Tetsuko Kuroyanagi

Kuroyanagi Tetsuko

  • Name: Kuroyanagi Tetsuko
  • Native name: 黒柳徹子
  • Also Known as: くろやなぎ てつこ
  • Nationality: Japanese
  • Gender: Female
  • Born: August 9, 1933
  • Age: 90
Kuroyanagi Tetsuko is a Japanese actress, voice actress, talent, World Wide Fund for Nature advisor, and Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. She is well known for her charitable works and is considered one of the first Japanese celebrities who achieved international recognition.

Kuroyanagi was born in Tokyo City, Tokyo Prefecture (now Tokyo). She studied at the Tokyo College of Music, majoring in opera, as she intended to become an opera singer. After graduation, however, she was drawn to acting and the television entertainment industry by her joining Tokyo Hoso Gekidan. Subsequently, she became the first Japanese actress who was contracted to Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK).

After voicing Lady Penelope in the Thunderbirds TV series, Kuroyanagi first became well known in 1975 when she established her afternoon television program Tetsuko's Room (徹子の部屋, Tetsuko no Heya), which was the first talk show on Japanese television.

1981 marked a turning point in her career, as Kuroyanagi published her children's book Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window, in which Kuroyanagi wrote about the values of unconventional education that she received at Tomoe Gakuen elementary school during World War II, and her teacher Kobayashi Sosaku. The book is considered her childhood memoir, and upon release, it became the bestselling book in Japanese history.

Kuroyanagi is known internationally for her charitable and fundraising works. She founded the Totto Foundation, named for the eponymous and autobiographical protagonist of her book Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window. The Foundation professionally trains deaf actors, implementing Kuroyanagi's vision of bringing theater to the deaf.

In 1984, in recognition of her charitable works, Kuroyanagi was appointed to be a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, being the first person from Asia to hold this position. During the late 1980s and the 1990s, she visited many developing countries in Asia and Africa for charitable works and goodwill missions, helping children who had suffered from disasters and war as well as raising international awareness of the situations of children in poor countries. Her visit to Angola in 1989 was the first recorded VIP visit from Japan to this country and marked a milestone for the diplomatic relation between Japan and Angola. Kuroyanagi has raised more than $20 million for the UNICEF programs that she has been involved in, through television fund-raising campaigns. She also used the royalties from her bestselling book, Totto-chan, to contribute to UNICEF.

In 1997, Kuroyanagi published the book "Totto-chan's Children" based on her experience working as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador from 1984 to 1996. Kuroyanagi is a director of the Japanese branch of the World Wildlife Fund.

For her involvement in media and television entertainment, Kuroyanagi won the Japanese Cultural Broadcasting Award, which is the highest television honor in Japan. Since then, she has been voted 14 times as Japan’s favorite television personality for Tetsuko’s Room.

In 2000, Kuroyanagi became the first recipient of the Global Leadership for Children Award, which was established by UNICEF on the 10th anniversary of the 1990 World Summit for Children. In May 2003, Kuroyanagi received Order of the Sacred Treasure in recognition of her two decades of service for the world’s children.

