Nobuko Miyamoto is a highly acclaimed Japanese actress whose career spans several decades, with selective but notable contributions to animated film. Born on March 27, 1945, in Hokkaido, Japan, she has established herself as a prominent figure in Japanese cinema. Her work in anime, while not her primary occupation, features roles in two of the most celebrated animated productions of the 21st century.

Miyamoto's career is distinguished by her long and frequent collaboration with director Juzo Itami, to whom she was married from 1969 until his death in 1997. She starred in many of his films, including the internationally known films Tampopo and A Taxing Woman, a role that won her the Japanese Academy Award for Best Actress in 1988. Her talent has been recognized with numerous accolades, having been nominated for eight Japanese Academy Awards and winning ten times overall.

Her involvement in anime, though limited, is significant. In 2013, she lent her voice to the Studio Ghibli masterpiece The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, directed by Isao Takahata. In this landmark film, she voiced the role of Ouna, the Bamboo Cutter's wife, who finds the tiny princess and raises her as her own daughter. The film was a critical success and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.

Nearly a decade later, she participated in another major animated work. In the 2020 CG-animated film Stand By Me Doraemon 2, Miyamoto voiced the emotionally resonant role of Nobita's beloved grandmother. This role placed her within the immensely popular Doraemon franchise, voicing a character central to the film's heartfelt story about childhood memories and family.

While these anime roles are a small part of her extensive filmography, they showcase her ability to bring depth and warmth to animated characters, connecting her legacy in live-action Japanese cinema to two of the country's most beloved animated franchises.