Kazuko Kato

Acting

Kazuko Kato

Born

1958-02-20 (68)

Place of birth

Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan

Known for

Acting

Credits

43 titles

Kazuko Kato (かとう かず子, Kato Kazuko, February 20, 1958) is a Japanese actress and talent. Her real name is 加藤 和子 (reading Kato Kazuko) and her old stage name was かとう かずこ (also reading Kato Kazuko). She is from Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, and is represented by Enchante.

Known for

AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo poster
7.5

Detective Ukyo Sugishita confronts crime on the basis of his own convictions. He has a partner that works for him in the Special Task Unit. For the first 7 seasons, Ukyo’s first partner is Kaoru Kameyama. He is a good-natured, hot-tempered, straightforward and somewhat scattered detective. Beginning in Season 8, Takeru Kanbe replaces Kameyama. Contrary to his predecessor, Takeru is a lanky, cool, conceited and confident detective. From Season 11 to Season 13, Ukyo’s partner is a young detective Toru Kai. Toru is a son of Deputy Director-General of The National Police Agency. But he became a detective by his own effort. And starting with Season 14, Ukyo’s current partner is Wataru Kaburagi, an elite bureaucrat who came to the Metropolitan Police Department on temporary assignment. As the first partner without any career of a police officer, he will face challenging cases together with Ukyo.

AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo

2002

SMAP×SMAP poster
8.5

SMAP×SMAP was an ongoing weekly Japanese variety show on Kansai TV and Fuji TV starring the members of SMAP. The show began on April 15, 1996 and it aired from 22:00 to 22:54 every Monday. The show's usual ratings were higher than 20%, which is considered high since most variety shows range from 10-20%. Each episode begins a variety of skits, comedic performances, and/or games.  These are followed by Bistro SMAP, in which the SMAP members compete against each other to impress celebrity judges with their gourmet cooking.  Last is a musical performance by SMAP which may include celebrity guests, as well.

SMAP×SMAP

1996

The Woman of S.R.I. poster
7.3

Mariko is a forensic scientist working at the Kyoto PD Crime Lab. Her credo is “science never lies” and she delves into the truth of the case with her colleagues with their specialized skills and knowledge in forensic medicine, physics, chemistry etc. Mariko’s steadfast belief in science makes her stand against conventional institutional ethics of the police department, diehard detectives averse to scientific investigation and sometimes even with her own colleagues, but she stays faithful to her belief in science and continues to pursue the truth.

The Woman of S.R.I.

1999

CSI: Crime Scene Talks poster
7.2

Satoshi Itomura is an assistant police investigator who belongs to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Scientific Investigation Team. Reenactments, fingerprint and voice data collections, profiling... His team collects scientific evidence and pieces together fragments of information in order to help build evidences. However, Itomura often does not care about the scientific approach and instead pays a great deal of attention to the things that the victims always carried with them or treasured. And he focuses on these things because they usually carry the victim’s dying wishes, understanding that last message not only helps solve the cases but also brings closure to the depressed family of victims.

CSI: Crime Scene Talks

2011

Kokoro poster
NR

Suenaga Kokoro, an international flight attendant, lives with her mother and grandmother who operate a traditional restaurant in a lively downtown district of Tokyo where customs and traditions run deep and neighbors know each other like a big family.

Kokoro

2003

Mr. Housekeeper, Mitazono poster
7.4

Kaoru Mitazono (Masahiro Matsuoka) is a talented housekeeper with an usual secret. Kaoru is actually a guy! Besides cooking, cleaning and babysitting Kaoru Mitazono has the unusual habit of discovering secrets held within the family of her employers.

