Yuriko Ishida Shines in Older Roles with Simple White T-Shirt and Chino Pants Look in Her 50s

In late August, Yuriko Ishida (54) was seen coming out of the Nippon Broadcasting System building in Yurakucho, Tokyo.

Ishida was dressed in a simple outfit consisting of a plain white T-shirt and beige chinos, giving off a relaxed, almost like she was just going out for a walk in the neighborhood. This casual vibe makes sense, as the recording that day was for “Udo no Radio,” which is scheduled to air on August 30. Ishida is known to be a close friend of the show’s host, freelance announcer Yumiko Udo (55).

“Yurippe” and “Udo-chan”

“In 2015, during her time at NHK, Announcer Udo had Yuriko Ishida as a guest on ‘Asaichi!’ and they hit it off immediately. Later, Ishida’s sister, actress Hikaru Ishida (52), and her husband (an NHK staff member) reintroduced the two, leading to the start of their friendship.

Both born in the same year and both single, they refer to each other affectionately as ‘Yurippe’ and ‘Udo-chan.’ On May 1, Ishida updated her Instagram with a video showing Udo, who had dropped by unexpectedly, playing with Ishida’s beloved dog, Yuki.”  (TV magazine writer)

That casual atmosphere was likely a factor. During the recording that day, the two talked extensively about how they became friends and their daily lives, as if they were having tea together. After the recording, Ishida emerged from the building looking relieved and greeted the staff with a smile, as if to say, “Ah, I feel so refreshed.”

 

Currently, Ishida is playing the role of Haru Inotsume, the mother of the protagonist Torako Sada, played by Sairi Ito (30), in the ongoing NHK serial drama “Tora ni Tsubasa.”

 

“She perfectly portrayed the strict image of a pre-war Japanese mother with her meticulous adherence to discipline and traditions. Later, as her character’s grandchild is born and she begins to show signs of aging, including a gradually weakening expression with streaks of white in her hair, her performance as she approached the end of her life was quite realistic. While Ishida is often associated with a ‘cute for her age’ image and has played similar roles in dramas, her performance as an older character was also remarkable. With her expanded acting range, she is likely to receive even more offers in the future.” (said a staff member)

 

Given her refreshingly youthful appearance as seen when she left the radio station, it seems a bit early for her to be playing a grandmother, but one can’t help but look forward to seeing more of Ishida in new and different roles.