Kinji Fukasaku
Directing Born Jul 3, 1930 Died Jan 12, 2003 Mito, Ibaraki, Japan 113 credits
Biography
Kinji Fukasaku was a Japanese film actor, screenwriter, and celebrated and innovative filmmaker. Born in Mito, Ibaraki, Japan on July 3, 1930, he worked primarily in directing, accumulating 83 known credits on the Movie Database. He died in Tokyo on January 12, 2003, at the age of 72, from prostate cancer. In the west, he is best known for directing the Japanese portion of the Hollywood film Tora! Tora! Tora! in 1970 and for directing Battle Royale in the year 2000. His stage name in Japanese characters is 深作欣二. Throughout his career in the film industry, he established a prominent reputation as a filmmaker before his death in Tokyo in early 2003.
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Career overview
Kinji Fukasaku was a Japanese film actor, screenwriter, and celebrated and innovative filmmaker. Born on July 3, 1930, in Mito, Ibaraki, Japan, his career spanned numerous credits in the film industry, accumulating 83 known credits primarily associated with directing. Throughout his career, he established a prominent reputation for his work behind the camera.
In the west, Fukasaku became best known for two major directing projects. He directed the Japanese portion of the Hollywood film Tora! Tora! Tora!, which was released in 1970. Decades later, he directed the film Battle Royale, which was released in 2000. These projects contributed significantly to his international recognition as a filmmaker.
Fukasaku passed away on January 12, 2003, in Tokyo at the age of 72, having died from prostate cancer. His legacy endures through his extensive filmography and his contributions to cinema as a director, screenwriter, and actor.
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Career timeline
Miwa: A Japanese Icon
Yakuza Eiga, une histoire du cinéma yakuza
The Yagyu Conspiracy · Original Film Writer
What's a Director?
Electric Yakuza, Go to Hell!
Battle Royale II: Requiem · DirectorThe Final Battleground — Making of Battle Royale IIMaking of Battle Royale II: RequiemMaking of Clock Tower 3 ~How Kinji Fukasaku Changed the Game~
Shooting Film is Battleground: Making of BATTLE ROYALE
Battle Royale · DirectorBattle Royale · ProducerMaking of 'Battle Royale'
The Geisha House · Director
The Abe Clan · Director
Crest of Betrayal · DirectorCrest of Betrayal · ScreenplayThe Mystery of Rampo
The Triple Cross · Director
A Chaos of Flowers · DirectorA Chaos of Flowers · Screenplay
Sure Death 4 · DirectorSure Death 4 · Writer
House on Fire · DirectorHouse on Fire · Screenplay
Shanghai Rhapsody · DirectorShanghai Rhapsody · Screenplay
Legend of the Eight Samurai · DirectorLegend of the Eight Samurai · ScreenplayTheater Of Life · DirectorTheater Of Life · Screenplay
Fall Guy · DirectorLovers Lost · DirectorLovers Lost · Screenplay
Samurai Reincarnation · DirectorSamurai Reincarnation · WriterGate of Youth · Director
Shadow Warriors · DirectorShadow Warriors · WriterVirus · DirectorVirus · ScreenplayBattles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga · Director
Message from Space · DirectorMessage from Space · StoryThe Fall of Ako Castle · DirectorShogun's Samurai · ScreenplayShogun's Samurai · Director
Proof of the ManHokuriku Proxy War · DirectorDoberman Cop · Director
Yakuza Graveyard · DirectorViolent Panic: The Big Crash · DirectorViolent Panic: The Big Crash · ScreenplayNew Battles Without Honor and Humanity 3: Last Days of the Boss · Director
Unified Shadows · DirectorGraveyard of Honor · DirectorCops vs. Thugs · DirectorGambling Den Heist · DirectorNew Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2: Head of the Boss · Director
Wounded Angels · DirectorBattles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode · DirectorBattles Without Honor and Humanity: Police Tactics · DirectorNew Battles Without Honor and Humanity 1 · Director
Battles Without Honor and Humanity · DirectorBattles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima · DirectorBattles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War · Director
Professional Killers · DirectorStreet Mobster · DirectorStreet Mobster · ScreenplayUnder the Flag of the Rising Sun · DirectorUnder the Flag of the Rising Sun · Writer
Sympathy for the Underdog · DirectorSympathy for the Underdog · Screenplay
Tora! Tora! Tora! · DirectorIf You Were Young: Rage · DirectorIf You Were Young: Rage · WriterBloodstained Clan of Honor · DirectorBloodstained Clan of Honor · Writer
Black Rose Mansion · DirectorBlack Rose Mansion · WriterJapan Organized Crime Boss · DirectorJapan Organized Crime Boss · Screenplay
Full filmography
- Miwa: A Japanese Icon (2013) as Himself (archive footage)
- Yakuza Eiga, une histoire du cinéma yakuza (2009) as Himself
