Yuzo Kawashima
Encyclopedia
was a notable Japanese filmmaker
, most famous for making tragi-comic films and satires.
in the Shimokita Peninsula
. From his youth, he suffered from a paralysis that affected his right leg and arm. He was educated at Meiji University
, where he was a member of the film study circle. He entered the Shōchiku
studios in 1938 and served as an assistant director under Minoru Shibuya
and Keisuke Kinoshita
before directing his film, Kaette kita otoko, in 1944. At Shōchiku after the war, he made many comedies before switching to Nikkatsu
in 1955, when the studio resumed film production. There he made such notable works as Ai no onimotsu (1955), Suzaki paradise: Akashingō
(1956), Gurama-tō no yūwaku (1959), Kashima ari (1959), and Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate
(1957), which was later voted the fifth best Japanese film of all time in Kinema Junpō
's poll of 140 film critics and filmmakers in 1999. In his remaining years, Kawashima worked at multiple studios—Daiei
, Tokyo Eiga, and Toho
—and especially focused on literary adaptations such as Gan no tera (1962), while still making the satirical works like Shitoyakana kedamono (1962) for which he was known.
Like many Japanese directors of the period, Kawashima was very prolific, completing 51 films during a career that only lasted 19 years. He died suddenly in 1963 of cor pulmonale
. His grave in Mutsu bears one of the lines from Kashima ari: "Saying goodbye is all life is" (Sayonara dake ga jinsei da).
, who worked as his assistant director and referred to him as "my teacher." Imamura later remade Kawashima's 1957 film Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate as Eijanaika
.
Cinema of Japan
The has a history that spans more than 100 years. Japan has one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world – as of 2009 the fourth largest by number of feature films produced. Movies have been produced in Japan since 1897, when the first foreign cameramen arrived...
, most famous for making tragi-comic films and satires.
Career
Kawashima was born in Mutsu, AomoriMutsu, Aomori
is a city located in northeastern Aomori in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 61,205 and a density of 70.09 persons per km²...
in the Shimokita Peninsula
Shimokita Peninsula
The Shimokita Peninsula is the remote northeastern cape of the Japanese island of Honshū, stretching out towards Hokkaidō. Administratively the area is a part of Aomori Prefecture....
. From his youth, he suffered from a paralysis that affected his right leg and arm. He was educated at Meiji University
Meiji University
is a private university in Tokyo and Kawasaki, founded in 1881 by three lawyers of the Meiji era, Kishimoto Tatsuo, Miyagi Kōzō, and Yashiro Misao. It is one of the largest and most prestigious Japanese universities in Tokyo, Japan....
, where he was a member of the film study circle. He entered the Shōchiku
Shochiku
is a Japanese movie studio and production company for kabuki. It also produces and distributes anime films. Its best remembered directors include Yasujirō Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Keisuke Kinoshita and Yōji Yamada...
studios in 1938 and served as an assistant director under Minoru Shibuya
Minoru Shibuya
was a Japanese film director.-Career:Born in Tokyo, Shibuya attended Keiō University but left before graduating. He joined Shochiku in 1930 and worked as an assistant under Yasujirō Ozu, Mikio Naruse, and Heinosuke Gosho, before making his debut as a director in 1937...
and Keisuke Kinoshita
Keisuke Kinoshita
was a Japanese film director.Although lesser known internationally than his fellow filmmakers such as Akira Kurosawa , Kenji Mizoguchi and Yasujirō Ozu , Keisuke Kinoshita was nonetheless a household figure at home beloved by audience and critics alike, especially in the forties through the sixties...
before directing his film, Kaette kita otoko, in 1944. At Shōchiku after the war, he made many comedies before switching to Nikkatsu
Nikkatsu
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:...
in 1955, when the studio resumed film production. There he made such notable works as Ai no onimotsu (1955), Suzaki paradise: Akashingō
Suzaki paradise: Akashingō
aka Suzaki Paradise Red Light is a 1956 black and white Japanese film drama directed by Yuzo Kawashima.- Cast :* Michiyo Aratama as Tsutae* Yukiko Todoroki as Otoku* Seizaburō Kawazu as Mr. Ochiai* Tatsuya Mihashi as Yoshiji, Tsutae's husband...
