Born 1972 in Tokyo, Ayako Kobayashi (小林綾子) is a Japanese actress. She became widely known for playing the main character in the 1983-84 NHK drama Oshin. Born 1972 in Tokyo, Ayako Kobayashi (小林綾子) is a Japanese actress. She became widely known for playing the main character in the 1983-84 NHK drama Oshin.