 wikidata_id: "Q1138444" roles: ["Actor"] born: "29 June 1941" reviewed_on_fi1m: 1 average_as: "actor" average_over: 1 updated: "2026-09-17T23:17:44.141667+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Chieko Baishō ## Identity Chieko Baishō - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/chieko-baisho - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** chieko-baisho - **IMDb ID:** nm0047962 - **TMDB ID:** 533325 - **Wikidata ID:** Q1138444 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chieko_Baisho, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1138444, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0047962/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/533325 Actor. Born 29 June 1941 in Kita, Tokyo, Japan. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 29 June 1941, Kita, Tokyo, Japan - **Also known as:** Chieko Baisho, Baisho Chieko, 倍賞 千恵子, Baishō Chieko, Chieko Baishô, Baishô Chieko, Baishou Chieko, Chieko Baishou, 倍赏千惠子, 바이쇼 치에코, Тиэко Байсё - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chieko_Baisho, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1138444, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0047962/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/533325 ## Streaming the US now - **HBO Max:** [*Howl's Moving Castle*](https://film.one/film/howls-moving-castle.md) (81) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Chieko Baishō > Chieko Baisho lets kind people get cross without making their kindness seem false. Her Sophie steadies *Howl's Moving Castle*, and we value the affection she makes convincing between people who are not always easy company. Sophie sounds capable of being cross with someone she cares for. In Hayao Miyazaki's *Howl's Moving Castle* (2004), Chieko Baisho gives her a firmness that makes the kindness convincing, even when the fantasy around her becomes tangled. We were moved by her affection because Baisho leaves room in it for irritation. She does not make caring for somebody sound like an agreement to find everything about them agreeable. That firmness is familiar from the ordinary, resilient women associated with her long collaboration with director Yōji Yamada, which began in the mid-1960s. Her recurring Sakura Suwa in the *Otoko wa Tsurai yo* series (1969–1995) anchors that part of the career. *The Yellow Handkerchief* (1977) paired her with Ken Takakura under Yamada's direction, while *A Distant Cry from Spring* (1980) offered another woman facing hardship. The risk in such consistent casting is that dependability starts to look like the whole job. We should be wary of praising her for being reassuring and failing to notice what else she is doing. Sophie is a useful corrective to that narrow view. Baisho voices both her young and older selves, and the firmness survives the change in age; the character never becomes merely a sweet voice for the audience to like. Takuya Kimura's Howl benefits from her steady presence, and the affection between them feels convincing because their awkward qualities remain audible. The film's tangled plotting is a real reservation, but these performances make us willing to stay with people who are not always easy company. Her later work includes the lead role of Michi Tsunotani in the contemporary drama *Plan 75* (2022), so the animation credit is hardly the place to stop. For a first encounter, though, we would choose Sophie. Listen for the impatience as well as the kindness. ## Biography Chieko Baisho is a Japanese actress and singer. Born on 29 June 1941 in Kita, Tokyo, she began her career as a singer in 1962 before making her film debut in the early 1960s. In Japan she is best known for her role as Sakura in the *Otoko wa Tsurai yo* series, appearing from 1969 until 1995. She has acted in many films directed by Yōji Yamada since the 1960s. She voiced Sophie in *Howl's Moving Castle* (2004), performing both the young and old versions of the character as well as the theme song. Baisho won the Best Actress award at the 5th Hochi Film Award for *A Distant Cry from Spring* (1980). Other credits include *The Yellow Handkerchief* (1977), *The Hidden Blade* (2004), *Kabei: Our Mother* (2008), *The Little House* (2014), *Weathering with You* (2019) and *Plan 75* (2022). