Mieko Takamine, a renowned Japanese actress and singer, was born on December 2, 1918, as the eldest daughter of Chikufu Takamine, a celebrated chikuzen biwa player and teacher.
Mieko's acting debut occurred in the 1936 film "Kimi yo takarakani utae," produced by the prestigious Shochiku studios, with which she maintained a long-standing affiliation throughout her career, occasionally appearing in productions of other companies following the war.
Her inaugural released record as a singer was the theme song for the 1938 film "Hotaru no hikari," swiftly establishing her as a "singing movie star."
Throughout her illustrious career, Takamine had the privilege of working alongside Japan's most distinguished directors, including Hiroshi Shimizu, Yasujirō Ozu, Mikio Naruse, and Keisuke Kinoshita.
In 1976, Takamine received the Best Supporting Actress award at the 19th Blue Ribbon Awards for her outstanding performance in "The Inugamis" (1976).
In recognition of her remarkable achievements as a performer, Takamine was honored with the Medal of Purple Ribbon in 1985 and a special Mainichi Film Award.
