Seijirō Kōyama
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese film director
.
, Kōyama attended Nihon University
but quit midway to join the independent production company Kindai Eiga Kyōkai, where he worked as an assistant director under such directors as Kaneto Shindō
, Kōzaburō Yoshimura
, and Tadashi Imai. He made his directorial debut in 1971 with the children's film
Koi no iru mura. His second film, Futatsu no hāmonika (1976), earned him a New Directors Citation
from the Directors Guild of Japan
. His 1987 film, Hachiko Monogatari
, about the faithful dog Hachikō
, was the top Japanese film at the box office that year. He is known for his humanistic perspective.
Kōyama was given the Chūnichi Culture Award in 2000 for "producing films that scrutinize the age and the region."
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
.
Career
Born in Gifu PrefectureGifu Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
, Kōyama attended Nihon University
Nihon University
Nihon University is the largest university in Japan. Akiyoshi Yamada, the minister of justice, founded Nihon Law School in October 1889....
but quit midway to join the independent production company Kindai Eiga Kyōkai, where he worked as an assistant director under such directors as Kaneto Shindō
Kaneto Shindo
, Hiroshima, Japan) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. His best known films include Children of Hiroshima, The Naked Island, Onibaba, Kuroneko and A Last Note.Shindō has often made films dealing with Hiroshima or the atomic bomb...
, Kōzaburō Yoshimura
Kozaburo Yoshimura
was a Japanese film director. Born in Shiga Prefecture, he joined the Shōchiku studio in 1929. He debuted as director in 1934, but continued working as an assistant director for such filmmakers as Yasujirō Ozu and Yasujirō Shimazu after that. It was the 1939 film Danryū that established his status...
, and Tadashi Imai. He made his directorial debut in 1971 with the children's film
Children's film
A children's film is a film aimed for children as its audience. As opposed to a family film, no special effort is made to make the film attractive for other audiences. The film may or may not be about children. In Unshrinking the Kids: Children's Cinema and the Family Film which is a chapter in In...
Koi no iru mura. His second film, Futatsu no hāmonika (1976), earned him a New Directors Citation
Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award
The is given annually by the Directors Guild of Japan to a new director of a film released that year who is considered the most "suitable" for the award. The winner is selected by a committee formed of DGJ members. All formats—feature film, documentary, television, video, etc.—are eligible for...
from the Directors Guild of Japan
Directors Guild of Japan
The is a trade union created to represent the interests of film directors in the film industry in Japan. It was founded in 1936, with Minoru Murata serving as the first president, and has continued to this day apart from a period between 1943 and 1949 when it was disbanded at first on orders from...
. His 1987 film, Hachiko Monogatari
Hachiko Monogatari
is a Japanese language film starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Kaoru Yachigusa, Mako Ishino and Masumi Harukawa. The film, directed by Seijirō Kōyama, is a tragic, true story about Hachikō, an Akita dog who was loyal to his master, Professor Ueno, even after his death...
, about the faithful dog Hachikō
Hachiko
, known in Japanese as chūken Hachikō , was an Akita dog born on a farm near the city of Ōdate, Akita Prefecture, remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his owner, even many years after his owner's death.-Life:In 1924, Hidesaburō Ueno,...
, was the top Japanese film at the box office that year. He is known for his humanistic perspective.
Kōyama was given the Chūnichi Culture Award in 2000 for "producing films that scrutinize the age and the region."
Selected filmography
- Koi no iru mura (鯉のいる村) (1971)
- Futatsu no hāmonika (二つのハーモニカ) (1976)
- Hachiko MonogatariHachiko Monogatariis a Japanese language film starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Kaoru Yachigusa, Mako Ishino and Masumi Harukawa. The film, directed by Seijirō Kōyama, is a tragic, true story about Hachikō, an Akita dog who was loyal to his master, Professor Ueno, even after his death...
(ハチ公物語) (1987) - Tōki RakujitsuTōki Rakujitsuis Japanese film released in 1992 that was directed by Seijirō Kōyama. It stars Hiroshi Mikami and is based on an biographical novel written by Kaneto Shindō about the Japanese scientist Hideyo Noguchi....
(遠き落日) (1992)