About

Known credits:
259
Birthday:
1931-09-13
Place of birth:
Osaka, Japan
Website:
Click here

Yoji Yamada

Overview

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 Yamagata 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

Acting
2024 55th anniversary performance of Tora-San: Rakugo, Talk and Tora Jiro Returns Actor N/A
N/A
2019 Seijo Story: 60 Years of Making Films Actor Self N/A
N/A
2015 700 Days with Ryuichi Sakamoto Actor Self N/A
N/A
2015 Sat-chan Tadashi-chan: Sengo minshu-teki dokuritsu pro funtō-ki Actor Self N/A
N/A
1983 I Lived, But... Actor Self 59
Average

Directing
2025 TOKYO Taxi Directing Director N/A
N/A
2023 Mom, Is That You?! Directing Director 58
Average
2021 It's a Flickering Life Directing Director 59
Average
2019 Tora-san, Wish You Were Here Directing Director 59
Average
2018 What a Wonderful Family! 3 Directing Director 59
Average
2017 What a Wonderful Family! 2 Directing Director 59
Average
2016 What a Wonderful Family! Directing Director 59
Average
2015 Nagasaki: Memories of My Son Directing Director 59
Average
2014 The Little House Directing Director 59
Average
2013 Tokyo Family Directing Director 60
Fair
2010 Kyoto Story Directing Director 59
Average
2010 About Her Brother Directing Director 59
Average
2008 Kabei: Our Mother Directing Director 59
Average
2006 Love and Honor Directing Director 61
Fair
2004 The Hidden Blade Directing Director 61
Fair
2002 The Twilight Samurai Directing Director 66
Fair
2000 A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen Directing Director 59
Average
1998 A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage Directing Director 58
Average
1997 The Rainbow Seeker 2 Directing Director N/A
N/A
1997 Tora-san's Tropical Fever Special Version Directing Director 59
Average
1996 The Rainbow Seeker Directing Director N/A
N/A
1996 A Class to Remember II Directing Director 59
Average
1995 Tora-san to the Rescue Directing Director 59
Average
1994 Tora-san's Easy Advice Directing Director 59
Average
1993 Tora-san's Matchmaker Directing Director 59
Average
1993 A Class to Remember Directing Director 58
Average
1992 Tora-san Makes Excuses Directing Director 59
Average
1991 Tora-san Confesses Directing Director 59
Average
1991 My Sons Directing Director 59
Average
1990 Tora-san Takes a Vacation Directing Director 58
Average
1989 Tora-san, My Uncle Directing Director 59
Average
1989 Tora-san Goes to Vienna Directing Director 59
Average
1988 Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial Directing Director N/A
N/A
1988 Downtown Heroes Directing Director 59
Average
1987 Tora-san Plays Daddy Directing Director 59
Average
1987 Tora-san Goes North Directing Director 59
Average
1986 Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy Directing Director 59
Average
1986 Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies Directing Director 59
Average
1985 Tora-san's Island Encounter Directing Director 59
Average
1985 Tora-san, the Go-Between Directing Director 59
Average
1984 Tora-san's Forbidden Love Directing Director 59
Average
1984 Marriage Counselor Tora-san Directing Director 59
Average
1983 Tora-san Goes Religious? Directing Director 59
Average
1983 Tora-san's Song of Love Directing Director 59
Average
1982 Tora-san, the Expert Directing Director 59
Average
1982 Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san Directing Director 59
Average
1981 Tora-san's Promise Directing Director 59
Average
1981 Tora-san's Love in Osaka Directing Director 59
Average
1980 Foster Daddy, Tora! Directing Director 59
Average
1980 Tora-san's Tropical Fever Directing Director 59
Average
1980 A Distant Cry from Spring Directing Director 59
Average
1979 Tora-san's Dream of Spring Directing Director 59
Average
1979 Tora-san, the Matchmaker Directing Director 59
Average
1978 Talk of the Town Tora-san Directing Director 59
Average
1978 Stage-Struck Tora-san Directing Director 59
Average
1977 Tora-san Plays Cupid Directing Director 59
Average
1977 The Yellow Handkerchief Directing Director 59
Average
1977 Tora-san Meets His Lordship Directing Director 59
Average
1976 Tora-san's Pure Love Directing Director 59
Average
1976 Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset Directing Director 59
Average
1976 The Village Directing Director 59
Average
1975 Tora-san, the Intellectual Directing Director 59
Average
1975 Tora-san Meets the Songstress Again Directing Director 59
Average
1974 Tora-san's Lullaby Directing Director 59
Average
1974 Tora-san's Lovesick Directing Director 59
Average
1973 Tora-san Loves an Artist Directing Director 59
Average
1973 Tora-san's Forget Me Not Directing Director 59
Average
1972 Tora-san's Dream-Come-True Directing Director 59
Average
1972 Home from the Sea Directing Director 59
Average
1972 Tora-san's Dear Old Home Directing Director 59
Average
1971 Tora-san's Love Call Directing Director 59
Average
1971 Tora-san, the Good Samaritan Directing Director 59
Average
1971 Tora-san's Shattered Romance Directing Director 59
Average
1970 Where Spring Comes Late Directing Director 59
Average
1970 Tora-san's Runaway Directing Director 59
Average
1969 Tora-san's Cherished Mother Directing Director 59
Average
1969 It's Tough Being a Man Directing Director 59
Average
1969 Vagabond Schemer Directing Director 59
Average
1968 The Shy Deceiver Directing Director 59
Average
1968 The Million Dollar Pursuit Directing Director 59
Average
1967 The Greatest Challenge of All Directing Director N/A
N/A
1967 Song of Love Directing Director 59
Average
1967 Let's Have A Dream Directing Director N/A
N/A
1966 The Lovable Tramp Directing Director 59
Average
1966 Gamblers' Luck Directing Director 59
Average
1965 A Trap Directing Director 59
Average
1964 The Donkey Comes on a Tank Directing Director N/A
N/A
1964 The Irresponsible Fool Directing Director 59
Average
1964 The Honest Fool Directing Director N/A
N/A
1963 The Sunshine Girl Directing Director 59
Average
1961 The Strangers Upstairs Directing Director 58
Average
1960 One Way Ticket to Love Directing Assistant Director 59
Average
Otoko wa Tsurai yo series Directing Director N/A
N/A

