Etsuko Ichihara, a renowned Japanese actress, passed away on January 13, 2019, at the age of 82 in Tokyo, Japan, due to complications from heart failure. Born on January 24, 1936, in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Ichihara studied literature at Tokyo's Waseda University and later entered the entertainment industry in 1957.
Throughout her illustrious career, Ichihara accumulated over one hundred credits, making her a household name in Japan. She was a member of the Tokyo-based Haiyuza theatre troupe from 1957 until her resignation in 1971. Her debut performance was in the 1957 play Yukiguni.
Ichihara's voice was featured in the popular animated serial Manga Nihon Mukashi Banashi, which began in the 1970s. She gained widespread recognition for her appearances in the Kaseifu Wa Mita ('The Housemaid Witnessed It') series, becoming a staple in Japanese television.
In 1989, Ichihara starred in the critically acclaimed film Black Rain, for which she won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Supporting Actress. Her iconic role in the film revolved around the American war crime of bombing Hiroshima's civilians.
Ichihara's most notable film was the pan-Asian hit Kimi No Na Wa, in which she lent her voice in 2016. Her final film was the heartwarming and redemptive Shabondama.
In her personal life, Ichihara was married to director Shiomi, who was also in the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, he passed away due to pneumonia. Ichihara had no children and outlived her husband. Prior to her death, she had been hospitalized for an autoimmune disease diagnosed in 2016 and had been experiencing health issues.
In the final days of her life, Ichihara was hospitalized again on January 5, 2019, complaining of pain. Despite her condition, she was able to speak until January 7, when her speech and consciousness began to decline. Ichihara died peacefully in the early hours of January 13, 2019, surrounded by loved ones.