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (1) - *Howl's Moving Castle* (2004), Fi1m 81, as Sophie (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/howls-moving-castle.md) ## Complete filmography (171) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Till We Meet Again on the Starry Hill* (2026), Actor - *Tokyo Taxi* (2025), as Sumire Takano - *55th anniversary performance of Tora-San: Rakugo, Talk and Tora Jiro Returns* (2024), Actor - *Plan 75* (2022), as Michi Tsunotani - *Arc* (2021), as Rina - *461 Days of Bento: A Promise Between Father and Son* (2020), as Natsuko Suzumoto - *Tora-san, Wish You Were Here* (2019), as Sakura Suwa (Torajiro's Sister) - *Weathering with You* (2019), as Fumi Tachibana (voice) - *Only the Cat Knows* (2019), as Yukiko - *The Little House* (2014), as Taki Nunomiya - *It All Began When I Met You* (2013), as Kotoko - *Hameln* (2013), as Ritsuko - *Tokyo Newcomer* (2012), as Old Woman - *Zatoichi: The Last* (2010), as Mitsu - *Honokaa Boy* (2009), as Bee - *Kabei: Our Mother* (2008), as Hatsuko Nogami - *A Heartful of Love* (2005), as Tomoe Kakuta - *The Hidden Blade* (2004), as Mrs. Katagiri - *Howl's Moving Castle* (2004), as Sophie (voice) — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/howls-moving-castle.md) - *Konbanwa* (2004), as Narrator (voice) - *The Summer Promise* (2002), series, Actor - *Tracing the Gray Summer* (2001), as Sonia (voice) - *Suzuran* (1999), series, as Moe Tokiwa / Moe Hidaka - *The Rainbow Seeker 2* (1997), Actor - *Tora-san's Tropical Fever Special Version* (1997), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Jungle Emperor Leo* (1997), as Lyre (voice) - *The Rainbow Seeker* (1996), Actor - *Tora-san to the Rescue* (1995), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Tora-san's Easy Advice* (1994), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Tora-san's Matchmaker* (1993), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Tora-san Makes Excuses* (1992), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Tora-san Confesses* (1991), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Tora-san Takes a Vacation* (1990), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Tora-san, My Uncle* (1989), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Tora-san Goes to Vienna* (1989), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Thousand Cranes* (1989), Actor - *Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial* (1988), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Downtown Heroes* (1988), Actor - *Tora-san Plays Daddy* (1987), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Tora-san Goes North* (1987), as Sakura - *Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy* (1986), as Sakura - *Women Who Do Not Divorce* (1986), Actor - *Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies* (1986), Actor - *Lost in the Wilderness* (1986), as Kimiko, Naomi's wife - *Tora-san's Island Encounter* (1985), as Sakura - *Tora-san, the Go-Between* (1985), as Sakura - *Tora-san's Forbidden Love* (1984), as Sakura - *Marriage Counselor Tora-san* (1984), as Sakura - *Tora-san Goes Religious?* (1983), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Tora-san's Song of Love* (1983), as Sakura - *Unico in the Island of Magic* (1983), as The West Wind (voice) - *Karate Cop 2* (1983), Actor - *Fiddler on the Roof* (1983), as Hodel - *Tora-san, the Expert* (1982), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san* (1982), as Sakura - *Tora-san's Promise* (1981), as Sakura - *Station* (1981), as Michio Kiriko - *Tora-san's Love in Osaka* (1981), as Sakura - *Mansaku no hana* (1981), series, as 伊吹絹代 - *The Fantastic Adventures of Unico* (1981), as The West Wind (voice) - *Foster Daddy, Tora!