Kiki was born in the Kanda area of Tokyo as the daughter of a master of the biwa lute. After graduating from high school, she started her acting career in the early 1960s as a member of the Bungakuza theater troupe using the stage name Chiho Yūki (悠木千帆). She eventually gained fame for performing uniquely comedic and eccentric roles on such television shows as Jikan desu yo and Terauchi Kantarō ikka and in television commercials. She changed her name to "Kirin Kiki" when, after being asked on a television show to auction off something of hers, she ended up selling her first stage name, claiming she had "nothing else to sell."
While battling various ailments, including a detached retina in 2003 and breast cancer in 2005, Kiki has continued to act and has won several awards, including the best actress Japan Academy Prize for Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad in 2008, the best supporting actress award from the Yokohama Film Festival for her work in Kamikaze Girls and Half a Confession in 2004, and the best supporting actress Blue Ribbon Award for Still Walking in 2008.
Kiki married fellow Bungakuza actor Shin Kishida, but they divorced in 1968. She is currently married to the rock musician Yuya Uchida. Her daughter, Yayako Uchida, is an essayist and musician; notably, Uchida portrayed the younger self of Kiki's character in the film Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad. Yayako Uchida is married to the actor Masahiro Motoki, who was adopted into the Uchida family as a mukoyōshi.
diary 1 kirin kiki umimachi diary
Films
Television
Honours
Medal with Purple Ribbon (2008)
Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette (2014)
Filmography
Actress
2019
Erica 38 as
Erica's mother
2019
Cherry Blossoms and Demons as
Großmutter von Yu
2018
Every Day a Good Day as
Teacher Takeda
2018
Shoplifters as
Hatsue Shibata
2018
Mori, the Artist's Habitat as
Hideko Kumagai
2016
Rage
2016
After the Storm as
Shinoda Yoshiko (as Kilin Kiki)
2015
Ito no mori no ie (TV Mini Series)
2015
Kakekomi as
Genbee
2015
Our Little Sister as
Fumiyo Kikuchi (as Kilin Kiki)
2015
Sweet Bean as
Tokue
2014
Kono Mystery ga Sugoi!: Bestseller Sakka kara no Chôsenjô (TV Movie)
2013
Like Father, Like Son as
Riko Ishizeki (as Kilin Kiki)
2013
Aji ichi monme (TV Movie)
2013
Yakusoku: Nabari dokubudôshu jiken shikeishû no shôgai as
Tatsuno okunishi
2012
Until the Break of Dawn as
Aiko Shibuya
2011
Chronicle of My Mother as
Yae
2011
I Wish as
Hideko (Grandmother)
2011
Hanezu as
Takumi's Mother
2011
A Honeymoon in Hell: Mr. & Mrs. Oki's Fabulous Trip
2011
Aji ichi monme (TV Movie)
2010
Gôsuto
2010
Villain as
Fusae Shimizu
2010
The Secret World of Arrietty as
Haru (voice)
2010
Miyagino as
Madam
2008
The Short Films: We Were All Once Children
2008
Still Walking as
Toshiko Yokoyama
2007
Ten to sen (TV Mini Series)
2007
Saido kâ ni inu as
Granny Tome
