Eiko Kujo

Eiko Kujo, born Eiko Terayama on October 22, 1935, in Azabu, Tokyo, was a distinguished Japanese actress and film producer who left an indelible mark on the performing arts before her passing on April 30, 2014. She began her career in theater, debuting with the Shochiku Opera Group under her stage name, Eiko Kujo, after completing her education at Mihoda Gakuen Junior High and High School. Her film debut came in 1960 with Yoshitaro Nomura's "Yellow Cherries," paving the way for a prolific career in cinema.

In 1967, Kujo co-founded the "Drama Laboratory / Ceiling Arts" alongside notable figures like Shuji Terayama and Tadanori Yokoo, where she took on a key role in production and film direction. Following her divorce from Terayama in 1970, she devoted herself to preserving his legacy, managing the copyrights of his works after his death in 1983, and sharing his vision through lectures across Japan, including a notable engagement at Hirosaki Gakuin University in 2009.

Kujo also held the position of Representative Director of Terayama World Limited Company and served as the honorary director of the Shuji Terayama Memorial Hall in Misawa City, where she was also recognized as a tourism ambassador. Eiko Kujo’s contributions to theater and film continue to resonate, even after her death at the age of 78 due to complications from liver cirrhosis.