Nagisa Ōshima
Biography
Nagisa Ōshima was a Japanese filmmaker, writer, and left-wing activist who was known for directing fiction feature films. Born on March 31, 1932, in Okayama, Japan, he directed 23 fiction feature films during his career spanning from 1959 to 1999. He is often regarded as one of the greatest Japanese directors of all time and as one of the most important figures of the Japanese New Wave, alongside Shōhei Imamura. His filmmaking style was bold, innovative, and provocative, and his common themes included youthful rebellion, class and racial discrimination, and taboo sexuality. He had a total of 57 known credits primarily for directing. Nagisa Ōshima passed away on January 15, 2013, at the age of 80.
Career overview
Nagisa Oshima was a Japanese filmmaker, writer, and left-wing activist born in Okayama, Japan on March 31, 1932. His career in directing spanned from 1959 to 1999, during which time he directed 23 fiction feature films. Throughout his career, Oshima built a reputation as a bold, innovative, and provocative director, and he is often regarded as one of the greatest Japanese directors of all time as well as one of the most important figures of the Japanese New Wave alongside Shohei Imamura.
His work explored common themes that included youthful rebellion, class and racial discrimination, and taboo sexuality. Oshima was credited with 57 known credits on The Movie Database, primarily known for his work in directing. He passed away on January 15, 2013, at the age of 80.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Nagisa Ōshima.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
97 titles- Short Cuts : In the Realm of the Senses (2016) Original Film Writer
- The Oshima Gang (2010)
- What's a Director? (2006)
- Devotion: A Film About Ogawa Productions (2002) as Himself
- Scenes by the Sea: Takeshi Kitano (2000) as Self
- Taboo (1999) Director
- Taboo (1999) Screenplay
- Level Five (1997) as Self
- 100 Years of Japanese Cinema (1995) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- 100 Years of Japanese Cinema (1995) Director
- 100 Years of Japanese Cinema (1995) Writer
- Akira Kurosawa: My Life in Cinema (1993) as Self
- Kyoto, My Mother's Place (1991) as Himself
- Kyoto, My Mother's Place (1991) Director
- Kyoto, My Mother's Place (1991) Writer
- ΦIDEA (1988)
- Max My Love (1986) Director
- Max My Love (1986) Writer
- The Strange Case of Yukio Mishima (1985) as Self
- De droomproducenten (1984) as Self
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) Director
- Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983) Screenplay
- The Oshima Gang (1983) as Self
- The Man Who Left His Soul on Film (1983)
- A Visit to Ogawa Productions (1981) as Himself
- Empire of Passion (1978) Director
- Empire of Passion (1978) Writer
- Cinématon (1978) as N°806
- Yokoi and His Twenty-Eight Years of Secret Life on Guam (1977) as Self - Interviewer
- Yokoi and His Twenty-Eight Years of Secret Life on Guam (1977) Director
- In the Realm of the Senses (1976) Director
- In the Realm of the Senses (1976) Writer
- Yakuza Graveyard (1976) as Chief Omura
- A Life of Mao (1976)
- A Life of Mao (1976) Director
- A Life of Mao (1976) Writer
- Rahman: Father of Bengal (1973) as Interviewer
- Rahman: Father of Bengal (1973) Director
- Dear Summer Sister (1972) Director
- Dear Summer Sister (1972) Writer
- The Giants (1972) Director
- The Journey of the Blind Musicians (1972) Director
- ジョイ！バングラ (1972) Director
- The Ceremony (1971) Director
- The Ceremony (1971) Screenplay
- The Man Who Left His Will on Film (1970) Director
- The Man Who Left His Will on Film (1970) Story
- Mao Tse-Tung and the Cultural Revolution (1969) Director
- Mao Tse-Tung and the Cultural Revolution (1969) Writer
- Diary of a Shinjuku Thief (1969) Editor
- Diary of a Shinjuku Thief (1969) Director
- Diary of a Shinjuku Thief (1969) Writer
- Boy (1969) Director
- When Twilight Draws Near (1969) Writer
- Band of Ninja Pilot (1969) Director
- Death by Hanging (1968) as Narrator (voice)
- Death by Hanging (1968) Director
- Death by Hanging (1968) Screenplay
- Death by Hanging (1968) Producer
- Three Resurrected Drunkards (1968) Writer
- Three Resurrected Drunkards (1968) Director
- The Greater East Asian War (1968) Director
- The Greater East Asian War (1968) Writer
- Sing a Song of Sex (1967) Director
- Sing a Song of Sex (1967) Writer
- Japanese Summer: Double Suicide (1967) Writer
- Japanese Summer: Double Suicide (1967) Director
- Band of Ninja (1967) Screenplay
- Band of Ninja (1967) Director
- Band of Ninja (1967) Producer
- Violence at Noon (1966) Director
- Pleasures of the Flesh (1965) Director
- Pleasures of the Flesh (1965) Screenplay
- Diary of Yunbogi (1965) Director
- Diary of Yunbogi (1965) Producer
- Diary of Yunbogi (1965) Writer
- The Dawn of Asia (1964) Director
- Watashi-wa beretto (1964) Director
- Watashi-wa beretto (1964) Screenplay
- A Rebel's Fortress (1964) Screenplay
- A Rebel's Fortress (1964) Director
- The Forgotten Imperial Army (1963) Director
- The Forgotten Imperial Army (1963) Screenplay
- The Christian Revolt (1962) Writer
- The Christian Revolt (1962) Director
- The Catch (1961) Director
- Cruel Story of Youth (1960) Director
- Cruel Story of Youth (1960) Screenplay
- Night and Fog in Japan (1960) Writer
- Night and Fog in Japan (1960) Director
- The Sun's Burial (1960) Director
- The Sun's Burial (1960) Screenplay
- Donto ikōze (1959) Screenplay
- Street of Love and Hope (1959) Writer
- Street of Love and Hope (1959) Director
- Tomorrow's Sun (1959) Writer
- Tomorrow's Sun (1959) Director
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Nagisa Ōshima best known for?
Nagisa Ōshima is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Taboo (1999), Taboo (1999), Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983).
When and where was Nagisa Ōshima born?
Nagisa Ōshima was born on March 31, 1932 in Okayama, Japan. They passed away on January 15, 2013.
How many credits does Nagisa Ōshima have?
Nagisa Ōshima has accumulated over 97 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1959 to 2016.
What is Nagisa Ōshima's background in cinema and television?
Nagisa Ōshima was a Japanese filmmaker, writer, and left-wing activist who was known for directing fiction feature films. Born on March 31, 1932, in Okayama, Japan, he directed 23 fiction feature films during his career spanning from 1959 to 1999. He is often regarded as one of the greatest Japanese directors of all ti...
Nagisa Ōshima by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Death by Hanging (1968) as Narrator (voice) — aged about 36
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Nagisa Ōshima.