Tokuko Takagi (高木 徳子, Takagi Tokuko, born Tokuko Nagai (永井 徳子, Nagai Tokuko), February 15, 1891 – March 30, 1919), also billed as Taku Takagi, was a Japanese dancer and actress in early silent films. She was the first female Japanese performer to appear in a film professionally, appearing in four shorts for the American-based Thanhouser Company between the years 1911 and 1914. After returning to Japan, she was Japan's first dancer to dance in toe shoes.
Tokuko Takagi was born in Misakichō in 1891, the daughter of a banker. In 1906, she married Chimpei Takagi, 24, when she was 15. They both moved to America, where she sang at the Manhattan Opera House in 1910.[1]
She acted in four silent films for the Thanhouser Company: The East and the West (1911), Miss Taku of Tokyo (1912), For the Mikado (1912), and The Birth of the Lotus Blossom (1912).[2] "Acting in motion pictures is such a fun, but it isn't as easy as it looks," she told a reporter in 1912. "They want me to play just like a Japanese girl the American imagines."[3]
Takagi returned to Japan in 1914, due to the outbreak of World War I. In 1915, she had her Japanese domestic dance debut in the Imperial Theatre. While she was on tour in 1919, she suddenly died of a cerebral hemorrhage.[4]
A biography of Takagi by Teruko Yoshitake [ja] was published in Japanese in 1985.[5]
References
^"Daughter of Japanese Banker is to Act on American Stage". The St. Louis Star and Times. September 17, 1910. p. 9. Retrieved August 19, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^Cohen, Aaron M. (2014-06-28). "Tokuko Nagai Takagi (1891-1919): Japan's First Actress". Bright Lights Film Journal. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
^"N. Y. World Interviews Jap Actress". Moving Picture World. 13: 1286. September 28, 1912.
^Nollen, Scott Allen (2019-03-14). Takashi Shimura: Chameleon of Japanese Cinema. McFarland. p. 14. ISBN9781476635699.
tokuko, takagi, 高木, 徳子, takagi, tokuko, born, tokuko, nagai, 永井, 徳子, nagai, tokuko, february, 1891, march, 1919, also, billed, taku, takagi, japanese, dancer, actress, early, silent, films, first, female, japanese, performer, appear, film, professionally, appe. Tokuko Takagi 高木 徳子 Takagi Tokuko born Tokuko Nagai 永井 徳子 Nagai Tokuko February 15 1891 March 30 1919 also billed as Taku Takagi was a Japanese dancer and actress in early silent films She was the first female Japanese performer to appear in a film professionally appearing in four shorts for the American based Thanhouser Company between the years 1911 and 1914 After returning to Japan she was Japan s first dancer to dance in toe shoes Tokuko TakagiBornTokuko Nagai 永井徳子 1891 02 15 February 15 1891Misakichō Tokyo Empire of JapanDiedMarch 30 1919 1919 03 30 aged 28 Kaho District Fukuoka Empire of JapanOther namesTaku TakagiOccupation s Actress dancerYears active1911 1919Spouse s Chimpei TakagiBiography EditTokuko Takagi was born in Misakichō in 1891 the daughter of a banker In 1906 she married Chimpei Takagi 24 when she was 15 They both moved to America where she sang at the Manhattan Opera House in 1910 1 She acted in four silent films for the Thanhouser Company The East and the West 1911 Miss Taku of Tokyo 1912 For the Mikado 1912 and The Birth of the Lotus Blossom 1912 2 Acting in motion pictures is such a fun but it isn t as easy as it looks she told a reporter in 1912 They want me to play just like a Japanese girl the American imagines 3 Takagi returned to Japan in 1914 due to the outbreak of World War I In 1915 she had her Japanese domestic dance debut in the Imperial Theatre While she was on tour in 1919 she suddenly died of a cerebral hemorrhage 4 A biography of Takagi by Teruko Yoshitake ja was published in Japanese in 1985 5 References Edit Daughter of Japanese Banker is to Act on American Stage The St Louis Star and Times September 17 1910 p 9 Retrieved August 19 2019 via Newspapers com Cohen Aaron M 2014 06 28 Tokuko Nagai Takagi 1891 1919 Japan s First Actress Bright Lights Film Journal Retrieved 2019 08 19 N Y World Interviews Jap Actress Moving Picture World 13 1286 September 28 1912 Nollen Scott Allen 2019 03 14 Takashi Shimura Chameleon of Japanese Cinema McFarland p 14 ISBN 9781476635699 Bowers David TAKAGI Taku Thanhouser Biographies Retrieved 2019 08 19 External links Edit Media related to Tokuko Takagi at Wikimedia Commons Tokuko Takagi at IMDb billed as Taku Takagi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tokuko Takagi amp oldid 1041213130, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
