Masako Natsume

If Monkey, Pigsy and Sandy in Journey To The West seem familiar (next post down), you may be old enough to recall this lovely young actress: Masako Natsume (1957-1985). She played Tripitaka in the late 1970s Japanese TV series Monkey, based on the novel by Wu Cheng'en. Masako died from acute leukemia at the age of 27. The Sunflower Foundation, a Japanese cancer organization, has been dedicated to her memory.