Japanese Directors I'm Interested In
by Grethiwha | created - 19 Feb 2013 | updated - 22 Nov 2022 | PublicThere is no country's cinema I've connected to or enjoyed more consistently than Japan's. I've had an especial love for the golden age of Japanese cinema – in the 1950s and 60s – but more recently I've come to really dig a lot of the more modern stuff as well. Anyway, here is a list of Japanese directors that I like or am interested in seeing more from.
Of course, there are still lots of Japanese directors I haven't yet, but am anxious to familiarize myself with, including...
Yasuzô Masumura (Red Angel)
Kô Nakahira (Crazed Fruit)
Gakuryû Ishii (The Crazy Family)
Kôji Shiraishi (Noroi: The Curse)
Susumu Hani (Nanami: The Inferno of First Love)
Tadashi Imai (Cruel Tales of Bushido)
Yosuke Fujita (Fine, Totally Fine)
...and many more.
1. Sion Sono
Director | Ai no mukidashi
Shion Sono is a Japanese director, writer and poet. Born in Aichi Perfecture in 1961 he started his career working as a poet before taking his first steps in film directing. As a student he shot a series of short films in Super 8 and managed to make his first feature films in the late 80s and early...
80s-Present
I've been trying to discover more of these acclaimed modern Japanese directors. Sono is an amazing discovery. He is a bold and visionary director. His films are consistently memorable and flawless in their direction: in particular the hilarious and wildly imaginative horror flick Exte, the brilliant and spirited Hazard, and Love Exposure, an immensely entertaining four-hour masterpiece. He is easily now my favourite modern Japanese director, and possibly my favourite person.
Seen: 38, Favourite Film: Hazard
My Ratings – 10/10: 5 films, 9/10: 14 films, 8/10: 6 films, 7/10: 6 films, 6/10: 2 films, 5/10: 4 films
2. Akira Kurosawa
Writer | Kakushi-toride no san-akunin
After training as a painter (he storyboards his films as full-scale paintings), Kurosawa entered the film industry in 1936 as an assistant director, eventually making his directorial debut with Sanshiro Sugata (1943). Within a few years, Kurosawa had achieved sufficient stature to allow him greater...
40s-90s
Of course Kurosawa is the best. I love too many of his films to count. I'd love to own all of them. His best are Ran and Ikiru.
Seen: 26, Favourite Film: Ikiru
My Ratings – 10/10: 6 films, 9/10: 14 films, 8/10: 4 films, 7/10: 1 film, 5/10: 1 film
3. Masaki Kobayashi
Director | Seppuku
Masaki Kobayashi was born on February 14, 1916 in Hokkaido, Japan. He was a director and writer, known for Harakiri (1962), Samurai Rebellion (1967) and The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer (1961). He died on October 4, 1996 in Tokyo, Japan.
50s-80s
Kobayashi is my personal favourite – I love him almost on the same level as Kurosawa, and I think he's the most deserving of greater recognition. The Human Condition is perhaps my favourite film.
Seen: 17, Favourite Film: The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
My Ratings – 10/10: 5 films, 9/10: 3 films, 8/10: 5 films, 7/10: 4 films
4. Takashi Miike
Director | Jûsan-nin no shikaku
Takashi Miike was born in the small town of Yao on the outskirts of Osaka, Japan. His main interest growing up was motorbikes, and for a while he harbored ambitions to race professionally. At the age of 18 he went to study at the film school in Yokohama founded by renowned director Shôhei Imamura, ...
90s-Present
I love Miike. His films are all over the place. Some are incredibly disturbed, others insane, but still others are just really excellent, in the tradition of the older directors. Let it be known that The Happiness of the Katakuris is the most entertaining movie of all times.
Seen: 36, Favourite Film: The Happiness of the Katakuris
My Ratings – 10/10: 1 film, 9/10: 12 films, 8/10: 7 films, 7/10: 8 films, 6/10: 6 films, 5/10: 1 film, 4/10: 1 film
5. Shin'ya Tsukamoto
Actor | Tetsuo
Shin'ya Tsukamoto was born on January 1, 1960 in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. He is an actor and director, known for Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989), Vital (2004) and Tokyo Fist (1995).
