The Best Japanese Film Directors
Japan has been home to some of the most visionary and masterful directors in film history. Since the early 1900s, Japanese auteurs were at the forefront of silent movies and maintained a strong footing every since. Although the country is mostly known for the period samurai films and anime, Japanese cinema is as widely varied as any other major film producing country. The following article lists into who I consider the most influential and important Japanese filmmakers and can hopefully act as a good introduction for anyone new to the country’s cinematic output.
10. Seijun Suzuki
Suzuki was the freshest voice in Japanese cinema in the 1960s, fusing pop culture and slick style into his entertaining B-movies. His iconic crime films are very much style over substance but are nonetheless fantastic.
Greatest Films:
- Branded to Kill
- Tokyo Drifter
- Youth of the Beast
- Gate of Flesh
- Tattooed Life
9. Kon Ichikawa
Not as famous overseas, Ichikawa was a skilled craftsman making masterpieces across several genres. He displayed his directorial acumen in period dramas, visceral anti-war pieces and cutting edge documentary.
Greatest Films:
- The Makioka Sisters
- Tokyo Olympiad
- Fires on the Plain
- An Actor’s Revenge
- The Burmese Harp
8. Satoshi Kon
Behind Hayao Miyazaki, Satoshi Kon was one of the leading animated directors of Japan, focusing on more adult themes and real life instead of the fantasy found in most anime. His career was tragically cut short after a battle with cancer.
Greatest Films:
- Paprika
- Perfect Blue
- Tokyo Godfathers
- Millennium Actress
- Paranoia Agent
7. Hiroshi Teshigahara
Teshigahara’s visionary filmography represent some of Japan’s most experimental cinema. From surrealist tales to science fiction nightmares, Teshigahara’s films are both visual and philosophical treats.
Greatest Films:
- Woman in the Dunes
- The Face of Anothers
- Pitfall
- Rikyu
- Antonio Gaudi
6. Hirokazu Kore-eda
The greatest contemporary director in Japan, Kore-eda takes up the reins of Ozu, telling intimiate familial dramas with a modernist twist. With several prestigious accolades under his belt, Hirokasu Kore-eda has already established himself as a modern master with many masterpieces surely yet to come.
Greatest Films:
- Still Walking
- Shoplifters
- Nobody Knows
- Like Father, Like Son
- After Life
5. Kenji Mizoguchi
Starting out in the silent era, Mizoguchi was a leading voice of Japanese cinema from the very beginning. Focusing mainly on period dramas, Mizoguchi’s films are heart wrenching and filled with social critique.
Greatest Films:
- Sansho the Bailiff
- Ugestu
- The Life of Oharu
- A Story of Chikamatsu
- The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum
4. Hayao Miyazaki
By far the most famous Japanese director across the globe, Miyazaki legitimatized anime the art of anime critically as a respected art form. His beautiful vision and mature approach to fantasy have resulted in many timeless masterpieces.
Greatest Films:
- Spirited Away
- Princess Mononoke
- Porco Rosso
- The Wind Rises
- My Neighbor Totoro
3. Masaki Kobayashi
Kobayashi was one of the most remarkable filmmakers of his time, not only in Japan, but his dark period films were overshadowed by Kurosawa’s renown. More recently, his masterpieces have garnered the respect they deserve.
Greatest Films:
- Harakiri
- The Human Condition
- Samurai Rebellion
- Kwaidan
- The Inheritance
2. Yasujiro Ozu
Ozu was as prolific as he was groundbreaking. His subtle personal films, with their understated brilliance and powerful emotions, were far ahead of their time and still retain their power today.
Greatest Films:
- Tokyo Story
- Floating Weeds
- Late Spring
- An Autumn Afternoon
- Early Summer
1. Akira Kurosawa
Akira Kurosawa is one of the greatest cinematic storytellers of all time whose influence reaches internationally across decades. His brilliance ranges from samurai flicks to modern dramas and everything in between, cementing him as one of one of the greatest auteurs of all time.
Greatest Films:
- Yojimbo
- Ikiru
- Ran
- Seven Samurai
- Rashomon
Honorable Mention: Masahiro Shinoda, Kaneto Shindo, Nagisa Oshima, Shohei Imamura
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