Japanese Actor Keiko Kishi Dies at 93

Tokyo, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)–Japanese actor Keiko Kishi, known for her role in the hit film “Kimi no Na wa” (What’s Your Name?), died of old age on Aug. 7. She was 93. Born in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Kishi was one of the screen stars of Japan’s postwar film industry and also built a distinguished career as a writer. She made her acting debut in 1951 with “Wagaya wa Tanoshi” (Our Home is Fun) and rose to national fame through the success of Kimi no Na wa, in which she played the heroine. Beyond film, she also gained recognition for her work in television series. Her work of reportage “Apple of Belarus,” which covered conflict zones around the world, won the Nihon Essayist Club Prize. In 2004, Kishi received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, a prestigious national honor in Japan. In 2011, the French government named her a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]