(Source: Wikipedia) Edit Biography
Drama
Year Title # Role Rating
2016 Totto TV
Japanese Drama, 2016, 7 eps
Herself (Main Role)
7
Herself
Main Role
7.8
2014 Shinigami-kun
Japanese Drama, 2014, 9 eps
[Actress in the hallway] (Ep. 7) (Guest Role)
9
[Actress in the hallway] (Ep. 7)
Guest Role
7.6
2011 Ohisama
Japanese Drama, 2011, 156 eps
Tsutsui Ikuko [Old] / Sudo Ikuko (Support Role)
156
Tsutsui Ikuko [Old] / Sudo Ikuko
Support Role
8.0
2009 Uta no Onii-san
Japanese Drama, 2009, 8 eps
[Herself] (Ep. 5, 8) (Guest Role)
8
[Herself] (Ep. 5, 8)
Guest Role
7.4
1975 Akogare Kyodotai
Japanese Drama, 1975, 17 eps
[Kosuke's Mother] (Support Role)
17
[Kosuke's Mother]
Support Role
0.0
1974 6 Seagulls
Japanese Drama, 1974, 26 eps
Yoshizawa Naoko (Support Role)
26
Yoshizawa Naoko
Support Role
0.0
1971 Mayuko Hitori
Japanese Drama, 1971, 310 eps
Taguchi Kei (Support Role)
310
Taguchi Kei
Support Role
0.0
1956 Tyrolin Mura to Kurumi no Ki
Japanese Drama, 1956, 812 eps
(Main Role)
812
Main Role
7.0
1956 New Family Album
Japanese Drama, 1956, 8 eps
Umeko (Ep. 1,2) (Guest Role)
8
Umeko (Ep. 1,2)
Guest Role
0.0
1955 Sewa no Yakeru Otona Tachi
Japanese Drama, 1955, 1 eps
(Unknown)
1
Unknown
0.0
Movie
Year Title Role Rating
1999 I Love You
Japanese Movie, 1999,
Kuroyanagi Tetsuko (Guest Role)
Kuroyanagi Tetsuko
Guest Role
6.0
1989 Zennin no Joken
Japanese Movie, 1989,
Delivery Aunt (Guest Role)
Delivery Aunt
Guest Role
0.0
1974 Mutsugoro no Kekkon Shirushi
Japanese Movie, 1974,
(Support Role)
Support Role
4.0
1972 Summer Soldiers
Japanese Movie, 1972,
Tanikawa (Support Role)
Tanikawa
Support Role
7.0
1963 Charanporan Monogatari
Japanese Movie, 1963,
Madame Kuroyanagi (Support Role)
Madame Kuroyanagi
Support Role
0.0
Special
Year Title # Role Rating
1995 Mukoda Kuniko Shusen Tokubetsu Kikaku: Itsuka Mita Aoi Sora
Japanese Special, 1995, 1 eps
[Narrator] (Guest Role)
1
[Narrator]
Guest Role
0.0
1987 Mama wa Idol Special
Japanese Special, 1987, 1 eps
[Herself] (Guest Role)
1
[Herself]
Guest Role
7.0
1985 Yonaka no Bara
Japanese Special, 1985, 1 eps
[Narrator] (Bit part)
1
[Narrator]
Bit part
0.0
TV Show
Year Title # Role Rating
2022 VS Damashii Gradation
Japanese TV Show, 2022, 44 eps
(Ep. 37) (Guest)
44
(Ep. 37)
Guest
0.0
2016 Utacon
Japanese TV Show, 2016, 302 eps
(Guest)
302
Guest
6.0
2013 Ninosan
Japanese TV Show, 2013, 550 eps
(Ep. 466) (Guest)
550
(Ep. 466)
Guest
8.4
2010 Arashi ni Shiyagare
Japanese TV Show, 2010, 460 eps
(Ep. 305, 460) (Guest)
460
(Ep. 305, 460)
Guest
8.5
2009 Kizuna Shokudo
Japanese TV Show, 2009, 50 eps
[Building owner] (Main Host)
50
[Building owner]
Main Host
0.0
2009 A-Studio+
Japanese TV Show, 2009, 810 eps
(Ep. 515) (Guest)
810
(Ep. 515)
Guest
10.0
1996 King's Brunch
Japanese TV Show, 1996, 1214 eps
(20090418) (Guest)
1214
(20090418)
Guest
0.0
1991 Kitano Fan Club
Japanese TV Show, 1991, 232 eps
[Panelist] (Regular Member)
232
[Panelist]
Regular Member
0.0
1982 This Person Show
Japanese TV Show, 1982, 112 eps
[Moderator] [Ep.1) (Guest)
112
[Moderator] [Ep.1)
Guest
0.0
1976 Tetsuko's Room
Japanese TV Show, 1976, 1854 eps
Herself (Main Host)
1854
Herself
Main Host
0.0
1951 Kouhaku Uta Gassen
Japanese TV Show, 1951, 73 eps
[Akagumi Captain] (Ep. 9, 31-34) | [Mediator] (Ep. 66) | [Judge] (Ep. 71, 77) | Supporter] (Ep. 14, 20, 40) (Main Host)
73
[Akagumi Captain] (Ep. 9, 31-34) | [Mediator] (Ep. 66) | [Judge] (Ep. 71, 77) | Supporter] (Ep. 14, 20, 40)
Main Host
7.8
Articles
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Kuroyanagi Tetsuko

Tetsuko Kuroyanagi
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Details

  • First Name: Tetsuko
  • Family Name: Kuroyanagi
  • Native name: 黒柳徹子
  • Also Known as: くろやなぎ てつこ
  • Nationality: Japanese
  • Gender: Female
  • Born: August 9, 1933
  • Age: 90

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