70s-Present
Tsukamoto's films have an incredible visual sense and an energy to them that is all his own. Watch Tetsuo: The Iron Man – I guarantee you've seen nothing else like it. Then watch Tokyo Fist and Gemini... These are all audio-visually extraordinary masterpieces, and the antidote to so much boring cinema.
Seen: 16, Favourite film: Tokyo Fist
My Ratings - 9/10: 4 films, 8/10: 5 films, 7/10: 4 films, 6/10: 3 films
6. Kenji Mizoguchi
Director | Ugetsu monogatari
Coming from a lower class family Mizoguchi entered the production company Nikkatsu as an actor specialized in female roles. Later he became an assistant director and made his first film in 1922. Although he filmed almost 90 movies in the silent era, only his last 12 productions are really known ...
20s-50s
The Mizoguchi films that do it for me are Sansho the Bailiff, Ugetsu monogatari, The Life of Oharu and The Crucified Lovers, these films that bring to life the world of medieval Japan. And harsh and cruel a world as it is, you feel like you're a part of it.
Seen: 9, Favourite Film: Sansho the Bailiff
My Ratings – 10/10: 1 film, 9/10: 2 films, 8/10: 1 film, 7/10: 3 films, 6/10: 2 films
7. Shôhei Imamura
Director | Kuroi ame
Shohei Imamura's films dig beneath the surface of Japanese society to reveal a wellspring of sensual, often irrational, energy that lies beneath. Along with his colleagues Nagisa Ôshima and Masahiro Shinoda, Imamura began his serious directorial career as a member of the New Wave movement in Japan....
50s-00s
Such a majorly confident and talented director. Every one of his films is so well-crafted and fascinating – I'm excited to watch every one of them.
Seen: 14, Favourite Film: Profound Desires of the Gods
My Ratings – 10/10: 1 film, 9/10: 2 films, 8/10: 3 films, 7/10: 6 films, 6/10: 1 film, 2/10: 1 film
8. Hayao Miyazaki
Writer | Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi
Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's greatest animation directors. The entertaining plots, compelling characters, and breathtaking visuals in his films have earned him international renown from critics as well as public recognition within Japan.
Miyazaki started his career in 1963 as an animator at the ...
70s-Present
I'm not a huge anime guy, but I love Studio Ghibli. The quality of animation, and the amazing fantasy worlds Miyazaki creates, are unlike anything. Spirited Away, Nausicaa, Ponyo, all so good.
Seen: 11, Favourite Film: The Wind Rises
My Ratings – 10/10: 1 film, 9/10: 5 films, 8/10: 5 films
9. Isao Takahata
Director | Hotaru no haka
Isao Takahata was born on October 29, 1935 in Ise, Japan. He was a director and writer, known for Grave of the Fireflies (1988), Pom Poko (1994) and The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013). He died on April 5, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan.
60s-10s
Though the fantastical worlds of Hayao Miyazaki's films have become synonymous with Studio Ghibli, Isao Takahata's films are often Ghibli's most funny, most sad, most heartfelt, and most visually inventive films, and they're just as remarkable as Miyazaki's films. I believe that Grave of the Fireflies is the greatest animated film I've ever seen.
Seen: 6, Favourite Film: Grave of the Fireflies
My Ratings – 10/10: 1 film, 9/10: 3 films, 7/10: 2 films
10. Takeshi Kitano
Actor | Zatôichi
Takeshi Kitano originally studied to become an engineer, but was thrown out of school for rebellious behavior. He learned comedy, singing and dancing from famed comedian Senzaburô Fukami. Working as a lift boy on a nightclub with such features as comic sketches and striptease dancing, Kitano saw ...
80s-Present
His yakuza films are pretty unique and interesting, but what really shines through in all his films I think is that you always get the sense that he really enjoys making them. Take Kikujiro for example: less than three quarters of the way through the film the already minimalistic plot is abandoned completely, and he just has fun, and it's wonderful.
Seen: 16, Favourite Film: Kikujiro
My Ratings – 10/10: 1 film, 9/10: 2 films, 8/10: 3 films, 7/10: 5 films, 6/10: 4 films, 5/10: 1 film
11. Hiroshi Teshigahara
Director | Suna no onna
Hiroshi Teshigahara was born the son of Sofu Teshigahara who was the founder of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana (flower arrangement). In 1950, he graduated from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in oil painting. In 1958, he became the director of Sogetsu Art Centre and took a ...
