View source for Yoji Yamada

{{short description|Japanese film director (born 1931)}}
{{Infobox person
| name            = Yōji Yamada
| image           = Yamada Yoji from "Tora-san, Wish You Were Here" at Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival 2019 (49014012331).jpg
| caption         = Yamada in 2019
| native_name     = 山田 洋次
| native_name_lang= ja
| birth_name      = 
| birth_date      = {{Birth date and age|1931|9|13|df=yes}}
| birth_place     = [[Toyonaka]], Japan
| other_names     = 
| occupation      = Filmmaker
| years_active    = 1961–present
| spouse          = 
}}

{{Nihongo|'''Yoji Yamada'''|山田 洋次|Yamada Yōji|born 13 September 1931}} is a Japanese filmmaker best known for his film series ''[[Otoko wa Tsurai yo]]'' and the Samurai Trilogy (''[[The Twilight Samurai]]'', ''[[The Hidden Blade]]'', and ''[[Love and Honor (2006 film)|Love and Honor]]''). He has directed 91 films,<ref name=HR/> and is well regarded by critics around the world. His ''[[Otoko wa Tsurai yo|Tora-san]]'' series holds the  [[Guinness World Record]] for the longest-running film series starring the same actor.<ref name=HR/>

==Early life==
Yoji Yamada was born on 13 September 1931 in [[Toyonaka|Toyonaka, Osaka]]. Due to his father's job as an engineer for the [[South Manchuria Railway]], he was brought up in the Chinese city of [[Dalian]] from the age of two.<ref name="BYU">{{Cite web |title=Yoji Yamada |url=https://soft-union.com/director/yoji-yamada/ |access-date=2025-09-07 |website=BYU International Cinema |language=en-US}}</ref> Following the end of [[World War II]], he returned to Japan and subsequently lived in [[Ube, Yamaguchi]].<ref>{{cite web | title=山田洋次監督、最新作公開で舞台あいさつ「特別な上映会に」【宇部】 | url=https://ubenippo.co.jp/2023/07/24/2403885/ }}</ref> After receiving his degree from [[University of Tokyo|Tokyo University]] in 1954, he joined the film studio [[Shochiku]] and worked under filmmaker [[Yoshitaro Nomura]] as a screenwriter and assistant director.<ref name="BYU" />

==Career==
Yamada wrote his first screenplay in 1958,{{cn|date=October 2025}} and directed his first movie, a drama titled ''Nikai no Tanin'', in 1961.<ref name=HR/> He once served as president of the [[Directors Guild of Japan]],<ref name="Nenpyo">{{cite web|url=http://www.dgj.or.jp/about_g/chronology.html|title=Nihon eiga kantoku kyōkai nenpyō|publisher=Nihon eiga kantoku kyōkai|language=ja|access-date=17 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726084327/http://www.dgj.or.jp/about_g/chronology.html|archive-date=26 July 2010}}</ref> and is currently a guest professor of [[Ritsumeikan University]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/eizo/news/070123-news.htm |title=立命館大学 映像学部 &#124; 最新ニュース |access-date=2010-02-09 |archive-date=2012-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130204656/http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/eizo/news/070123-news.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> He continues to write and direct; his latest film ''[[Tokyo Taxi]]'' was released in November 2025, two months after he turned 94.<ref name=HR/>

Known in Japan under the title ''[[Otoko wa Tsurai yo]]'', his Tora-san series features traveling merchant Torajirō, who is always unlucky in love. Since the lead role in every Tora-san movie was played by [[Kiyoshi Atsumi]], his death in 1996 put an end to the series and Yamada moved on to other movies. Although Yamada is known for his long-running series of movies—four films in the ''[[A Class to Remember]]'' series, 13 in the ''Free and Easy'' (''Tsuribaka Nisshi'') series—none has reached the prolific numbers of the Tora-san series. Over a period of about 25 years, 48 Tora-san films were made, all of them starring Atsumi, and the majority written and directed by Yamada.

==Notable awards==
Yamada has received multiple accolades in Japan, including: the Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts and the [[Mainichi Film Awards|Mainichi Art Award]] (1970); the [[Kikuchi Kan Prize]] (1972); the [[Medal with Purple Ribbon]] and the [[Asahi Prize]] (1996); the [[Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette]] (2002); membership in the [[Japan Art Academy]] (2008); and the [[Order of Culture]] (2012).<ref name=HR/>

His movies have won the Best Picture award at the [[Japanese Academy Awards]] four times: in 1977 for ''[[The Yellow Handkerchief (1977 film)|The Yellow Handkerchief]]'', in 1991 for ''[[My Sons]]'', in 1993 for ''[[A Class to Remember]]'', and in 2002 for ''[[The Twilight Samurai]]'', which was nominated for the [[76th Academy Awards]]' [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]]. He won the [[Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year]] three times. His 1984 film, ''[[Tora-san's Forbidden Love]]'', was nominated for the Golden Prize at the [[14th Moscow International Film Festival]].<ref name="Moscow1985">{{cite web|url=http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1985|title=14th Moscow International Film Festival (1985)|access-date=9 February 2013|work=MIFF|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316084353/http://moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1985|archive-date=16 March 2013}}</ref>

