Nobuhiko Obayashi
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
director
, screenwriter
and editor
of films and television advertisements who is well known for his surreal visual style. He began his career as a pioneering figure in Japanese experimental film
during the 1960s before transitioning to directing more mainstream works such as television and feature films. Though he remains mostly unknown outside of Japan he has made a prolific number of films in his 50 years of working with the medium.
, Japan. He was the eldest son of a father who was one in a long paternal line of medical doctors. As his father was called to the battlefront during World War II
, he was raised in his early infancy by his maternal grandparents. Through his childhood and adolescence Obayashi followed many artistic pursuits including drawing, writing, playing the piano, and a growing interest in animation and film.
In 1955 Obayashi, at the urging of his father, began procedures to enter medical school and become a doctor. However, he shortly thereafter abandoned this initiative partway through an entrance examination in order to follow his artistic interests. In 1956 he was accepted to the liberal arts department of Seijo University
where he began to work with 8 and 16mm film. Toward the end of his stay at the university Obayashi began working on a series of experimental films. Along with works by other filmmakers such as Shuji Terayama
and Donald Richie
Obayshi's films would develop the tone of Japanese experimental cinema through the 1960s. In these early experimental films Obayashi employed a number of avantgarde techniques that he would carry into his later mainstream work. Though these films tended to be of a personal nature, they received public viewership due to distribution by the Art Theatre Guild
.
Following his departure from university Obayashi, while concurrently continuing his experimental films, earned a living as a director in the new field of television advertisements. Obayashi's TV commercials had a visual appeal similar to his experimental works. In the 1970s he began a series of Japanese ads featuring well-known American stars such as Kirk Douglas
and Charles Bronson
. Obayashi began directing feature films starting in 1977 with the horror comedy House
. The film employed a mixture of trick photography and avant-garde techniques to achieve its distinctive surreal visuals. Through the 1980s and onwards he continued to make feature films and broadened his mainstream appeal. He has become particularly well-known for his coming-of-age movies: films such as Exchange Students (1982) and Chizuko's Younger Sister (1991) have prominent coming-of-age themes while still maintaining surreal fantasy elements and Obayashi's distinct visual flair.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
director
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 editor
Film editing
Film editing is part of the creative post-production process of filmmaking. It involves the selection and combining of shots into sequences, and ultimately creating a finished motion picture. It is an art of storytelling...
of films and television advertisements who is well known for his surreal visual style. He began his career as a pioneering figure in Japanese experimental film
Experimental film
Experimental film or experimental cinema is a type of cinema. Experimental film is an artistic practice relieving both of visual arts and cinema. Its origins can be found in European avant-garde movements of the twenties. Experimental cinema has built its history through the texts of theoreticians...
during the 1960s before transitioning to directing more mainstream works such as television and feature films. Though he remains mostly unknown outside of Japan he has made a prolific number of films in his 50 years of working with the medium.
Biography
Obayashi was born on the 9th of January 1938 in the city of OnomichiOnomichi, Hiroshima
is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, facing the Inland Sea.As of January 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 148,085 and a population density of 520 persons per km². The total area is 284.85 km²...
, Japan. He was the eldest son of a father who was one in a long paternal line of medical doctors. As his father was called to the battlefront during 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 was raised in his early infancy by his maternal grandparents. Through his childhood and adolescence Obayashi followed many artistic pursuits including drawing, writing, playing the piano, and a growing interest in animation and film.
In 1955 Obayashi, at the urging of his father, began procedures to enter medical school and become a doctor. However, he shortly thereafter abandoned this initiative partway through an entrance examination in order to follow his artistic interests. In 1956 he was accepted to the liberal arts department of Seijo University
Seijo University
Seijo University（成城大学）is a private university in Seijo, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Seijo University has its origins in ‘Seijo Gakuen（成城学園）’, which was founded in 1917, by Dr. Masataro Sawayanagi, a former Minister of Education...
where he began to work with 8 and 16mm film. Toward the end of his stay at the university Obayashi began working on a series of experimental films. Along with works by other filmmakers such as Shuji Terayama
Shuji Terayama
was an avant-garde Japanese poet, dramatist, writer, film director, and photographer. According to many critics and supporters, he was one of the most productive and provocative creative artists to come out of Japan. He was born December 10, 1935, the only son of Hachiro and Hatsu Terayama in...
and Donald Richie
Donald Richie
Donald Richie is an American-born author who has written about the Japanese people and Japanese cinema. Although he considers himself only a writer, Richie has directed many experimental films, the first when he was 17...