50s-90s
The three films in Criterion's "Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara" boxset in particular are amazing; Woman in the Dunes is one of the greatest films I've ever seen.
Seen: 5, Favourite Film: Woman of the Sands
My Ratings – 10/10: 1 film, 9/10: 1 film, 8/10: 1 film, 7/10: 1 film, 6/10: 1 film
12. Kaneto Shindô
Writer | Ichimai no hagaki
Kaneto Shindô was born on April 22, 1912 in Hiroshima, Japan. He was a writer and director, known for Postcard (2010), The Naked Island (1960) and A Last Note (1995). He was married to Nobuko Otowa and Miyo Shindo. He died on May 29, 2012 in Hiroshima, Japan.
50s-10s
Onibaba and The Naked Island are two movies I kinda liked on my first viewing, but that really stuck with me. There's a sense of place about these movies – two very different films, mind – which is somehow unforgettable.
Seen: 5, Favourite Film: Onibaba
My Ratings – 9/10: 3 films, 8/10: 1 film, 7/10: 1 film
13. Seijun Suzuki
Director | Tsigoineruwaizen
Seijun Suzuki was born in Nihonbashi, Tôkyô, on May 24, 1923. In 1943, he entered the army to fight at the front. In 1946, he enrolled in the film department of the Kamakura Academy and passed the assistant director's exam. For the next few years, he worked as an assistant director at several ...
50s-00s
Branded to Kill is one of my favourite things, and I'm a huge fan of his insane and colourful final two films, Pistol Opera and Princess Raccoon. I don't always totally love his movies, but I always appreciate the style.
Seen: 23, Favourite Film: Branded to Kill
My Ratings – 10/10: 1 film, 9/10: 3 films, 7/10: 4 films, 6/10: 5 films, 5/10: 6 films, 3/10: 4 films
14. Yasujirô Ozu
Writer | Tôkyô monogatari
Tokyo-born Yasujiro Ozu was a movie buff from childhood, often playing hooky from school in order to see Hollywood movies in his local theatre. In 1923 he landed a job as a camera assistant at Shochiku Studios in Tokyo. Three years later, he was made an assistant director and directed his first ...
20s-60s
Ozu's understated domestic dramas are always strangely compelling. He is not a bold director, but that is the point. I especially love Tokyo Story.
Seen: 18, Favourite Film: Tokyo Story
My Ratings – 10/10: 1 film, 9/10: 2 films, 8/10: 4 films, 7/10: 5 films, 6/10: 1 film, 5/10: 4 films, 2/10: 1 film
15. Hideo Gosha
Director | Goyôkin
Hideo Gosha was born on February 26, 1929 in Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan (undisclosed). He was a director and writer, known for The Steel Edge of Revenge (1969), Yôkirô (1983) and Onimasa (1982). He died on August 30, 1992.
60s-90s
The most badass of Samurai film directors – I love him, although I prefer his earlier films to his later, increasingly excessive films.
Seen: 9, Favourite Film: Three Outlaw Samurai
My Ratings – 9/10: 2 films, 8/10: 3 films, 7/10: 2 films, 6/10: 2 films
16. Nagisa Ôshima
Director | Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
Nagisa Oshima's career extends from the initiation of the "Nuberu bagu" (New Wave) movement in Japanese cinema in the late 1950s and early 1960s, to the contemporary use of cinema and television to express paradoxes in modern society. After an early involvement with the student protest movement in ...
50s-90s
I've seen my fair share of Oshima films at this point. I'm not sure I care for his stated interest in a more politicized approach to filmmaking, and I find a few of his movies dreadful, but this is a man who knows how to make a good film when he wants to.
Seen: 15, Favourite Film: Empire of Passion
My Ratings – 9/10: 3 films, 8/10: 2 films, 7/10: 2 films, 6/10: 4 films, 5/10: 1 film, 4/10: 1 film, 3/10: 2 films
17. Nobuhiko Ôbayashi
Director | Hausu
Nobuhiko Ôbayashi was born on January 9, 1938 in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. He was a director and editor, known for House (1977), Turning Point (1994) and The Discarnates (1988). He was married to Kyôko Ôbayashi. He died on April 10, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.
60s-10s
I wasn't expecting his take on the In the Realm of the Senses story to contain a level of stylistic flourish comparable to the ludicrously entertaining "House". Are all his films this awesome? Why oh why aren't any more of them available outside of Japan?
