is a Japanese

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...

best known for his ''

Otoko wa Tsurai yo is a Japanese film series starring Kiyoshi Atsumi as , a kind-hearted vagabond who is always unlucky in love. The series itself is often referred to as "Tora-san" by its fans. Spanning 48 installments released between 1969 and 1995, all of the ' ...

'' series of films and his Samurai Trilogy (''

The Twilight Samurai ''The Twilight Samurai'' is a 2002 Japanese historical drama film co-written and directed by Yoji Yamada and starring Hiroyuki Sanada and Rie Miyazawa. Set in mid-19th century Japan, a few years before the Meiji Restoration, it follows the lif ...

'', ''

The Hidden Blade is a 2004 film set in 1860s Japan, directed by Yoji Yamada. The plot revolves around several samurai during a time of change in the ruling and class structures of Japan. The film was written by Yamada with Yoshitaka Asama and, like its predecesso ...

'' and '' Love and Honor'').

Biography

He was born in Osaka, but due to his father's job as an engineer for the

South Manchuria Railway The South Manchuria Railway ( ja, 南満州鉄道, translit=Minamimanshū Tetsudō; ), officially , Mantetsu ( ja, 満鉄, translit=Mantetsu) or Mantie () for short, was a large of the Empire of Japan whose primary function was the operatio ...

, he was brought up in

Dalian Dalian () is a major sub-provincial port city in Liaoning province, People's Republic of China, and is Liaoning's second largest city (after the provincial capital Shenyang) and the third-most populous city of Northeast China. Located on the ...

, China. from the age of two. Following the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, he returned to Japan and subsequently lived in

Yamagata Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu. Yamagata Prefecture has a population of 1,079,950 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 9,325 km² (3,600 sq mi). Yamagata Prefecture borders Akita Prefecture to the nor ...

. After receiving his degree from

Tokyo University , abbreviated as or UTokyo, is a public research university located in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Established in 1877, the university was the first Imperial University and is currently a Top Type university of the Top Global University Project by ...

in 1954, he entered

Shochiku () is a Japanese film and kabuki production and distribution company. It also produces and distributes anime films, in particular those produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks (which has a long-time partnership—the company released most, if not ...

and worked under Yoshitaro Nomura as a scriptwriter or as an assistant director. He won many awards throughout his lengthy career and is well respected in Japan and by critics throughout the world. He wrote his first screenplay in 1958, and directed his first movie in 1961. Yamada continues to make movies to this day. He once served as president of the

Directors Guild of Japan The is a trade union created to represent the interests of film directors in the film industry in Japan. It was founded in 1936, with Minoru Murata serving as the first president, and has continued to this day apart from a period between 1943 and ...

, and is currently a guest professor of

Ritsumeikan University is a private university in Kyoto, Japan, that traces its origin to 1869. With the Kinugasa Campus (KIC) in Kyoto, and Kyoto Prefecture, the university also has a satellite called Biwako-Kusatsu Campus (BKC) and Osaka-Ibaraki Campus (OIC). Tod ...

Tora-san series

Known in

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

under the title ''

'', his Tora-san series features traveling merchant Torajirō, who is always unlucky in love. Since the lead role in every Tora-san movie was played by

Kiyoshi Atsumi Kiyoshi Atsumi (渥美清 ''Atsumi Kiyoshi''), born Yasuo Tadokoro (田所康雄 ''Tadokoro Yasuo'', 10 March 1928 – 4 August 1996), was a Japanese actor. He was born in Tokyo, and started his career in 1951 as a comedian at a strip-show the ...

, his death in 1996 put an end to the series and Yamada moved on to other movies. Although Yamada is known for his long-running series of movies—four films in the ''

A Class to Remember is a 1993 Japanese film directed by Yōji Yamada. It was chosen as Best Film at the Japan Academy Prize ceremony. Synopsis A cantankerous but loveable high school teacher teaches a night school in a poor neighborhood for adult students on the ...

'' series, 13 in the ''Free and Easy'' (''Tsuribaka Nisshi'') series—none has reached the prolific numbers of the Tora-san series. Over a period of about 25 years, 48 Tora-san films were made, all of them starring Atsumi, and the majority written and directed by Yamada.

