Yoji Yamada
DirectingYoji 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.
Known For
Filmography — Acting
Ken San
I Lived, But...
Self
Sat-chan Tadashi-chan: Sengo minshu-teki dokuritsu pro funtō-ki
Self
Seijo Story: 60 Years of Making Films
Self
Film Director Satsuo Yamamoto
Self
700 Days with Ryuichi Sakamoto
Self
55th anniversary performance of Tora-San: Rakugo, Talk and Tora Jiro Returns
Filmography — Crew
The Twilight Samurai
Director
A Distant Cry from Spring
Director
The Castle of Sand
Screenplay
Love and Honor
Director
Tokyo Taxi
Director
Kabei: Our Mother
Director
The Little House
Director
It's a Flickering Life
Screenplay
Tora-san Goes Religious?
Writer
The Yellow Handkerchief
Director
Tora-san, the Go-Between
Director
About Her Brother
Director
Tora-san's Love in Osaka
Director
What a Wonderful Family!
Director
Tora-san, Our Lovable Tramp
Director
A Trap
Director
Tora-san Plays Daddy
Director
Tora-san's Tropical Fever
Writer
Tora-san's Dream of Spring
Writer
Mom, Is That You?!
Director
Tora-san Meets the Songstress Again
Director
Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies
Director
Tora-san's Pure Love
Director
Tokyo Family
Director
I, the Executioner
Writer
Tora-san Goes to Vienna
Director
Tora-san, the Expert
Director
My Sons
Director
Marriage Counselor Tora-san
Director
Tora-san, the Good Samaritan
Director
Nagasaki: Memories of My Son
Director
The Rainbow Seeker
Director
Toki no kagayaki
Screenplay
Tora-san's Love Call
Director
Where Spring Comes Late
Director
Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial
Director
Tora-san to the Rescue
Director
Zero Focus
Screenplay
Foster Daddy, Tora!
Director
What a Wonderful Family! 2
Director
A Distant Cry from Spring
Writer
Tora-san, Wish You Were Here
Director
Tora-san Goes North
Director
Talk of the Town Tora-san
Writer
Ohana han: Dai ni bu
Screenplay
Tora-san's Lullaby
Writer
Tora-san's Shattered Romance
Director
Tora-san Plays Cupid
Director
The Hidden Blade
Director
Free and Easy
Writer
Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san
Director
Tora-san's Tropical Fever Special Version
Director
At the Side of the Bridge
Screenplay
The Honest Fool
Director
Tora-san's Runaway
Director
Free and Easy Special
Writer
The Yellow Handkerchief
Writer
Downtown Heroes
Director
Tora-san Takes a Vacation
Director
Tora-san Confesses
Director
Tora-san, My Uncle
Writer
The Greatest Challenge of All
Screenplay
Song of Love
Screenplay
Home Sweet Home
Writer
Stage-Struck Tora-san
Writer
Tora-san's Dream-Come-True
Director
Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy
Director
The Strangers Upstairs
Director
Tora-san, the Matchmaker
Director
Tora-san Meets His Lordship
Director
Tora-san's Forbidden Love
Writer
The Irresponsible Fool
Director
Tora-san's Song of Love
Director
Home from the Sea
Director
Follow the Girls
Screenplay
Tora-san's Easy Advice
Director
Free and Easy 14
Writer
The Village
Director
Ohana han
Screenplay
The Million Dollar Pursuit
Screenplay
Let's Have A Dream
Director
Tora-san's Island Encounter
Director
The Rainbow Seeker 2
Director
Kyū-chan ondo
Screenplay
A Class to Remember
Director
Older Brother, Younger Sister
Screenplay
Modan dôchû: Sono koi matta nashi
Screenplay
Tora-san's Forget Me Not
Director
Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset
Director
Koi no gashū
Screenplay
At the Side of the Bridge 2
Screenplay
To Your Majesty, The Emperor 2
Screenplay
The Call of a Faraway Mountain
Screenplay
Tora-san's Lovesick
Writer
At the Side of the Bridge 4
Screenplay
Tora-san, the Intellectual
Writer
The Shy Deceiver
Director
At the Side of the Bridge 3
Screenplay
What a Wonderful Family! 3
Director
Shin Salaryman Senka
Screenplay
Tora-san Makes Excuses
Director
Tora-san's Promise
Director
Salaryman Senka: Tanshin Funin
Screenplay
Tora-san, His Tender Love
Screenplay
Days with Harasu
Writer
Free and Easy 20: Final
Screenplay
Onna no issho
Screenplay
Tora-san's Cherished Mother
Director
A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage
Director
Salaryman Senka
Screenplay
Kanbi no ware koso wa ittō shain
Screenplay
Vagabond Schemer
Director
Free and Easy 17
Screenplay
Free and Easy 8
Writer
Free and Easy 6
Writer
Free and Easy: Samurai Edition
Writer
Center of Tokyo
Screenplay
Tora-san's Dear Old Home
Director
Yellow Cherries
Screenplay
Gamblers' Luck
Screenplay
Free and Easy 7
Writer
The Lovable Tramp
Director
Tora-san's Grand Scheme
Screenplay
The Donkey Comes on a Tank
Director
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
Director
Free and Easy 10
Screenplay
Akatsuki no chiheisen
Screenplay
Free and Easy 16
Writer
The Sunshine Girl
Director
The Girl Who Creates Tomorrow
Screenplay
Kyoto Story
Screenplay
Free and Easy 4
Writer
Tora-san's Matchmaker
Director
Free and Easy 12: Big Holiday Bonus Project
Writer
Free and Easy 2
Writer
Tora-san Loves an Artist
Writer
Sea Without Exit
Screenplay
Free and Easy 5
Writer
Warm Current
Writer
Monthly Salary: 13,000 Yen
Screenplay
A Class to Remember II
Director
Free and Easy 13
Writer
Hachi no ko
Screenplay