
Yoji Yamada
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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 Ube in Yamaguchi 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
Credits

The Twilight Samurai (2002)
Screenplay

What a Wonderful Family! 2 (2017)
Screenplay

The Yellow Handkerchief (1977)
Screenplay

Tokyo Taxi (2025)
Screenplay

The Castle of Sand (1974)
Screenplay

Love and Honor (2006)
Screenplay

Tokyo Family (2013)
Screenplay

The Little House (2014)
Screenplay

What a Wonderful Family! (2016)
Screenplay

Free and Easy 17 (2006)
Screenplay

A Class to Remember (1993)
Screenplay

Kabei: Our Mother (2008)
Screenplay

A Class to Remember II (1996)
Screenplay

Older Brother, Younger Sister (2018)
Screenplay

What a Wonderful Family! 3 (2018)
Screenplay

Mom, Is That You?! (2023)
Screenplay

About Her Brother (2010)
Screenplay

A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage (1998)
Screenplay

A Distant Cry from Spring (1980)
Screenplay

Tora-san, Wish You Were Here (2019)
Screenplay

Sea Without Exit (2006)
Screenplay

It's a Flickering Life (2021)
Screenplay

Tora-san, Our Lovable Tramp (1969)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Love in Osaka (1981)
Screenplay

Tora-san Goes North (1987)
Screenplay

Tora-san, His Tender Love (1970)
Screenplay

Where Spring Comes Late (1970)
Screenplay

Hachi no ko (1957)
Screenplay

Nagasaki: Memories of My Son (2015)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Promise (1981)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Island Encounter (1985)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Grand Scheme (1970)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Cherished Mother (1969)
Screenplay

Tora-san Plays Daddy (1987)
Screenplay

Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san (1982)
Screenplay

My Sons (1991)
Screenplay

Tora-san, the Go-Between (1985)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Love Call (1971)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Runaway (1970)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Matchmaker (1993)
Screenplay

Free and Easy 10 (1998)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Dear Old Home (1972)
Screenplay

Free and Easy 20: Final (2009)
Screenplay

The Donkey Comes on a Tank (1964)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Shattered Romance (1971)
Screenplay

Tora-san Makes Excuses (1992)
Screenplay

The Lovable Tramp (1966)
Screenplay

A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen (2000)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy (1986)
Screenplay

Tora-san, the Expert (1982)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Song of Love (1983)
Screenplay

Tora-san, the Good Samaritan (1971)
Screenplay

The Greatest Challenge of All (1967)
Screenplay

Salaryman Senka: Tanshin Funin (1996)
Screenplay

The Irresponsible Fool (1964)
Screenplay

Tora-san Confesses (1991)
Screenplay

Kyū-chan ondo (1962)
Screenplay

Downtown Heroes (1988)
Screenplay

The Hidden Blade (2004)
Screenplay

Gamblers' Luck (1966)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Dream-Come-True (1972)
Screenplay

At the Side of the Bridge 2 (1962)
Screenplay

At the Side of the Bridge 3 (1963)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial (1988)
Screenplay

Foster Daddy, Tora! (1980)
Screenplay

Marriage Counselor Tora-san (1984)
Screenplay

Tora-san Meets the Songstress Again (1975)
Screenplay

Home from the Sea (1972)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Forget Me Not (1973)
Screenplay

Yellow Cherries (1960)
Screenplay

Monthly Salary: 13,000 Yen (1958)
Screenplay

Modan dôchû: Sono koi matta nashi (1958)
Screenplay

Zero Focus (1961)
Screenplay

To Your Majesty, The Emperor 2 (1964)
Screenplay

Onna no issho (1967)
Screenplay

Toki no kagayaki (1995)
Screenplay

The Call of a Faraway Mountain (2022)
Screenplay

Song of Love (1967)
Screenplay

The Honest Fool (1964)
Screenplay

At the Side of the Bridge 4 (1963)
Screenplay

Center of Tokyo (1974)
Screenplay

At the Side of the Bridge (1962)
Screenplay

The Million Dollar Pursuit (1968)
Screenplay

Akatsuki no chiheisen (1959)
Screenplay

Ohana han (1966)
Screenplay

Salaryman Senka (1995)
Screenplay

The Sunshine Girl (1963)
Screenplay

Ohana han: Dai ni bu (1966)
Screenplay

Kyoto Story (2010)
Screenplay

Follow the Girls (1971)
Screenplay

Kanbi no ware koso wa ittō shain (1962)
Screenplay

Koi no gashū (1961)
Screenplay

Shin Salaryman Senka (1997)
Screenplay

The Girl Who Creates Tomorrow (1958)
Screenplay





