Kihachi Okamoto

Kihachi Okamoto (岡本 喜 八Okamoto Kihachi; born February 17, 1923 in Yonago , † February 19, 2005 in Kawasaki ) was a Japanese film director , screenwriter and film producer .

Okamoto graduated from Meiji University and started a film company. He was at home in a variety of genres, most notably anti-war and samurai and modern comedy.

His internationally best-known film Samurai with Toshirō Mifune in the leading role was made in 1965. It begins in the 19th century and tells the story of a group of political agitators who plan to assassinate an important member of the government. Another important film is the 1966 film adaptation of Dai-bosatsu tôge (Sword of Doom).

Nikudan (1968) and Nihon no ichiban nagai hi (The Longest Day in Japan) stand out from his anti-war films . “The Longest Day” tells the story of August 15, 1945, the day it was publicly announced in Japan that the Second World War was lost.

Okamoto was awarded the Japanese Academy Prize in 1992 for his film Daiyukai (1991), a modern comedy.

Kihachi Okamoto died of esophageal cancer on February 19, 2005 at the age of 82 .

The Berlinale honored the director in 2007 with a comprehensive nine films tribute.

Filmography

as a director Sukedachi-ya Sukeroku (2001), aka Vengeance for Sale East Meets West (1995) Daiyukai (1991), aka Rainbow Kids Jazz Daimyo (1986), aka Dixieland Daimyo Chikagoro naze ka Charusuton (1981), aka At This Late Date, the Charleston (USA) Eireitachi no oenka: saigo no sôkeisen (1979), aka The Last Game (International: English title) Dainamaito dondon (1978), aka Dynamite Bang Bang (informal literal English title) Buru Kurisumasu (1978), aka Blue Christmas (International: English title) Sugata Sanshiro (1977), aka Sanshiro Sugata (USA: informal English title) Tokkan (1975), aka Battle Cry, aka Go for Broke Aoba shigereru (1974) Nippon sanjûshi: Hakata obi shime ippon dokko no maki (1973) Nippon sanjûshi: Osaraba Tokyo no maki (1972) Gekido no showashi: Okinawa kessen (1971), aka Okinawa kessen, aka The Battle of Okinawa Zatôichi to Yôjinbô (1970), aka Zatôichi 20 (Japan: informal title), aka Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (USA), aka Zatoichi vs. Yojimbo Akage (1969), aka Red Hair (literal English title), aka Red Lion Nikudan (1968), aka The Human Bullet Kiru (1968), aka Kill! (UNITED STATES) Nihon no ichiban nagai hi (1967), aka Japan's Longest Day (USA: reissue title), aka The Emperor and the General, aka The Longest Day of Japan Satsujin kyo jidai (1967), aka Epoch of Murder Madness (International: English title), aka The Age of Assassins Dai-bosatsu tōge (1966), aka The Sword of Doom (USA) Chi to suna (1965), aka Fort Graveyard Samurai (1965 / I), aka Samurai Assassin Aa bakudan (1964) Eburi manshi no yûga-na seikatsu (1963), aka The Elegant Life of Mr. Everyman (International: English title) Sengoku yaro (1963), aka Warring Clans Gekkyû dorobo (1962) Dobunezumi sakusen (1962), aka Operation Sewer Rats, aka Operation X Jigoku no kyôen (1961), aka Procurer of Hell (International: English title) Kaoyaku akatsukini shisu (1961), aka Big Shots Die at Dawn (USA) Ankokugai no dankon (1961), aka Blueprint of Murder (International: English title) Dokuritsu gurentai nishi-e (1960), aka Westward Desperado Daigaku no sanzôkutachi (1960) Ankokugai no taiketsu (1960), aka The Last Gunfight (USA) Dokuritsu gurentai (1959), aka Desperado Outpost, aka Independent Gangsters (literal title) Aruhi watashi wa (1959), aka One Day I ... (literal English title) Ankokugai no kaoyaku (1959), aka Boss of the Underworld, aka The Big Boss Wakai musumetachi (1958), aka Young Daughters (literal English title) Kekkon no subete (1958), aka All About Marriage

as a screenwriter Sukedachi-ya Sukeroku (2001), aka Vengeance for Sale East Meets West (1995) Daiyukai (1991), aka Rainbow Kids Jazz Daimyo (1986), aka Dixieland Daimyo Chikagoro naze ka Charusuton (1981), aka At This Late Date, the Charleston (USA) Eireitachi no oenka: saigo no sôkeisen (1979), aka The Last Game (International: English title) Sugata Sanshiro (1977), aka Sanshiro Sugata (USA: informal English title) Tokkan (1975), aka Battle Cry, aka Go for Broke Aoba shigereru (1974) Nippon sanjûshi: Hakata obi shime ippon dokko no maki (1973) Nippon sanjûshi: Osaraba Tokyo no maki (1972) Zatôichi to Yôjinbô (1970), aka Zatôichi 20 (Japan: informal title), aka Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (USA), aka Zatoichi vs. Yojimbo Akage (1969), aka Red Hair (literal English title), aka Red Lion Nikudan (1968), aka The Human Bullet Kiru (1968), aka Kill! (UNITED STATES) Satsujin kyo jidai (1967), aka Epoch of Murder Madness (International: English title), aka The Age of Assassins Hyappatsu hyakuchu (1965), aka 100 Shot, 100 Killed (literal English title), aka Ironfinger (International: English title) Chi to suna (1965), aka Fort Graveyard Aa bakudan (1964) Sengoku yaro (1963), aka Warring Clans Dobunezumi sakusen (1962), aka Operation Sewer Rats, aka Operation X Daigaku no sanzôkutachi (1960) Dokuritsu gurentai (1959), aka Desperado Outpost, aka Independent Gangsters (literal title) as a producer Varth: Operation Thunderstorm (1992) Chikagoro naze ka Charusuton (1981), aka At This Late Date, the Charleston (USA) Kagaku ninja tai Gatchaman: Gekijô-ban (1978)

Web links

• Kihachi Okamoto in the Internet Movie Database (English)