Obayshi's films would develop the tone of Japanese experimental cinema through the 1960s. In these early experimental films Obayashi employed a number of avantgarde techniques that he would carry into his later mainstream work. Though these films tended to be of a personal nature, they received public viewership due to distribution by the Art Theatre Guild
Art Theatre Guild
Art Theatre Guild was a film production company in Japan that started in 1961 and ran through to the mid 1980s. ATG, as it is abbreviated, released mostly Japanese New Wave films. Films released by ATG include Nagisa Oshima's Diary Of A Shinjuku Thief , Toshio Matsumoto's masterpiece Funeral...
.
Following his departure from university Obayashi, while concurrently continuing his experimental films, earned a living as a director in the new field of television advertisements. Obayashi's TV commercials had a visual appeal similar to his experimental works. In the 1970s he began a series of Japanese ads featuring well-known American stars such as Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas is an American stage and film actor, film producer and author. His popular films include Out of the Past , Champion , Ace in the Hole , The Bad and the Beautiful , Lust for Life , Paths of Glory , Gunfight at the O.K...
and Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson , born Charles Dennis Buchinsky was an American actor, best-known for such films as Once Upon a Time in the West, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape, Rider on the Rain, The Mechanic, and the popular Death Wish series...
. Obayashi began directing feature films starting in 1977 with the horror comedy House
House (1977 film)
is a 1977 Japanese horror film directed and produced by Nobuhiko Obayashi. The film stars mostly non professional actors with only Kimiko Ikegami and Yōko Minamida having any notable previous acting experience...
. The film employed a mixture of trick photography and avant-garde techniques to achieve its distinctive surreal visuals. Through the 1980s and onwards he continued to make feature films and broadened his mainstream appeal. He has become particularly well-known for his coming-of-age movies: films such as Exchange Students (1982) and Chizuko's Younger Sister (1991) have prominent coming-of-age themes while still maintaining surreal fantasy elements and Obayashi's distinct visual flair.
Experimental films
- Dandanko (1960)
- E no Naka no Shoujo (1960)
- Mokuyoubi (1961)
- Katami (1963)
- Nakasendo (1963)
- Onomichi (1963)
- Tabeta Hito (1963)
- Complexe (1964)
- Emotion (1966)
- Confession (1968)
Feature films
- HouseHouse (1977 film)is a 1977 Japanese horror film directed and produced by Nobuhiko Obayashi. The film stars mostly non professional actors with only Kimiko Ikegami and Yōko Minamida having any notable previous acting experience...
(1977) - The Eye's Visitor (1977)
- If She Looks Back, It's Love (1978)
- The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi (1979)
- School in the Crosshairs (1981)
- Exchange StudentsTenkōseiis a 1982 Japanese film directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi. It is also known by the alternate English titles Exchange Students and I Are You, You Am Me.-Awards:4th Yokohama Film Festival*Won: Best Film...
(1982) - The Girl Who Leapt Through TimeToki o Kakeru Shojo (1983 film)is a 1983 Japanese science fiction film directed and edited by Nobuhiko Obayashi, written by Wataru Kenmotsu, and starring idol Tomoyo Harada in her first film...
(1983) - Shinjuro (1984)
- The Deserted City (1984)
- Kenya Boy (1984)
- The Island Closest to Heaven (1984)
- Lonely HeartLonely Heartis a 1985 Japanese film directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi.-External links:* at the Japanese Movie Database...
(1985) - Four Sisters (1985)
- His Motorbike, Her IslandHis Motorbike, Her Islandis a 1986 Japanese film directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi.-Awards:8th Yokohama Film Festival*Won: Best Supporting Actress - Noriko Watanabe*Won: Best Newcomer - Kiwako Harada*3rd Best Film...
(1986) - April Fish (1986)
- Bound for the Fields, the Mountains, and the Seacoast (1986)
- The Drifting ClassroomThe Drifting Classroomis a horror manga series by Kazuo Umezu. It was awarded the 20th Shogakukan Manga Award in 1975.The story was adapted into a Japanese live action movie in 1987, and given a modern setting at an international school in Kobe. The movie starred Hayashi Yasufumi and Aiko Asano...
(1987) - The Strange Couple (1988)
- The Discarnates (異人たちとの夏) (1988)
- Watashi no Kokoro wa Papa no Mono (1988)
- Beijing Watermelon (1989)
- The Reason She Doesn't Get Married (1990)
- Chizuko's Younger SisterChizuko's Younger Sisteria a 1991 Japanese film directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi....
(1991) - The Rocking Horsemen (1992)
- Haruka, Nosutarujii (1993)
- Samurai Kids (1993)
- A Mature Woman (1994)
- Goodbye for Tomorrow (1995)
- Tom Cat Holmes' Deduction (1996)
- Sada (1998)
- I Want to Hear the Wind's Song (1998)
- One Summer's Day (1999)
- The Last Snow (2002)
- The Reason (2004)
- Song of Goodbye (2006)
- Exchange Students - Goodbye to You (2007)
- Before That Day (2008)
External links
- Ubuweb entry for Obayashi showcasing his expirimental works