Matsuzaka Keiko

Keiko Matsuzaka(松坂慶子Matsuzaka Keiko^?)(born July 20, 1952) is an actress.Born in Ōta, Tokyo , her father was a naturalized South Korean while her mother was Japanese. Active as a child actress in the 1960s, she came into her own as an adult with Daiei , then in 1972 with Shochiku .Keiko played the "Madonna" role in the 1981 filmNaniwa no Koi no Torajirō,the 27th in theOtoko wa Tsurai yoseries. The producers called on her again for that role inTorajirō no Endan,the 46th of the 49 installments (1993). Keiko also appeared inLegend of the Eight Samurai(1983),Shin Izakaya Yūrei(1996),Dr. Akagiby Shōhei Imamura (1998),Runin: Banishedby Eiji Okuda (2004), andInugamike no Ichizoku(scheduled for release in 2007). She won the award for best actress at the 6th Hochi Film Award forThe Gate of YouthandTora-san's Love in Osaka,and at the 15th Hochi Film Award forThe Sting of Death.Her early television appearances have included thetokusatsusuperhero seriesUltra Seven(1968). She portrayed Nohime , wife of Oda Nobunaga , in the 1973 NHK Taiga dramaKunitori Monogatari.From 1973 to 1981, she appeared inEdo o Kiru, including five seasons as the character Oyuki. The 1975 Taiga dramaGenroku Taiheikifeatured Keiko as Aguri (Yōzen'in), the wife and later widow of Asano Naganori in the dramatization of the events of the Forty-seven Ronin . She then appeared inKusa Moeruin the same time slot in 1979, and portrayed Sada ( Kawakami Sadayakko ), the lead role in the 1985 Taiga dramaHaru no Hatō.Having portrayed Aguri, Keiko also played Riku, the wife of Oishi Yoshio , inChūshingura Yōzen'in no Inbō,broadcast on January 2, 2007. She has made numerous other television appearances in series and specials,jidaigeki ,contemporary dramas, and variety shows. Recently she is portrayed "Ikushima" in the 2008 NHK Taiga Drama Atsuhime .Matsuzaka has represented a variety of products and companies in television commercials. These include Nippon Menard Cosmetic Co., Nissin Foods , Yutoku Phamaceutical Industries, Nissan Sunny , Rohto Pharmaceutical Co. , Kleenex , and Ōtsuka Foods.Among her other works are songs released in 1979 and 2002, and a book of photographs of her, also in 2002.