Seen: 3, Favourite Film: House
My Rating – 10/10: 1 film, 9/10: 2 films
18. Makoto Shinkai
Writer | Suzume no Tojimari
Makoto Shinkai is a Japanese director, writer, producer, animator, editor, cinematographer, voice actor, manga artist and former graphic designer. Shinkai studied Japanese literature at Chuo University where he was a member of juvenile literature club where he drew picture books. In 1999, Shinkai ...
00s-Present
In a post-Studio Ghibli world, the most interesting anime filmmaker going. His movies are evocative and engaging, with some of the best animation I've seen in the medium.
Seen: 6, Favourite Film: 5 Centimeters per Second
My Ratings – 9/10: 1 film, 8/10: 2 films, 7/10: 2 films, 6/10: 1 film
19. Tetsuya Nakashima
Director | Kokuhaku
Tetsuya Nakashima was born on September 2, 1959 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is a director and writer, known for Confessions (2010), Kiraware Matsuko no isshô (2006) and Kamikaze Girls (2004).
90s-Present
I personally find Nakashima's earlier movies kitsch and lame, but he took an incredible turn towards a much darker kind of film with 2010's "Confessions", and managed to top it with "The World of Kanako" in 2014. These are two of the absolute best films in recent Japanese cinema, flawlessly directed, visually stunning, absolutely gripping, dark revenge dramas, to rival the very best of South Korean efforts in that genre. If he keeps up this quality, he's the most exciting Japanese director going today, after Sono.
Seen: 4, Favourite Film: The World of Kanako
My Ratings – 9/10: 2 films, 5/10: 1 film, 4/10: 1 film
20. Yôji Yamada
Writer | Tasogare Seibei
Yamada Yoji graduated Tokyo University in 1954, the year he joined Shochiku as an assistant director. In 1969, he launched the popular "Tora-san" series, the world's longest theatrical film series. "The Twilight Samurai" (The Twilight Samurai (2002)) marks his 77th film as well as his 41th year as ...
60s-Present
Twilight Samurai is one of the best samurai films of more recent years I've come across. The Hidden Blade is a bit of a weaker retread but ultimately excellent in its own right. And I'm very excited to watch the final film in that 'trilogy'.
Seen: 4, Favourite Film: The Twilight Samurai
My Ratings – 9/10: 1 film, 8/10: 1 film, 7/10: 1 film, 6/10: 1 film
21. Yôjirô Takita
Director | Okuribito
Born in Takaoka, Toyama, Yojiro Takita came to international audiences' attention with the release of Okuribito ('Departures'), which won the Best foreign Language film awards at the Oscars in 2009. He had begun his directorial career in the 1980s with the 'chikan' ('molester') series depicting ...
80s-Present
What range this guy has! Twenty years before winning the first and only Oscar for Japan since the 1950s for best foreign language film for the wonderful Departures, he was making a series of pinku films about men groping women on trains. So he's done soft porn, Oscar-worthy films, and, if the ludicrous and visually spectacular Ashura is any indication, everything in between. And everything I've seen so far (I've not seen any of the Groper Train movies yet, granted) has been great!
Seen: 3, Favourite Film: Departures
My Ratings – 9/10: 2 films, 8/10: 1 film
22. Kihachi Okamoto
Director | Nikudan
Okamoto belonged to what one colleague called "the generation where most of them got killed": the leagues of university graduates who were drafted into and sacrificed to the last years of Japan's war in the South Pacific. Okamoto was drafted during the very worst of it, in 1943, but almost alone ...
50s-00s
This guy makes great samurai flicks – Sword of Doom and Kill!... He's a director I often forget about, but I shouldn't!
Seen: 4, Favourite Film: Kill!
My Ratings – 8/10: 2 films, 7/10: 1 film, 6/10: 1 film
23. Kenji Misumi
Director | Shogun Assassin
Kenji Misumi was born on March 2, 1921 in Kyoto, Japan. Misumi was the illegitimate child of a geisha mother and originally wanted to be a painter, but his father disapproved. Kenji attended Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. During this time Misumi met future Daiei studio head Kan Kikuchi, ...
50s-70s
The man who directed the first entry and many key entries in both the Zatoichi series AND the Lone Wolf and Cub series – this guy's importance to the chanbara genre can't be understated!
