was a Japanese film director, screenwriter, and actor who was known for his

war films War film is a film genre concerned with warfare, typically about naval, air, or land battles, with combat scenes central to the drama. It has been strongly associated with the 20th century. The fateful nature of battle scenes means that war f ...

and

comedies Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term origin ...

and as the mentor of

Akira Kurosawa was a Japanese filmmaker and painter who directed thirty films in a career spanning over five decades. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. Kurosawa displayed a bold, dyna ...

. The combined list of his efforts as a director for documentaries, silent, and sound films includes over 90 film titles during his lifetime.

Early life

Born in

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...

, Yamamoto attended Keio University, where he helped form a film appreciation society. He first appeared in film in 1921 as an actor opposite Yoshiko Okada, but that only earned the wrath of his family, who disowned him.

Career

He worked as an actor on the stage, joined

Nikkatsu is a Japanese entertainment company known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio, founded in 1912 during the silent film era. The name ''Nikkatsu'' amalgamates the words Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally ...

as an assistant director, and finally made his directorial debut in 1924 at Tōa Kinema. After working at Nikkatsu again, he was lured to Photo Chemical Laboratories (P. C. L.) in 1934, where he first made a name filming the comedies of

Kenichi Enomoto was a popular Japanese singing comedian, mostly known by his stage name Enoken (エノケン). A major innovator during his heyday, Enoken's stage shows, radio appearances, and film roles were a major influence within Tokyo theatre before World ...

. When P. C. L. became the

Toho is a Japanese film, theatre production and distribution company. It has its headquarters in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. Outside of Japan, it is best known as the producer ...

company, Yamamoto helmed realist dramas such as '' Tsuzurikata kyōshitsu'' and ''

Uma Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi in ...

'' (starring Hideko Takamine), and war films such as '' Hawai Mare oki kaisen''. After

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 opposing ...

, he continued directing films, but increasingly worked in television and radio.

Legacy

He is now mostly known as the mentor of

, who served as his assistant director on 17 films. He is also responsible for the career of Toshiro Mifune. In 1947, one of Mifune's friends who worked for the Photography Department of Toho Productions suggested Mifune try out for the Photography Department. He was accepted for a position as an assistant cameraman. At this time, a large number of Toho actors, after a prolonged strike, had left to form their own company, Shin Toho. Toho then organized a "new faces" contest to find new talent. Mifune's friends submitted an application and photo, without his knowledge. He was accepted, along with 48 others (out of roughly 4000 applicants), and allowed to take a screen test for Kajiro Yamamoto. Instructed to mime anger, he drew from his wartime experiences. Yamamoto took a liking to Mifune, recommending him to director

Senkichi Taniguchi (February 19, 1912 – October 29, 2007) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. Born in Tokyo, Japan, he attended Waseda University but left before graduating due to his involvement in a left-wing theater troupe. He joined P.C.L. ...

Selected filmography

Director

*Danun; 1924 *Renbo kouta shōdoshima jowa; 1924 *Yama no shinpi; 1924 *Bakudanji; 1925 *Hito wo kutta hanashi; 1925 *Kagayakeru tobira; 1925 *Mori no asa; 1925 *Matsuda eiga shōhin-shū: Kumo; 1926 *Junange; 1932 *Momoiro no musume; 1933 *Sōkyū no mon; 1933 *Arupusu taishō; 1934 *Ren'ai ski jutsu; 1934 *Furusato harete; 1934 *'' Enoken no Kondō Isami'' (エノケンの近藤勇) (1935) *Sumire musume; 1935 *Botchan; 1935 *Enoken's Ten Millions 2; 1936 *Wagahai wa neko de aru; 1936 *'' Enoken no Chakkiri Kinta'' (エノケンのちゃっきり金太) (1937) *Utsukushiki taka; 1937, with Kurosawa *Enoken no chakkiri Kinta 'Go', kaeri wa kowai, mateba hiyori; 1937, with Kurosawa *Enoken no chakkiri Kinta 'Zen' - Mamayo sandogasa - Ikiwa yoiyoi; 1937, with Kurosawa *Nihon josei dokuhon (volume 1); 1937, with Kurosawa *A Husband's Chastity: Fall Once Again; 1937, with Kurosawa *Otto no teiso - haru kitareba; 1937, with Kurosawa *Enoken no bikkuri jinsei; 1938, with Kurosawa *'' Tsuzurikata Kyōshitsu'' (綴方教室) (1938), with Kurosawa *Tōjūrō no koi; 1938, with Kurosawa *Nonki Yokocho; 1939, with Kurosawa *Chushingura (Go); 1939, with Kurosawa *Chushingura (Zen); 1939, with Kurosawa *Enoken no gatchiri jidai; 1939, with Kurosawa *Enoken no songokū: songokū zenko-hen; 1940, with Kurosawa *Enoken no zangiri Kinta; 1940, with Kurosawa *Roppa no shinkon ryoko; 1940, with Kurosawa *''

'' (馬) (1941), with Kurosawa *'' Hawai Mare oki kaisen'' (ハワイ・マレー沖海戦) (1942) *The Sky of Hope; 1942 *Raigekitai Shutsudō; 1944 *'' Katō Hayabusa Sentōtai'' (加藤隼戦闘隊) (1944) *Koi no fuunjî; 1945 *Amerika Yosoro; 1945 * ''

Those Who Make Tomorrow is a 1946 Japanese film directed by Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Sekigawa and Kajiro Yamamoto (who was also co-writer). It was produced to illustrate the purpose of the workers' union at the Toho film studios, as the Allied Forces endorsed the for ...

'' (明日を作る人々, Asu o tsukuru hitobito) (1946) *Haru no kyōen; 1947 *These Foolish Times II; 1947 *These Foolish Times; 1947 *Four Love Stories; 1947 *Kaze no ko; 1949 *Haru no tawamure; 1949 *Escape from Prison; 1950 *Who Knows a Woman's Heart; 1951 *Hopu-san: sararîman no maki; 1951 *Elegy; 1951 *Hana no naka no musumetachi; 1953 *Saturday Angel; 1954 *Zoku Take-chan shacho; 1954 *Take-chan shacho; 1954 *Ai no rekishi; 1955 *Muttsuri Umon torimonocho; 1955 *Ore mo otoko sa; 1955 *A Man Among Men; 1955 *Mt. Manaslu: 8,125 Meters in Altitude (Documentary); 1956 *The Underworld; 1956 *Yoshida to Sanpei monogatari: Ohanake no sekai; 1957 *'' A Holiday in Tokyo'' (東京の休日 ''Tōkyō no kyūjitsu'') (1958) *Jazu musume ni eiko are; 1958 *'' Monkey Sun'' (1959) *Ginza taikutsu musume; 1960 *Hana no oedo no musekinin; 1964 *Tensai sagishi monogatari: Tanuki no hanamichi; 1964 *Tameki no taisho; 1965 *Neko no kyujitsu; 1966 *Take-chan shacho: Seishun de tsukkare!; 1967 *Take-chan shacho: Seishun wa ryu no mono da!; 1967

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Yamamoto, Kajiro Japanese film directors 1902 births 1974 deaths People from Tokyo Silent film directors Keio University alumni 20th-century Japanese screenwriters