Writing
2025 TOKYO Taxi Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
2023 Mom, Is That You?! Writing Screenplay 58
Average
2022 The Call of a Faraway Mountain Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
2021 It's a Flickering Life Writing Screenplay 59
Average
2019 Tora-san, Wish You Were Here Writing Writer 59
Average
2019 Shounen Torajirou Writing Original Story N/A
N/A
2018 A Distant Cry from Spring Writing Writer 59
Average
2018 Older Brother, Younger Sister Writing Screenplay 59
Average
2018 What a Wonderful Family! 3 Writing Screenplay 59
Average
2017 What a Wonderful Family! 2 Writing Writer 59
Average
2016 What a Wonderful Family! Writing Screenplay 59
Average
2015 Nagasaki: Memories of My Son Writing Screenplay 59
Average
2014 The Little House Writing Screenplay 59
Average
2013 Tokyo Family Writing Screenplay 60
Fair
2011 The Yellow Handkerchief Writing Writer 58
Average
2010 Kyoto Story Writing Screenplay 59
Average
2010 Kyoto Story Writing Story 59
Average
2010 About Her Brother Writing Screenplay 59
Average
2009 Free and Easy 20: Final Writing Screenplay 59
Average
2009 The Yellow Handkerchief Writing Original Film Writer 59
Average
2008 Kabei: Our Mother Writing Writer 59
Average
2006 Love and Honor Writing Writer 61
Fair
2006 Sea Without Exit Writing Screenplay 58
Average
2005 Free and Easy 16 Writing Writer 59
Average
2004 The Hidden Blade Writing Screenplay 61
Fair
2003 Free and Easy 14 Writing Writer 59
Average
2002 The Twilight Samurai Writing Screenplay 66
Fair
2002 Free and Easy 13 Writing Writer 59
Average
2001 Free and Easy 12: Big Holiday Bonus Project Writing Writer 59
Average
1998 Free and Easy: Samurai Edition Writing Writer 59
Average
1998 A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage Writing Writer 58
Average
1998 Free and Easy 10 Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1997 The Rainbow Seeker 2 Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1997 Shin Salaryman Senka Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1997 Tora-san's Tropical Fever Special Version Writing Writer 59
Average
1996 The Rainbow Seeker Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1996 Salaryman Senka: Tanshin Funin Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1996 A Class to Remember II Writing Writer 59
Average
1996 Free and Easy 8 Writing Writer 59
Average
1995 Salaryman Senka Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1995 Toki no kagayaki Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1994 Free and Easy 7 Writing Writer 59
Average
1994 Free and Easy Special Writing Writer 59
Average
1993 Free and Easy 6 Writing Writer 59
Average
1993 A Class to Remember Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1992 Tora-san Makes Excuses Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1992 Free and Easy 5 Writing Writer 59
Average
1991 Free and Easy 4 Writing Writer 59
Average
1991 My Sons Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1989 Tora-san, My Uncle Writing Writer 59
Average
1989 Free and Easy 2 Writing Writer 59
Average
1989 Days with Harasu Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1988 Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial Writing Original Story N/A
N/A
1988 Free and Easy Writing Writer 59
Average
1988 Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1988 Downtown Heroes Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1987 Tora-san Plays Daddy Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1987 Tora-san Plays Daddy Writing Original Story 59
Average
1987 Tora-san Goes North Writing Original Story 59
Average
1987 Tora-san Goes North Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1986 Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy Writing Original Story 59
Average
1986 Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1986 Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies Writing Writer 59
Average
1985 Tora-san's Island Encounter Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1985 Tora-san's Island Encounter Writing Original Story 59
Average
1985 Tora-san, the Go-Between Writing Original Story 59
Average
1985 Tora-san, the Go-Between Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1984 Tora-san's Forbidden Love Writing Writer 59
Average
1984 Tora-san's Forbidden Love Writing Original Story 59
Average
1984 Marriage Counselor Tora-san Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1984 Marriage Counselor Tora-san Writing Original Story 59
Average
1983 Tora-san Goes Religious? Writing Original Story 59
Average
1983 Tora-san Goes Religious? Writing Writer 59
Average
1983 Tora-san's Song of Love Writing Original Story 59
Average
1983 Tora-san's Song of Love Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1983 Itoshi no Lahaina Writing Original Story 59
Average
1982 Tora-san, the Expert Writing Original Story 59
Average
1982 Tora-san, the Expert Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1982 Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1982 Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san Writing Original Story 59
Average
1981 Tora-san's Promise Writing Original Story 59
Average
1981 Tora-san's Promise Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1981 Xiongmao Monogatari TaoTao Writing Story 59
Average