Notable awards

His movies have won the Best Picture award at the

Japanese Academy Awards The , often called the Japan Academy Prize, the Japan Academy Awards, and the Japanese Academy Awards, is a series of awards given annually since 1978 by the Japan Academy Film Prize Association (日本アカデミー賞協会, ''Nippon Akademii- ...

four times: in 1977 for ''

The Yellow Handkerchief The Yellow Handkerchief or Yellow Handkerchief may refer to: * ''The Yellow Handkerchief'' (1977 film), Japanese film *''Yellow Handkerchief'', 2003 television program broadcast by Korean Broadcasting System * ''The Yellow Handkerchief'' (2008 fil ...

'', in 1991 for ''

My Sons is a 1991 Japanese film directed by Yōji Yamada. It was chosen as Best Film at the Japan Academy Prize ceremony. Synopsis The children of old-fashioned patriarch of a family in Iwate Province gather to observe the first anniversary of their mo ...

'', in 1993 for ''

'', and in 2002 for ''

'', which was nominated for the

76th Academy Awards The 76th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best films of 2003 and took place on February 29, 2004, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 ...

Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

. He won the

Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year The of the Japan Academy Film Prize The , often called the Japan Academy Prize, the Japan Academy Awards, and the Japanese Academy Awards, is a series of awards given annually since 1978 by the Japan Academy Film Prize Association (日本ア� ...

three times. His 1984 film, '' Tora-san's Forbidden Love'', was nominated for the Golden Prize at the 14th Moscow International Film Festival. His 2004 film, ''

'', was nominated for sixteen awards and won three. In 2010, Yamada was honored at the 2010

Berlin Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...

with a screening of his latest film '' Otōto'' during the awards ceremony, as well as receiving a ''Berlinale Camera'' award for his numerous contributions to the festival's program.

Works

Films

*'' Nikai no Tanin'' (1961) *'' Shitamachi no Taiyo'' (1963) *'' Baka Marudashi'' (1964) *'' Iikagen Baka'' (1964) *'' Baka ga Sensha de Yattekuru'' (1964) *''

Kiri no Hata is a 1965 Japanese crime film directed by Yoji Yamada. It is based on Seichō Matsumoto's novel of the same title. Plot A robbery murder of an old moneylender woman occurs in the countryside of Kyushu, and Kiriko Yanagida's older brother, Mas ...

'' (1965) *'' Un ga Yokerya'' (1966) *'' Natsukashii Fūraibō'' (1966) *'' Kyu-chan no Dekkai Yume'' (1967) *'' Ai no Sanka'' (1967) *'' Kigeki Ippatsu Shobu'' (1967) *'' Hana Hajime no Ippatsu Daibōken'' (1968) *'' Fukeba Tobuyona Otoko daga'' (1968) *'' Kigeki Ippatsu Daihissho'' (1969) *''

It's Tough Being a Man (Am I Trying) (Tora-san Our Lovable Tramp) is a 1969 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada and starring Kiyoshi Atsumi. It is the first entry in the popular, long-running ''Otoko wa Tsurai yo'' series. Plot Torajiro Kuruma returns for th ...

'' (1969) *'' Tora-San's Cherished Mother'' (1969) *'' Tora-san's Runaway'' (1970) *''

Kazoku The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan, which existed between 1869 and 1947. They succeeded the feudal lords () and court nobles (), but were abolished with the 1947 constitution. Kazoku ( 華族) should not be confused with ' ...

'' (''Family'') (1970) *'' Tora-san's Shattered Romance'' (1971) *'' Tora-san, the Good Samaritan'' (1971) *''

Tora-san's Love Call ''aka'' ''Tora-san's Love Song'' is a 1971 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Junko Ikeuchi as his Romantic interest, love interest or "Madonna". ''Tora-san's Love Call'' is t ...

'' (1971) *'' Tora-san's Dear Old Home'' (1972) *''

Tora-san's Dream-Come-True a.k.a. Torasan Appears in a Dream'' is a 1972 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Kaoru Yachigusa as his love interest or "Madonna". ''Tora-san's Dream-Come-True'' is the tent ...

'' (1972) *'' Home From The Sea'' (1972) *'' Tora-san's Forget Me Not'' (1973) *''

Tora-san Loves an Artist ''aka'' ''Tora-san Goes French'' is a 1973 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Keiko Kishi as his love interest or "Madonna". ''Tora-san Loves an Artist'' is the twelfth entry ...