- The Yagyu Conspiracy (2008) Original Film Writer
- What's a Director? (2006)
- Electric Yakuza, Go to Hell! (2004) as Self
- Battle Royale II: Requiem (2003) Director
- The Final Battleground — Making of Battle Royale II (2003) as Self
- Making of Battle Royale II: Requiem (2003) as Self
- Making of Clock Tower 3 ~How Kinji Fukasaku Changed the Game~ (2003) as Himself
- Shooting Film is Battleground: Making of BATTLE ROYALE (2001) as Self
- Battle Royale (2000) Director
- Battle Royale (2000) Producer
- Making of 'Battle Royale' (2000) as Self
- The Geisha House (1999) Director
- The Abe Clan (1995) Director
- Crest of Betrayal (1994) Director
- Crest of Betrayal (1994) Screenplay
- The Mystery of Rampo (1994) as Film Director
- The Triple Cross (1992) Director
- A Chaos of Flowers (1988) Director
- A Chaos of Flowers (1988) Screenplay
- Sure Death 4 (1987) Director
- Sure Death 4 (1987) Writer
- House on Fire (1986) Director
- House on Fire (1986) Screenplay
- Shanghai Rhapsody (1984) Director
- Shanghai Rhapsody (1984) Screenplay
- Legend of the Eight Samurai (1983) Director
- Legend of the Eight Samurai (1983) Screenplay
- Theater Of Life (1983) Director
- Theater Of Life (1983) Screenplay
- Fall Guy (1982) Director
- Lovers Lost (1982) Director
- Lovers Lost (1982) Screenplay
- Samurai Reincarnation (1981) Director
- Samurai Reincarnation (1981) Writer
- Gate of Youth (1981) Director
- Shadow Warriors (1980) Director
- Shadow Warriors (1980) Writer
- Virus (1980) Director
- Virus (1980) Screenplay
- Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga (1980) Director
- Message from Space (1978) Director
- Message from Space (1978) Story
- The Fall of Ako Castle (1978) Director
- Shogun's Samurai (1978) Screenplay
- Shogun's Samurai (1978) Director
- Proof of the Man (1977) as Shibue, Assistant Lieutenant
- Hokuriku Proxy War (1977) Director
- Doberman Cop (1977) Director
- Yakuza Graveyard (1976) Director
- Violent Panic: The Big Crash (1976) Director
- Violent Panic: The Big Crash (1976) Screenplay
- New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 3: Last Days of the Boss (1976) Director
- Unified Shadows (1975) Director
- Graveyard of Honor (1975) Director
- Cops vs. Thugs (1975) Director
- Gambling Den Heist (1975) Director
- New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2: Head of the Boss (1975) Director
- Wounded Angels (1974) Director
- Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode (1974) Director
- Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Police Tactics (1974) Director
- New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 1 (1974) Director
- Battles Without Honor and Humanity (1973) Director
- Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima (1973) Director
- Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War (1973) Director
- Professional Killers (1972) Director
- Street Mobster (1972) Director
- Street Mobster (1972) Screenplay
- Under the Flag of the Rising Sun (1972) Director
- Under the Flag of the Rising Sun (1972) Writer
- Outlaw Killers: Three Mad Dog Brothers (1972) Director
- Sympathy for the Underdog (1971) Director
- Sympathy for the Underdog (1971) Screenplay
- Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) Director
- If You Were Young: Rage (1970) Director
- If You Were Young: Rage (1970) Writer
- Bloodstained Clan of Honor (1970) Director
- Bloodstained Clan of Honor (1970) Writer
- Black Rose Mansion (1969) Director
- Black Rose Mansion (1969) Writer
- Japan Organized Crime Boss (1969) Director
- Japan Organized Crime Boss (1969) Screenplay
- Key Hunter (1968) Director
- Black Lizard (1968) Director
- Black Lizard (1968) Screenplay
- The Green Slime (1968) Director
- The Green Slime (1968) Story
- Gambler's Farewell (1968) Director
- Blackmail Is My Life (1968) Director
- Dissolution Rites (1967) Director
- Dissolution Rites (1967) Screenplay
- The Threat (1966) Director
- The Threat (1966) Screenplay
- The Kamikaze Guy (1966) Screenplay
- The Kamikaze Guy (1966) Director
- Rampaging Dragon of the North (1966) Director
- The Boss (1965) Screenplay
- The Boss (1965) Editor
- Jakoman and Tetsu (1964) Director
- Wolves, Pigs & Men (1964) Director
- Wolves, Pigs & Men (1964) Screenplay
- League of Gangsters (1963) Director
- League of Gangsters (1963) Screenplay
- Gang vs. G-Men (1962) Director
- The Challenge (1962) Director
- Drifting Detective: Tragedy in the Red Valley (1961) Director
- Man with the Funky Hat (1961) Director
- Man with a Funky Hat: The 20,000,000 Yen Arm (1961) Director
- Greed in Broad Daylight (1961) Director
- Drifting Detective: Black Wind in Harbor (1961) Director
- Tale of Young Drifter 2 (1960) Assistant Director
- Outlaw Under a Blue Canopy (1960) Assistant Director