Michiyo Aratama (Nara, January 15, 1930 – Tokyo, March 17, 2001) was a Japanese actress and a prominent figure in post-war Japanese cinema. After debuting with the renowned Takarazuka Revue theater company, she transitioned to film in 1951, quickly establishing herself as one of the most intense and versatile actresses of her generation. Her fame is inextricably linked to her collaboration with director Masaki Kobayashi, for whom she starred in such masterpieces as the monumental trilogy *The Human Condition* (1959–1961), which earned her the Blue Ribbon Award and the Mainichi Film Award for Best Actress, *Harakiri* (1962), and *Kwaidan* (1964). She worked with other masters of Japanese cinema, including Yasujirō Ozu in *The End of Summer* (1961), Mikio Naruse in *When a Woman Ascends the Stairs* (1960), and Kon Ichikawa. In her performances, Aratama excelled at portraying complex, strong, and often suffering women, leaving an indelible mark on the golden age of Japanese cinema.