**Kumeko Urabe** (1902-1984) was a Japanese actress, celebrated for her intense film performances. Hailing from the Shingeki theater, she brought a raw realism and innate strength to the big screen.

She distinguished herself in roles portraying ordinary women, resilient mothers, matriarchal figures, or characters on the fringes of society. She is especially remembered for her prolific collaboration with director Shohei Imamura, for whom she was a muse.

With Imamura, she starred in iconic films such as *Pigs and Battleships* (Buta to gunkan, 1961), *The Insect Woman* (Nippon konchuki, 1963), and *Vengeance Is Mine* (Fukushû suru wa ware ni ari, 1979). Her screen presence and her ability to embody the tenacity and hardships of ordinary people made her an iconic figure in Japanese cinema.