According to Ettoday, 80-year-old Sayuri Yoshinaga, with a 65-year career in entertainment, is known as the "Eternal Goddess" of Japanese art. The media calls her a "national treasure" because of her brilliant achievements in film, her Eastern beauty, and her resilience in life.

Sayuri Yoshinaga on screen. Video: Bilibili

She began acting at 14 and rose to fame at 17 with her leading role in Foundry Town. She played a young woman forced to grow up quickly due to family burdens. In the film, Yoshinaga powerfully portrayed the dual nature of a young girl, both innocent and vulnerable.

She later gained recognition through a series of classic Japanese films such as The Dancing Girl of Izu, The Makioka Sisters, Tsuru, A Chaos of Flowers, and It Is a Long Walk.

Yoshinaga is the first and only actor to win the Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Actress four times, the most prestigious award in the Japanese film industry.

Yoshinaga's image in kimonos is unforgettable to fans. On Asian forums, many viewers express their admiration for the actress's gentle and kind nature. Mtime describes her beauty as emanating from her soul and bearing, soft yet strong like water.

Sayuri Yoshinaga through the lens of master photographer Kishin Shinoyama.

The photo series is inspired by Yoshinaga's character in the film Tsuru (1988). After this film, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy. Returning to the screen, Yoshinaga continued to reach new heights in her career. She once said, "suffering is nourishment for acting."

Yoshinaga transforms pain and age into motivation. In her 60s and 70s, she often filmed without makeup. The artist said, "an aging body knows how to tell stories." At 78, she was nominated for Best Actress at the Japan Academy Film Prize for the film Mom, Is That You?

Screenshots of Yoshinaga from films are often shared on forums by fans for their elegance. According to Sohu, videos of her acting are frequently used as teaching materials for students in art schools.

The artist at 80. At an event in March, she said she had entered a new phase of life and constantly asked herself what she could do for others. Yoshinaga has no plans to retire, and at the end of October, she will release the film You Are Over There Across the Mountain.

The artist maintains a high level of discipline to cultivate her health and mental clarity. She regularly goes to the gym and often swims.

The artist married television producer Taro Okada in 1975. He passed away in 2024. The couple did not have children. Yoshinaga says she considers her films as her children, acting with the intention of taking the best care of each of her "spiritual children."

Nghinh Xuan

Photo: Mtime