1981 Tora-san's Love in Osaka Writing Original Story 59
Average
1981 Tora-san's Love in Osaka Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1981 Fuusen no Doratarou Writing Original Story N/A
N/A
1980 Foster Daddy, Tora! Writing Original Story 59
Average
1980 Foster Daddy, Tora! Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1980 Tora-san's Tropical Fever Writing Writer 59
Average
1980 A Distant Cry from Spring Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1979 Tora-san's Dream of Spring Writing Writer 59
Average
1979 Tora-san, the Matchmaker Writing Writer 59
Average
1979 Our Symphony Writing Original Story N/A
N/A
1978 Ore wa Ueno no puresurī Writing Story N/A
N/A
1978 Talk of the Town Tora-san Writing Writer 59
Average
1978 Stage-Struck Tora-san Writing Writer 59
Average
1978 Ore wa inaka no puresurī Writing Story N/A
N/A
1977 Tora-san Plays Cupid Writing Writer 59
Average
1977 The Yellow Handkerchief Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1977 Tora-san Meets His Lordship Writing Writer 59
Average
1976 Tora-san's Pure Love Writing Writer 59
Average
1976 Two Iida Writing Co-Writer N/A
N/A
1976 Oretachi no toki Writing Original Story N/A
N/A
1976 Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset Writing Writer 59
Average
1976 The Village Writing Writer 59
Average
1975 Tora-san, the Intellectual Writing Writer 59
Average
1975 Tora-san Meets the Songstress Again Writing Writer 59
Average
1974 Tora-san's Lullaby Writing Writer 59
Average
1974 The Castle of Sand Writing Writer 60
Fair
1974 Tora-san's Lovesick Writing Writer 59
Average
1973 Tora-san Loves an Artist Writing Writer 59
Average
1973 Tora-san's Forget Me Not Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1973 Tora-san's Forget Me Not Writing Original Story 59
Average
1972 Tora-san's Dream-Come-True Writing Original Story 59
Average
1972 Tora-san's Dream-Come-True Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1972 Home from the Sea Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1972 Tora-san's Dear Old Home Writing Original Story 59
Average
1972 Tora-san's Dear Old Home Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1971 Tora-san's Love Call Writing Original Story 59
Average
1971 Tora-san's Love Call Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1971 Follow the Girls Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1971 Tora-san, the Good Samaritan Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1971 Tora-san, the Good Samaritan Writing Original Story 59
Average
1971 Tora-san's Shattered Romance Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1971 Tora-san's Shattered Romance Writing Original Story 59
Average
1970 Where Spring Comes Late Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1970 Where Spring Comes Late Writing Story 59
Average
1970 Tora-san's Runaway Writing Writer 59
Average
1970 Tora-san's Grand Scheme Writing Original Story 59
Average
1970 Tora-san's Grand Scheme Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1970 Tora-san, His Tender Love Writing Original Story 59
Average
1970 Tora-san, His Tender Love Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1969 Tora-san's Cherished Mother Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1969 Tora-san's Cherished Mother Writing Original Story 59
Average
1969 It's Tough Being a Man Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1969 Vagabond Schemer Writing Writer 59
Average
1968 It's Tough Being a Man (Television Drama DVD Edit Edition) Writing Adaptation N/A
N/A
1968 It's Tough Being a Man (Television Drama DVD Edit Edition) Writing Original Story N/A
N/A
1968 It's Tough Being a Man Writing Adaptation N/A
N/A
1968 It's Tough Being a Man Writing Original Story N/A
N/A
1968 The Shy Deceiver Writing Writer 59
Average
1968 I, the Executioner Writing Writer 59
Average
1968 The Million Dollar Pursuit Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1967 The Greatest Challenge of All Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1967 Song of Love Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1967 Let's Have A Dream Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1966 The Lovable Tramp Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1966 Warm Current Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1966 Gamblers' Luck Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1964 The Donkey Comes on a Tank Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1964 The Honest Fool Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1964 To Your Majesty, The Emperor 2 Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1963 At the Side of the Bridge 4 Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1963 The Sunshine Girl Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1963 At the Side of the Bridge 3 Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1962 At the Side of the Bridge 2 Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1962 Kyū-chan ondo Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1962 At the Side of the Bridge Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1962 寛美の我こそは一等社員 Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1961 Zero Focus Writing Screenplay 59
Average

Crew
1998 Otoko wa Tsurai yo: Torajirou Wasurenagusa Crew Creator N/A
N/A