Chieko Higashiyama (1909-1980) was an iconic Japanese actress, known for her prolific film career and her memorable portrayals of elderly women, often wise and dignified.

She collaborated with the greatest masters of Japanese cinema, including Yasujirō Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, and Akira Kurosawa. Her most celebrated role is undoubtedly that of the grandmother in Ozu's *Tokyo Story* (Tokyo Monogatari, 1953), a poignant performance that made her a symbol of post-war cinema.

With Mizoguchi, she starred in masterpieces such as *Ugetsu* (Ugetsu Monogatari, 1953) and *Sansho the Bailiff* (Sansho Dayu, 1954), often portraying maternal figures or elderly spiritual guides. In Kurosawa's *Throne of Blood* (Kumonosu-jo, 1957), she displayed a different and unsettling intensity. Her understated style, profound expressiveness, and ability to evoke resilience and grace make her one of the most respected figures in Japanese cinema.