Japanese Literary Awards

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Itsumichi Isomura

いそむら いつみち

Isomura Itsumichi

Pen Names: Toru Kitagawa（Pseudonym used for some pink-film works）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1950-11-30 （Gifu Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Film director, Screenwriter, Producer
Active Years
1979-
Affiliations
Altamira Pictures (Executive Director)

Education

Gifu Prefectural Gifu High School
Country: Japan
Waseda University
Faculty of Letters I / Sociology
Country: Japan
Graduated from the sociology program

Awards

Arts Selection (Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Newcomer Award)
1998
Work: Ganbatte Ikimasshoi
Category: 新人賞
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunka-cho)
Result: 受賞
Japan Film Professional Awards
1998
Work: Ganbatte Ikimasshoi
Category: 監督賞
Organization: Japan Film Professional Awards
Result: 受賞
Japan Film Critics Awards
1999
Work: Ganbatte Ikimasshoi
Category: スターライト賞
Organization: Japan Film Critics Awards
Result: 受賞
Yokohama Film Festival
1998
Work: Ganbatte Ikimasshoi
Category: 監督賞
Organization: Yokohama Film Festival
Result: 受賞
National Federation of Film Lovers Awards
1998
Work: Ganbatte Ikimasshoi
Category: 監督賞
Organization: National Federation of Film Lovers
Result: 受賞
Asahi Best Ten Film Festival
1999
Work: Ganbatte Ikimasshoi
Category: 第1位
Organization: The Asahi Shimbun
Result: 受賞
Japan Internet Movie Awards
1998
Work: Ganbatte Ikimasshoi
Category: 監督賞
Organization: Japan Internet Movie Awards
Result: 受賞
International Family Film Festival (IFFF)
2003
Work: If You Get Off the Boat, Her Island
Category: 長編・ドラマ部門賞
Organization: International Family Film Festival
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Ganbatte Ikimasshoi

1998 Drama

An ensemble coming-of-age drama focusing on high-school girls; praised for performances (including Rena Tanaka) and recipient of multiple film awards.

YouthComing of ageFemale psychology

Asatte DANCE

1991 Drama

A 1991 feature film depicting subtle details of everyday life and human relationships.

Human relationshipsEveryday life

Natsu no Yokaze / Natsu's End (Kaika)

2004 Drama

A moving drama about people confronting illness and their interactions; written and directed by Isomura.

IllnessHealingHuman drama

Gyappie: This Summer We Wear Ties!

1990 Drama

Released in 1990; one of his early mainstream films depicting interactions among young people.

YouthFriendship

Mother's Tree

2015 Drama

A 2015 film exploring family and memory.

FamilyMemory

Bibliography

  • Ganbatte Ikimasshoi (1998)
  • Asatte DANCE (1991)
  • Kaika / Natsu's End (2004)
  • Gyappie: This Summer We Wear Ties! (1990)
  • Mother's Tree (2015)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Realistic depictionAttention to everyday detail
Recurring Motifs
Women's psychologyYouth and coming of ageLoss and renewal in everyday life

Legacy

Isomura rose from pink-film origins to mainstream cinema, establishing himself in the 1990s as a director noted for sensitive portrayals of female psychology and youth. As a member of Altamira Pictures he has also been active in film production in Japan.

Quotes

  • From my point of view, women remain an eternal mystery — the more I film them, the more fascinating the unknown aspects become.
    Source: Interview (TV Taro, 2002, et al.) (2002)

Trivia

  • Used the pseudonym "Toru Kitagawa" for some pink-film works.
  • Served as an executive director at Altamira Pictures.