Background
Tomi Taira was born on 5 November 1928.
平良 とみ
Tomi Taira was born on 5 November 1928.
She was chiefly active as an actress, narrator, dialect coach and in other capacities in shows and films taking place in Okinawa and in projects otherwise representing the region, as well as working more directly and officially with the Okinawa Tourist Bureau in promoting the island prefecture. Acting both on stage and in films for many years, her first notable role in films was that of the title role of Nabbie, the grandmother in the 1999 film Nabbie no koi. Years later, in 1956, she joined the troupe "Tokiwa-za" led by Chōshū Makishi.
The two founded an Okinawan theatrical troupe, "Shio" (潮, lit "The Tide") in 1971.
Among his many acting roles, Susumu played Tomi"s chief love interest, Sun Ra, in Nabbie no koi. After the release of Nabbie no koi, Taira narrated and acted in a number of Japanese television dramas, including Sushi Ōji! (lit "Prince Sushi"), along with films such as Nada Sōsō and a Japanese version of A Midsummer Night"s Dream, entitled Manatsu no yo no yume.
In 1998, she was officially designated by Okinawa Prefecture a Protector of Intangible Cultural Properties, Ryukyuan Song and Drama (沖縄県指定無形文化財琉球歌劇保持者). She died on 6 December 2015 at the age of 87.