Sumiko Sakamoto, a singer who was called the "Latin Queen" for her powerful singing voice, played the role of an impressive old woman in "The Ballad of Narayama," which won the highest award at the Cannes Film Festival in France. Died at a hospital in Kumamoto City on the 23rd due to a cerebral infarction.

I was 84 years old.

Mr. Sakamoto is from Osaka City, and after graduating from high school, he made his debut as a Latin singer after working for the NHK choir.



Called the "Queen of Latin" for her powerful singing voice, she appeared on NHK's music variety show "Yume de Imashou," which began in 1958, and also participated in the Kouhaku Uta Gassen for the fifth consecutive year.



He also played an active role as an actor, such as appearing as an old woman in the movie "The Ballad of Narayama" directed by Shohei Imamura, who was announced in 1983 and won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in France. did.

From 1994, he moved to Kumamoto City and was the director of a nursery school and kindergarten for many years.



According to his family, Mr. Sakamoto was active such as holding a commemorative live at the age of 80, but he collapsed due to a cerebral infarction on the 2nd of this month and was admitted to a hospital in Kumamoto city and died on the 23rd.