Yoji Yamada
Directing
Born: September 13, 1931 (age 95) · Osaka, Japan
Highest Rated
Biography
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
The Twilight Samurai
2002
The Yellow Handkerchief
2009
The Hidden Blade
2004
Love and Honor
2006
Tokyo Family
2013
The Castle of Sand
1974
The Little House
2014
Kabei: Our Mother
2008
The Yellow Handkerchief
1977
What a Wonderful Family!
2016
A Distant Cry from Spring
1980
What a Wonderful Family! 2
2017
Photos (2)
Movies (2)
Self / Appearances (5)
Directing (93)
The Twilight Samurai
Director
What a Wonderful Family!
Director
What a Wonderful Family! 2
Director
The Yellow Handkerchief
Director
Tokyo Taxi
Director
Nagasaki: Memories of My Son
Director
Tora-san's Shattered Romance
Director
What a Wonderful Family! 3
Director
Mom, Is That You?!
Director
Love and Honor
Director
Tora-san Meets His Lordship
Director
Tokyo Family
Director
Tora-san, Our Lovable Tramp
Director
Tora-san Plays Daddy
Director
Tora-san's Runaway
Director
The Village
Director
Tora-san Goes Religious?
Director
Tora-san's Cherished Mother
Director
Tora-san's Promise
Director
A Class to Remember II
Director
Tora-san, the Good Samaritan
Director
Tora-san's Forget Me Not
Director
Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies
Director
Tora-san, the Matchmaker
Director
Stage-Struck Tora-san
Director
A Class to Remember
Director
Tora-san's Dear Old Home
Director
Talk of the Town Tora-san
Director
Kabei: Our Mother
Director
The Little House
Director
Tora-san Goes North
Director
About Her Brother
Director
A Trap
Director
Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial
Director
Tora-san's Dream of Spring
Director
Tora-san's Tropical Fever Special Version
Director
A Distant Cry from Spring
Director
Tora-san, Wish You Were Here
Director
One-Way Ticket to Love
Assistant Director
Where Spring Comes Late
Director
The Rainbow Seeker 2
Director
Home from the Sea
Director
Tora-san's Love in Osaka
Director
Tora-san's Forbidden Love
Director
A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage
Director
Song of Love
Director
Tora-san's Dream-Come-True
Director
The Sunshine Girl
Director
Vagabond Schemer
Director
Tora-san's Lovesick
Director
Let's Have A Dream
Director
Tora-san's Song of Love
Director
The Rainbow Seeker
Director
The Greatest Challenge of All
Director
Tora-san to the Rescue
Director
Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san
Director
Tora-san's Pure Love
Director
Tora-san Confesses
Director
Tora-san, the Expert
Director
The Irresponsible Fool
Director
Tora-san Plays Cupid
Director
Tora-san Loves an Artist
Director
Tora-san Meets the Songstress Again
Director
Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy
Director
Marriage Counselor Tora-san
Director
Downtown Heroes
Director
Foster Daddy, Tora!
Director
Tora-san Takes a Vacation
Director
The Shy Deceiver
Director
The Honest Fool
Director
Tora-san Makes Excuses
Director
The Donkey Comes on a Tank
Director
Tora-san, the Intellectual
Director
Tora-san, My Uncle
Director
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
Director
Tora-san Goes to Vienna
Director
It's a Flickering Life
Director
Tora-san's Love Call
Director
Tora-san's Island Encounter
Director
Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset
Director
Tora-san, the Go-Between
Director
My Sons
Director
Kyoto Story
Director
The Hidden Blade
Director
Tora-san's Matchmaker
Director
Tora-san's Lullaby
Director
Tora-san's Tropical Fever
Director
The Strangers Upstairs
Director
The Million Dollar Pursuit
Director
Tora-san's Easy Advice
Director
Shinema Kabuki: Renjishi
Director
Gamblers' Luck
Director
The Lovable Tramp
Director
Writing (186)
The Twilight Samurai
Screenplay
What a Wonderful Family!