Mr. Housekeeper, Mitazono

2016

Film credits

2020s · 2 titles

2000s · 8 titles

Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa poster
7.3

Munich, Germany, 1923. Two years have passed since Edward Elric was dragged from his own world to ours, leaving behind his country, his friends and his younger brother, Alphonse. Stripped of his alchemical powers, he has been all this time researching rocketry together with Alphonse Heiderich, a young man who resembles his own brother, hoping to one day find a way back home. His efforts so far had proven fruitless, but after lending a hand to a troubled gipsy girl, Edward is thrown in a series of events that can wreak havoc in both worlds. Meanwhile, at his own world, Alphonse Elric ventures deeper into the mysteries of alchemy in search for a way to reunite with his older brother.

Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa

2005

Godzilla vs. Megaguirus poster
6.7

In an alternate timeline the original Godzilla is never defeated and repeatedly reemerges to feed on Japan's energy sources. A new inter-dimensional weapon called the Dimension Tide is created with the intent of eliminating Godzilla. However, the new weapon might also serve as a gateway to something far more sinister.

Godzilla vs. Megaguirus

2000

Heaven's Bookstore poster
5.9

Kenta, a young pianist who has just lost his job, is drowning his woes at a bar, when he meets a man in a Hawaiian shirt named Yamaki. He invites Kenta to work with him, and the next thing he knows, Kenta wakes up to find himself in a room he has never been in before. It is a strange room that seems to have no connection to life. He descends a staircase to find many shelves of books.

Heaven's Bookstore

2004

1 Litre of Tears poster
7.8

15-year-old Aya Kito was an ordinary girl, the daughter of a family who works at a tofu shop, and a soon-to-be high schooler. However, odd things have been happening to Aya lately. She has been falling down often and walks strange. Her mother, Shioka, takes Aya to see the doctor. How will Aya react when told about her disease? And how will Aya live from now on?

1 Litre of Tears

2005

Higuchi Ichiyo Monogatari poster
NR

Higuchi Ichiyo is the first female professional novelist in Japanese literature. This tanpatsu drama is a biography of her personal life.

Higuchi Ichiyo Monogatari

2004

Time Lost, Time Found poster
NR

A woman is forced to choose between her unborn child or medical treatment for re-occuring breast cancer. Shizuku, a talented surgeon, gets pregnant. In the past ten years of her marriage, she hasn't expected a baby because of breast cancer when she was young. She is pleased for the good news with her husband Ryosuke. However, soon after that, she has a relapse of breast cancer. This is the final chance for 38-year-old Shizuku to have a baby. However, she won't be able to raise her baby after the birth. Should she give up the baby and concentrate on medical treatment? Or should she give birth to the baby even if that may shorten her life? Shizuku is afflicted with the ultimate decision. Her life is filled with difficulties, but in the end, there is a big hope remaining.

Time Lost, Time Found

2009

Miracle Banana poster
NR

Sachiko Mishima a young Japanese woman get sent to Haiti as a dispatch member for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. She thinks she is going to the holiday resort of Tahiti by mistaking Tahiti for Haiti). While in Haiti with the help of a Japanese craftsman she learns paper can be made from bananas. She embarks on a mission to create paper for the Haiti residents to help them.

Miracle Banana

2005

TUTU poster
NR

Independent film "TUTU" was selected for the "Pia Film Festival".

TUTU

2000

1990s · 2 titles

1980s · 6 titles

Sure Death 4 poster
7.0

Having been demoted for failing to prevent the murder of one of his superiors, Mondo is startled by a group of masked thugs who are soon attacked in turn by an unseen force. He begins to suspect the work of assassins, but whose side are they on?

Sure Death 4

1987

Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell poster
NR

The "lowly ronin" meets a child who is being chased by men that killed his father before his eyes. Feeling indebted to the child for buying him dinner, the Ronin takes the child back to his village. There, the Ronin reluctantly gets involved in a pathetic revolt by the cowardly villagers against their tyrannical governor. Mifune at his best!