* (1980), as Sakura - *Twenty-Four Eyes* (1980), as Hisako Ōishi (voice) - *Tora-san's Tropical Fever* (1980), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *A Distant Cry from Spring* (1980), as Tamiko Kazami - *Tora-san's Dream of Spring* (1979), as Sakura - *Tora-san, the Matchmaker* (1979), as Sakura - *Talk of the Town Tora-san* (1978), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Stage-Struck Tora-san* (1978), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Tora-san Plays Cupid* (1977), as Sakura - *Older brother* (1977), series, as Toko - *The Yellow Handkerchief* (1977), as Mitsue Shima - *Tora-san Meets His Lordship* (1977), as Sakura - *Tora-san's Pure Love* (1976), as Sakura - *Two Iida* (1976), as Michi Aizawa - *Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset* (1976), as Sakura - *Tora-san, the Intellectual* (1975), as Sakura - *The Village* (1975), as Hideko Kono - *Tora-san Meets the Songstress Again* (1975), as Sakura - *Tora-san's Lullaby* (1974), as Sakura - *Tora-san's Lovesick* (1974), as Sakura - *Center of Tokyo* (1974), as Okoto - *Tora-san Loves an Artist* (1973), as Sakura - *Tora-san's Forget Me Not* (1973), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Tora-san's Dream-Come-True* (1972), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Home from the Sea* (1972), as Tamiko Ishizaki - *Tora-san's Dear Old Home* (1972), as Sakura - *Kōfuku Sōdan* (1972), series, as Theme Song Performance - *My Voiceless Friends* (1972), Actor - *Kigeki yūwaku ryokō* (1972), Actor - *Tora-san's Love Call* (1971), as Sakura - *Tora-san, the Good Samaritan* (1971), as Sakura - *Kaiun ryokō* (1971), Actor - *Tora-san's Shattered Romance* (1971), as Sakura - *Where Spring Comes Late* (1970), as Tamiko - *Oh, My Comrade!* (1970), Actor - *Tora-san's Runaway* (1970), as Sakura - *Tora-san's Grand Scheme* (1970), as Sakura - *Tora-san, His Tender Love* (1970), as Sakura - *Yosakoi Journey* (1969), Actor - *Tora-san's Cherished Mother* (1969), as Sakura - *Tora-san, Our Lovable Tramp* (1969), as 樱花（阿寅的妹妹） - *Topsy-Turvy Journey* (1969), Actor - *Kekkon shimasu* (1969), Actor - *Vagabond Schemer* (1969), as Tsuruyo - *喜劇・大安旅行* (1968), Actor - *大安旅行* (1968), as 新庄晴子 - *In Broad Daylight* (1968), as Yoshiko Koshiishi - *I, the Executioner* (1968), as Haruko - *The Million Dollar Pursuit* (1968), as Miss - *Lightning* (1967), Actor - *Lover's Duet* (1967), as Eiko Takayama - *The Greatest Challenge of All* (1967), Actor - *Family of Women* (1967), as 康子 - *Song of Love* (1967), as Haruko Tachibana - *Barren Love* (1967), as Kieko Kikuchi - *Let's Have A Dream* (1967), as Aiko - *Inochi hateru hi made* (1966), Actor - *The Lovable Tramp* (1966), as Aiko Kazami - *Our Wonderful Years* (1966), as Fumiko - *The River Yokobori* (1966), as Taka - *The Sun of Love and Tears* (1966), as Kazumi Kitamura - *Warm Current* (1966), as Gin Ishiwata - *Gamblers' Luck* (1966), Actor - *Hi No Taiko* (1966), Actor - *Danshun* (1965), as Setsuko Nagashima - *A Trap* (1965), as Kiriko Yanagida - *Zettai tasū* (1965), Actor - *The Soundless Cry* (1965), Actor - *Ane to imôto* (1965), as Setsuko - *Che, Che, Che with Love* (1965), Actor - *My Lover* (1964), as Sugiko Tsutsui - *Imo samurai: Kani uemon* (1964), Actor - *Kaibatsu 0 meter* (1964), as 峠百合子 - *Hadaka ikkan* (1964), Actor - *Hana no maiko-han* (1964), Actor - *Our Happiness Alone* (1964), as Yoshiko Sakawa - *Dislikes* (1964), Actor - *Samurai from Nowhere* (1964), as Chigusa - *The Image of Mother* (1963), as Oshino - *The Night We Danced* (1963), Actor - *Kagami no naka no razō* (1963), Actor - *Niji o tsukamu odoriko* (1963), Actor - *Maiko-han* (1963), Actor - *Futari de mune o hare* (1963), Actor - *The Sunshine Girl* (1963), Actor - *Wakai yatsu* (1963), Actor - *Hoshikuzu no Machi* (1963), Actor - *Shichinin no keiji* (1963), as Miyoko Sekiguchi - *Sing, Young People!* (1963), as Yuko Nakajima - *Naite waratta hanayome* (1962), Actor - *Aitsu bakari ga naze moteru* (1962), Actor - *Hadashi no hanayome* (1962), Actor - *Mama, I Need You!* (1962), Actor - *Get Married, Mother* (1962), as Yukiyo Aoki - *Ballad of a Workman* (1962), as Miyoko Ishikawa, Toshiyuki's girlfriend - *Glory on the Summit* (1962), Actor - *Ai to kanashimi to* (1962), Actor - *San'nin musume kanpai!