Kajirō Yamamoto
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese film director
, screenwriter
, and actor
who was known for his war films and comedies
and as the mentor of Akira Kurosawa
.
, 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.
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
. When P. C. L. became the Toho
company, Yamamoto helmed realist dramas such as Tsuzurikata kyōshitsu and Uma (starring Hideko Takamine
), and war films such as Hawai Mare oki kaisen
.
After World War II
, he continued directing films, but increasingly worked in television and radio.
, who served as his assistant director on 17 films.
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:...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
who was known for his war films and comedies
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
and as the mentor of Akira Kurosawa
Akira Kurosawa
was a Japanese film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. Regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, Kurosawa directed 30 filmsIn 1946, Kurosawa co-directed, with Hideo Sekigawa and Kajiro Yamamoto, the feature Those Who Make Tomorrow ;...
.
Early life
Born in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Yamamoto attended Keio University
Keio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
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 NikkatsuNikkatsu
is a Japanese entertainment company well known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio. The name Nikkatsu is an abbreviation of Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally "Japan Cinematograph Company".-History:...
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
Kenichi Enomoto
Kenichi Enomoto was a popular Japanese singing comedian, mostly known by his stage name Enoken ....
. When P. C. L. became the Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
company, Yamamoto helmed realist dramas such as Tsuzurikata kyōshitsu and Uma (starring Hideko Takamine
Hideko Takamine
was a Japanese actress who began as a child actor and maintained her fame in a career that spanned nine decades.-Life and career:Born in Hakodate, Hokkaidō, Japan, Takamine's first role was in the Shochiku studio's 1929 film Mother , which brought her tremendous popularity as a child actor. Soon...
), and war films such as Hawai Mare oki kaisen
Hawai Mare oki kaisen
, literally: The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malay, is a 1942 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Kajiro Yamamoto.There are special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya who would later co-create the widely-popular Godzilla franchise and fully create the also widely-popular Ultraman series.- Cast :* Susumu...
.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he continued directing films, but increasingly worked in television and radio.
Legacy
He is now mostly known as the mentor of Akira KurosawaAkira Kurosawa
was a Japanese film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. Regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, Kurosawa directed 30 filmsIn 1946, Kurosawa co-directed, with Hideo Sekigawa and Kajiro Yamamoto, the feature Those Who Make Tomorrow ;...
, who served as his assistant director on 17 films.
Selected filmography
Director
- Enoken no Kondō Isami (エノケンの近藤勇) (1935)
- Enoken no Chakkiri Kinta (エノケンのちゃっきり金太) (1937)
- Tsuzurikata Kyōshitsu (綴方教室) (1938)
- Uma (馬) (1941)
- Hawai Mare oki kaisenHawai Mare oki kaisen, literally: The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malay, is a 1942 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Kajiro Yamamoto.There are special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya who would later co-create the widely-popular Godzilla franchise and fully create the also widely-popular Ultraman series.- Cast :* Susumu...
(ハワイ・マレー沖海戦) (1942) - Katō Hayabusa SentōtaiKato hayabusa sento-taiaka Colonel Tateo Katō's Flying Squadron and aka Colonel Kato's Falcon Squadron is a 1944 black and white Japanese film directed by Kajiro Yamamoto.It is a war film and there are special effects by Eiji Tsuburaya....
(加藤隼戦闘隊) (1944)