Takamine Hideko was a Japanese actress, singer, and essayist born in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan. Her real name was Matsuyama Hideko (松山秀子), and her maiden name was Hirayama Hideko (平山秀子).

Her family lived in a household run by her grandfather, Rokusho, who managed a soba restaurant called "Maruhira Sobatei." Rokusho was a prominent figure in the area and also owned other establishments like "Maruhira Theater" and "Maruhira Cafe." At the age of four, her mother passed away from tuberculosis.

In September 1929, Hideko was taken by her adoptive father, guided by a friend who was a tenant downstairs and an actor at the Shochiku Kamata Studios, to visit the studio. On that day, there happened to be auditions for child actors for the film "Mother". Hideko, pushed by her adoptive father, reluctantly joined the audition at the end of the line but unexpectedly caught the director's attention and was chosen to play the role of the daughter of the protagonist. She officially joined the Shochiku Kamata Studios on October 1st under the stage name "Takamine Hideko" (高峰秀子).

In 1931, she enrolled in Kamata Elementary School, but due to frequent overnight shoots, she could hardly attend school.

In her personal life, Hideko's maternal family, the family of her grandfather Rokusho, who had gone bankrupt due to the Hakodate Fire, moved to Tokyo, relying on Hideko. They rented a house in Sendagaya, burdening Hideko with the responsibility of supporting a household of nine people.

Around this time, feeling the desire to escape from the film industry, Hideko considered joining the Takarazuka Revue. She discussed this with Hanayagi Shota and Mizutani Yaeko, who then approached Kobayashi Kazuo, the principal of the Takarazuka Music School, on her behalf. They received a response allowing her admission without an audition.

However, in early 1937, Hideko was approached by Fujimoto Masumi, who was working in the planning department of P.C.L. (Photo Chemical Laboratories, Inc.), with a job offer. The conditions of the offer included a monthly salary of 100 yen, accommodation near the studio, and enrollment in a girls' school. Hideko accepted these terms and left Shochiku to join P.C.L. in January of the same year. As promised, she enrolled in the Bunka Gakuin (Cultural Academy) in Ochanomizu in April.

During the wartime period, she engaged in activities such as entertainment performances in war zones, lacking sound equipment and singing engagements.

On February 25, 1955, Hideko announced her engagement to Matsuyama Zenzo, whom she met while he was working as an assistant director on the set of "Twenty-Four Eyes". Their wedding took place on March 26 of the same year.

After retiring from acting, she mainly pursued a career as an essayist. However, she remained involved in the film industry in various capacities. She served as an assistant director in her husband's film "Noriko Goes to Seoul" and also wrote the script for the 1994 TV drama "Oshinabazu no Onna".

On December 28, 2010, she passed away due to lung cancer at a hospital in Shibuya, Tokyo. She was 86 years old at the time of her death.

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