Veteran Entertainment Reporter’s View of Yoko Shimada’s Colorful Life as an Actress

Toshio Ishikawa, entertainment reporter, “Behind the Scenes” of the entertainment world:

Yoko Shimada, who was known as a cosmopolitan actress, died of colon cancer at the age of 69.

She made her debut at the age of 17 in the TV drama “Osanatsuma” (TV Tokyo). She became popular for her role in “Sequel to The Glacier” (TV Asahi).

With her dimples and cute smile, Ms. Shimada received offers from the movie world. She has been offered a number of roles in major motion picture productions such as “The Instrument of Sand” and “The Inugami Clan,” as well as in the U.S. TV drama “Shogun.”

“Shogun” won her the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in the Drama category. She has grown into an international actress of international stature.

As she steadily grew as an actress, her life changed dramatically when she fell in love.

In 1988, she co-starred with rock singer Yuya Uchida in the movie “Labyrinth in the Garden of Flowers,” which was released in 1988. He had a wife, actress Kilin Kiki, but their romance went on without regard to the opinions of those around them.

When Mr. Uchida ran for the Tokyo gubernatorial election in ’91, Mr. Shimada continued to support him behind his back. Mr. Uchida would not win the election, but at the time, Mr. Shimada’s house in Yokohama was the place where their love lived.

Mr. Uchida probably wanted to marry her, too. He asked Mr. Kiuki for a divorce, but she stubbornly refused. In the end, Mr. Uchida could not get a divorce.

Shimada probably had her own reasons for not wanting to separate, but this incident created a gap between Shimada and Uchida.

It was then that a tip came in. A neighbor of Shimada’s said.

“Yoko Shimada-san has escaped from the second-floor window of her house and is on the roof.”

She is on the roof. I had just become a reporter, so I jumped on the story and headed for Yokohama.

The riot had already ended, and the police had not intervened. Perhaps the police could not intervene because it was a civil matter. When we interviewed the neighbors, we found that

They were constantly fighting. Shimada-san always seemed to be crying.

But the police did not provide any information at all. Later, the two separated. The reason for the breakup was apparently financial problems.

It seems that Mr. Shimada had invested a lot of money in the Tokyo gubernatorial election. It is undeniable that their romantic scandal reduced Ms. Shimada’s work.

It was a lonely entertainment career for that great actress, but

She told those around her, “I want to continue working in the entertainment business, even if it’s behind the scenes, like as a director or producer.”

It was around this time that Ms. Shimada told those around her that she wanted to continue working in the entertainment industry in a behind-the-scenes capacity, as a director or producer.

In 1997, Ms. Shimada married a cameraman she had met while filming a TV drama. He was a member of the jury for the “Yubari Fantastic International Film Award.”

Shimada was a member of the jury for the “Yubari Fantastic International Film Award.”

How was this marriage also for Shimada?

The photographer had a wife and children. All of the husband’s income would go to his ex-wife and child. And Shimada would provide for their lives together.

There is the idea that “I fell in love with him, so…”

but Shimada was only 43 years old

Shimada entered the entertainment industry at the age of 17 and continued her life as an actress without knowing the world. She must not have been really good at love. She got the guy she liked, but she couldn’t stand the winds of the world.

In the entertainment industry, there are talents and actresses who eat scandals and become bigger and bigger, but there are also those who lose out. I guess Mr. Shimada was a typical example of this.