Sumiko Kurishima

Biography

Sumiko Kurishima was a trailblazing Japanese actress and master of traditional Japanese dance, often considered Japan's first female movie star. Born on March 15, 1902, she began her career in the Shōchiku studio in 1921 and debuted in Henry Kotani's adaptation of Natsume Sōseki's The Poppy. Kurishima went on to become a leading figure in Japanese cinema, starring alongside Yoshinobu Ikeda before retiring in 1938.