The world owes a debt of gratitude to Japan. After launching the first bullet train in 1964, the innovative nation introduced consumers to the pocket calculator in 1970 and the Walkman in 1979. By the 1990s, Japanese scientists discovered and mastered blue LED light. And in 2003, the Intelligent Robotics Lab at Osaka University unveiled the first talking Android robot! But just because Japan excels in technology doesn’t mean it lacks anything when it comes to natural wonders. From Abukumado cave to Mt. Fuji, the country is bursting with awe-inspiring beauty — including the late Tokyo native Yôko Minamida. During her heyday, the raven-haired starlet graced the silver screen with her exotic face and seek physique. Standing at five feet (and one inch), the petite performer wasn’t shy about strutting her stuff on camera. As such, Yôko lent her sexy presence to more than 100 titles, including the black-and-white movies Jūdai no yūwaku (1953), The Crucified Lovers (1954), Season of the Sun (1956), and Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate (1957). Through the years, Ms. Minamida revealed her range with the comedy Pigs and Battleships (1961), the war drama Karafuto 1945 Summer Hyosetsu no mon (1974), and the horror flick House (1977). The latter features Kimiko Ikegami, Ai Matsubara, Miki Jinbo, and Yôko’s bare breasts! Alas, the skintastic actress was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2008. She passed away in 2009 at the age of 76. But not before being the focus of a documentary on her condition. Sayōnara Yôko.