2007
Tôkyô tawâ: Okan to boku to, tokidoki, oton as
Eiko Nakagawa
2006
Akai kujira to shiroi hebi as
Midori Ohara
2006
Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad (TV Movie) as
Landlady
2006
Brave Story as
Onba (voice)
2006
Chekeraccho!! as
Chisa Haebaru
2005
Natsumeke no shokutaku (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Anou
2004
Izo as
Izo's Mother
2004
Kamikaze Girls as
Momoko's Grandmother
2004
Han-ochi as
Yasuko Shimamura
2003
Hotaru no hoshi as
Headmistress
2002
Ten no hitomi 3 (TV Movie)
2002
Yoru o kakete
2002
Returner as
Xie
2002
Inochi as
Mother
2001
Danball House Girl
2001
Aki no ryojô sasupensu 3: Shokutaku keiji Koyamada Shô'hei tabiji no hate (TV Movie)
2001
Pisutoru opera as
Rin
2001
Tokyo Marigold as
Ritsuko Sakai
2001
Drug as
Yoshie Hirakawa
2001
Ten no hitomi 2 (TV Movie)
2001
Mukai Arata no Dobutsu Nikki: Aiken Rosinante no Sainan (TV Series) as
Haruko (2001)
2000
Aoi tokugawa sandai (TV Series) as
Kasuga
- The Making of a Wise Ruler (2000) - Kasuga
- Three Brothers (2000) - Kasuga
- Enthronement (2000) - Kasuga
- Kasuga no Tsubone (2000) - Kasuga
- Imperial Visit (2000) - Kasuga
- The Meeting (2000) - Kasuga
- Oyagokoro (2000) - Kasuga
- Shogun Iemitsu (2000) - Kasuga
- Princess Kazu Enters the Court (2000) - Kasuga
- Takechiyo's Lesson (2000) - Kasuga
- Tosho Daigongen (2000) - Kasuga
- Ieyasu's Death (2000) - Kasuga
- Tadateru is Disowned (2000) - Kasuga
- Factional Rivalry (2000) - Kasuga
- Hideyori Goes to Kyoto (2000) - Kasuga
- Ogosho (2000) - Kasuga
- Peerless Father (2000) - Kasuga
- Dual Rule (2000) - Kasuga
- Shogun Hidetada (2000) - Kasuga
2000
The Whispered City as
Fan of Kyushiro
2000
Ten no hitomi (TV Movie)
1999
Teppen (TV Mini Series) as
Oh
1999
Keiho as
Defence Counsel Shigure Nagamura
1997
Ashita heno kakehashi
1997
The Best Bad Thing (TV Movie) as
Aunt Hata
1997
Hissatsu shimatsunin as
Otora
1997
Fireworks Ferris Wheels and Love as
Sanae Mita
1996
Hamidashi Keiji Jônetsu Kei (TV Series) as
Kikue matsuo
1996
Oyaji no hige 20 (TV Movie)
1996
Oishinbo
1995
Aji ichimonme (TV Series) as
Yoshie
- Episode #2.1 (1996) - Yoshie
- Episode #1.1 (1995) - Yoshie
1995
Oyaji no hige 19 (TV Movie)
1995
Anata no naka de ikiru: CG seinen no kodoku to ai (TV Movie)
1995
Mitabi no kaikyô
1995
Toki yo tomare (TV Movie)
1995
Toki no kagayaki as
Nagashima
1995
Oyaji no hige 18 (TV Movie)
1994
Sakura
1994
Rampo as
House wife / Head of maid
1993
Rex: Kyôryû monogatari
1993
Yume no onna as
Omatsu
1993
Korekara; Umibe no tabibitotachi (TV Movie)
1992
The Triple Cross
1992
Za Chugaku kyoshi
1991
Private Detective DOBU (TV Series)
1991
Sensou to seishun as
Etsuko Onoki
1991
Okappiki dobu (TV Mini Series)
1991
Kimu no sensô (TV Movie)
1991
Kimi no na wa (TV Series) as
Fukano Ryuuko
- Episode #1.1 (1991) - Fukano Ryuuko
1991
Dai yûkai as
Kura 'Ku-chan' Nakamura
1990
Donmai as
Hanako
1989