* (1962), Actor - *Kureji no Hanayome to Shichinin no Nakama* (1962), Actor - *Our Marriage* (1962), as Saeko Hibino - *Dolls floating down the river* (1962), as Fumiko - *Drunkard's Paradise* (1962), Actor - *Noren to hanayome* (1961), as Kazuko - *Kigeki: Kane no naru ki ni koi ga saku* (1961), as 三津子 - *Mama o uchi ga moeteru no* (1961), Actor - *Sanctuary* (1961), Actor - *Furimuita hanayome* (1961), as Harue - *Shiroi minamikaze* (1961), Actor - *As the Clouds Scatter* (1961), as Kaeko Kawaguchi - *Mizu tamari* (1961), Actor - *Women of Tokyo* (1961), as Kiyomi Nishihara ## Gallery - ![Chieko Baishō](https://film.one/media/person/103431/gallery-3c065ef2fa1d.jpg) Chieko Baishō — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Chieko_Baish%C5%8D_at_the_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_2019_%2849013476248%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Chieko_Baish%C5%8D_at_the_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_2019_%2849013476248%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Chieko Baisho (1963)](https://film.one/media/person/103431/gallery-067b85361e73.png) Chieko Baisho (1963) — 国際情報社, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Baisho-Chieko-1963-1.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Chieko Baisho (1965)](https://film.one/media/person/103431/gallery-1f12d3ebf9a8.jpg) Chieko Baisho (1965) — 国際情報社, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Baisho-Chieko-1965-1.jpg/1280px-Baisho-Chieko-1965-1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Chieko Baisho (1965)](https://film.one/media/person/103431/gallery-0be633633493.jpg) Chieko Baisho (1965) — 国際情報社, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Baisho-Chieko-1965-2.jpg/1280px-Baisho-Chieko-1965-2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Chieko Baishō](https://film.one/media/person/103431/gallery-32232975a59d.jpg) Chieko Baishō — Image via TMDB - ![Chieko Baishō](https://film.one/media/person/103431/gallery-6c86c3700f89.jpg) Chieko Baishō — Image via TMDB - ![Chieko Baishō](https://film.one/media/person/103431/gallery-f9d6b9cec30d.jpg) Chieko Baishō — Image via TMDB - ![Chieko Baisho, Yoji Yamada, and Kumiko Goto from "Tora-san, Wish You Were Here" at Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival. (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/103431/gallery-cec4f3ac1f55.jpg) Chieko Baisho, Yoji Yamada, and Kumiko Goto from "Tora-san, Wish You Were Here" at Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival. (2019) — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Baisho_Chieko%2C_Yamada_Yoji_%26_Goto_Kumiko_from_%22Tora-san%2C_Wish_You_Were_Here%22_at_Opening_Ceremony_of_the_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_2019_%2849014200767%29.jpg/1280px-Baisho_Chieko%2C_Yamada_Yoji_%26_Goto_Kumiko_from_%22Tora-san%2C_Wish_You_Were_Here%22_at_Opening_Ceremony_of_the_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_2019_%2849014200767%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Chieko Baishō at Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival. (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/103431/gallery-50062c2cd8ea.jpg) Chieko Baishō at Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival. (2019) — Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Baisho_Chieko_from_%22Tora-san%2C_Wish_You_Were_Here%22_at_Opening_Ceremony_of_the_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_2019_%2849013476248%29.jpg/1280px-Baisho_Chieko_from_%22Tora-san%2C_Wish_You_Were_Here%22_at_Opening_Ceremony_of_the_Tokyo_International_Film_Festival_2019_%2849013476248%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) ## Awards ### Other awards — 5 won, 3 nominated - Medal with Purple Ribbon 2005: Medal with Purple Ribbon (won) - Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1987: Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (nominated), for *Lost in the Wilderness* - Kinuyo Tanaka Award 1987: Kinuyo Tanaka Award (won) - Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1982: Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (nominated), for *Station* - Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1981: Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (won), for *Tora's Tropical Fever* - Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1978: Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (nominated), for *Tora-san Plays Cupid* - Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Supporting Actress 1976: Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Supporting Actress (won) - Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year 1962: Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/chieko-baisho