Sumiko Fuji

Born in 1945, Sumiko Fuji, daughter of a Tōei studio producer, carved her name in the annals of Japanese cinema as the female lead in yakuza films, squaring off against icons like Ken Takakura and Kōji Tsuruta. A series regular as the fearsome "Red Peony Gambler," Fuji's initial retirement in 1972 after marriage was short-lived, and she returned to television in 1974 under her current moniker. She later re-emerged in films, broadening her range, and earned Blue Ribbon Awards for best supporting actress in 1999 and 2006. Married to kabuki actor Onoe Kikugorō VII, Fuji is the mother of actress Shinobu Terajima and kabuki actor Onoe Kikunosuke V.