His 2004 film, ''[[The Hidden Blade]]'', was nominated for sixteen awards and won three.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reports |first=Rafu |date=2018-04-27 |title='The Hidden Blade' Screening at WLA UMC |url=https://rafu.com/2018/04/the-hidden-blade-screening-at-wla-umc/ |access-date=2025-09-07 |website=Rafu Shimpo |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2010, Yamada was honored at the 2010 [[Berlin Film Festival]] with a screening of his latest film ''[[Otōto (2010 film)|Otōto]]'' during the awards ceremony, as well as receiving a ''Berlinale Camera'' award for his numerous contributions to the festival's program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/das_festival/preise_und_juries/berlinale_kamera/index.html|title=Berlinale website|access-date=22 February 2010}}</ref>

The [[38th Tokyo International Film Festival|2025 Tokyo International Film Festival]] presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Yamada.<ref name=HR>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/tokyo-film-festival-yoji-yamada-lifetime-achievement-award-1236406674/|title=Tokyo Film Festival to Honor Yoji Yamada With Lifetime Achievement Award|website=Hollywood Reporter|date=October 21, 2025|author=Patrick Brzeski|access-date=October 22, 2025}}</ref>

==Works==
===Films===
{{Div col}}
*''[[Nikai no Tanin]]'' (1961)
*''[[Shitamachi no Taiyo]]'' (1963)
*''[[Baka Marudashi]]'' (1964)
*''[[Iikagen Baka]]'' (1964)
*''[[Baka ga Sensha de Yattekuru]]'' (1964)
*''[[Kiri no Hata]]'' (1965)
*''[[Un ga Yokerya]]'' (1966)
*''[[Natsukashii Fūraibō]]'' (1966)
*''[[Kyu-chan no Dekkai Yume]]'' (1967)
*''[[Ai no Sanka]]'' (1967)
*''[[Kigeki Ippatsu Shobu]]'' (1967)
*''[[Hana Hajime no Ippatsu Daibōken]]'' (1968)
*''[[Fukeba Tobuyona Otoko daga]]'' (1968)
*''[[Kigeki Ippatsu Daihissho]]'' (1969)
*''[[It's Tough Being a Man]]'' (1969)
*''[[Tora-San's Cherished Mother]]'' (1969)
*''[[Tora-san's Runaway]]'' (1970)
*''[[Kazoku (film)|Kazoku]]'' (''Family'') (1970)
*''[[Tora-san's Shattered Romance]]'' (1971)
*''[[Tora-san, the Good Samaritan]]'' (1971)
*''[[Tora-san's Love Call]]'' (1971)
*''[[Tora-san's Dear Old Home]]'' (1972)
*''[[Tora-san's Dream-Come-True]]'' (1972)
*''[[Home from the Sea (film)|Home From The Sea]]'' (1972)
*''[[Tora-san's Forget Me Not]]'' (1973)
*''[[Tora-san Loves an Artist]]'' (1973)
*''[[Tora-san's Lovesick]]'' (1974)
*''[[Tora-san's Lullaby]]'' (1974)
*''[[Tora-san's Rise and Fall]]'' (1975)
*''[[Tora-san, the Intellectual]]'' (1975)
*''Harakara'' (1975)
*''[[Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset]]'' (1976)
*''[[Tora's Pure Love]]'' (1976)
*''[[Tora-san Meets His Lordship]]'' (1977)
*''[[Tora-san Plays Cupid]]'' (1977)
*''[[The Yellow Handkerchief (1977 film)|The Yellow Handkerchief]]'' (1977)
*''[[Stage-Struck Tora-san]]'' (1978)
*''[[Talk of the Town Tora-san]]'' (1978)
*''[[Tora-san, the Matchmaker]]'' (1979)
*''[[Tora-san's Dream of Spring]]'' (1979)
*''[[Tora's Tropical Fever]]'' (1980)
*''[[Foster Daddy, Tora!]]'' (1980)
*''[[A Distant Cry from Spring]]'' (1980)
*''[[Tora-san's Love in Osaka]]'' (1981)
*''[[Shunmao Monogatari Taotao]]'' (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)
*''[[Tora-san Goes Religious?]]'' (1983)
*''[[Marriage Counselor Tora-san]]'' (1984)
*''[[Tora-san, the Go-Between]]'' (1985)
*''[[Tora-san's Island Encounter]]'' (1985)
*''[[Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy]]'' (1986)
*''[[Final Take]]'' (1986)
*''[[Tora-san Goes North]]'' (1987)
*''[[Tora-san Plays Daddy]]'' (1987)
*''[[Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial]]'' (1988)
*''[[Hope and Pain]]'' (1988)
*''[[Tora-San Goes to Vienna]]'' (1989)
*''[[Tora-san, My Uncle]]'' (1989)
*''[[Tora-san Takes a Vacation]]'' (1990)
*''[[My Sons]]'' (1991)
*''[[Tora-san Confesses]]'' (1991)
*''[[Tora-San Makes Excuses]]'' (1992)
*''[[A Class to Remember]]'' (1993)
*''[[Tora-san's Matchmaker]]'' (1993)
*''[[Tora-san's Easy Advice]]'' (1994)
*''[[Tora-san to the Rescue]]'' (1995)
*''[[A Class to Remember II]]'' (1996)
*''Niji wo Tsukamu Otoko'' (1996)
*''Niji wo Tsukamu Otoko Nangoku Funtō hen'' (1997)
*''A Class to Remember III'' (1998)
*''A Class to Remember IV'' (2000)
*''[[The Twilight Samurai]]'' (2002)
*''[[The Hidden Blade]]'' (2004)
*''[[Love and Honor (2006 film)|Love and Honor]]'' (2006)
*''[[Kabei: Our Mother]]'' (2008)
*''[[Otōto (2010 film)|Otōto]]'' (2010)
*''Kyoto Story'' (2010)
*''[[Tokyo Family]]'' (2013)
*''[[The Little House (2014 film)|The Little House]]'' (2014)
*''[[Nagasaki: Memories of My Son]]'' (2015)
*''[[What a Wonderful Family!]]'' (2016)
*''[[What a Wonderful Family!|What a Wonderful Family! 2]]'' (2017)
*''[[What a Wonderful Family!|What a Wonderful Family! 3: My Wife, My Life]]'' (2018)
*''[[Tora-san, Wish You Were Here]]'' (2019)
*''It's a Flickering Life'' (2021)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/92567/|title= キネマの神様|access-date= April 28, 2021|work= eiga.com}}</ref>
*''Mom, Is That You?!'' (2023)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0132702|title= 山田洋次監督の新作、主演は吉永小百合＆大泉洋！『こんにちは、母さん』来年9月公開|access-date= October 3, 2022|work= Cinematoday|date= 2 October 2022}}</ref>
*''[[Tokyo Taxi]]'' (2025)<ref>{{cite web |url= https://eiga.com/movie/103285/|title= TOKYOタクシー|access-date= 23 January 2025|website= eiga.com|language=ja}}</ref>
{{Div col end}}