Screenplay
What a Wonderful Family! 2
Screenplay
The Yellow Handkerchief
Screenplay
The Castle of Sand
Screenplay
Tokyo Taxi
Screenplay
It's Tough Being a Man
Original Story
It's Tough Being a Man
Adaptation
Nagasaki: Memories of My Son
Screenplay
Tora-san's Shattered Romance
Screenplay
Tora-san's Shattered Romance
Original Story
What a Wonderful Family! 3
Screenplay
Mom, Is That You?!
Screenplay
Love and Honor
Screenplay
Tora-san Meets His Lordship
Writer
Tokyo Family
Screenplay
Tora-san, Our Lovable Tramp
Screenplay
Shounen Torajirou
Original Story
Tora-san Plays Daddy
Screenplay
Tora-san Plays Daddy
Original Story
Tora-san, His Tender Love
Screenplay
Tora-san, His Tender Love
Original Story
Fuusen no Doratarou
Original Story
Tora-san's Runaway
Screenplay
The Village
Writer
Tora-san Goes Religious?
Writer
Tora-san Goes Religious?
Original Story
Tora-san's Cherished Mother
Screenplay
Tora-san's Cherished Mother
Original Story
The Yellow Handkerchief
Original Film Writer
Tora-san's Promise
Original Story
Tora-san's Promise
Screenplay
A Class to Remember II
Screenplay
Tora-san, the Good Samaritan
Screenplay
Tora-san, the Good Samaritan
Original Story
Tora-san's Forget Me Not
Original Story
Tora-san's Forget Me Not
Screenplay
Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies
Writer
Tora-san, the Matchmaker
Writer
Stage-Struck Tora-san
Writer
A Class to Remember
Screenplay
Xiongmao Monogatari TaoTao
Story
Tora-san's Dear Old Home
Original Story
Tora-san's Dear Old Home
Screenplay
Sea Without Exit
Screenplay
Free and Easy 2
Writer
Talk of the Town Tora-san
Writer
Kabei: Our Mother
Screenplay
The Little House
Screenplay
Tora-san Goes North
Screenplay
Tora-san Goes North
Original Story
Salaryman Senka: Tanshin Funin
Screenplay
About Her Brother
Screenplay
Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial
Screenplay
Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial
Original Story
Tora-san's Dream of Spring
Writer
Tora-san's Tropical Fever Special Version
Writer
A Distant Cry from Spring
Screenplay
Tora-san, Wish You Were Here
Screenplay
At the Side of the Bridge
Screenplay
Follow the Girls
Screenplay
A Distant Cry from Spring
Writer
Where Spring Comes Late
Story
Where Spring Comes Late
Screenplay
The Rainbow Seeker 2
Writer
Home from the Sea
Screenplay
Tora-san's Love in Osaka
Original Story
Tora-san's Love in Osaka
Screenplay
Tora-san's Forbidden Love
Writer
Tora-san's Forbidden Love
Original Story
Ohana han
Screenplay
A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage
Screenplay
A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage
Story
Hachi no ko
Screenplay
Song of Love
Screenplay
Tora-san's Dream-Come-True
Original Story
Tora-san's Dream-Come-True
Screenplay
The Sunshine Girl
Screenplay
Our Symphony
Original Story
Vagabond Schemer
Writer
Tora-san's Lovesick
Writer
Let's Have A Dream
Writer
Free and Easy 17
Screenplay
Tora-san's Song of Love
Screenplay
Tora-san's Song of Love
Original Story
The Rainbow Seeker
Writer
Days with Harasu
Writer
Salaryman Senka
Screenplay
Older Brother, Younger Sister
Screenplay
At the Side of the Bridge 2
Screenplay
The Greatest Challenge of All
Screenplay
Tora-san's Grand Scheme
Original Story
Tora-san's Grand Scheme
