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IMDbPro

Akiko Wakabayashi(I)

  • Actress
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Akiko Wakabayashi in You Only Live Twice (1967)
James Bond and the Japanese Secret Service must find and stop the true culprit of a series of space hijackings, before war is provoked between Russia and the United States.
Play trailer3:19
You Only Live Twice (1967)
2 Videos
34 Photos
Akiko Wakabayashi was born on August 26, 1941 in Tokyo, Japan. During her work in movies, she became one of Japan's most popular actresses of their cinema's "Golden Age", ranking with actresses Kumi Mizuno and Mie Hama. One of her first films was Akiko (1961), which was named after her. Interestingly, the movie title shares both her real and character names. Her career took off when she came to Toho Studios, appearing in a host of sci-fi films, including that of the sexy gangster moll in Dogora (1964) and the bewitching alien-possessed princess in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964). However, in the Western Cinema, she is probably best-known for her role as Bond girl "Aki" in the 007 epic, You Only Live Twice (1967), appearing alongside actor Sean Connery. When production of the 007 film began, Wakabayashi was originally chosen to play Bond girl "Kissy Suzuki" and her co-star, Mie Hama, is to play Bond girl "Suki". As Hama had a difficult time mastering the English language, the two actresses switched roles. In addition, Wakabayashi suggested her character name be Aki instead of Suki.

In the late 1960s to early 1970s, Japan's movie industry experienced an economic slump, which resulted in severe budget cuts. During that time, Wakabayashi made a rather abrupt end to her acting career, and has never been seen on the big screen since. Whether or not the economic slump played a factor, Wakabayashi remains one of the most memorable actresses of Japan, especially to Toho Studios' sci-fi fandom.
BornAugust 26, 1941
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    • Agent info
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BornAugust 26, 1941
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Photos34

Akiko Wakabayashi in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Yuriko Hoshi, Hiroshi Koizumi, Yôsuke Natsuki, Takashi Shimura, and Akiko Wakabayashi in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Yôsuke Natsuki, Takashi Shimura, and Akiko Wakabayashi in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Yuriko Hoshi, Yôsuke Natsuki, Takashi Shimura, and Akiko Wakabayashi in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Yuriko Hoshi, Yôsuke Natsuki, and Akiko Wakabayashi in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Tôru Ibuki, Susumu Kurobe, Kazuo Suzuki, and Akiko Wakabayashi in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Yuriko Hoshi and Akiko Wakabayashi in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Yuriko Hoshi and Akiko Wakabayashi in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Akiko Wakabayashi in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Akiko Wakabayashi in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Yuriko Hoshi, Haruya Katô, and Akiko Wakabayashi in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Akiko Wakabayashi in Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)

Known for

Sean Connery in You Only Live Twice (1967)
You Only Live Twice
6.8
  • Aki
  • 1967
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
6.5
  • Princess Selina Salno of Sergina
  • 1964
The Stranger Within a Woman (1966)
The Stranger Within a Woman
7.4
  • Sayuri Sugimoto
  • 1966
King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963)
King Kong vs. Godzilla
5.7
  • Tamiye
  • 1963

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actress

  • Shirley's World (1971)
    Shirley's World
    • Tamiko
    • TV Series
    • 1971
  • Diamonds of the Andes (1968)
    Diamonds of the Andes
    • Reiko
    • 1968
  • Sean Connery in You Only Live Twice (1967)
    You Only Live Twice
    • Aki
    • 1967
  • Ultraman: A Special Effects Fantasy Series (1966)
    Ultraman: A Special Effects Fantasy Series
    • Setsuko Hamaguchi
    • TV Series
    • 1966
  • Arupusu no wakadaishô (1966)
    Arupusu no wakadaishô
    • 1966
  • Kiganjô no bôken (1966)
    Kiganjô no bôken
    • Spuria, Chamberlain's daughter
    • 1966
  • Seishun to wa nanda
    • TV Series
    • 1966
  • Ultra Q (1965)
    Ultra Q
    • Kyôko
    • TV Series
    • 1966
  • The Stranger Within a Woman (1966)
    The Stranger Within a Woman
    • Sayuri Sugimoto
    • 1966
  • Kokusai himitsu keisatsu: Kagi no kagi (1965)
    Kokusai himitsu keisatsu: Kagi no kagi
    • Bai-Lan
    • 1965
  • Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
    Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
    • Princess Selina Salno of Sergina
    • 1964
  • Kokusai himitsu keisatsu: Kayaku no taru (1964)
    Kokusai himitsu keisatsu: Kayaku no taru
    • Girl Taken at Haneda
    • 1964
  • Dogora (1964)
    Dogora
    • Hamako the Gangster Moll
    • 1964
  • Kon'nichiwa akachan (1964)
    Kon'nichiwa akachan
    • Shizuko Nagata
    • 1964
  • Samurai Pirate (1963)
    Samurai Pirate
    • Yaya's Maid
    • 1963

Videos2

Trailer
Trailer 3:19
Trailer
Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster
Trailer 1:41
Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster

Personal details

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  • Alternative names
    • Akiko
  • Height
    • 5′ 4″ (1.63 m)
  • Born
    • August 26, 1941
    • Tokyo, Japan
  • Spouses
      Kyoto SotoMarch 6, 1965 - present (5 children)
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Articles
    • 1 Pictorial
    • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    Along with Mie Hama, Wakabayashi was one of the first Asian "Bond Girls", when the two of them appeared in 1967's You Only Live Twice (1967).
  • Quotes
    [on her leading man Sean Connery from You Only Live Twice (1967)] James Bond in the movie is a ladies' man, but Sean-san is a warm-hearted, honest man. He has a clear vision as an actor. He can be stubborn from time to time, but he is a real man with a bit of old-fashioned taste.

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