Shimada began acting in Japan in the early 1970s. Her career largely took place in her home country, though she appeared in a few international productions. Her first was “Shōgun,” in which she played the leading role of Lady Toda Mariko. Shimada was one of only three Japanese cast members who spoke English in “Shōgun;” she was not fluent in English and was taught her lines phonetically. She won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance. Shimada’s other films include “Castle of Sand,” “Little Champion,” and “The Hunted.”
Damn, RIP Yoko Shimada. I should certainly bring up her work in her native Japan like Castle of Sand and The Inugami Family but my gateway was the miniseries Shogun (of course) followed by the one-two punch of The Hunted and Crying Freeman to cement my crush on her. pic.twitter.com/XPqMHeNtTe
News editor, Legacy.com. Named 2017's Obituary Writer of the Year by the Society of Professional Obituary Writers. Quoted by CNN, the New York Times, and Macleans.
