Yoko Narahashi is a multifaceted creative professional, boasting an impressive array of skills and achievements in the entertainment industry. As a producer, director, casting director, and lyricist, she has made a significant impact in both Los Angeles and Tokyo.
Born to a Japanese diplomat to the International Civil Aviation Organization of the United Nations, Narahashi spent her formative years in Montreal and Ottawa, Canada, where she received her formal education. She later attended International Christian University in Tokyo, before further honing her craft at the renowned Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, under the guidance of the esteemed Sanford Meisner.
As a director, Narahashi's credits include a wide range of productions, including the iconic musical "Hair," the whimsical "The Magic Monkey," and the award-winning "The Winds of God." The latter, which premiered at the Lee Strasberg Institute, the Actors Studio, and the United Nations in New York, as well as in Los Angeles, Australia, and New Zealand, marked Narahashi's feature film directorial debut in 1995 and earned her the Japan Film Critics Award for Best New Director.
In addition to her work as a director, Narahashi has also established herself as a talented casting director, with a long list of credits in Hollywood feature film productions. Her notable collaborations include working with director and producer Steven Spielberg on the 1987 film "Empire of the Sun." Her other Hollywood casting credits include "Unbroken" starring Angelina Jolie, "47 Ronin" directed by Carl Rinsch, "The Wolverine" directed by James Mangold, "Babel" directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, "Memoirs of a Geisha" directed by Rob Marshall, and "The Last Samurai" directed by Edward Zwick.
Narahashi has also held the position of Associate Producer for the 2003 film "The Last Samurai," starring Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe, and more recently, served as Producer for the 2013 World War II film "Emperor," starring Tommy Lee Jones and Matthew Fox.
As a lyricist, Narahashi has worked with the popular rock group Godiego, among others, further solidifying her reputation as a versatile and accomplished creative professional.
