Junji Sakamoto
Encyclopedia
Junji Sakamoto is a Japanese film director
born in Sakai City, Japan
. After working as a set assistant or assistant director under such filmmakers as Sogo Ishii
and Kazuyuki Izutsu
, he made his directorial debut in 1989 with Dotsuitarunen
(earning the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award
) and followed it up with another boxing
film, Tekken
in 1990. Sakamoto became known for action films focusing on the conflicts between male characters, such as Tokarefu
and Shin jingi naki tatakai, but has also made films centered on female characters such as Kao
(released in the USA as Face) and Tamamoe!. A number of works, such Ōte
and Biriken are set in Osaka
, particularly the Shinsekai
sector. His films have also taken up such controversial topics as postwar Japanese history and the problem of national sovereignty
(Kono yo no soto e: Kurabu shinchūgun or Bōkoku no ījisu), or the trafficking of children
in Asia
(Yami no kodomotachi). He won the award for Best Director at the 24th Japan Academy Prize and at the 22nd Yokohama Film Festival
for Face.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
born in Sakai City, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. After working as a set assistant or assistant director under such filmmakers as Sogo Ishii
Sogo Ishii
', formerly is a Japanese filmmaker known for his striking visuals and sometimes outlandish subject matter.Ishii was born in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and is a graduate of Fukuoka Prefectural Fukuoka High School and Nihon University College of Art....
and Kazuyuki Izutsu
Kazuyuki Izutsu
is a Japanese film director, screenwriter and film critic. Born in Nara Prefecture, he started making 8mm films in high school, and directed his first 35mm film, a pink film, in 1975. He earned a citation from the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award in 1981 for Gaki teikoku, and his Boys...
, he made his directorial debut in 1989 with Dotsuitarunen
Dotsuitarunen
is a 1989 Japanese film directed by Junji Sakamoto.-Awards and nominations:11th Yokohama Film Festival*Won: Best Film*Won: Best New Director - Junji Sakamoto*Won: Best Supporting Actor - Yoshio Harada...
(earning the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award
Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award
The is given annually by the Directors Guild of Japan to a new director of a film released that year who is considered the most "suitable" for the award. The winner is selected by a committee formed of DGJ members. All formats—feature film, documentary, television, video, etc.—are eligible for...
) and followed it up with another boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
film, Tekken
Tekken (1990 film)
Tekken is a 1990 Japanese film directed by Junji Sakamoto. It stars Takeshi Yamato, Bunta Sugawara and Karen Kirishima.-Plot:The plot centers around a young ex-prisoner who takes up boxing .-Other uses:...
in 1990. Sakamoto became known for action films focusing on the conflicts between male characters, such as Tokarefu
Tokarefu
is a 1994 Japanese film directed by Junji Sakamoto.-Awards and nominations:16th Yokohama Film Festival*Won: Best Film*Won: Best Director - Junji Sakamoto*Won: Best Supporting Actor - Kōichi Satō...
and Shin jingi naki tatakai, but has also made films centered on female characters such as Kao
Face (2000 film)
is a 2000 Japanese film directed by Junji Sakamoto. At the 24th Japan Academy Prize it won one award and received four other nominations.- Awards and nominations :24th Japan Academy Prize.*Won: Best Director - Junji Sakamoto*Nominated: Best Picture...
(released in the USA as Face) and Tamamoe!. A number of works, such Ōte
Ōte
-Reception:It was chosen as the 3rd Best Film at the 13th Yokohama Film Festival. Reona Hirota also won the Award for Best Supporting Actress....
and Biriken are set in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, particularly the Shinsekai
Shinsekai
Shinsekai , "New World" in English, is an old neighbourhood located next to south Osaka City's downtown "Minami" area. The neighbourhood was created in 1912 with New York as a model for its southern half and Paris for its northern half...
sector. His films have also taken up such controversial topics as postwar Japanese history and the problem of national sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
(Kono yo no soto e: Kurabu shinchūgun or Bōkoku no ījisu), or the trafficking of children
Trafficking of children
Trafficking of children is a form of human trafficking. It is defined as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receiving of children for the purpose of exploitation....
in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
(Yami no kodomotachi). He won the award for Best Director at the 24th Japan Academy Prize and at the 22nd Yokohama Film Festival
Yokohama Film Festival
The is a noticed yearly awards ceremony held in Japan. The festival was started as a small affair by fans and film critics, and first held on February 3, 1980. Ten films are chosen as the best of the year, and various awards are given to personnel...
for Face.
