Kimiko Yo
Known for: Acting
Kimiko Yo was born in Yokohama, a city just south of Tokyo to a Japanese mother and Taiwanese father on the 12th of May 1956. Her cousin was actress Bunjaku Han. She became active in front of the camera in 1987 and has been a feature of Japanese television and cinema ever since. She had begun acting on the theatre stage in 1976. Audiences may mostly know her for her supporting role in Shin Gojira, as a sympathetic colleague in the 2008 films Departures, which won an Oscar, and kind wife and waitress in Ramen Girl, but she has almost 200 credits to her name. These include an abnormal neighbour in The Drugstore girl and serene presence in Café Lumière where she was directed by a Taiwanese director in Japan. Dear Doctor (2009) propelled her name forward in Japan and was an award winner. She has several Japan Academy prizes to her name. Like most celebrities she pushes products and has done commercials for telephone companies, shampoos and cosmetics manufacturers. Yo is married to a man who at the time was a NHK employee in 2006 and is managed by the Alpha Agency.
Filmography
Series
The Naked Director
Kozue Muranishi
2019
Series
The Files of the Young Kindaichi
Hiruko Kirigoe
1995
Film
Shin Godzilla
Reiko Hanamori : Minister of Defense
2016
Series
Half Blue Sky
Kimika Okada
2018
Series
Churasan
Shibata Yoko
2001
Series
Straight to Hell
2026
Series
Into the White Night
Taniguchi Mafumi
2006
Series
Dangerous Detective
Yuko
1986
Series
Dangerous Detective
Hiromi Nagisa
1986
Series
Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories
Chieko Tachibana
2016
Series
Atsuhime
Hisa-hime
2008
Series
Kazama Kimichika: Kyojo Zero
2023
Series
The Secret Lives of Kyoto Folk
2015
Series
Sanctuary
2023
Series
The Files of Young Kindaichi
Hiruko Kirigoe
2022
Film
Sheep in the Box
Nobuyo Nishimura
2026
Series
Mr. Housekeeper, Mitazono
Yoriko Musubi
2016
Series
Hakusen Nagashi
Masako Ozawa
1996
Film
Departures
Yuriko Kamimura
2008
Series
dele
2018
Series
Say You Love Me
Kaoru Kanzaki
1995
Series
Drop-out Teacher Returns to School
Yukiko Ando
2003
Series
Back of Father
Togawa Yasuko
2014
Film
Parasyte: Part 1
Izumi Nobuko
2014
Series
Shinjuku Field Hospital
Ritsuko Nishi Freeman
2024
Series
Usotoki Rhetoric
2024
Series
The Gift of Your Heart
Yukino Aihara
2024
Series
Trillion Game
Mitsuzono Shizuku
2023
Film
Worst by Chance
Hatsuko Kim
2003
Series
Re: Revenge - At the End of Desire
Tendo Ichiko
2024
Film
Yamato
2005
Series
Dear Father
Fortune Teller
2007
Series
Bambino!
2007
Film
Suicide Club
2001
Film
Parasyte: Part 2
Izumi Nobuko
2015
Film
Haru and Tae
Series
Just One Love
Akiko Kanzaki
2006
Film
The Ramen Girl
Reiko
2008
Film
To Every You I've Loved Before
Kazune Takigawa (old woman) (voice)
2022
Film
Oka wo koete
2008
Film
To Me, the One Who Loved You
Kazune Takigawa (old woman) (voice)
2022
Series
The Public Enemy
Akiko Kawarada
2017
Series
Death Office
Shingu
2019
Film
Music of Remembrance -Gb-
Rume
2002
Series
Cleopatra na Onnatachi
2012
Series
Be with You
Hongo Naomi
2005
Series
Daisuki!!