'' (1973) *'' Tora-san's Lovesick'' (1974) *''

Tora-san's Lullaby is a 1974 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Yukiyo Toake as his love interest or "Madonna". ''Tora-san's Lullaby'' is the fourteenth entry in the popular, long-running ''Otok ...

'' (1974) *'' Tora-san's Rise and Fall'' (1975) *''

Tora-san, the Intellectual ''aka'' ''Tora-san Meets a Lady Scholar'' is a 1975 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Fumie Kashiyama as his love interest or "Madonna". ''Tora-san, the Intellectual'' is th ...

'' (1975) *''Harakara'' (1975) *''

Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset a.k.a. ''Torasan and the Painter'' and ''Tora-san's Sunset Glow'' is a 1976 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Kiwako Taichi as his love interest or "Madonna". ''Tora-san's S ...

'' (1976) *''

Tora's Pure Love a.k.a. ''Torasan Meets his School-Mates'' ''and'' ''Tora-san's Heart of Gold'' is a 1976 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Machiko Kyō as his love interest or "Madonna". ''T ...

'' (1976) *''

Tora-san Meets His Lordship a.k.a. ''Tora-san and a Lord'' is a 1977 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Kyōko Maya as his love interest or "Madonna". ''Tora-san Meets His Lordship'' is the nineteenth en ...

'' (1977) *'' Tora-san Plays Cupid'' (1977) *''

'' (1977) *'' Stage-Struck Tora-san'' (1978) *'' Talk of the Town Tora-san'' (1978) *'' Tora-san, the Matchmaker'' (1979) *'' Tora-san's Dream of Spring'' (1979) *'' Tora's Tropical Fever'' (1980) *'' Foster Daddy, Tora!'' (1980) *'' A Distant Cry from Spring'' (1980) *'' Tora-san's Love in Osaka'' (1981) *'' Shunmao Monogatari Taotao'' (1981) *''

Tora-san's Promise , also called ''Torasan and a Paper Balloon'' in some regions, is a 1981 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Mikiko Otonashi as his love interest or "Madonna". ''Tora-san's Pro ...

'' (1981) *'' Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san'' (1982) *''

Tora-san, the Expert is a 1982 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Yūko Tanaka as his love interest or "Madonna". ''Tora-san, the Expert'' is the thirtieth entry in the popular, long-running '' ...

'' (1982) *''

Tora-san's Song of Love ''aka'' ''Torasan's Journey with a Lady'' is a 1983 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Harumi Miyako as his love interest or "Madonna". ''Tora-san's Song of Love'' is the thir ...

'' (1983) *'' Tora-san Goes Religious?'' (1983) *'' Marriage Counselor Tora-san'' (1984) *'' Tora-san, the Go-Between'' (1985) *'' Tora-san's Island Encounter'' (1985) *''

Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy ''aka'' ''Tora-san, Bluebird of Happiness'' is a 1986 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Etsuko Shihomi as his love interest or "Madonna". ''Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy'' is ...

'' (1986) *''

Final Take is a 1986 Japanese drama film directed by Yoji Yamada. It was Japan's submission to the 59th Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee. Cast * Kiyoshi Atsumi as Kihachi * Kiichi Naka ...

'' (1986) *'' Tora-san Goes North'' (1987) *'' Tora-san Plays Daddy'' (1987) *'' Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial'' (1988) *''

Hope and Pain is a 1988 Japanese film directed by Yoji Yamada. It was Japan's submission to the 61st Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee. It was also entered into the 39th Berlin International ...

'' (1988) *'' Tora-San Goes to Vienna'' (1989) *'' Tora-san, My Uncle'' (1989) *'' Tora-san Takes a Vacation'' (1990) *''

'' (1991) *''

Tora-san Confesses is a 1991 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Hideko Yoshida as his love interest or "Madonna". ''Tora-san Confesses'' is the forty-fourth entry in the popular, long-running '' ...

'' (1991) *'' Tora-San Makes Excuses'' (1992) *''

'' (1993) *''

Tora-san's Matchmaker is a 1993 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Keiko Matsuzaka as his love interest or "Madonna". ''Tora-san's Matchmaker'' is the forty-sixth entry in the popular, long-running ...

'' (1993) *''

Tora-san's Easy Advice is a 1994 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada. It stars Kiyoshi Atsumi as Torajirō Kuruma (Tora-san), and Rino Katase as his love interest or "Madonna". ''Tora-san's Easy Advice'' is the forty-seventh entry in the popular, long-running ...

