Japanese movie director (1): Yoji Yamada

Yôji Yamada (1931 - ) (age 85)

Yôji Yamada is the director whose films have been most frequently ranked in the Top_10_movies (27 times).

(Type) Yamada is not a director of a genius type, but a sincere and skilled artisan type. Yamada is one of the most well-known film director in Japan, mainly due to the popularity of "Tora-san" ("Otoko wa tsurai yo") series produced from 1961 to 1995 (48 titles, Yamada directed 46).

Yamada entered Shōchiku Company in 1954, had been trained in Shōchiku's studio system to become a director, and has worked in Shōchiku to this day. Thus, Yamada's style does not deviate from standards of Shōchiku (e.g., observation of moral of the middle class, avoidance of excessive violence or sexuality, faith in human goodness, and so on). In addition, Yamada's direction style seems to have conformed to the conventional rules of movie of pre-"Nouvelle Vague". As a result, Yamada has long been criticized as conservative, especially in 1970s and 1980s, mainly by leftish critics, although Yamada has supported Japan Communist Party and was a devoted union member.

(Career)
I think Yamada's career can be divided into three periods as follows:
(1) 1961 to 1969 _ from debut before "Tora-san":
(2) 1969 to 1995 _ "Tora-san" and occasional challenges: and
(3) 1995 to today _ after "Tora-san".
The filmography is to be provided for each period with short comments.

(Filmography)
The filmography provides the items "Production year", "Japanese title", "English title" (when no official English title exists, literal translation by the blog manager is shown in red), and DVD availability. Titles of the movies ranked in Top_10 are in bold font.
Yamada's films have been all preserved in a complete form, thus the item "Survival Status" is omitted).
The region code of Japanese version DVD is "2". No subtitle is available for Japanese version DVD, unless noted otherwise. European (French, German, Italian) version DVD is in Pal-format.Some of the available DVD titles are out of stock.

(Filmography 1: 1961 to 1969) From debut before "Tora-san"

 1961 Nikai no tanin (The Strangers Upstairs)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1963 Shitamachi no taiyô (Sun of Downtown)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1964 Iikagen baka  (Indeed a Stupid)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1964 Baka marudashi (Nothing but a Stupid)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1964 Baka ga tanku de yatte kuru (A Stupid on a Tank)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1965 Kiri no hata (Flag in the Mist)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1966 Un ga yokerya (With a Little Luck)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1966 Natsukashii furaibo (The Loveable Tramp)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1967 Ai no Sanka  (Song of Love)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1967 Kigeki: Ippatsu shôbu (It's a Game of All or Nothing)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1968 Fukeba tobuyona otokodaga (I'm a Mere Nobody, but...)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1968 Ippatsu daiboken (It's a Big Adventure)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1969 Kigeki: ippatsu dai hisshou (It's a Big Win)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available

In this period, Yamada attracted attention of several critics as a talented director of comedy movies. In most of his comedy movies in this period, the character of the hero is vital, vulgar, violent, brutal, and sometimes even a criminal, but has not lost humanity. Yamada's sympathy for such a "good bad-guy" seems to be very strong, and, thus, I suppose Yamada is anarchistic rather than communistic.
In a good comedy movie, humor and pathos are well balanced. In Yamada's comedies, pathos is sometimes so strong that the movie ends as something like a tragedy. Such unbalanced "comedy" movies, which some may regard as failure, are, however, my favorites. Thus, from among Yamada's movies in this period, I recommend "Fukeba tobuyona otokodaga" (1968).



