In 1991 the Japan Academy recognized her as the Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for portraying Noriko Kai in the 1989 Toho film Hana no Furu Gogo (or Afternoon when Flowers Fell).
Her 1984 portrayal of Otsū, the love interest of Miyamoto Musashi in NHK's 45-part prime-time series based on the Eiji Yoshikawa novel, was a major high point of her career.
On Tokyo Broadcasting System, Yūko played characters in series in 1980, '81, and '82, including the female lead in Totsuzen no Ashita.
Asahi TV cast her in the lead role in two 90 minute specials in the Onyado Kawasemi jidaigeki series (1988–89); Yasuko Sawaguchi, Reiko Takashima and others have played the same character.
A decade later, the network paired the two again, and Yūko portrayed Kikyō, the leading lady, in Surōnin Tsukikage Hyōgo.