Director
- 19891989 in film-Events:* Batman is released on June 23, and goes on to gross over $410 million worldwide.* Actress Kim Basinger and her brother Mick purchase Braselton, Georgia, for $20 million...
DotsuitarunenDotsuitarunenis a 1989 Japanese film directed by Junji Sakamoto.-Awards and nominations:11th Yokohama Film Festival*Won: Best Film*Won: Best New Director - Junji Sakamoto*Won: Best Supporting Actor - Yoshio Harada... - 19901990 in filmThe year 1990 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* CGI technique is expanded with motion capture for CGI characters, used in Total Recall .* The first digitally-manipulated matte painting is used, in Die Hard 2....
TekkenTekken (1990 film)Tekken is a 1990 Japanese film directed by Junji Sakamoto. It stars Takeshi Yamato, Bunta Sugawara and Karen Kirishima.-Plot:The plot centers around a young ex-prisoner who takes up boxing .-Other uses:... - 19911991 in filmThe year 1991 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*April 28 - Bonnie Raitt marries actor Michael O'Keefe in New York* Terminator 2: Judgment Day, became one of the landmarks for science fiction action films with its groundbreaking visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic.*November...
ŌteŌte-Reception:It was chosen as the 3rd Best Film at the 13th Yokohama Film Festival. Reona Hirota also won the Award for Best Supporting Actress.... - 19941994 in film1994 was a significant year in film.The top grosser worldwide was The Lion King, which to date stands as the highest-grossing traditionally-animated film of all time...
TokarefuTokarefuis a 1994 Japanese film directed by Junji Sakamoto.-Awards and nominations:16th Yokohama Film Festival*Won: Best Film*Won: Best Director - Junji Sakamoto*Won: Best Supporting Actor - Kōichi Satō... - 19961996 in filmMajor releases this year included Scream, Independence Day, Fargo, Trainspotting, The English Patient, Twister, Mars Attacks!, Jerry Maguire and a version of Evita starring Madonna.-Events:...
Biriken - 20002000 in filmThe year 2000 in film involved some significant events.The top grosser worldwide was Mission: Impossible II. Domestically in North America, Gladiator won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Actor ....
KaoFace (2000 film)is a 2000 Japanese film directed by Junji Sakamoto. At the 24th Japan Academy Prize it won one award and received four other nominations.- Awards and nominations :24th Japan Academy Prize.*Won: Best Director - Junji Sakamoto*Nominated: Best Picture... - 20002000 in filmThe year 2000 in film involved some significant events.The top grosser worldwide was Mission: Impossible II. Domestically in North America, Gladiator won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Actor ....
Shin jingi naki tatakai - 20022002 in filmThe year 2002 in film involved some significant events. The first significant releases of sequels took place between The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Men in Black II, Analyze That, Spy Kids 2: The Island of...
KTKT (film)KT is a 2002 Japanese-South Korean film directed by Junji Sakamoto with a screenplay by Haruhiko Arai. It based on the kidnapping of Kim Dae-jung by agents of Park Chung-hee in August 1973 while on a trip to Tokyo... - 20042004 in filmThe year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
Kono yo no soto e: Kurabu shinchūgun - 20052005 in film- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2005...
Bōkoku no ījisu - 20072007 in filmThis is a list of major films released in 2007.-Top grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2007...
Tamamoe! - 20082008 in filmThis is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008...
Yami no kodomotachi - 20082008 in filmThis is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008...
Kamereon - 20102010 in filmThe year 2010 saw many new films released worldwide. 2010 saw a dramatic increase and prominence in the use of 3D-technology in filmmaking and film releases after the success of Avatar in the format, with releases such as Alice in Wonderland, Clash of the Titans, Jackass 3D, all animated films and...
Zatōichi the Last - 20112011 in filmThe year 2011 is notable for containing the release of the most film sequels in a single year, at 27 sequels. The following tables list films that are in production or have completed production and will be released in the United States and Canada at some point in 2011.- Highest-grossing films :...
Ōshika-mura sōdōki