An actor's daughter, she trained for the stage from early childhood, entering films at 14. She gained prominence in the 30s in films directed by Kenji Mizoguchi and later worked frequently for director Teinosuke Kinugasa, who was one of her six husbands. She played leads and later character roles in numerous Japanese productions and is best known in the Western world for her performances in such films as Hiroshima (1953), Throne of Blood (1957), The Lower Depths (1957), and Yojimbo (1961). She has also been prominent on the Japanese stage. Her daughter, Michiko Saga (b. Mar. 3, 1935), is also a film actress.

Zij speelde in de navolgende films
1931 The Revenge Champion
1934 Paper Cranes of Osen
1934 The Pass of Love and Hate
1935 The Virgin From Oyuki
1936 Osaka Elegy
1936 Sisters of the Gion
1937 Yoshida Palace
1940 Miss Snake Princess
1943 Song of a Lantern
1945 Bijomaru Sword
1950 Fencing Master
1952 Postwar Japan
1953 The Actress
1953 Hiroshima
1954 The Loyal 47 Ronin
1955 Because I Love
1955 Christ in Bronze
1956 Flowing
1957 Black River
1957 The Lower Depths/Donzo
1957 Throne of Blood/Kumonosu-jo
1957 Tokyo Twilight/Twilight in Tokyo
1958 Days of Evil Women
1958 Four Seasons of Love
1960 Flowing Night
1960 Goodbye to Glory
1960 Wandering
1961 Daredevil in the Castle
1961 The Shrikes
1961 Yojimbo/The Bodyguard
1962 The Body
1962 The Great Wall
1963 Buddha
1967 The Shogun and His Mistress