
Miki Odagiri (小田切美喜) was known primarily for her important and timeless role as the upbeat office girl in Akira Kurosawa's classic Ikiru opposite Takashi Shimura, whose character is dying of cancer, and Miki, as Toyo Odagiri, inspires him to live... just by being herself: bubbly, spontaneous, and optimistic. Her character is also filled with blunt sarcasm that was extremely rare in movies of the early-1950's. Perhaps Miki and Takashi's most memorable scene is when she's telling him the nicknames she created for their fellow workmates... including his! Sadly, beyond Ikiru, finding the handful of other Japanese movies she appeared in, especially on DVD or Blu Ray, is extremely difficult. But she left an impression in what's considered not only one of the legendary Kurosawa's greatest achievements, but one of the best movies ever made, worldwide.
movieAkira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Ikiru'
2002 · Self
movieShinran: Path to Purity
1987
movieShiosai
1971
movieTo Your Majesty, The Emperor
1963
movieBoku chin hōrō-ki
1962
movieThe Last Trump Card
1960 · Toyo
movieWhen a Woman Loves
1960 · Ohana
movieMonthly Salary: 13,000 Yen
1958
movieStakeout
1958
movieNikoyon monogatari
1956
moviePure Emotions of the Sea
1956 · Yumiko
The Motherless
1955 · Miyoko
moviePoliceman's Diary, Part 2
1955
movieDuel at Sundown
1955 · Okatsu
movieBurden of Love
1955 · Teru
movieStriving to Live
1955
moviePoliceman's Diary
1955 · Momoyo
movieThe Moon Has Risen
1955 · Fumiya
movieお月様には悪いけど
1954 · 芸妓小きん
movieWomen's House
1954
movieThe Valley Between Love and Death
1954
movieStudent Double Suicide
1954
movieThe Street Without Sun
1954 · Fusa-chan
movieA Certain Woman
1954 · Tsuya
movieZoku zoku Jûdai no seiten
1953
movieThe Wild Geese
1953 · Oume
movieZoku jūdai no seiten
1953 · Misae Numakura
movieJūdai no seiten
1953
movieTower of Lilies
1953
movieIkiru
1952 · Toyo
moviePastoral Symphony
1938