Tanie Kitabayashi  

Tanie Kitabayashi (May 21, 1911 - April 27, 2010) was a renowned Japanese actress who received numerous accolades for her work in film and theatre. Born as Reiko Ando in Tokyo, she began her career on stage before gaining recognition for portraying older women. Kitabayashi played a pivotal role in founding the Mingei Theatre, which became one of Japan's most celebrated performing arts institutions. Throughout her illustrious career, Kitabayashi won several awards, including Best Actress at the 10th Blue Ribbon Awards for Kiku to Isamu and the 15th Japan Academy Prize for Rainbow Kids. In addition, she received the Award of the Japanese Academy for Best Actress for her role in Daiyukai (1991), which also earned her accolades from the Mainichi Film Concours and Kinema Junpo Award. One of Kitabayashi's most notable roles was that of grandmother Kanta no Obaa-san in the 1988 Studio Ghibli movie Tonari no Totoro, which remains one of her most popular works to this day. She passed away on April 27, 2010 at the age of 98 due to pneumonia.