Kaze no Matasaburô - Garasu no manto as
Otane
1988
Crane as
Yura
1988
Daidokoro no seijo (TV Movie) as
Hisajo Sugita
1988
Kyôshû as
Mine Kamioka
1987
Kesa no aki (TV Movie) as
Miyo - Taki's younger sister
1986
Hanekonma (TV Series) as
Tachibana Yae
1985
The Diary of Yumechiyo as
Kikuyakko
1985
Lonely Heart as
Terue Amano
1985
Capone Cries a Lot as
Sene Tachikawa
1984
Shin yumechiyo nikki (TV Series)
1983
Private Detective DOBU 4: The Mysterious Kite Murders Case
1983
Private Detective DOBU 5: The Pinwheel Murder Case
1983
Private Detective DOBU 6: The Origami Murder Case
1983
Furusato as
Yoshi
1983
Amagi Pass as
Ryosaku's Wife
1982
Private Detective DOBU 2: The Kyoto Murder Case
1982
Private Detective DOBU 3: The Exile Island Murder Case
1982
Santô kôkôsei
1982
I Are You, You Am Me as
Naoko Saitoh
1982
Keiji monogatari as
Sumi Yashiro
1981
Private Detective DOBU 1
1981
Nogiku no haka as
Omasu
1981
Haha taru koto wa jigoku no gotoku (TV Movie) as
Fusako Kurita
1980
Kangofu no oyaji ganbaru as
Setsuko Sakamoto
1980
Tosa no ipponzuri as
Fuki
1980
Otake shinobu no a! Kono ai nakuba ganbasseyo Kuni-chan (TV Movie)
1980
Shadow Warriors (TV Series) as
Orin
- Tigers Sharpen Their Claws in a Storm (1980) - Orin
1980
Zigeunerweisen as
Kimi
1979
Kamisamaga kureta akanbô as
Woman who brought a boy
1979
The Detective Story (TV Series) as
Sanae mita
- A Boy from a Planet (1979) - Sanae mita
1979
The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi as
Tane
1979
Sochô no kubi as
Okonomiyaki Manager
1979
Tatsu no ko Tarô as
Yamanba (voice)
1978
Mû ichizoku (TV Series)
1977
Wani to oum to ottosei as
Mary
1977
Ballad of Orin as
Tama Ichise
1977
Female Teacher as
Yuriko Yokoyama
1976
Sachiko no sachi as
Momoe
1976
Eden no umi as
Orittsan (as Chiho Yuki)
1975
Akuma no youna aitsu (TV Series) as
Nurse
- Episode #1.15 (1975) - Nurse (as Chiho Yuki)
- Episode #1.8 (1975) - Nurse (as Chiho Yuki)
- Episode #1.3 (1975) - Nurse (as Chiho Yuki)
- Episode #1.1 (1975) - Nurse (as Chiho Yuki)
1975
Za.Dorifutazu no kamo da!! Goyo da!! as
tomiko (as Chiho Yuki)
1975
Mamushi to aodaishô as
Kiku Matsukawa (as Yuki Chiho)
1974
Abayo dachikô (as Chiho Yuki)
1974
Honô no shôzô (as Chiho Yuki)
1974
Jack and the Beanstalk as
Madam Noir (voice)
1974
Bad Reputation: Turf Wars as
Oshige (as Chiho Yuki)
1974
Aka chôchin
1970
Jikan desuyo (TV Mini Series) as
Hamako
1970
Tora-san, His Tender Love as
Maid in Shinshû (as Chiho Yûki)
1970
Dokushin no Scat (TV Mini Series)
1969
Dai bakuhatsu (as Chiho Yûki)
1968
Kamisama no koibito as
Aiko Yamagami
1968
Aniki no koibito as
Sanae (as Chiho Yûki)
1967
Tabiji as
Chie (as Chiho Youki)
1966
Tonogata goyôjin (as Chiho Yûki)
1966
Umi no koto as
Kayo Sugumo
1966
Dynamite Doctor Returns as
Fumiko (as Chiho Yûki)
Producer
2019
Erica 38 (producer)
Soundtrack
1996
Oishinbo (performer: "Dekansho bushi")
Thanks
2019
Cherry Blossoms and Demons (in memory of) / (thanks)