Setsuko Kachigawa
2008
Series
Affectionate Time
Kujo Tomoko
2005
Film
Fireflies: River of Light
2004
Film
Midnight Diner 2
Chieko
2016
Series
Kao
Kyoko Higuchi（樋口 京子）
2003
Series
Dangerous Relationship
Ayako Tsuzuki
1999
Series
Please Don't Chant Buddhist Prayers in the Hospital Room
Shibusawa Wakako
2020
Film
Sinsin and the Mouse
2026
Series
Shrink: Psychiatrist Yowai
Fumiyo Takahashi
2024
Series
REPLAY＆DESTROY
fortune-teller woman
2015
Series
Evil People
Chise Fujishima
2007
Film
Galileo XX
Yoriko Takasaki
2013
Film
Shield of Straw
2013
Film
Air Doll
Receptionist Yoshiko
2009
Film
Alone in the Night
1994
Series
Live
1999
Series
Innocent Days
Michiko Tanaka
2018
Film
The President's Christmas Tree
1996
Film
The Lonely Affair of the Heart
2002
Film
A Story of Yonosuke
Taeko Yokomichi
2013
Film
Chicken Is Barefoot
2004
Film
Midnight Diner
Chieko Hanawa
2014
Film
Onna no naka no futatsu no kao
2004
Series
Karyuu No Utage
Miyagi Yoko
2011
Film
Kaisha monogatari: Memories of You
Managing Director's Daughter
1988
Film
Hiruko the Goblin
Reiko's Mother
1991
Film
Hiruko the Goblin
1991
Film
Drugstore Girl
Hideko Mukai
2004
Series
Concerto
1996
Series
Hello, I Love You
Machi Domoto
2016
Series
Taro no Tō
2011
Film
Red
Ogata Yoko
2020
Film
Solomon's Perjury 2: Judgment
Motoko Ueno
2015
Film
The Legend of the Sea, Sky and Coral
1991
Series
Goodbye Mr Ozu
2001
Series
Izakaya Fuji
2017
Film
Hotel Royal
Miko Noshiro
2020
Series
A Dangerous Woman
1998
Film
The Invisibles
2026
Film
Foreign Affairs Police: Don't be fooled by that man
2012
Series
Virgin Road
Michi
1997
Series
My Happy Divorced Life
2023
Series
Tokumei! Keiji Dongame
2006
Film
Ace Attorney
Maiko Ayasato (Misty Fey)
2012
Series
Toubousha
2020
Kurenai
1998
Film
Bread of Happiness
Yoko
2012
Film
Tokyo Tower
2005
Series
And Then There Were None
Erika Konami
2017
Series
ママは昔パパだった
2009
Film
Crossroads
2011
Series
Middle-aged Bachelors
1997
Film
Haunted School
Professor Yukawa
1995
Film
We Shall Overcome Someday
2005
Film
Immoral Affairs
1997
Series
Matrilineal Family
Kimie Kobayashi
2021
Film
AI Amok
Eiko Tanaka
2020
Film
A Night in Nude
Nami Tsuchiya
1993
Film
Café Lumière
Yoko's Stepmother
2004
Series
The Kind-Hearted Cat
Matsuko
2023
Series
Fuyō no hito 〜 Fuji sanchō no tsuma
Nonaka Tomiko
2014
Film
Love Bites Back
Sanae Ebino
1988
Film
Villain
Yoriko Shimizu
2010
Film
My SO Has Got Depression
Satoko Kurita
2011
Film
Rinco's Restaurant
Ruriko
2010
Film
Solomon's Perjury 1: Suspicion
Motoko Ueno
2015
Film
The Heartbreak Yakuza
1987
Film
ドラマスペシャル 松本清張 鬼畜
2017
Film
Any Crybabies Around?
Setsuko Goto
2020
Film
Aging Police / Resurrection Special
2019
Series
California Dreamin'
Kyoko Yamazaki
2002
Series
Love Story
2001
Film
The Murder of Kuroido
2018
Series
Tsurukame Josanin: Minami no Shima kara
2012
Film
Gonin 2
Ran
1996
Film
Akechi Kogoro vs. Kindaichi Kosuke
Tezuka Yukino
2005
Film
Black Widow Business
Eiko Segawa
2016
Film
Yumeji
Jiro
1991
Film
Aiki
2002
Film
Tokyo Rhapsody
2007
Series
警視庁継続捜査班
2010
Film
For Love's Sake
Toyo Taiga
2012
Film
Nobody's Perfect
2013
Film
An Autumn Afternoon
Akiko Hirayama
2003
Film
An Artist of the Floating World
Mrs. Saito
2019
Film
Virgin Snow
Mayumi Sasaki
2007
Film
Star Watching Dog
Innkeeper
2011
Film
Kurara: The Dazzling Life of Hokusai's Daughter
Koto
2017
Film
The City That Never Sleeps: Shinjuku Shark
Suzuki
1993
Film
52-Hertz Whales
Noriko Okada
2024
Film
Winter Rose
Michiko Wataguchi
2022
Film
Noise
Hanae Shoji
2022
Film
20th Century Nostalgia
Anzu's Mother
1997
Film
300 Million Yen Robbery
Ryoko Nakaoka
2014
Film
Amagi Pass
1998
Film