Seen: 11, Favourite Film: Zatoichi Challenged
My Ratings – 9/10: 3 films, 8/10: 6 films, 7/10: 1 film, 5/10: 1 film
24. Sabu
Director | Mandei
Japanese director/writer/actor whose often kinetic, cyberpunk style is much imitated. He expressed appreciation over the similarity of the international hit German film "Run Lola Run" (1998) to his first film as a director/writer, "Dangan Runner" (1996). When asked at the Chicago International Film...
90s-Present
"Monday" and "Postman Blues" are two of the most original and funny Japanese comedies I've seen. I'd like to see much more from this prolific cult director.
Seen: 5, Favourite Film: Postman Blues
My Ratings – 8/10: 2 films, 7/10: 1 film, 6/10: 1 film, 5/10: 1 film
25. Hiroshi Inagaki
Director | Wasurerareta kora
Inagaki's career in film began as an actor--a child actor, in fact, appearing in numerous silent films beginning at the very dawn of Japanese cinema. This is probably why he was promoted to director at the unusually (for Japan) young age of 22. Along with producer Mansaku Itami (later the father of...
20s-70s
I'm not a massive fan of the Samurai Trilogy, but The Rickshaw Man is wonderful. Interested in seeing more.
Seen: 4, Favourite Film: The Rickshaw Man
My Ratings – 9/10: 1 film, 8/10: 1 film, 7/10: 1 film, 6/10: 1 film
26. Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Director | Tokyo Sonata
Kiyoshi Kurosawa was born on July 19, 1955 in Kobe, Japan. He is a director and writer, known for Tokyo Sonata (2008), Pulse (2001) and Cure (1997).
70s-Present
A very prolific and versatile director of dark dramas and low-key horror films. His best by far are the horror film Cure, and the non-horror film Tokyo Sonata, but pretty much every year this guy has a new movie that's at least worth watching...
Seen: 9, Favourite Film: Tokyo Sonata
My Ratings – 9/10: 2 films, 7/10: 2 films, 6/10: 3 films, 4/10: 2 films
27. Masahiro Shinoda
Director | Shinjû: Ten no Amijima
Masahiro Shinoda was born on March 9, 1931 in Gifu, Japan. He is a director and writer, known for Double Suicide (1969), Chinmoku (1971) and Ballad of Orin (1977). He has been married to Shima Iwashita since 1967. They have one child.
60s-00s
There are some Shinoda fans I'm not so fond of, including a couple of his most popular films, but there are just as many I think are great, and the crazy-ass film "My Face Red in the Sunset" (aka Killers on Parade) in particular, is awesome.
Seen: 6, Favourite Film: My Face Red in the Sunset
My Ratings – 9/10: 1 film, 8/10: 2 films, 7/10: 1 film, 5/10: 2 films
28. Yoshitarô Nomura
Director | Suna no utsuwa
Yoshitarô Nomura was born on April 23, 1919 in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. He was a director and writer, known for The Castle of Sand (1974), Suspicion (1982) and The Incident (1978). He died on April 8, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan.
50s-80s
I've watched Stakeout and The Shadow Within. Both are simply great movies by this little-known director. I look forward to seeing "The Demon".
Seen: 2, Favourite Film: The Shadow Within
My Ratings – 9/10: 1 film, 8/10: 1 film
29. Keisuke Kinoshita
Writer | Nijûshi no hitomi
Keisuke Kinoshita was born on December 5, 1912 in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan. He was a writer and director, known for Twenty-Four Eyes (1954), The Ballad of Narayama (1958) and The Garden of Women (1954). He died on December 30, 1998 in Tokyo, Japan.
40s-80s
Kinoshita was the mentor of Masaki Kobayashi, one of my personal favourite directors. Though he's more sentimental in his storytelling than Kobayashi, I think he's a pretty great director in his own right – I'm definitely down to see more of his movies (although there are over 40 of them on Hulu Plus alone; it's kind of ridiculous).
Seen: 6, Favourite Film: Ballad of Narayama
My Ratings – 9/10: 1 film, 8/10: 2 films, 7/10: 1 film, 6/10: 1 film, 4/10: 1 film
30. Koreyoshi Kurahara
Director | Nankyoku monogatari
Koreyoshi Kurahara was born on May 31, 1927 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. He was a director and writer, known for Antarctica (1983), Eight Below (2006) and Kaitei kara kita onna (1959). He was married to Yumiko Miyagino. He died on December 28, 2002 in Yokohama, Japan.
