Yoji Yamada
Directing
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
Directing93
movieTokyo Taxi
2025
Director
movieMom, Is That You?!
2023
Director
movieIt's a Flickering Life
2021
Director
movieThe Little House
2014
Director
movieTokyo Family
2013
Director
movieKyoto Story
2010
Director
movieAbout Her Brother
2010
Director
movieKabei: Our Mother
2008
Director
movieLove and Honor
2006
Director
movieThe Hidden Blade
2004
Director
movieThe Twilight Samurai
2002
Director
movieThe Rainbow Seeker 2
1997
Director
movieThe Rainbow Seeker
1996
Director
movieA Class to Remember II
1996
Director
movieTora-san to the Rescue
1995
Director
movieTora-san's Easy Advice
1994
Director
movieTora-san's Matchmaker
1993
Director
movieA Class to Remember
1993
Director
movieTora-san Makes Excuses
1992
Director
movieTora-san Confesses
1991
Director
movieMy Sons
1991
Director
movieTora-san, My Uncle
1989
Director
movieTora-san Goes to Vienna
1989
Director
movieDowntown Heroes
1988
Director
movieTora-san Plays Daddy
1987
Director
movieTora-san Goes North
1987
Director
movieTora-san's Song of Love
1983
Director
movieTora-san, the Expert
1982
Director
movieTora-san's Promise
1981
Director
movieFoster Daddy, Tora!
1980
Director
movieStage-Struck Tora-san
1978
Director
movieTora-san Plays Cupid
1977
Director
movieThe Yellow Handkerchief
1977
Director
movieTora-san's Pure Love
1976
Director
movieThe Village
1975
Director
movieTora-san's Lullaby
1974
Director
movieTora-san's Lovesick
1974
Director
movieHome from the Sea
1972
Director
movieTora-san's Love Call
1971
Director
movieWhere Spring Comes Late
1970
Director
movieTora-san's Runaway
1970
Director
movieVagabond Schemer
1969
Director
movieThe Shy Deceiver
1968
Director
movieSong of Love
1967
Director
movieLet's Have A Dream
1967
Director
movieThe Lovable Tramp
1966
Director
movieGamblers' Luck
1966
Director
movieA Trap
1965
Director
movieThe Irresponsible Fool
1964
Director
movieThe Honest Fool
1964
Director
movieThe Sunshine Girl
1963
Director
movieThe Strangers Upstairs
1961
Director
movieOne Way Ticket to Love
1960
Assistant Director
Writing155
movieTokyo Taxi
2025
Screenplay
movieHome Sweet Home
2025
Writer
movieMom, Is That You?!
2023
Screenplay
movieThe Call of a Faraway Mountain
2022
Screenplay
movieIt's a Flickering Life
2021
Screenplay
movieTora-san, Wish You Were Here
2019
Screenplay
tvShounen Torajirou
2019
Original Story
movieOlder Brother, Younger Sister
2018
Screenplay
movieWhat a Wonderful Family! 3
2018
Screenplay
movieWhat a Wonderful Family! 2
2017
Screenplay
movieWhat a Wonderful Family!
2016
Screenplay
movieNagasaki: Memories of My Son
2015
Screenplay
movieThe Little House
2014
Screenplay
movieTokyo Family
2013
Screenplay
movieKyoto Story
2010
Story, Screenplay
movieAbout Her Brother
2010
Screenplay
movieFree and Easy 20: Final
2009
Screenplay
movieThe Yellow Handkerchief
2009
Original Film Writer
movieKabei: Our Mother
2008
Screenplay
movieLove and Honor
2006
Screenplay
movieSea Without Exit
2006
Screenplay
movieFree and Easy 17
2006
Screenplay
movieThe Hidden Blade
2004
Screenplay
movieThe Twilight Samurai
2002
Screenplay
movieA Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
2000
Screenplay
movieA Class to Remember III: The New Voyage
1998
Screenplay, Story
movieFree and Easy 10
1998
Screenplay
movieShin Salaryman Senka
1997
Screenplay
movieSalaryman Senka: Tanshin Funin
1996
Screenplay
movieA Class to Remember II
1996
Screenplay
movieFree and Easy 8
1996
Writer
movieSalaryman Senka
1995
Screenplay
movieToki no kagayaki
1995
Screenplay
movieFree and Easy 7
1994
Writer
movieFree and Easy 6
1993
Writer
movieTora-san's Matchmaker
1993
Screenplay, Original Story
movieA Class to Remember
1993
Screenplay
movieFree and Easy 5
1992
Writer
movieTora-san Makes Excuses
1992
Screenplay
movieFree and Easy 4
1991
Writer
movieTora-san Confesses
1991
Screenplay
movieMy Sons
1991
Screenplay
movieFree and Easy 2
1989
Writer
movieFree and Easy
1988
Writer
movieTora-san's Salad-Day Memorial
1988
Original Story, Screenplay
movieDowntown Heroes
1988
Screenplay
movieTora-san Plays Daddy
1987
Screenplay, Original Story
movieTora-san Goes North
1987
Screenplay, Original Story
movieTora-san's Bluebird Fantasy
1986
Screenplay, Original Story
movieTora-san's Island Encounter
1985
Screenplay, Original Story
movieTora-san, the Go-Between
1985
Screenplay, Original Story
movieTora-san's Forbidden Love
1984
Writer, Original Story
movieMarriage Counselor Tora-san
1984
Screenplay, Original Story
movieTora-san Goes Religious?
