Tokuzō Tanaka

Tokuzo Tanaka
Born(1920-09-15)September 15, 1920
Osaka, Japan
DiedDecember 20, 2007(2007-12-20) (aged 87)
OccupationFilm director
Years active1959–2007
Known forZatoichi series
Nemuri Kyōshirō series

Tokuzō Tanaka (田中徳三, Tanaka Tokuzō, September 15, 1920 – December 20, 2007) was a Japanese film director.[1][2][3] He is well known for directing the Zatoichi and Nemuri Kyōshirō film series.[4]

Biography[edit]

Tanaka graduated from Kwansei Gakuin University.[5][6] In 1948, he joined the Daiei studio and started working as an assistant director under Kon Ichikawa, Kenji Mizoguchi and Kazuo Mori etc.[3] In 1958, Tanaka was promoted to director and debuted with Bakeneko Goyōda.[3] Tanaka received the Japan Directors Guild Special award for his Akumyō series films.[7] In 1971, he was released from his contract with Daiei and become a freelance director when the studio shut down film production. [3] As a freelance director he directed a lot of jidaigeki television dramas[3][4] such as Hissatsu series.[5]

His final work was in the 2007 short film Shonen Kawachiondotori Monogatari.[7] In December 2007, he died of Intracranial hemorrhage.[5]

Selected filmography[edit]

Title[8] Release date Notes
Rashomon
羅生門
1950 Assistant director[1]
The Tales of the Wave after the Rain Moon
雨月物語
1953 Assistant director[1]
Sansho the Bailiff
山椒大夫
1954 Assistant director[1]
The Crucified Lovers
近松物語
1954 Assistant director[1]
Bakeneko Goyōda
化け猫御用だ
1958
Ukare Sandogasa
浮かれ三度笠
1959
The Demon of Mount Oe
大江山酒天童子
Oe-yama Shutendōshi
1960
Nuregami Botan
濡れ髪牡丹
1961
Akumyō
悪名
1961
Hanakurabe Tanuki Dōchu
花くらべ狸道中
1961
Ken ni Kakeru
剣に賭ける
1962
Kujira Gami
鯨神
1962
Enter Kyōshirō Nemuri the Swordman
眠狂四郎殺法帖
Nemuri Kyōshirō Sappōjō
1963
New Tale of Zatoichi
新・座頭市物語
Shin Zatōichi Monogatari
1963
Shutō
手討
1963
Zatoichi the Fugitive
座頭市兇状旅
Zatōichi Kyōjōtabi
1963
Shinobi no Mono 4 Siege
忍びの者 霧隠才蔵
Shinobi no Mono Kirigakure Saizō
1963
Yadonashi Inu
宿無し犬
1964
Kojiki Taishō
乞食大将
1964
Hoodlum Soldier and the C.O.
続・兵隊やくざ
1965
Akai Shuriken
赤い手裏剣
1965
Ootate Orochi
大殺陣 雄呂血
1965
Zatoichi's Vengeance
座頭市の歌が聞える
1966
Assignment Dragon No.3
陸軍中野学校 竜三号指令
1966
Hoodlum Soldier on the Attack
兵隊やくざ殴り込み
Heitai Yakuza Nagurikomi
1967
Heitai Yakuza Ore ni Makasero
兵隊やくざ 俺にまかせろ
1967
The Night Flying
ひき裂かれた盛装
Hikisakareta Shōsō
1967
Sleepy Eyes of Death 10: Hell Is a Woman
眠狂四郎女地獄
Nemuri Kyōshirō Jorōjigoku
1967
The Snow Woman
怪談雪女郎
Kaidan Yukijorō
1968
Secrets of a Women's Temple
秘録おんな寺
Hiroku Onnadera
1969
Tejō Muyō
手錠無用
1969
Haunted Castle
秘録怪猫伝
Hiroku Kaibōden
1969
Tobira wa Hirakareta
扉はひらかれた
1975
Shōnen Kawachiond Monogatari
少年河内音頭取り物語[1]
2007

Television[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "時代劇の粋と美学 大映京都の二枚看板・田中徳三と三隅研次". 神保町シアター. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  2. ^ "田中徳三". Eiga.com. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e "大映の黄金期を支えた映画監督、死去". imidas. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b "鬼平深読み". ホームドラマチャンネル. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "Tokuzō Tanaka biography". Kinema Junpo. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  6. ^ "田中徳三". hmvbook. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  7. ^ a b "田中徳三経歴" (in Japanese). 映画DB. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  8. ^ Filmography from "Tokuzō Tanaka" (in Japanese). kinenote. Retrieved 27 November 2021.

External links[edit]