Dearest
Tamiko Hamasaki
2012
Film
The Blue Hearts
(segment “Hammer”)
2017
Film
The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
1991
The Most Important Person
1997
Film
A Stitch of Life
Hiroe Minami
2015
Series
Oishii Gohan: Kamakura Kasugai Rice Shop
엔죠지 치에코
2007
Film
A Lone Scalpel
Shizuka Takei
2010
Film
Another Battle
2000
Film
Dirty Hearts
Naomi
2012
Series
Night Hero NAOTO
権田薫子
2016
Film
The Imaginary Dog and the Lying Cat
2026
Film
Asako in Ruby Shoes
Aya's Mother
2000
Film
Higuchi Ichiyo Monogatari
2004
Film
Wait and See
Wife of Hiroshi's Brother
1998
Film
Sharaku
1995
Film
The Exam
Midori Chiaki
1999
Series
横山秀夫サスペンス シリーズ (TBS)
2002
Kekkon no Risou to Genjitsu
1996
Series
Akechi Kogoro vs. Kindaichi Kosuke
2005
Film
Peaceful Death
2020
Film
Rebirth
Angel
2011
Series
Dream Team
Yoshie Andou
2021
Film
Nōhime: Wife of a Samurai
2012
Film
The Brutal Insanity of Love
Nami Muraki
1993
Series
お葬式で会いましょう
2014
Film
Uta Monogatari: Cinema Fighters Project
Cafe's manager (segment "Our Birthday")
2018
Series
Houkago Groove
2013
Series
Sugu Shinun Dakara
Mori Kaoru
2020
Film
Dear Doctor
Akemi Ohtake
2009
Film
BON-UTA, A Song from Home
(voice)
2019
Film
Yankee Bokou ni Kaeru SP
Ando Yukiko [Teacher]
2005
Film
Moonlight Serenade
1997
Film
My Little Sweet Pea
Ayako Akaike
2013
Film
Step
Michiyo Muramatsu
2020
Film
A Tale of Samurai Cooking
Mitsuru Funaki
2013
Series
Miss Jikocho-Professor Tenno's Survey File
南雲喜里子
2019
Film
Memories of the Womb: You Are Here
2007
Film
The After-Dinner Mysteries SP: Inspector Kazamatsuri's Case File
2013
Film
Show Me the Way to the Station
2019
Film
Everything Will Be Owlright!
Minoyama
2022
夜の終る時
2007
Film
The Housekeeper
Haruko Inamura
2012
Film
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
2000
Film
Dog Star
2002
Film
Perfect Revolution
Akiko
2017
Film
A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage
Kuramoto
1998
Film
Omotenashi
Mitsuko
2018
Film
Sleep in the Shadows
2019
Film
Where The Legend Lives
2008
Film
Happy-Go-Lucky
Man's Lover in TV Drama
1997
Film
Farewell, Kuro
Eri Yuki
2003
Film
Hotel Hibiscus
Mieko's Mother
2002
Film
Keikoku! Nozoki ari.
1995
Film
Chacha: The Princess of Heaven
Kita no mandokoro
2007
Film
Solitary Gourmet Summer trip to Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan
2016
女の中の二つの顔
2004
Film
Hysteric
2000
Film
Gorotsuki 2
1993
Film
First Gentleman
2021
Film
Time Leap
1997
Film
The Ice Ruts
요네자와 사유리
2016
Film
悪女について
Suzuki Tane
2012
Film
Father of the Bride
2012
Film
Free and Easy 11
2000
Series
Welcome to National Treasures
2019
Film
Giwaku
2019
Film
Invisible War
Kinu Murozono
2007
Film
Passion
1992
Film
Timeless Melody
Chikako's Mother
2000
Film
Enokida Trading Co.
Yoko Shima
2018
Film
Bastard LAST DOWN TEN 2
1994
Film
Otoko Tomodachi
2026
Film
Going against the Grain in Fukushima
Speaker
2015
Film
Soup Opera
Yasuko Tanaka
2010
Film
An Angel with Many Scars
1997
Film
Oh My God
2002
Film
Via Okinawa
1989
Film
Ando Gumi Gaiden Genealogy of the Group Wolf 5
2000
巡査鉄兵の推理日誌
2000
Film
Baian the Assassin
1990
Film
Mentai Piriri – Flower of Pansy
2023
Film
Can you collect it? Complete
1994
Film
hana –1970, Koza ga moeta hi–
2022
Film
Kaiki Senyaichiya Monogatari: Kai no Maki
1991
Film
Sumomo mo momo
1995
Film
Maria's Stomach
1990
Film
Zen and Bones
Kô Mittwer
2016
寝台特急出羽号 赤い爪痕の女
1991
女タクシードライバーの事件日誌
2003
姑は名探偵芹澤雅子 八丈島南国リゾート殺人事件
1997
Film
Orchids Under the Moon
1991
Film
Suspicion
2003
Film
The Yakuza Principal
2007
Film
Omokage
2023
松本清張特別企画・黒い画集～紐
2005
Film
橋ものがたり「約束」
2024
Film
Kawachi Zankeiden Shamo Chicken (Shamo)
1991
現ナマ弁護士
2007