Screenplay
Tora-san to the Rescue
Writer
Ohana han: Dai ni bu
Screenplay
Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san
Original Story
Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san
Screenplay
Tora-san's Pure Love
Writer
Tora-san Confesses
Screenplay
To Your Majesty, The Emperor 2
Screenplay
Modan dôchû: Sono koi matta nashi
Screenplay
Tora-san, the Expert
Screenplay
Tora-san, the Expert
Original Story
I, the Executioner
Writer
Free and Easy 4
Writer
The Irresponsible Fool
Screenplay
Free and Easy 12: Big Holiday Bonus Project
Writer
Free and Easy 10
Screenplay
Tora-san Plays Cupid
Writer
Oretachi no toki
Original Story
Tora-san Loves an Artist
Writer
Tora-san Meets the Songstress Again
Original Story
Tora-san Meets the Songstress Again
Screenplay
Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy
Screenplay
Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy
Original Story
Ore wa inaka no puresurī
Story
Free and Easy 5
Writer
Marriage Counselor Tora-san
Screenplay
Marriage Counselor Tora-san
Original Story
Free and Easy 6
Writer
The Call of a Faraway Mountain
Screenplay
Two Iida
Co-Writer
Free and Easy Special
Writer
Downtown Heroes
Screenplay
It's Tough Being a Man (Television Drama DVD Edit Edition)
Original Story
It's Tough Being a Man (Television Drama DVD Edit Edition)
Adaptation
Center of Tokyo
Screenplay
Home Sweet Home
Writer
At the Side of the Bridge 3
Screenplay
Foster Daddy, Tora!
Screenplay
Foster Daddy, Tora!
Original Story
Free and Easy 13
Writer
Tora-san Takes a Vacation
Writer
Free and Easy
Writer
The Shy Deceiver
Writer
The Honest Fool
Screenplay
Tora-san Makes Excuses
Screenplay
The Donkey Comes on a Tank
Screenplay
Tora-san, the Intellectual
Writer
Tora-san, My Uncle
Writer
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
Screenplay
Toki no kagayaki
Screenplay
Tora-san Goes to Vienna
Writer
It's a Flickering Life
Screenplay
Tora-san's Love Call
Screenplay
Tora-san's Love Call
Original Story
Tora-san's Island Encounter
Screenplay
Tora-san's Island Encounter
Original Story
Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset
Writer
Free and Easy 7
Writer
Tora-san, the Go-Between
Screenplay
Tora-san, the Go-Between
Original Story
Ore wa Ueno no puresurī
Story
The Yellow Handkerchief
Writer
Monthly Salary: 13,000 Yen
Screenplay
Koi no gashū
Screenplay
Zero Focus
Screenplay
My Sons
Screenplay
Kyoto Story
Screenplay
Kyoto Story
Story
The Hidden Blade
Screenplay
The Girl Who Creates Tomorrow
Screenplay
Free and Easy 16
Writer
Tora-san's Matchmaker
Screenplay
Tora-san's Matchmaker
Original Story
Yellow Cherries
Screenplay
Tora-san's Lullaby
Writer
Free and Easy: Samurai Edition
Writer
Warm Current
Writer
Onna no issho
Screenplay
Tora-san's Tropical Fever
Writer
The Strangers Upstairs
Writer
At the Side of the Bridge 4
Screenplay
The Million Dollar Pursuit
Screenplay
Women Can't Be Beaten
Original Story
Tora-san's Easy Advice
Writer
Free and Easy 8
Writer
Free and Easy 20: Final
Screenplay
Free and Easy 14
Writer
Gamblers' Luck
Screenplay
Kanbi no ware koso wa ittō shain
Screenplay
Akatsuki no chiheisen
Screenplay
The Lovable Tramp
Screenplay
Shin Salaryman Senka
Screenplay
Itoshi no Lahaina
Original Story
Kyū-chan ondo
Screenplay
