Acting · Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan · Born May 12, 1956
Kimiko Yo was born in Yokohama, a city just south of Tokyo to a Japanese mother and Taiwanese father on the 12th of May 1956. Her cousin was actress Bunjaku Han. She became active in front of the camera in 1987 and has been a feature of Japanese television and cinema ever since. She had begun acting on the theatre stage in 1976. Audiences may mostly know her for her supporting role in Shin Gojira, as a sympathetic colleague in the 2008 films Departures, which won an Oscar, and kind wife and waitress in Ramen Girl, but she has almost 200 credits to her name. These include an abnormal neighbour in The Drugstore girl and serene presence in Café Lumière where she was directed by a Taiwanese director in Japan. Dear Doctor (2009) propelled her name forward in Japan and was an award winner. She has several Japan Academy prizes to her name. Like most celebrities she pushes products and has done commercials for telephone companies, shampoos and cosmetics manufacturers. Yo is married to a man who at the time was a NHK employee in 2006 and is managed by the Alpha Agency.
MovieOtoko Tomodachi
2026
MovieThe Invisibles
2026
MovieSinsin and the Mouse
2026
MovieSheep in the Box
2026
as Nobuyo Nishimura
TVStraight to Hell
2026
MovieThe Imaginary Dog and the Lying Cat
2026
TVUsotoki Rhetoric
2024
TVShrink: Psychiatrist Yowai
2024
as 高橋文世
TVShinjuku Field Hospital
2024
as Ritsuko Nishi Freeman
TVRe: Revenge - At the End of Desire
2024
as Tendo Ichiko
Movie52-Hertz Whales
2024
as Noriko Okada
Movie橋ものがたり「約束」
2024
TVThe Gift of Your Heart
2024
as Yukino Aihara
TVTrillion Game
2023
as Mitsuzono Shizuku
TVThe Kind-Hearted Cat
2023
as Matsuko
MovieMentai Piriri – Flower of Pansy
2023
TVSanctuary
2023
TVKazama Kimichika: Kyojo Zero
2023
MovieOmokage
2023
TVMy Happy Divorced Life
2023
MovieTo Me, the One Who Loved You
2022
as Kazune Takigawa (old woman) (voice)
MovieTo Every You I've Loved Before
2022
as Kazune Takigawa (old woman) (voice)
MovieEverything Will Be Owlright!
2022
as Minoyama
MovieWinter Rose
2022
as Michiko Wataguchi
TVThe Files of Young Kindaichi
2022
as Hiruko Kirigoe
MovieNoise
2022
as Hanae Shoji
Moviehana –1970, Koza ga moeta hi–
2022
TVMatrilineal Family
2021
as Kimie Kobayashi
MovieFirst Gentleman
2021
TVDream Team
2021
as Yoshie Andou
TVToubousha
2020
MovieAny Crybabies Around?
2020
as Setsuko Goto
MovieHotel Royal
2020
as Miko Noshiro
TVSugu Shinun Dakara
2020
as Mori Kaoru
MoviePeaceful Death
2020
MovieStep
2020
as Michiyo Muramatsu
MovieRed
2020
as Ogata Yoko
MovieAI Amok
2020
as Eiko Tanaka
TVPlease Don't Chant Buddhist Prayers in the Hospital Room
2020
as Shibusawa Wakako
MovieShow Me the Way to the Station
2019
TVMiss Jikocho-Professor Tenno's Survey File
2019
as 南雲喜里子
TVDeath Office
2019
as Shingu
TVWelcome to National Treasures
2019
MovieAging Police / Resurrection Special
2019
MovieSleep in the Shadows
2019
TVThe Naked Director
2019
as Kozue Muranishi
MovieAn Artist of the Floating World
2019
as Mrs. Saito
MovieBON-UTA, A Song from Home
2019
as (voice)
MovieGiwaku
2019
TVdele
2018
MovieUta Monogatari: Cinema Fighters Project
2018
as Cafe's manager (segment "Our Birthday")
MovieEnokida Trading Co.