===Screenplays===
*''[[Castle of Sand]]'' (1974)
*''[[Tsuribaka Nisshi]]'' Series (1988–2009)
*''Deguchi no Nai Umi'' (2006)

== Honours ==
*[[Medals of Honor (Japan)|Medal with Purple Ribbon]] (1996)
*[[Order of the Rising Sun|Order of the Rising Sun, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette]] (2002)
*[[Person of Cultural Merit]] (2004)<ref name=Honours>{{cite web |url= https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0047313|title= 宮崎駿、アニメ監督初の文化功労者に選ばれ自戒|access-date= January 19, 2021|work= Cinematoday|date= 30 October 2012}}</ref>
*[[Order of Culture]] (2012)<ref name=Honours/>
*[[Tokyo|Honorary citizen of Tokyo]] (2014)
* '''Lifetime Achievement Award''' at [[38th Tokyo International Film Festival]] in 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/10/tokyo-international-film-festival-yoji-yamada-1236592895/ |title=Tokyo Film Festival To Present Lifetime Achievement Award To Yoji Yamada|first= Liz |last=Shackleton |date=21 October 2025|access-date=22 October 2025 |website= [[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0945282}}
* [http://www.japan-zone.com/modern/yamada_yoji.shtml Profile at Japan Zone]; accessed 17 July 2020
* [http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/person/p0148650.htm JMDb Listing]; accessed 17 July 2020 (in Japanese)
*{{cite news |last=Schilling|first=Mark|title=YOJI YAMADA: Voice of dissent revives forgotten war memories|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ff20080131r1.html|publisher=[[The Japan Times]]|date=31 January 2008|access-date=17 July 2020}}

{{Yoji Yamada}}
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|title = Awards for Yoji Yamada
|list =
{{Golden Goblet Award for Best Director}}
{{Hochi Film Award for Best Director}}
{{Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Yamada, Yoji}}
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Japanese film directors]]
[[Category:Japanese screenwriters]]
[[Category:Samurai film directors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Toyonaka, Osaka]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Kansai University]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Ritsumeikan University]]
[[Category:University of Tokyo alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Medal with Purple Ribbon]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th class]]
[[Category:Persons of Cultural Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Culture]]