Lowly Ronin 4: Living Hell

1983

Somehow, Crystal poster
NR

While her boyfriend Jun'ichi is out of town, college student and part-time model Yuri passes the time in Tokyo by shopping for luxury products, visiting affluent neighborhoods, eating expensive food, and seeking new kinds of entertainment. At a dance club she meets Masataka, to whom she describes her relatively frictionless life as "crystal". Yuri has a sexual encounter with Masataka that she enjoys but finds less satisfying than her experiences with Jun'ichi. When Jun'ichi returns, Yuri learns that he also was unfaithful during his trip, but she reflects on her financial independence and decides that staying with Jun'ichi is the best fit for her crystal lifestyle. Adaptation novel by Yasuo Tanaka.

Somehow, Crystal

1981

The Awesome Circus Bastard poster
NR

Daigaku, member of the circus, is involved in a certain case and is suspected by Detective Hattori and others that he's the culprit. In order to unravel the truth, he does his own investigation with the cooperation of members of his circus troupe.

The Awesome Circus Bastard

1984

No artwork available
NR

The Satsuma clan conspires with key figures in the shogunate to overthrow the government. However, the head inspector, Naito Yamashiro no Kami, cannot find the sworn statement of rebellion and takes responsibility by ending his own life. This deeply affects Mondonosuke Saotome, who was close to Yamashiro no Kami and who is known for his restless nature. Seeking an audience with Shogun Tsunayoshi to request a view of the sworn statement, Mondonosuke Saotome is granted permission to go to Satsuma. He sets off on this journey accompanied by Sasao Kinai and Yamashiro no Kami's sister, Shizue . However, on the way, they are attacked by a group of mountain monks. Mondonosuke Saotome manages to repel the monks in a brawl but becomes separated from Kinai and Shizue. Afterward, he encounters a mysterious woman named Oren, and with her guidance, he finally arrives in Satsuma.

The Notorious Bored Samurai 2

1988

Long Run poster
NR

Based on the true story of a Japanese young man that crossed the American continent by roller skating.

Long Run

1982

Series credits

AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo poster
7.5

Detective Ukyo Sugishita confronts crime on the basis of his own convictions. He has a partner that works for him in the Special Task Unit. For the first 7 seasons, Ukyo’s first partner is Kaoru Kameyama. He is a good-natured, hot-tempered, straightforward and somewhat scattered detective. Beginning in Season 8, Takeru Kanbe replaces Kameyama. Contrary to his predecessor, Takeru is a lanky, cool, conceited and confident detective. From Season 11 to Season 13, Ukyo’s partner is a young detective Toru Kai. Toru is a son of Deputy Director-General of The National Police Agency. But he became a detective by his own effort. And starting with Season 14, Ukyo’s current partner is Wataru Kaburagi, an elite bureaucrat who came to the Metropolitan Police Department on temporary assignment. As the first partner without any career of a police officer, he will face challenging cases together with Ukyo.

AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo

2002

SMAP×SMAP poster
8.5

SMAP×SMAP was an ongoing weekly Japanese variety show on Kansai TV and Fuji TV starring the members of SMAP. The show began on April 15, 1996 and it aired from 22:00 to 22:54 every Monday. The show's usual ratings were higher than 20%, which is considered high since most variety shows range from 10-20%. Each episode begins a variety of skits, comedic performances, and/or games.  These are followed by Bistro SMAP, in which the SMAP members compete against each other to impress celebrity judges with their gourmet cooking.  Last is a musical performance by SMAP which may include celebrity guests, as well.

SMAP×SMAP

1996

The Woman of S.R.I. poster
7.3

Mariko is a forensic scientist working at the Kyoto PD Crime Lab. Her credo is “science never lies” and she delves into the truth of the case with her colleagues with their specialized skills and knowledge in forensic medicine, physics, chemistry etc. Mariko’s steadfast belief in science makes her stand against conventional institutional ethics of the police department, diehard detectives averse to scientific investigation and sometimes even with her own colleagues, but she stays faithful to her belief in science and continues to pursue the truth.

The Woman of S.R.I.