2018
as Yoko Shima
MovieThe Murder of Kuroido
2018
TVHalf Blue Sky
2018
as Kimika Okada
TVInnocent Days
2018
as Michiko Tanaka
MovieOmotenashi
2018
as Mitsuko
Movieドラマスペシャル 松本清張 鬼畜
2017
TVThe Public Enemy
2017
as Akiko Kawarada
MoviePerfect Revolution
2017
as Akiko
TVIzakaya Fuji
2017
MovieKurara: The Dazzling Life of Hokusai's Daughter
2017
as Koto
MovieThe Blue Hearts
2017
as (segment “Hammer”)
TVAnd Then There Were None
2017
as Erika Konami
MovieMidnight Diner 2
2016
as Chieko
MovieThe Ice Ruts
2016
as 요네자와 사유리
TVMr. Housekeeper, Mitazono
2016
as Yoriko Musubi
TVMidnight Diner: Tokyo Stories
2016
as Chieko Tachibana
MovieBlack Widow Business
2016
as Eiko Segawa
MovieZen and Bones
2016
as Kô Mittwer
MovieSolitary Gourmet Summer trip to Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan
2016
MovieShin Godzilla
2016
as Reiko Hanamori : Minister of Defense
TVHello, I Love You
2016
as Machi Domoto
TVNight Hero NAOTO
2016
as 権田薫子
MovieGoing against the Grain in Fukushima
2015
as Speaker
TVREPLAY＆DESTROY
2015
as fortune-teller woman
MovieParasyte: Part 2
2015
as Izumi Nobuko
MovieSolomon's Perjury 2: Judgment
2015
as Motoko Ueno
MovieSolomon's Perjury 1: Suspicion
2015
as Motoko Ueno
MovieA Stitch of Life
2015
as Hiroe Minami
TVThe Secret Lives of Kyoto Folk
2015
MovieParasyte: Part 1
2014
as Izumi Nobuko
MovieMidnight Diner
2014
as Chieko Hanawa
TVFuyō no hito 〜 Fuji sanchō no tsuma
2014
as Nonaka Tomiko
TVBack of Father
2014
as Togawa Yasuko
TVお葬式で会いましょう
2014
Movie300 Million Yen Robbery
2014
as Ryoko Nakaoka
MovieMy Little Sweet Pea
2013
as Ayako Akaike
MovieA Tale of Samurai Cooking
2013
as Mitsuru Funaki
MovieThe After-Dinner Mysteries SP: Inspector Kazamatsuri's Case File
2013
MovieGalileo XX
2013
as Yoriko Takasaki
MovieShield of Straw
2013
TVHoukago Groove
2013
MovieNobody's Perfect
2013
MovieA Story of Yonosuke
2013
as Taeko Yokomichi
MovieThe Housekeeper
2012
as Haruko Inamura
TVTsurukame Josanin: Minami no Shima kara
2012
MovieDearest
2012
as Tamiko Hamasaki
MovieDirty Hearts
2012
as Naomi
MovieFor Love's Sake
2012
as Toyo Taiga
MovieForeign Affairs Police: Don't be fooled by that man
2012
Movie悪女について
2012
as Suzuki Tane
TVCleopatra na Onnatachi
2012
MovieNōhime: Wife of a Samurai
2012
MovieAce Attorney
2012
as Maiko Ayasato (Misty Fey)
MovieBread of Happiness
2012
as Yoko
MovieFather of the Bride
2012
MovieCrossroads
2011
MovieMy SO Has Got Depression
2011
as Satoko Kurita
MovieStar Watching Dog
2011
as Innkeeper
TVKaryuu No Utage
2011
as Miyagi Yoko
MovieRebirth
2011
as Angel
TVTaro no Tō
2011
MovieSoup Opera
2010
as Yasuko Tanaka
MovieVillain
2010
as Yoriko Shimizu
TV警視庁継続捜査班
2010
MovieA Lone Scalpel
2010
as Shizuka Takei
MovieRinco's Restaurant
2010
as Ruriko
TV外事警察
2009
as 村松久美
MovieAir Doll
2009
as Receptionist Yoshiko
TVママは昔パパだった
2009
as 우에노 마키코
MovieDear Doctor
2009
as Akemi Ohtake
MovieWhere The Legend Lives
2008
MovieDepartures
2008
as Yuriko Kamimura
MovieOka wo koete
2008
MovieThe Ramen Girl
2008
as Reiko
TVDaisuki!!
2008
as Setsuko Kachigawa
TVAtsuhime
2008
as Hisa-hime
MovieChacha: The Princess of Heaven
2007
as Kita no mandokoro
夜の終る時
2007
TVOishii Gohan: Kamakura Kasugai Rice Shop
2007
as 엔죠지 치에코
MovieThe Yakuza Principal
2007
MovieMemories of the Womb: You Are Here
2007
MovieVirgin Snow
2007
as Mayumi Sasaki
MovieTokyo Rhapsody
2007
TVBambino!
