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Miwa: A Japanese Icon poster

Miwa: A Japanese Icon (2013)

In the 1960s, Japan's most popular actress was… a man

A legendary entertainer and a pioneer of gay activism, Miwa was born Akihiro Maruyama. As a young singer, Miwa popularized androgyny as a fashion statement, fusing the masculine and the feminine into a signal of a new generation of aesthetics. This evolved into performing as a woman and living off-stage as a man. With glitter, wit, evening gowns, and enchanting storytelling, Miwa looks back over a 50-year career and a fascinating life in music, film, and television.

Release: 2013-08-31
Runtime: 65 min
Rating: 6.3 / 10
Cast
Akihiro Miwa
Akihiro Miwa
Himself
Kinji Fukasaku
Kinji Fukasaku
Himself (archive footage)
Takeshi Kitano
Takeshi Kitano
Himself
Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki
Himself
Tadanori Yokoo
Tadanori Yokoo
Himself