1983
Writer, Original Story
movieItoshi no Lahaina
1983
Original Story
movieTora-san's Song of Love
1983
Screenplay, Original Story
movieTora-san, the Expert
1982
Screenplay, Original Story
movieHearts and Flowers for Tora-san
1982
Screenplay, Original Story
movieTora-san's Promise
1981
Screenplay, Original Story
movieTora-san's Love in Osaka
1981
Screenplay, Original Story
tvFuusen no Doratarou
1981
Original Story
movieFoster Daddy, Tora!
1980
Screenplay, Original Story
movieA Distant Cry from Spring
1980
Screenplay
movieOur Symphony
1979
Original Story
movieThe Yellow Handkerchief
1977
Screenplay
movieTwo Iida
1976
Co-Writer
movieOretachi no toki
1976
Original Story
movieThe Village
1975
Writer
movieTora-san Meets the Songstress Again
1975
Original Story, Screenplay
movieThe Castle of Sand
1974
Screenplay
movieCenter of Tokyo
1974
Screenplay
movieTora-san's Forget Me Not
1973
Original Story, Screenplay
movieTora-san's Dream-Come-True
1972
Original Story, Screenplay
movieHome from the Sea
1972
Screenplay
movieTora-san's Dear Old Home
1972
Original Story, Screenplay
movieTora-san's Love Call
1971
Screenplay, Original Story
movieFollow the Girls
1971
Screenplay
movieTora-san, the Good Samaritan
1971
Screenplay, Original Story
movieTora-san's Shattered Romance
1971
Screenplay, Original Story
movieWhere Spring Comes Late
1970
Story, Screenplay
movieTora-san's Runaway
1970
Screenplay
movieTora-san's Grand Scheme
1970
Original Story, Screenplay
movieTora-san, His Tender Love
1970
Original Story, Screenplay
movieTora-san's Cherished Mother
1969
Screenplay, Original Story
movieWomen Can't Be Beaten
1969
Original Story
movieTora-san, Our Lovable Tramp
1969
Screenplay
movieIt's Tough Being a Man (Television Drama DVD Edit Edition)
1968
Original Story, Adaptation
tvIt's Tough Being a Man
1968
Original Story, Adaptation
movieThe Million Dollar Pursuit
1968
Screenplay
movieOnna no issho
1967
Screenplay
movieThe Greatest Challenge of All
1967
Screenplay
movieSong of Love
1967
Screenplay
movieThe Lovable Tramp
1966
Screenplay
movieOhana han: Dai ni bu
1966
Screenplay
movieOhana han
1966
Screenplay
movieWarm Current
1966
Writer
movieGamblers' Luck
1966
Screenplay
movieThe Donkey Comes on a Tank
1964
Screenplay
movieThe Irresponsible Fool
1964
Screenplay
movieThe Honest Fool
1964
Screenplay
movieTo Your Majesty, The Emperor 2
1964
Screenplay
movieAt the Side of the Bridge 4
1963
Screenplay
movieThe Sunshine Girl
1963
Screenplay
movieAt the Side of the Bridge 3
1963
Screenplay
movieAt the Side of the Bridge 2
1962
Screenplay
movieAt the Side of the Bridge
1962
Screenplay
movieKyū-chan ondo
1962
Screenplay
movieKoi no gashū
1961
Screenplay
movieZero Focus
1961
Screenplay
movieYellow Cherries
1960
Screenplay
movieAkatsuki no chiheisen
1959
Screenplay
movieThe Girl Who Creates Tomorrow
1958
Screenplay
movieMonthly Salary: 13,000 Yen
1958
Screenplay
movieHachi no ko
1957
Screenplay