2007
現ナマ弁護士
2007
MovieInvisible War
2007
as Kinu Murozono
TVEvil People
2007
as Chise Fujishima
TVDear Father
2007
as Fortune Teller
TVJust One Love
2006
as Akiko Kanzaki
TVTokumei! Keiji Dongame
2006
TVInto the White Night
2006
as Taniguchi Mafumi
MovieYamato
2005
TVBe with You
2005
as Hongo Naomi
MovieYankee Bokou ni Kaeru SP
2005
as Ando Yukiko [Teacher]
MovieAkechi Kogoro vs. Kindaichi Kosuke
2005
as Tezuka Yukino
TVAkechi Kogoro vs. Kindaichi Kosuke
2005
MovieWe Shall Overcome Someday
2005
MovieTokyo Tower
2005
TVAffectionate Time
2005
as Kujo Tomoko
松本清張特別企画・黒い画集～紐
2005
MovieChicken Is Barefoot
2004
MovieHiguchi Ichiyo Monogatari
2004
MovieCafé Lumière
2004
as Yoko's Stepmother
女の中の二つの顔
2004
MovieOnna no naka no futatsu no kao
2004
MovieFireflies: River of Light
2004
MovieDrugstore Girl
2004
as Hideko Mukai
TVDrop-out Teacher Returns to School
2003
as Yukiko Ando
MovieWorst by Chance
2003
as Hatsuko Kim
女タクシードライバーの事件日誌
2003
MovieFarewell, Kuro
2003
as Eri Yuki
TVKao
2003
as Kyoko Higuchi（樋口 京子）
MovieSuspicion
2003
MovieAn Autumn Afternoon
2003
as Akiko Hirayama
MovieAiki
2002
MovieHotel Hibiscus
2002
as Mieko's Mother
TV横山秀夫サスペンス シリーズ (TBS)
2002
MovieOh My God
2002
MovieMusic of Remembrance -Gb-
2002
as Rume
MovieDog Star
2002
TVCalifornia Dreamin'
2002
as Kyoko Yamazaki
MovieThe Lonely Affair of the Heart
2002
MovieSuicide Club
2001
TVGoodbye Mr Ozu
2001
TVLove Story
2001
TVChurasan
2001
as Shibata Yoko
MovieAsako in Ruby Shoes
2000
as Aya's Mother
MovieAnother Battle
2000
MovieA Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
2000
巡査鉄兵の推理日誌
2000
MovieAndo Gumi Gaiden Genealogy of the Group Wolf 5
2000
MovieHysteric
2000
MovieTimeless Melody
2000
as Chikako's Mother
MovieFree and Easy 11
2000
TVDangerous Relationship
1999
as Ayako Tsuzuki
MovieThe Exam
1999
as Midori Chiaki
TVLive
1999
MovieWait and See
1998
as Wife of Hiroshi's Brother
MovieA Class to Remember III: The New Voyage
1998
as Kuramoto
Kurenai
1998
TVA Dangerous Woman
1998
MovieAmagi Pass
1998
MovieImmoral Affairs
1997
Movie20th Century Nostalgia
1997
as Anzu's Mother
姑は名探偵芹澤雅子 八丈島南国リゾート殺人事件
1997
TVMiddle-aged Bachelors
1997
MovieTime Leap
1997
MovieAn Angel with Many Scars
1997
The Most Important Person
1997
MovieHappy-Go-Lucky
1997
as Man's Lover in TV Drama
MovieMoonlight Serenade
1997
TVVirgin Road
1997
as Michi
MovieThe President's Christmas Tree
1996
TVConcerto
1996
MovieGonin 2
1996
as Ran
TVHakusen Nagashi
1996
as Masako Ozawa
Kekkon no Risou to Genjitsu
1996
TVThe Files of the Young Kindaichi
1995
as Hiruko Kirigoe
MovieHaunted School
1995
as Yukawa
TVSay You Love Me
1995
as Kaoru Kanzaki
MovieKeikoku! Nozoki ari.
1995
MovieSharaku
1995
MovieSumomo mo momo
1995
MovieAlone in the Night
1994
MovieCan you collect it? Complete
1994
MovieBastard LAST DOWN TEN 2
1994
MovieA Night in Nude
1993
as Nami Tsuchiya
MovieThe City That Never Sleeps: Shinjuku Shark
1993
as Suzuki
MovieThe Brutal Insanity of Love
1993
as Nami Muraki
MovieGorotsuki 2
1993
MoviePassion
1992
MovieThe Legend of the Sea, Sky and Coral
1991
寝台特急出羽号 赤い爪痕の女
1991
MovieKaiki Senyaichiya Monogatari: Kai no Maki
1991
MovieOrchids Under the Moon
1991
MovieThe Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses
1991
MovieYumeji
1991
as Jiro
MovieHiruko the Goblin
1991
as Reiko's Mother
MovieKawachi Zankeiden Shamo Chicken (Shamo)
1991
MovieBaian the Assassin
1990
MovieMaria's Stomach
1990
MovieVia Okinawa
1989
MovieKaisha monogatari: Memories of You
1988
as Managing Director's Daughter
MovieLove Bites Back
1988
as Sanae Ebino
MovieThe Heartbreak Yakuza
1987
TVDangerous Detective
1986
as Yuko
MovieHaru and Tae
