Actress-turned-film producer Takiko Mizunoe died of natural causes Monday in Kanagawa Prefecture, sources said Saturday. She was 94.
Born in Otaru, Hokkaido, Mizunoe joined an opera company run by Shochiku Co. in the prewar era and eventually became popular as the "cross-dressed fair lady" for her appearances onstage in silk hat and tuxedo.
After World War II, she became a film producer, developing the careers of many popular actors and actresses.