(1956), Gurama-tō no yūwaku (1959), Kashima ari (1959), and Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate
Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate
is a 1957 black-and-white Japanese film comedy directed by Yuzo Kawashima with a screenplay by Kawashima, Shōhei Imamura and Keiichi Tanaka. It was voted the fifth best Japanese film of all time in a poll of 140 Japanese critics and filmmakers conducted by the magazine Kinema Junpo in 1999.- Cast...
(1957), which was later voted the fifth best Japanese film of all time in Kinema Junpō
Kinema Junpo
, commonly called , is a Japanese film magazine which began publication in July 1919. The magazine was founded by a group of four students, including Saburō Tanaka, at the Tokyo Institute of Technology . In that first month, it was published three times on days with a "1" in them. These first three...
's poll of 140 film critics and filmmakers in 1999. In his remaining years, Kawashima worked at multiple studios—Daiei
Daiei
, based in Kobe, is one of the largest supermarket chains in Japan. In 1957, Isao Nakauchi founded the chain in Osaka near Sembayashi Station on the Keihan train line. Daiei is now under a restructuring process supported by Marubeni Corporation and ÆON Co., Ltd., another Japanese supermarket chain....
, Tokyo Eiga, and 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...
—and especially focused on literary adaptations such as Gan no tera (1962), while still making the satirical works like Shitoyakana kedamono (1962) for which he was known.
Like many Japanese directors of the period, Kawashima was very prolific, completing 51 films during a career that only lasted 19 years. He died suddenly in 1963 of cor pulmonale
Cor pulmonale
Cor pulmonale or pulmonary heart disease is enlargement of the right ventricle of the heart as a response to increased resistance or high blood pressure in the lungs ....
. His grave in Mutsu bears one of the lines from Kashima ari: "Saying goodbye is all life is" (Sayonara dake ga jinsei da).
Influence
He was a key influence on Shohei ImamuraShohei Imamura
was a Japanese film director. Imamura was the first Japanese director to win two Palme d'Or awards.His eldest son Daisuke Tengan is also a script writer and film director, and worked on the screenplays to Imamura's filmsThe Eel , Dr...
, who worked as his assistant director and referred to him as "my teacher." Imamura later remade Kawashima's 1957 film Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate as Eijanaika
Eijanaika (film)
is a 1981 Japanese film by director Shohei Imamura. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Kaori Momoi - Ine* Shigeru Izumiya - Genji* Ken Ogata - Furukawa* Shigeru Tsuyuguchi - Kinzo* Masao Kusakari - Itoman...
.
Selected filmography
- Kaette kita otoko (還って来た男) (1944)
- Tonkatsu taishō (とんかつ大将) (1952)
- Ojōsan shachōOjōsan shachō, lit. "Madame Company President", is a 1953 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Yuzo Kawashima.It is musical film.- Cast :* Hibari Misora as Madoka Ohara* Ichirō Arishima as Tetsutaro Kaitani* Takiko Egawa as musical actress...
(お嬢さん社長), lit. "Madame Company President" (1953) - Kinō to ashita no aida (昨日と明日の間) (1954)
- Ai no onimotsu (愛のお荷物) (1955)
- Suzaki paradise: AkashingōSuzaki paradise: Akashingōaka Suzaki Paradise Red Light is a 1956 black and white Japanese film drama directed by Yuzo Kawashima.- Cast :* Michiyo Aratama as Tsutae* Yukiko Todoroki as Otoku* Seizaburō Kawazu as Mr. Ochiai* Tatsuya Mihashi as Yoshiji, Tsutae's husband...
(洲崎パラダイス 赤信号 Suzaki paradaisu Akashingō) aka Suzaki Paradise Red Light (1956) - Sun in the Last Days of the ShogunateSun in the Last Days of the Shogunateis a 1957 black-and-white Japanese film comedy directed by Yuzo Kawashima with a screenplay by Kawashima, Shōhei Imamura and Keiichi Tanaka. It was voted the fifth best Japanese film of all time in a poll of 140 Japanese critics and filmmakers conducted by the magazine Kinema Junpo in 1999.- Cast...
(幕末太陽傳, Bakumatsu taiyōden) (1957) - Gurama-tō no yūwaku (グラマ島の誘惑) (1959)
- Kashima ari (貸間あり) (1959)
- Gan no tera (雁の寺) (1962)
- Shitoyakana kedamono (しとやかな獣) (1962)
External links
- Yuzo Kawashima at IMDB
- Notes on a Kawashima Retrospective (in French)
- Review of Kawashima's Graceful Brute at The House Next Door