1999

CSI: Crime Scene Talks poster
7.2

Satoshi Itomura is an assistant police investigator who belongs to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Scientific Investigation Team. Reenactments, fingerprint and voice data collections, profiling... His team collects scientific evidence and pieces together fragments of information in order to help build evidences. However, Itomura often does not care about the scientific approach and instead pays a great deal of attention to the things that the victims always carried with them or treasured. And he focuses on these things because they usually carry the victim’s dying wishes, understanding that last message not only helps solve the cases but also brings closure to the depressed family of victims.

CSI: Crime Scene Talks

2011

Kokoro poster
NR

Suenaga Kokoro, an international flight attendant, lives with her mother and grandmother who operate a traditional restaurant in a lively downtown district of Tokyo where customs and traditions run deep and neighbors know each other like a big family.

Kokoro

2003

Mr. Housekeeper, Mitazono poster
7.4

Kaoru Mitazono (Masahiro Matsuoka) is a talented housekeeper with an usual secret. Kaoru is actually a guy! Besides cooking, cleaning and babysitting Kaoru Mitazono has the unusual habit of discovering secrets held within the family of her employers.

Mr. Housekeeper, Mitazono

2016

Dragon Sakura poster
7.7

A struggling lawyer, Kenji Sakuragi, takes a position at private school Tatsuyama Gakuen to pay off his debts. Kenji decides to try to turn this hopeless school into one of the elite institutions in Japan to help rejuvenate his career. His barometer of success will be to get five of his students admitted to the prestigious Tokyo University the following year. But rather than cramming them with lots of general information, his down-to-earth class concentrates on unknown techniques for passing the entrance examination and how to live a good life in these turbulent times. His refreshing outlook and strategy may just be what is needed to turn around the future prospects of himself and his students and teach the rest of us a thing or two as well!

Dragon Sakura

2005

さくら心中 poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

さくら心中

2011

The Locked Room Murders poster
7.2

Enomoto Kei is a security "otaku" working for a security firm, devoted to improving the securities system on a daily basis. He is not an easy person to familiarize oneself with, always collected and calm, unapproachable, a maniac in Physics, Science, Architecture and profound in other basic theoretical foundation. He is certain and proud of the fact that there is no key which he cannot unlock. One day, Kei is asked to help reveal a mystery behind a locked room murderer. While he lacks any interest in solving the mystery, he is inevitably intrigued by the term, "Closed Doors" and decides to take on the position. He works side by side with Aoto Junko and Serizawa Gou, who are lawyers working at a major law firm. Junko is pure and forward, acting upon her instincts while Serizawa is a prideful elitist who sees time as money, and therefore, will not take on any job that is unprofitable. Possessing a vast amount of knowledge and acute insightfulness, Kei is able to unlock the closed doors and unravel the secrets leading to the solution. Never before has there been a drama focused solely on closed doors.

The Locked Room Murders

2012

Late Blooming Sunflower My Life Renewed poster
7.8

"Late blooming Sunflower -My life renewed-" is a story of 7 young adults living their ordinary days near the Shimanto river of Kochi prefecture, renowned as the last of the crystal clear streams. Somewhat nostalgic, somewhat new, they hold on to their dreams and insecurities. It's a true-to-life portrayal of the days in young adulthood.

Late Blooming Sunflower My Life Renewed

2012

Princess Hiro poster
8.0

No synopsis available yet.

Princess Hiro

2003

PU- PU- PU- poster
8.0

Despite coming from completely different backgrounds, the three of them share one thing in common: none of them can get along with their fathers. They meet for the first time on their way to study abroad in LA, each having left home for his own reasons. Soon after they arrive, they discover they've been scammed, leaving them broke and stranded in a foreign city. Will they swallow their pride and go home to their fathers, or find a way to make it on their own?

PU- PU- PU-

1998

Osoroshi poster
6.0

No synopsis available yet.

