Yūko Mochizuki (born Mieko Suzuki; Yokohama, January 28, 1917 – Tokyo, December 1, 1977) was a Japanese actress and politician. Primarily active in the 1950s and 1960s, she became one of the most celebrated actresses of post-war Japanese cinema, specializing in roles of mothers and working-class women. She is best known for her intense performances in films such as Keisuke Kinoshita's *A Japanese Tragedy* (1953) and Tadashi Imai's *The Rice People* (1957). For both roles, she won prestigious awards, including the Blue Ribbon Award and the Mainichi Film Award for Best Actress. Her filmography also includes collaborations with directors such as Mikio Naruse and appearances in iconic films such as *Twenty-Four Eyes* (1954). In 1971, she left her film career to enter politics, and was elected to the House of Councillors of the National Diet of Japan with the Japan Socialist Party, where she served until her death.