Reiko Ohara

Reiko Ohara (大原 麗子, Ōhara Reiko^?, November 13, 1946 – August 3, 2009) was a Japanese actress. Born and raised in Tokyo, she became a famous actress who appeared in dramas after graduating from high school.

Ohara was born in 1946 to a family that sold Japanese confectionery in the Hongo area. Upon graduating from high school, she made her debut as an actress. Her popularity quickly rose through her appearances in what came to be called “trendy” dramas, including “Rikon Tomodachi” with actor Masakazu Tamura and “Kurenaizoku no Hanran.” She was voted “the most adored actress” 14 times, and many may still remember her famous line in a whiskey commercial, “sukoshi aishite, nagaku aishite.”

She married twice, both times ending in divorce. Her first husband was actor Tsunehiko Watase whom she co-starred with; their marriage lasted five years. Two years later, in 1980, she married singer Shinichi Mori. Their high-profile wedding reception was held at the Imperial Hotel, costing 200 million yen. She divorced four years later. Again faced with the choice between her career and marriage, she chose to be an actress. At a press conference she commented on her separation, “I was also the ‘man.’ It was like having two husbands living together.”

It was in summer of 1975 that she was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome. The ailment, as she described it, was a relentless recurrence of symptoms, which could only be contained with steroid medications. Additionally, she underwent surgery for breast cancer at the age of 46, and suffered from depression when her doctor, who had given her much emotional support, died.

It was on Aug 6 that the actress was found dead in the bedroom of her home in Setagaya. Worried relatives had contacted the police when no one could reach her for two weeks. She had been dead for several days.

“When you think about her successful career in her younger days, and how the latter half of her life was filled with unfortunate events… she suffered breast cancer, depression, and took care of her elderly mother. Her battle with Guillain–Barré syndrome continued for 30 years. And ultimately, she died a solitary death. It’s simply too much,” said a long-time acquaintance at an entertainment agency, sighing with grief.

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