"Ageless Virgin" Movie Star Passed Away at Age 95: Setsuko Hara

Now, today's episode may be hard to follow for our non-Japanese readers. What's the point of writing it? Well, for purely sentimental reasons. This desk can't think of a suitable equivalent to this legendary Japanese actress in the US cinema circles- probably none. It is nonetheless quite newsworthy to those of us who remember the days this legendary movie actress reigned Japan's movie world and the days she lived after retirement at age 42 in solitude completely detached from society.

It is in fact already legendary that Setsuko Hara died of pneumonia in a hospital in Kanagawa on September 5 and no news has ever leaked till this morning. Setsuko Hara left us with her image at age 42 as Marilyn Monroe is remembered for her image at 36; one lived on thereafter and the other faded into eternity.

Setsuko Hara was born in 1920. Her first film "Don't Flinch" was  taken at age 15. She took after the name of the movie's heroine Setsuko Hara. At age 17 she starred in a Japan-German joint movie "The New Earth" and her beauty won her worldwide fame.

Setsuko Hara appeared in numerous war propaganda films during the war. In 1949, Setsuko Hara was handpicked by Yasujiro Ozu to appear in six of his works. Her international reputation owes much to these six Ozu films highly acclaimed to be masterpieces. 

Yasujiro Ozu died in 1963 and Setsuko Hara attended his funeral and abruptly chose thereafter to live a secluded life in Kamakura. Never since had Setsuko Hara appeared in public till her death in September this year.

Now, what does all this amount to? Well, some of you may simply shove off the subject; other might fancy to meet her on the screen. Either way, this episode is meant to be a sentimental homage to this legendary actress of rare beauty with many memorable movies to her credit.