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.
Acting (5 movies)
Directing (91 movies)
Love and Honor
2006
The Yellow Handkerchief
1977
Kabei: Our Mother
2008
The Twilight Samurai
2002
The Hidden Blade
2004
The Village
1976
About Her Brother
2010
It's Tough Being a Man
1969
A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage
1998
A Class to Remember
1993
Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset
1976
Home from the Sea
1972
Kyoto Story
2010
Tora-san Loves an Artist
1973
Tora-san's Cherished Mother
1969
Tokyo Family
2013
Tora-san's Forget Me Not
1973
Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies
1986
Tora-san Goes Religious?
1983
Tora-san's Dream of Spring
1979
Tora-san's Runaway
1970
Tora-san's Love Call
1971
A Trap
1965
Tora-san's Shattered Romance
1971
Tora-san's Dear Old Home
1972
Tora-san's Forbidden Love
1984
Tora-san, the Good Samaritan
1971
Tora-san's Dream-Come-True
1972
Tora-san's Lovesick
1974
The Little House
2014
My Sons
1991
Tora-san's Lullaby
1974
Where Spring Comes Late
1970
Tora-san Meets the Songstress Again
1975
Downtown Heroes
1988
Tora-san, the Intellectual
1975
Tora-san's Pure Love
1976
A Distant Cry from Spring
1980
Tora-san Meets His Lordship
1977
A Class to Remember II
1996
Tora-san Plays Cupid
1977
Tora-san, My Uncle
1989
The Rainbow Seeker
1996
Tora-san Makes Excuses
1992
Stage-Struck Tora-san
1978
Tora-san's Tropical Fever
1980
Talk of the Town Tora-san
1978
Tora-san, the Matchmaker
1979
The Lovable Tramp
1966
Tora-san Confesses
1991
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
2000
Nagasaki: Memories of My Son
2015
What a Wonderful Family!
2016
Tora-san Goes North
1987
Foster Daddy, Tora!
1980
Tora-san's Love in Osaka
1981
Tora-san's Promise
1981
Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san
1982
Tora-san, the Expert
1982
Tora-san's Song of Love
1983
Marriage Counselor Tora-san
1984
Tora-san, the Go-Between
1985
Tora-san's Island Encounter
1985
Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy
1986
Tora-san Plays Daddy
1987
Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial
1988
Tora-san Goes to Vienna
1989
Tora-san Takes a Vacation
1990
Tora-san's Matchmaker
1993
Tora-san's Easy Advice
1994
Tora-san to the Rescue
1995
What a Wonderful Family! 2
2017
Mom, Is That You?!
2023
The Sunshine Girl
1963
The Rainbow Seeker 2
1997
What a Wonderful Family! 3
2018
The Strangers Upstairs
1961
The Irresponsible Fool
1964
Gamblers' Luck
1966
Tora-san, Wish You Were Here
2019
The Honest Fool
1964
Tora-san's Tropical Fever Special Version
1997
The Donkey Comes on a Tank
1964
The Greatest Challenge of All
1967
The Million Dollar Pursuit
1968
The Shy Deceiver
1968
Vagabond Schemer
1969
Let's Have A Dream
1967
Song of Love
1967
It's a Flickering Life
2021
TOKYO Taxi
2025