50s-90s
The Warped Ones is a crazy and great film. I want to watch more such warped films.
Seen: 2, Favourite Film: The Warped Ones
My Ratings – 8/10: 1 film, 7/10: 1 film
31. Kore-eda Hirokazu
Director | Manbiki kazoku
Born in Tokyo in 1962. Originally intended to be a novelist, but after graduating from Waseda University in 1987 went on to become an assistant director at T.V. Man Union. Snuck off set to film Mou hitotsu no kyouiku - Ina shogakkou haru gumi no kiroku (1991). His first feature, Maborosi (1995), ...
90s-Present
One of the most prolific and revered Japanese filmmakers today; I would recommend Koreeda's work to fans of Ozu. While I personally find some of his movies slow and tedious, and have tired of the slew of samey family dramas he's put out in recent years, "The Third Murder" was a damn fine character drama and gives me hope for his newer output. There have also been some original films amongst his earlier works; Nobody Knows in particular is excellent.
Seen: 11, Favourite Film: Nobody Knows
My Ratings – 8/10: 1 film, 7/10: 4 films, 6/10: 3 films, 5/10: 2 films, 3/10: 1 film
32. Shûji Terayama
Writer | Saraba hakobune
Terayama Shuji was born the only son of Terayama Hachiro and Terayama Hatsu in Hirosaki City, Aomori on December 10th, 1935; but his birth and name were officially registered on January 10th, 1936. His father, an officer in the "thought police", leaves for the Pacific War in early 1941. He dies in ...
70s-80s
If I were to write a review of Pastoral: To Die In Country, it would read something like "?!". And I am reminded how many facets of Japanese cinema I've still yet to explore.
Seen: 2, Favourite Film: Pastoral: To Die In Country
My Ratings – 9/10: 1 film, 7/10: 1 film
33. Kon Ichikawa
Director | Inugami-ke no ichizoku
Kon Ichikawa has been influenced by artists as diverse as Walt Disney and Jean Renoir, and his films cover a wide spectrum of moods, from the comic to the overwhelmingly ironic and even the perverse. Ichikawa began his career as a cartoonist, and this influence is apparent in his skillful use of ...
40s-00s
Another huge figure in the golden age of Japanese cinema. I'm nowhere near having a comprehensive familiarity with his huge filmography, but from those I've seen, The Burmese Harp stands out above the others, as his essential film.
Seen: 8, Favourite Film: The Burmese Harp
My Ratings – 9/10: 1 film, 7/10: 4 films, 6/10: 2 films, 5/10: 1 film
34. Hitoshi Matsumoto
Writer | Dai-Nihonjin
Hitoshi Matsumoto and his childhood friend Masatoshi Hamada teamed up as comedy duo Downtown. When they had their own TV shows in late 80s, they became phenomenal pop culture among young Japanese people. Unlike other comedy duos in Japan, they are still together, and they dominate prime time TV ...
00s-Present
I've only seen two of comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto's four films, but based on those, he's arguably the most interesting and original cult comedy director of the last decade.
Seen: 2, Favourite Film: Symbol
My Ratings – 9/10: 1 film, 7/10: 1 film
35. Kinji Fukasaku
Director | Batoru rowaiaru
Kinji Fukasaku was born on July 3, 1930 in Mito, Japan. He was a director and writer, known for Battle Royale (2000), Fall Guy (1982) and Crest of Betrayal (1994). He was married to Sanae Nakahara. He died on January 12, 2003 in Tokyo, Japan.
60s-00s
I know Battles Without Honour and Humanity is a classic, the "Godfather" of Japan, but I didn't like it AT ALL. I'm not into his crime movies, but I do dig his comedies, and of course "Battle Royale". However, the reason I'm putting him back on this list, is because I watched "Virus", which is the most freaking amazing, globe-trotting, apocalyptic, epic movie, which literally has everything. So great!
Seen: 7, Favourite Film: Virus
My Ratings – 9/10: 1 film, 8/10: 2 films, 7/10: 1 film, 6/10: 1 film, 6/10: 1 film, 3/10: 2 films
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