Etsuko Shihomi

Etsuko Shihomi
Native name	志穂美 悦子
Born	Etsuko Shiomi 塩見悦子 (1955-10-29) October 29, 1955 Saidaiji, Okayama, Japan
Nationality	Japanese
Other names	Sue Shiomi Etsuko Nagabuchi (長渕悦子)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1973-1987
Spouse(s)	Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi
Children	Ayane (actress) Wataru Nagabuchi (rapper) Ren Nagabuchi (race car driver)
Website	nagabuchietsuko.com

Etsuko Shihomi (志穂美 悦子, Shihomi Etsuko), now known by her married name Etsuko Nagabuchi (長渕 悦子, Nagabuchi Etsuko), (born October 29, 1955^[1] in Okayama City, Japan as Etsuko Shiomi (塩見 悦子, Shiomi Etsuko)) is a Japanese actress who appeared in several Japanese martial arts films and samurai film and TV productions of the 1970s and 1980s.

Biography

A skilled martial artist trained in Karate and Kenjutsu, Etsuko was a member of Sonny Chiba's "Japan Action Club" (JAC) and appeared in several film and TV productions with Chiba, Hiroyuki Sanada, and other members of the JAC, including her big screen debut in Bodyguard Kiba 2 (1973), The Street Fighter (1974), Killing Machine (1975), The Gorilla Seven TV series (1975), The Defensive Power of Aikido (1975), Shogun's Samurai (aka The Yagyu Clan Conspiracy) (1978), The Yagyu Conspiracy TV series (1978), Message from Space (1978), Shadow Warriors I-V TV series (1980-1985), Shogun's Ninja (1980), Roaring Fire (1982), and Legend of the Eight Samurai (1983).

Etsuko was also the lead in a number of films and TV series, starring in the Sister Street Fighter trilogy (1974-1975), The 13 Steps of Maki (1975), The Magnificent Chase (1975), Dragon Princess (1976), Lethal Woman: Fifth Level Fist (1976), the Yagyu Jubei Abaretabi TV series (1982-1983) where she reprised her role as Akane Yagyū alongside Sonny Chiba as Jūbei Yagyū from Shogun's Samurai (1978) and The Yagyu Conspiracy (1978), and The Second is a Christian (1985) an action comedy about a nun who becomes the successor to the head of a Yakuza group.

Along with her work in numerous contemporary martial arts and period samurai films and TV programs, Etsuko also appeared in tokusatsu superhero productions like Kikaider 01 (1973-1974) and Moonlight Mask (aka The Moon Mask Rider) (1981), investigative dramas such as Detective of Tomorrow (1977) and Detectives of Rumour: Tommy And Matsu (1979), fantasy films like Black Jack: The Visitor in the Eye (1977) and Exchange Students (1982), and dramas like The Atami Murder Case (1986).

Etsuko also had a singing career from 1975 to 1984, although her last solo album, Three Dimension, was also released on CD in 1985. Two books were released relating to her in the 1970s and 1980s.

Etsuko met singer-actor Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi on the set of the Otoko wa Tsurai yo film Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy (1986), when she was around 30 years old. She retired from acting after marrying him the following year, in 1987, when she was 31.^[2] Their daughter Ayane Nagabuchi is also an actress.

After her retirement, Etsuko stayed out of the limelight but returned to the public eye in 2011 with the release of her photography book Flower Arrangement INSPIRE and has been involved in charity work. She has written subsequent books on flower arrangement an made a number of public appearances, with the proceeds also being donated to charities.

Filmography

Discography

Singles:

• 13 Steps of Maki (1975)
• Silhouette (1975)
• Saturday Night of Love (1977)
• Only Two at the Wedding (1977)
• I dance like tomorrow (1982)
• Airmail in the Southern Sands (1984)

Albums:

• Female Killing Fist - Calling on Etsuko Shihomi!! (1976)
• Saturday Night of Love (1977)
• Three Dimension (1983) (also released on CD in 1985)

Books

• Shihomi Etsuko : Endless Road to action (1976)
• Actress : Shihomi Etsuko (1981)
• Flower Arrangement INSPIRE ～いちかばちか～ Vol.1 (2011)
• Flower Fighting INSPIRE ～いちかばちか～ Vol.2 (2012)
• Flower Arrangement Works INSPIRE 3 In New York (2013)

References

External links

• Etsuko Shihomi on IMDb
• Official site