Miwa: A Japanese Icon

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

Documentary

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.

Oyuncular

Akihiro Miwa

Himself

Kinji Fukasaku

Himself (archive footage)

Takeshi Kitano

Himself

Hayao Miyazaki

Himself

Tadanori Yokoo

Himself