Yoji Yamada
Directing
Biography
Yoji Yamada (山田 洋次 Yamada Yōji, born September 13, 1931 in Toyonaka City, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese film director best known for his Otoko wa Tsurai yo series of films. He was born in Osaka. But because of the work of his father, who was an engineer for the South Manchuria Railway, from the age of 2 he was brought up in Manchuria. Following the end of World War II, he came back to Japan and subsequently he lived in Ube in Yamaguchi Prefecture. After receiving his degree from Tokyo University in 1954, he entered Shochiku and worked under Yoshitaro Nomura as a scriptwriter or as an assistant director. He has 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, and is currently a guest professor of Ritsumeikan University.
Filmography 99
Movies (99)
Tokyo Taxi2025Directing
55th anniversary performance of Tora-San: Rakugo, Talk and Tora Jiro Returns2024
Mom, Is That You?!2023Directing
It's a Flickering Life2021Directing- 戦争童画集 ～75年目のショートストーリー～2020Directing
Tora-san, Wish You Were Here2019Directing
Seijo Story: 60 Years of Making Films2019Self
What a Wonderful Family! 32018Directing
What a Wonderful Family! 22017Directing
Ken San2016
What a Wonderful Family!2016Directing
Nagasaki: Memories of My Son2015Directing
700 Days with Ryuichi Sakamoto2015Self
Sat-chan Tadashi-chan: Sengo minshu-teki dokuritsu pro funtō-ki2015Self
The Little House2014Directing
Tokyo Family2013Directing
Kyoto Story2010Directing
About Her Brother2010Directing
Kabei: Our Mother2008Directing
Love and Honor2006Directing
The Hidden Blade2004Directing
The Twilight Samurai2002Directing
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen2000Directing
A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage1998Directing
The Rainbow Seeker 21997Directing
Tora-san's Tropical Fever Special Version1997Directing
The Rainbow Seeker1996Directing
A Class to Remember II1996Directing
Tora-san to the Rescue1995Directing
Tora-san's Easy Advice1994Directing