Hiroko Shiho reflects on her 31 years of marriage while sharing her poignant memories during her first public appearance in 24 years following the passing of her husband, acclaimed author Jakucho Setouchi. Shiho, who married at the age of 44 in 1992, moved to her hometown of Sendai shortly after tying the knot.
Her return to the media spotlight is significant given it coincides with the first anniversary of Setouchi's death. Since their marriage, Shiho has not appeared in any media, leading to a swell of interest from fans wanting to learn more about her life and career.
“I feel grateful for the outpouring of interest in my story. After the release of the magazine, a local newspaper reporter who covered Jakucho reached out to interview me, wanting to know why someone who used to be on TV has suddenly disappeared,” Shiho explained.
Shiho's last appearance on screen was in 1997 during the drama 'Kare', marking a notable absence from public life for nearly three decades. She recalls not being able to voice her retirement back then, admitting, “I was still uncertain about my feelings. I feel like I’ve unintentionally led everyone along with me, and there’s always a sense of guilt in my heart.”
The beginning of her career saw her playing prominent roles, such as the character Okami in the famous drama 'Jikan Desu yo' in 1973 when she was 25 years old. This role catapulted her into the spotlight, even though she had little experience in acting at that time.
“I wonder how Kosei Hisamatsu thought of casting such a tall girl. I had never worn a kimono and knew nothing about pouring drinks at the time. I had to learn everything from scratch,” she reflected. Her height - listed at 167 cm in her profile then - meant she often wore slippers to give the appearance of being shorter during filming.
Despite the success of her role as Okami, Shiho had her reservations about being typecast. “Once I took off, I received a lot of similar roles, which I found tedious. I longed for more realistic characters that were more age-appropriate,” she candidly shared.
Shiho's life took a turn after marrying Setouchi. Her struggles with public visibility began to shift when she reflected on her work. In 1993, she starred alongside Masakazu Tamura in 'Kamisan no Akuma', which garnered an impressive 23.7% audience rating and marked a significant point in her career. Her role in the sequel in 1995 saw similar success, reaching an audience rating of 22.1%.
A change in her professional demeanour occurred post-marriage. “Having gotten married, I felt incredibly relieved. It seemed like the burdens I carried melted away. I lost the desire to seek everyone’s attention anymore; it felt like I was performing as someone without a soul,” she admitted, causing some reflection on her own evolving persona.
Despite contemplating further acting opportunities presented to her, she decided to step back from the limelight completely after playing the role of Goro Inagaki's co-star in 'Kare'. Her decision was driven by an internal feeling that it was time to step away.
As she reminisced about her relationship with Setouchi, Shiho opened up about their connection. “During the rehearsal for 'Konakazuma', I learned about the passing of Yako Natsume, Jakucho's wife. There was indeed a profound connection between our lives; I discovered that our lives would intertwine further than I could ever have anticipated.”
She also reminisced a moment when she received a bouquet from Masakazu Tamura congratulating her on the wedding, accentuating the ongoing connection she had with the industry even after stepping away. “I was still getting recognized from my earlier successes, and even during my marriage, I felt my association with the entertainment world.”
Looking back at her career, Shiho emphasized the importance of staying true to oneself. “I often felt like an actress just playing a role, and when I stepped out of the studio, I often had to remind myself of who I truly was, which is different from the character everyone sees,” she concluded.
Born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1948, Shiho was scouted in her early twenties while working on a local program during her studies at Tohoku Gakuin University. She made her singing debut at 20 and transitioned into acting thereafter, capturing attention with her compelling characters.
In recent interviews, Shiho has expressed her wish to remain out of the spotlight, preferring to treasure her memories with Setouchi while also engaging with the public selectively through interviews that resonate with her experiences. She recognizes that after taking a step back for nearly three decades, her story draws curiosity, yet she remains hesitant to fully embrace the fame she once knew.
As for the future, Shiho's outlook is one of quiet determination; she may not engage in the media often, but her memories of love, marriage, and her life as an actress are stories that continue to define her narrative.
