Yoko Shimada, a well-known Japanese actress, passed away at the age of 69. She was popularly known for her role as Mariko in the 1980 miniseries “Shōgun”. According to reports, she took her last breath on Monday, July 25, 2022. The actress’ health was deteriorating so she was taken to a hospital in Tokyo where she unfortunately died. Shimada’s fans and well-wishers have gotten disheartened to learn about her sudden demise. Tributes have poured in for the actress on social media. Netizens also seem to search for her cause of death too. Here is all we know about it.
Reports confirm that Yoko Shimada was suffering from colon cancer for quite some time. She was taken to a Tokyo hospital after suffering multiple organ failures due to dreaded cancer. Ever since the news was announced on the internet, her fans flooded it with tributary posts and messages. The Japanese public has been mourning the unfortunate death of the popular actress. Shimada, who was born in Kumamoto on the Japanese island of Kyushu, won her first television role in the drama “Osanazuma” in 1970.
She has also appeared in “Kamen Rider,” “Karei-naru Ichizoku,” and “Shiroi Kyoto” on television. The actress played Hosokawa Gracia, a real-life member of the noble Akechi family, in the James Clavell novel adaptation “Shgun.” Shimada was one of the few performers in the cast who had an English-speaking role despite not speaking English fluently, according to Deadline.
She received both an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama for the role. After the worldwide popularity of Shogun, Shimada appeared in other roles in Hollywood. Let us add that the actress continued to work in Japan while doing films and shows in Hollywood. One of her international projects was Little Champion.
It was a 1981 biopic of Japanese-American marathoner Michiko “Miki” Suwa Gorman with the actress playing the lead. It is reported that she fell on hard times with debt problems and alcohol during the 1990s. Later, in 1992, she was featured in a nude photobook to raise some cash. Although the book was quite popular it damaged her standing as an actor. Shimada’s last screen role was in the 2016 Saiga Toshiro drama Kanon. Everyone seems to be coming forward and paying heartfelt tributes to the Japanese actress. Keep following our site for more updates and the latest news.
