Kumi Mizuno

Here are two Japanese songs performed by the famous jazz singers Chiemi Eri and Ryoko Moriyama, chosen to illustrate the beauty of Japanese cult actress Kumi Mizuno (in Japanese 水野 久美).
Born on New Year's Day of 1937 in Nigata, Japan, Kumi Mizuno (original name being Maya Igarashi) debuted in the Minoru Shibuya film Crazy society in 1957 after graduating from acting school. The next year, she took part in a promotional campaign for the famous Toho Studios with two other young actresses, resulting in a trio named The Three Beauties. Her first Toho film was A bridge for us alone in 1958. Her attractive looks and pleasant demeanor made her a favorite of director Ishiro Honda, resulting in her participation in his series of movies with angry monsters. When asked to assess the best performers whom he had directed, he commented: “The best actress was Kumi Mizuno. She was very genuine. Once she was involved in a film, she would just step right into her role.” Mizuno contributed to some of the most unforgettable movies of Japanese sci-fi of the 1960s. She appeared in Birth of Japan (1959) (maybe the biggest movie of the year in her country, at the side of illustrious Toshiro Mifune), Gorath (1962), Lost world of Sinbad (1963, again with Toshiro Mifune), Matango (aka Attack of the mushroom people, 1963), Frankenstein conquers the world (1965), and War of the Gargantuas (1966). Her most famous roles are in Monster Zero and Godzilla vs. the sea monster (both 1966). She also played that same year in International secret police: Key of keys, a spy movie which was dubbed by Woody Allen as What's up, Tiger Lily? and, in 1967, in The killing bottle, another light spy film. Her last feature film acting job came in 1974, playing a mother character in Love is in the green valley. On TV she was in 1998 in the movie Tsukisoibito no uta. Though today she has few specific memories of her work on special effects films during the 1960s, she does look back on those films fondly. She recently appeared in the 26th Godzilla film, Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla, in a small role as Japanese Prime Minister. Kumi Mizuno also appeared in the 50th anniversary Godzilla film, Godzilla: Final wars, in a cameo appearance as Earth Defense Forces Commander. Her collaboration in the series makes her one of the most recognizable feminine figure in all of the monster's adventures.

Enjoy Kumi Mizuno's ravishing beauty!