Yoji Yamada
Biography
Yoji 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.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (49)
Tokyo Taxi
Director (Directing)
2025
Home Sweet Home
Writer (Writing)
2025
55th anniversary performance of Tora-San: Rakugo, Talk and Tora Jiro Returns
2024
Mom, Is That You?!
Director (Directing)
2023
The Call of a Faraway Mountain
Screenplay (Writing)
2022
It's a Flickering Life
Screenplay (Writing)
2021
Tora-san, Wish You Were Here
Director (Directing)
2019
Seijo Story: 60 Years of Making Films
as Self
2019
A Distant Cry from Spring
Writer (Writing)
2018
Older Brother, Younger Sister
Screenplay (Writing)
2018
What a Wonderful Family! 3
Director (Directing)
2018
What a Wonderful Family! 2
Director (Directing)
2017
Ken San
2016
What a Wonderful Family!
Director (Directing)
2016
Nagasaki: Memories of My Son
Director (Directing)
2015
700 Days with Ryuichi Sakamoto
as Self
2015
Sat-chan Tadashi-chan: Sengo minshu-teki dokuritsu pro funtō-ki
as Self
2015
The Little House
Director (Directing)
2014
Tokyo Family
Director (Directing)
2013
The Yellow Handkerchief
Writer (Writing)
2011
Kyoto Story
Story (Writing)
2010
About Her Brother
Director (Directing)
2010
Free and Easy 20: Final
Screenplay (Writing)
2009
Kabei: Our Mother
Director (Directing)
2008
Love and Honor
Director (Directing)
2006
Sea Without Exit
Screenplay (Writing)
2006
Free and Easy 17
Screenplay (Writing)
2006
Free and Easy 16
Writer (Writing)
2005
The Hidden Blade
Director (Directing)
2004
Free and Easy 14
Writer (Writing)
2003
The Twilight Samurai
Screenplay (Writing)
2002
Free and Easy 13
Writer (Writing)
2002
Free and Easy 12: Big Holiday Bonus Project
Writer (Writing)
2001
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
Director (Directing)
2000
Free and Easy: Samurai Edition
Writer (Writing)
1998
A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage
Director (Directing)
1998
Free and Easy 10
Screenplay (Writing)
1998
Otoko wa Tsurai yo: Torajirou Wasurenagusa
Creator (Crew)
1998
The Rainbow Seeker 2
Director (Directing)
1997
Shin Salaryman Senka
Screenplay (Writing)
1997
Tora-san's Tropical Fever Special Version
Director (Directing)
1997
The Rainbow Seeker
Director (Directing)
1996
Salaryman Senka: Tanshin Funin
Screenplay (Writing)
1996
A Class to Remember II
Director (Directing)
1996
Free and Easy 8
Writer (Writing)
1996
Tora-san to the Rescue
Director (Directing)
1995
Salaryman Senka
Screenplay (Writing)
1995
Toki no kagayaki
Screenplay (Writing)
1995
Tora-san's Easy Advice
Director (Directing)
1994