'' (1994) *'' Tora-san to the Rescue'' (1995) *''

A Class to Remember II is a 1996 Japanese film directed by Yoji Yamada. It is a sequel to Yamada's 1993 film ''A Class to Remember''. The film was Japan's submission to the 69th Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted ...

'' (1996) *''Niji wo Tsukamu Otoko'' (1996) *''Niji wo Tsukamu Otoko Nangoku Funtō hen'' (1997) *''A Class to Remember III'' (1998) *''A Class to Remember IV'' (2000) *''

Twilight Samurai ''The Twilight Samurai'' is a 2002 Japanese historical drama film co-written and directed by Yoji Yamada and starring Hiroyuki Sanada and Rie Miyazawa. Set in mid-19th century Japan, a few years before the Meiji Restoration, it follows the lif ...

'' (2002) *''

'' (2004) *'' Love and Honor'' (2006) *'' Kabei: Our Mother'' (2008) *'' Otōto'' (2010) *''Kyoto Story'' (2010) *''

Tokyo Family is a 2013 Japanese drama film directed by Yōji Yamada. It is a remake of the Japanese film ''Tokyo Story''. Plot The film is set in Tokyo and Ōsakikamijima, Hiroshima. Cast *Isao Hashizume as Shukichi Hirayama *Kazuko Yoshiyuki as Tomiko ...

'' (2013) *''

The Little House ''The Little House'' is a 1942 children's picture book written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, it was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1943. Inspiration Author Virginia Lee ...

'' (2014) *'' Nagasaki: Memories of My Son'' (2015) *''

What a Wonderful Family! is a 2016 Japanese comedy film directed by Yoji Yamada and starring Isao Hashizume, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Masahiko Nishimura, Yui Natsukawa, Tomoko Nakajima, Hayashiya Shōzō IX, Satoshi Tsumabuki and Yū Aoi. It was released in Japan by Shochiku ...

'' (2016) *'' What a Wonderful Family! 2'' (2017) *'' What a Wonderful Family! 3: My Wife, My Life'' (2018) *''

Tora-san, Wish You Were Here is an 2019 Japanese film directed by Yoji Yamada. It is the fiftieth entry in the popular and long-running ''Otoko wa Tsurai yo'' series. Shooting began on October 20, 2018 and the film was released on December 27, 2019. It stars Kiyoshi Ats ...

'' (2019) *''It's a Flickering Life'' (2021) *''Hello, Mother'' (2023)

Screenplays

*''

Castle of Sand is a 1974 Japanese police procedural film directed by Yoshitarō Nomura, based on the novel '' Suna no Utsuwa'' by Seicho Matsumoto. Plot Yoshitaro Nomura's 1974 film of Seicho Matsumoto's immensely popular detective story tells the tale of two ...

'' (1974) *''

Tsuribaka Nisshi is a Japanese fishing-themed manga series written by Jūzō Yamasaki and illustrated by Kenichi Kitami. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's ''seinen'' manga magazine '' Big Comic Original'' since 1979. It won the 28th Shogakukan Manga A ...

'' Series (1988–2009) *''Deguchi no Nai Umi'' (2006)

Honours

Medal with Purple Ribbon are medals awarded by the Government of Japan. They are awarded to individuals who have done meritorious deeds and also to those who have achieved excellence in their field of work. The Medals of Honor were established on December 7, 1881, and we ...

(1996) * Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette (2002) *

Person of Cultural Merit is an official Japanese recognition and honor which is awarded annually to select people who have made outstanding cultural contributions. This distinction is intended to play a role as a part of a system of support measures for the promotion of ...

(2004) *

Order of Culture The is a Japanese order, established on February 11, 1937. The order has one class only, and may be awarded to men and women for contributions to Japan's art, literature, science, technology, or anything related to culture in general; recipient ...

(2012) * Honorary citizen of Tokyo (2014)

References

External links

*
Profile at Japan Zone
accessed 17 July 2020

accessed 17 July 2020 (in Japanese) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Yamada, Yoji 1931 births Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year winners Japanese film directors Japanese screenwriters Samurai film directors Living people People from Toyonaka, Osaka Kansai University faculty Ritsumeikan University faculty University of Tokyo alumni Recipients of the Medal with Purple Ribbon Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th class Persons of Cultural Merit Recipients of the Order of Culture