Skip to content
MovieCove
Hiroko Yakushimaru

Hiroko Yakushimaru

Actor · Born June 9, 1964 (62) · Aoyama, Minato, Tokyo, Japan

After passing the audition for the film produced by Haruki Kadokawa, she began her acting career. Along with teen idols Tomoyo Harada and Noriko Watanabe who debuted from Kadokawa Haruki Corporation, she was often dubbed as one of "Kadokawa Sannin-musume" in her early career. Yakushimaru made her acting debut in the 1978 movie Never Give Up. In 1981, she came into prominence with Sailor Suit and Machine Gun, the film where she played the leading role. She also recorded the same-titled theme song for the film, which hit No. 1 on Oricon in late 1981, and stayed there until January 18, 1982. Since rising to fame, Yakushimaru has gained success as both an actress and a pop singer, mainly during the 1980s. She had also worked as a prolific recording artist until her marriage with Kōji Tamaki, the leader of the band Anzen Chitai.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 9, 1964 (62)
From
Aoyama, Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
20 on MovieCove · 83 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 29% in 30 days

What are Hiroko Yakushimaru's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
33%
Morality
19%
Self
16%
Society
10%
Ideas
9%
Survival
8%
Power
6%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 8 · Serious 3 · Dark 1

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 4 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 9 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 8 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 3

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

9 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 4 of 9 analyzed roles.

Hero
4 of 9
Ally
3 of 9
Mentor
1 of 9
Shapeshifter
1 of 9
Show the 9 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
7
Tense
5
Hopeful
5
Melancholic
5
Absurd
3
Other
14

How their films linger

Hopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Hiroko Yakushimaru's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 8 of their 20 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Hiroko Yakushimaru's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

83 credits, 20 with a MovieCove page.

  • Sukiyaki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Iku Ooshima

  • Last Mile(2024)

    as Misumi Natsuyo

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Blue Period(2024)

    as Masako Saeki

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Passion for Punchlines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 12 episodes · as Shima Takako

  • 薬師丸ひろ子 40th Anniversary Tour 2022 ～アナタノコトバ～ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Actor

  • Lost Man Found(2022)

    Show 10 episodes · as President Yamamura

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Live at GLORIA CHAPEL 2021 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Tonbi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Taeko

  • Riverside Mukolitta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Actor

  • Dearest(2021)

    Show 10 episodes · as Azusa Sanada

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Mio's Cookbook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Actor

  • Yell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 120 episodes · Actor

  • Black School Rules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Virginia Wolf

  • Kizuna no Pedal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as 宮澤純子

  • Café Funiculi Funicula(2018)

    as Kayo Takatake

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Unnatural(2018)

    Show 10 episodes · as Misumi Natsuyo

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • The 8-Year Engagement(2017)

    as Hatsumi Nakahara

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Destiny: The Tale of Kamakura(2017)

    as Female owner

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Onna no Kunsho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · Theme Song Performance

  • Fuji Family New Year Special 2017 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Oguni Takako

  • Yuriko's Picture Book (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Yuriko Onodera

  • Fuji Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as 鷹子（長女）

  • Aka Medaka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator

  • Dokonjō Gaeru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as Mom

  • Sinbad - The Flying Princess and the Secret Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Latifa (voice)

  • Back of Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Marui Yumiko

  • The Stork Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Yumiko Yasuda

  • Amachan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 157 episodes · as Hiromi Suzuka

  • Carry On! Hara-chan! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 10 episodes · as Yaguchi Yuriko

  • I Will Fly to the Sky on a Wheelchair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Hasebe Haruko

  • Always: Sunset on Third Street '64(2012)

    as Tomoe Suzuki

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Full Throttle Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 11 episodes · as Sakuragawa Shoko

  • Wasao (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Setsuko

  • Dr. Hisayoshi Suma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as 須磨千代子

  • Dogwood Tree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Ryoko

  • Detective Lovesick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Nobuko Maehara

  • A Good Husband (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Sakura Kitami

  • The Homeless Student 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Keiko Tamura

  • Be yourself (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Yuka Enomoto

  • Nadeshiko Tai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • Sing Salmon Sing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Yoko Senuma

  • Always: Sunset on Third Street 2(2007)

    as Tomoe Suzuki

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Glasses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Morishita

  • 1 Litre Of Tears SP (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Shioka Ikeuchi

  • Bubble Fiction: Boom or Bust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Mariko Tanaka

  • Arigatou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Kisarazu Cat's Eye: World Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Mirei

  • Aogeba Tôtoshi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Mari Minegishi

  • Always: Sunset on Third Street(2005)

    as Tomoe Suzuki

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • 1 Litre of Tears (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 11 episodes · as Shioka Ikeuchi

  • Princess Raccoon(2005)

    as Ohagi no tsubone

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Tiger & Dragon(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Tetsujin 28: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Yoko Kaneda

  • The Lakeside Murder Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Minako Namiki

  • Kisarazu Cat's Eye: Nihon Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Mirei Asada

  • Mama no Idenshi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • ママの遺伝子 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as 藤木七海

  • Fan of Hong Kong star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • Kisarazu Cat's Eye(2002)

    Show 9 episodes · as Asada Mirei

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Magnitude: Bridge to Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Actor

  • Nurse Call (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Kozue Igarashi

  • Twinkle(1992)

    as Shoko Koyama

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Tasmania Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Let's Go to the Hospital (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Midori Yoshikawa

  • Heart's Delivery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • READY! LADY (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Theme Song Performance · as Ryoko

  • Downtown Heroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Hoshi Kikou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • The Gentlemen’s Alliance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Cabaret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Waitress

  • Yabanjin no youni(1985)

    as Tamako Arisugawa

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • W's Tragedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Shizuka Mita

  • Main Theme (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Shibuki Ogasawara

  • Legend of the Eight Samurai(1983)

    as Princess Shizu

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Detective Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Naomi Arai

  • Sailor Suit and Machine Gun(1981)

    as Izumi Hoshi

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • School in the Crosshairs(1981)

    as Yuka Mitamura

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Dreamy Fifteen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Kei Yamawa

  • Toward the Terra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Jona Macka (voice)

  • G.I. Samurai(1979)

    as Young Takeda Samurai

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Never Give Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Yoriko Nagai

  • The Kingdom of Ingredients (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 84 episodes · as 旁白

  • 薬師丸ひろ子 35th Anniversary Best Songs 1981-2017 ～Live in 春日大社～ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 83 titles, 80 of them dated from 1978 to 2024; peak year 2006.

Biggest box office

Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 (2007)

$42M worldwide

Highest rated

Always: Sunset on Third Street (2005)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

Unnatural (2018)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19782024

Peak 2006 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting82 of 83: 81 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score66thOther crew2 of 83: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s2 · acting1980s14 · 14 acting · 1 crew1990s6 · acting2000s23 · acting2010s24 · 23 acting · 1 crew2020s11 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 31% of 13 roles
8005

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Hiroko Yakushimaru's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 65th percentile, the median of all 15; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 70th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 20 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 20 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

The 8-Year Engagement (2017)

63rd percentile spread · 22% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Always: Sunset on Third Street (2005)

Midcredits 95th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 34. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Hiroko Yakushimaru work with?

People who share at least 2 of Hiroko Yakushimaru's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Takashi Yamazaki shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers