Misako Watanabe, born in Tokyo in 1932, is an acclaimed Japanese actress whose career spans over seven decades. After joining the prestigious Gekidan Haiyūza theater company in 1952, she quickly gained significant film roles. She collaborated with some of the greatest masters of Japanese cinema, including Akira Kurosawa in *Ikiru* (1952) and Shōhei Imamura in *Unfulfilled Desire* (1958). Her filmography includes pivotal works such as Masaki Kobayashi's *The Human Condition* and Jūzō Itami's *The Funeral* (1984). Continuously active in both theater and film, her versatility has earned her numerous accolades, including several Blue Ribbon Awards and Kinema Junpo Awards for Best Supporting Actress. Her artistic longevity and her contribution to Japanese cinema and theater make her one of the most respected performers of her generation.