Tokiwa Misako was a Japanese actress born in Osaka, Japan. Sometimes her name is also spelled as Tokiwa Misako (常磐 操子). She was born as Awazu Yuki (粟津ゆき) and after marrying Ogawa Takashi, her name became Ogawa Yuki (小川 ゆき).

In September 1912, at the age of 14, she entered the newly established Shochiku Actress Training School in Kyoto, becoming a member of its first class.

There are conflicting records regarding her early career. While some sources mention her debut at Naniwaza in Osaka in 1923 and her subsequent contract with Shochiku in 1924, these dates do not align with the establishment of the Shochiku Actress Training School. According to "Onnayuu Soumakuri" (published in 1917 by Koyosha), she achieved great success by appearing in Osaka Onnayaku Geki "Iroirono Nozomi" under the guidance of the second generation Onoe Uzumaro, the fourth generation Arashi Riken, and the sixth generation Arashi Kisaburo prior to the establishment of the training school.

After her time at the Shochiku Actress Training School, she studied under the guidance of the sixth-generation Arashi Kisaburo. Subsequently, she moved through various theater companies, including "Shingekiza". She married the six-year-older Shingeki actor Ogawa Takashi during this period.

In 1928, Tokiwa joined the Nikkatsu Uzumasa Studio in Kyoto and became a member of the period drama department. She made her debut in the film industry at the age of 30 in the movie "Kiyozouro Jirocho: Ketsu Waraihen".

In 1937, at the age of 39, she moved to Zeo Studio, a production company specializing in talkie films. After Zeo Studio merged to become Toho Studios later that year, Tokiwa continued her career at the newly formed Toho Studios Kyoto Production Center.

In 1939, she returned to Nikkatsu Uzumasa Studio, which was renamed Nikkatsu Kyoto Studio. However, in 1942, due to wartime consolidation, Nikkatsu's production department merged with Shin Toho and other companies to form Daiei Film. Tokiwa continued her career at Daiei Kyoto Studio until her retirement after her last film, "Ashura Judge" (1951).

Tokiwa passed away in September 1959 at the age of 61 after battling illness.

(Japanese = Wikipedia || Translation = kisskh) Edit Biography