Osoroshi

2014

No artwork available
NR

It's the glittering 80s, and Japan's bubble economy is in full swing. There is a fortune to be made for those who have the brains, determination and pure luck. Tetsuya and Tomoyo are two ordinary, but ambitious people in their prime who have chosen to take part in the money game. They hook up with self-made billionaire Okitsu, who guides them through the "Bubble." A master of the game, Okitsu plays for revenge, not money. He conspires to destroy Kurihara, a ruthless financier whose sole weakness is his only daughter. The plot twists amid a complex web mired in greed, desire and dreams. Spinning with intrigue, the ultimate game of wits has begun for stakes too deadly to imagine.

The Bubble

2001

A Tale of Two Truncheons poster
NR

Based on Kazuo Koike's extensive manga (over 110 volumes), this Edo-period drama follows an unlikely pair of law enforcement officers. One is a serious, skilled investigator, while the other is a witty, unconventional problem-solver, creating a dynamic partnership. The series also features the charmingly unorthodox detective Suruyoshi in a notable period drama debut. A memorable and catchy soundtrack complements the engaging stories brought to life by a large and talented cast.

A Tale of Two Truncheons

1984

Light My Heart! poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Light My Heart!

1989

Glass Mask poster
7.0

The Glass Mask drama is based on a very popular manga of the same name by Suzue Miuchi, about a young girl named Maya whose dream is to be an actress. A legendary former stage actress, Tsukikage Chigusa, watches Maya as she reenacts drama episodes she's seen on TV. She approaches Maya and has her join her acting company, Tsukikage Theater. Tsukikage holds the production rights to a legendary masterpiece called "The Crimson Goddess," in which she had played the title role until a terrible accident burnt her face beyond surgical repair. She's been searching all of these years for someone to play the role which only the most talented actress could play, and maybe she's found that someone in Maya... --synopsis by awrittensin

Glass Mask

1997

Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches poster
NR

The story of the battles between the 3 related families Kishu, Mito, and Owari, as each vies for the shogun’s seat in the line of succession. Highlighting the series are many fights between the young lord’s Negoro ninja helpers and their mortal enemies, the Koga ninja. History comes alive with the bloody blades of the three families at war within the highest levels of government as the search for a new shogun continues!

Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches

1986

Lion Snack poster
NR

The "Lion's House" is the name of a hospice located on a beautiful island. The people who live there are people with a short life expectancy. Shizuku, a 29-year-old who was told how long she had to live at a young age, comes to live there. She feels a little regretful over not being able to improve her relationship with her family before coming. At the "Lion's House", snack time is a time where the residents are allowed to request a snack from their memories but Shizuku is unable to choose. The days of laughter and tears begin alongside the other residents. What does Shizuku find and leave behind in the last days of her life?

Lion Snack

2021

Kobayakawa Nobuki no Koi poster
NR

Nobuki Kobayakawa is a surgeon at a university hospital who is beset by troubles with human relations at work and wearied by his emotionally unstable and jealous wife, although he loves his daughter. He then happens to meet the woman Kana and is attracted to her. But Kana has a secret past. Should he seek new happiness with Kana by leaving a home that only wears him out? This drama is a warm depiction from the man’s perspective of the life of a man who stands on the crossroads of life.

Kobayakawa Nobuki no Koi

2006

Three Way Battle of Japanese New Era poster
1.0

A “hyper comedy-drama” that portrays three people who firmly believe they are direct descendants of the three great warlords of the Sengoku era— Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu — engaging in fierce battles of pride, honor, and lineage as the “Three Great Heroes of the Reiwa Era.”

Three Way Battle of Japanese New Era

2024

Sanada Yukimura poster
NR

Lord Sanada along with his deadly ninja assassins Kirigakure Saizo and Sarutobi Sasuke attempt to restore the rule of the Toyotomi during the brutal period just after the rise of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Sanada Yukimura

1989

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

女教師探偵 西園寺リカの殺人ノート

2008