(Filmography 2: 1969 to 1995) "Tora-san" and occasional challenges

 1969 Otoko wa tsurai yo (It's Tough Being a Man)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1969 Zoku otoko wa tsurai yo (Tora-San's Cherished Mother)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1970 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Boukyou hen (Tora-san 5/Tora-san's Runaway)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1970 Kazoku (Where Spring Comes Late)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1971 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Junjô hen (Tora-san 6/Tora-san's Shattered Romance)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1971 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Funto hen (Tora-san 7/Tora-san, the Good Samaritan)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1971 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro koiuta (Tora-san 8/Tora-san's Love Call)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1972 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Shibamata bojo (Tosa-san 9/Tora-san's Dear Old Home)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1972 Furusato (Hometown)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1972 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro yumemakura (Tora-san 10/Tora-san's Dream-Come-True)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1973 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro wasurenagusa (Tora-san 11/Tora-san's Forget Me Not)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1973 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Watashi no tora-san (Tora-san 12/Tora-san Loves an Artist)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1974 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro koiyatsure (Tora-san 13/Tora-san's Lovesick)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1974 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro komoriuta (Tora-san 14/Tora-san's Lullaby)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1975 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro aiaigasa (Tora-san 15/Tora-san, Love Under One Umbrella)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1975 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Katsushika risshihen (Tora-san 16/Tora-san, the Intellectual)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1975 Harakara (The Village)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1976 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro yuuyake koyake
       (Tora-san 17/Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1976 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirô junjô shishû (Tora-san 18/Tora's Pure Love)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1977 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirô to tonosama (Tora-san 19/Tora-san Meets His Lordship)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1977 Shiawase no kiiroi hankachi (The Yellow Handkerchief of Happiness)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1977 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro gambare! (Tora-san 20/Tora-san Plays Cupid)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1978 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro wagamichi wo yuku (Tora-san 21/Stage-struck Tora-san)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1978 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Uwasa no Torajirô (Tora-san 22/Talk of the Town Tora-san)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1979 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Tonderu Torajirô (Tora-san 23/Tora-san, the Matchmaker)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1979 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirô haru no yume (Tora-san 24/Tora-san's Dream of Spring)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1980 Haruka naru yama no yobigoe (A Distant Cry from Spring)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1980 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro haibisukasu no hana (Tora-san 25/Tora's Tropical Fever)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1980 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro kamome uta (Tora-san 26/Foster Daddy, Tora!)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1981 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Naniwa no koi no Torajirô (Tora-san 27/Tora-san's Love in Osaka)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1981 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro kamifusen (Tora-san 28/Tora-san's Promise)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1982 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro ajisai no koi (Tora-san 29/Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1982 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Hana mo arashi mo Torajirô (Tora-san 30/Tora-san, the Expert)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1983 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Tabi to onna to Torajirô (Tora-san 31/Tora-san's Song of Love)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1983 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Kuchibue wo fuku Torajirô (Tora-san 32/Tora-san Goes Religious?)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1984 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Yogiri ni musebu torajiro (Tora-san 33/Marriage Counselor Tora-san)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1984 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirô shinjitsu ichiro (Tora-san 34/Tora-san's Forbidden Love)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1985 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajirô ren'ai juku (Tora-san 35/Tora-san, the Go-between)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1985 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Shibamata yori ai wo komete (Tora-san 36/Tora-san's Island Encounter)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1986 Kinema no tenchi (Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1986 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Shiawase no aoi tori (Tora-san 37/Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1987 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Shiretoko bojô (Tora-san 38/Tora-san Goes North)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1987 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro monogatari (Tora-san 39/Tora-san Plays Daddy)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1988 Dauntaun hirozu (Downtown Heroes)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1988 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro sarada kinenbi (Tora-san 40/Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1989 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro kokoro no tabiji (Tora-san 41/Tora-San Goes to Vienna)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1989 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Boku no ojisan (Tora-san 42/Tora-san, My Uncle)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1990 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro no kyuujitsu (Tora-san 43/Tora-san Takes a Vacation)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1991 Musuko (My Sons)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1991 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro no kokuhaku (Tora-san 44/Tora-san Confesses)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1992 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro no seishun (Tora-san 45/Tora-San Makes Excuses)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1993 Gakko (A Class to Remember)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1993 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro no endan (Tora-san 46/Tora-san's Matchmaker)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1994 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Haikei, Kuruma Torajiro sama (Tora-san 47)
      DVD: Japanese version available
 1995 Otoko wa tsurai yo: Torajiro kurenai no hana (Tora-san 48 the final)
      DVD: Japanese version available

In this period, Yamada directed 55 films including 46 Tora-san movies and 9 others. Tora-san series is the world's longest one, and had been always profitable until the end (the series ended due to the death of the star Kiyoshi Atsumi as Tora-san). It is not exaggeration to say that the series had supported Shochiku Company's movie production section. In fact, after the end of the series, the financial conditions of Shochiku rapidly worsened.

The success of "Tora-san" series had raised Yamada's position in the company, but, at the same time, restricted Yamada's activity other than "Tora-san". Thus, Yamada could only managed to direct a film he hoped every 2 or 3 years. Out of the thus directed 9 films other than "Tora-san" series, 8 films were ranked in the "Top_10_Movies". Yamada has become a rare director who can achieve both box-office success and critical success at a high level.

I recommend "Kazoku (Where Spring Comes Late)" (1970), "Furusato (Hometown)" (1972), and "Shiawase no kiiroi hankachi (The Yellow Handkerchief of Happiness)" (1977), from among non-"Tora-sa" movies. I love "Kazoku" which slightly reminds me of "The Grapes of Wrath".
As for "Tora-san" series, a routine had been established before "Tora-san 10". After that, the quality seems largely depends on the guest star (in most cases, an actress) and the character she/he plays. Please refer to the rating of IMDB which seems to me generally reasonable. To tell the truth, I'm not a good fan of "Tora-san". Sorry.

The DVDs of "Tora-san" movies available outside Japan includes "Tora-San: Collector's Set 1" (Animeigo) containing the first 4 titles of the series (only two of them directed by Yamada), and Taiwanese (?) DVDs whose region code is 3. As for the details of these DVDs, please refer to Amazon.com.

(Filmography 3: 1995 to today) after "Tora-san"

 1996 Niji o tsukamu otoko (The Rainbow Seeker)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1996 Gakko II (A Class to Remember 2)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1997 Niji o tsukamu otoko: Nangoku funto-hen (LT The Rainbow Seeker 2)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 1998 Gakko III (Gakko III: The New Voyage)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 2000 15-Sai: Gakko IV (A Class to Remember 4: Fifteen)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 2002 Tasogare Seibei (The Twilight Samurai)
      DVD: Japanese, USA, UK versions (and more) available
 2004 Kakushi ken oni no tsume (The Hidden Blade)
      DVD: Japanese, USA, and UK versions available
 2006 Bushi no ichibun (Love and Honour)
      DVD: Japanese, USA, and UK versions available
 2008 Kâbê (Our Mother)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 2010 Otôto (About Her Brother)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 2013 Tôkyô kazoku (Tokyo Family)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 2014 Chiisai ouchi (The Little House)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 2015 Haha to kuraseba (Living with My Mother)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available
 2016 Kazoku wa tsuraiyo (What a Wonderful Family!)
      DVD: Only Japanese version available

After the end of "Tora-san" series, Yamada has become able to select subjects more freely. Thus, in 21st century and in his 70s, Yamada challenged a new genre, Samurai movie, and made an international success. I also recommend the Samurai trilogy, in particular, "Tasogare Seibei (The Twilight Samurai)" .