Mariko Miyagi

Mariko Miyagi (宮城 まり子) (March 21, 1927 – March 21, 2020) was a Japanese actress, singer, and advocate for children with disabilities. She founded the Kusunoki Gakuen, a school for disabled children.

Mariko Miyagi
宮城まり子
Born
Mariko Honme

(1927-03-21)March 21, 1927
Tokyo, Japan
DiedMarch 21, 2020(2020-03-21) (aged 93)
NationalityJapanese
OccupationActress and singer

Early life

Miyagi was born Mariko Honme in Tokyo, Japan.[1] She was the older of two siblings. Her family moved to Osaka when she was in the third grade because of her father's work. When she graduated from elementary school the family underwent a series of misfortunes, including her mother's death. Miyagi and her brother entered the Yoshimoto Kogyo production company and became singers.[2]

Career

Miyagi's first stage appearance was in October 1944. After the war, she continued performing at several theaters before releasing her first record in 1950 with Teichiku Records. Her first hit was "Anta Honto ni Sugoi wa ne", which was released by Victor Records. She continued releasing hits like "Gado-shita no Kutsumigaki" throughout the fifties,[1] and appeared on the Kohaku Uta Gassen several times.

While preparing for a role in which she would play a child with cerebral palsy, Miyagi visited a facility for disabled children. Inspired by this, Miyagi started the Nemunoki Gakuen, a school for children with disabilities, in Omaezaki, Shizuoka in 1968. It was the first school of its kind, built when education for disabled children wasn't yet mandatory.[3] The school's curriculum especially focused on music and the arts.[4] It later moved to Kakegawa, Shizuoka. Miyagi directed and produced a documentary about the school called "Nemunoki no Uta".[3]

In 2012 Miyagi was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure.[4]

Miyagi died on March 21, 2020 of lymphoma.[1]

Films
Year Title Role Notes
1956Kuronekokan ni Kieta OtokoReiko Suzumura
1956Daigaku no kengo keiraku no abarenbo
1956Gojugô mênme no uwaki
1956Tenten musume dainibu: Tenten musume ni hana ga saku
1956Tenten musume daiichibu: Tenten musume ki wa nihon hare
1957Gokurakuto monogatari
1958Onboro jinseiMariko
1958Tôkyô no kyûjitsuSinger
1958Yajikata dôchû sugorokuOmari
1958Panda and the magic serpentVoice
1959Gurama-to no yuwakuAi
1961Ten dark womenMiwako
1962Kigeki: Detatoko shôbu - 'Chinjarara monogatari' yoriChôko
1964Zoku Haikei Tenno Heika SamaKeiko
1964Haikei sôri daijin sama
1975Hans Christian Andersen's The Little MermaidFritzVoice
1975[5]Children Drawing RainbowsDirector[6]
1977Barefoot GenKimie Nakaoka
1978OyayubihimeBunbuVoice, (final film role)

References
  1. "Singer and welfare facility founder Mariko Miyagi dies". The Japan Times Online. 2020-03-23. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  2. "女立志伝 私はこうして世に出た 流行歌手 宮城まり子さん". Yomiuri Shinbun. July 30, 1957.
  3. "Japan actress, child welfare facility pioneer Mariko Miyagi dies at 93". Mainichi Daily News. 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  4. "Mariko Miyagi, singer committed to child welfare, dies at age 93". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  5. Lentz, Harris M. (2006). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2005: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland & Company. p. 283. ISBN 978-0786424894.
  6. Galbraith IV, Stuart (1996). The Japanese Filmography: A Complete Reference to 209 Filmmakers and the Over 1250 Films Released in the United States, 1900 through 1994. McFarland & Company. p. 133. ISBN 978-0786400324.
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