“Rodan” Movie Heroine, Yumi Shirakawa, Passes Away

The leading female actress in the 1956 movie, Rodan, has passed away.

Yumi Shirakawa passed away from natural causes at the age of 79. She is well known as the leading actress in the original Rodan film as well as the 1957 film, Earth Defense Force, known in English as The Mysterians.

Shirakawa was married to the late Hideaki Nitani, himself a star of the 1968 tokusatsu TV series, Mighty Jack. Shirakawa transitioned from film to TV in the 80s, where she was traditionally cast a mother figure in shows like Family Game and Prep School Boogie. Her last role was in the 2014 TV drama, Black President.

Source: Tokyo Sports