Japanese Literary Awards

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Kichitaro Negishi

ねぎし きちたろう

Negishi Kichitaro

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1950-08-24 （Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Tokyo, Japan → Yamagata Prefecture (Tohoku University of Art & Design)

Career

Occupations
Film director, Video director
Active Years
1978-
Affiliations
Tohoku University of Art & Design (Chairman), Nikkatsu (former)
Influenced By
Toshihachi Fujita, Nakao Sone, Toshiharu Ikeda (peer / ally)

Education

Tokyo Metropolitan Komaba High School
Country: Japan
Waseda University, First Faculty of Letters
First Faculty of Letters / Department of Drama
Period: ～1974
Year of Graduation: 1974
Country: Japan
Graduation thesis dealt with temporal progression in scripts by Kogo Noda

Awards

Tokyo International Film Festival Grand Prix / Best Director
2005
Work: Prayers in Snow
Organization: Tokyo International Film Festival
Result: 受賞
Blue Ribbon Award, Best Director
1982
Work: Tenrai (Distant Thunder) / Kurutta Kajitsu, etc.
Organization: Blue Ribbon Awards
Result: 受賞
Kinema Junpo Japanese Film Director Award
2007
Work: Prayers in Snow
Organization: Kinema Junpo
Result: 受賞
Yamaji Fumiko Film Award
1981
Work: Tenrai (Distant Thunder)
Organization: Yamaji Fumiko Film Award
Result: 受賞
Takasaki Film Festival Best Film
1988
Work: Half of Eternity
Organization: Takasaki Film Festival
Result: 受賞
Japan Film Critics Award, Best Director
2008
Work: Dog in a Sidecar
Organization: Japan Film Critics Award
Result: 受賞
Japan Film Critics Award, Best Director
2009
Work: Villon's Wife ~Cherries and Dandelions~
Organization: Japan Film Critics Award
Result: 受賞
Montreal World Film Festival Best Director
2009
Work: Villon's Wife ~Cherries and Dandelions~
Organization: Montreal World Film Festival
Result: 受賞
Medal with Purple Ribbon
2010
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Tenrai (Distant Thunder)

1981 Film

A human drama based on a work by Wakahira Tatematsu (Tachimatsu?). The film was highly praised for its direction and visual expression.

Human relationshipsLonelinessMemory

Prayers in Snow

2005 Film

A human drama about family and renewal set against snow. One of his representative works, winning several awards domestically and internationally.

FamilyRebirthNature and memory

Villon's Wife ~Cherries and Dandelions~

2009 Film

A drama drawing on the atmosphere of short fiction by Dazai Osamu. Direction was acclaimed and won Best Director at Montreal.

Literary themesHuman frailtyLove and loneliness

Bibliography

  • From Orion's Murder: The Equation of an Affair (1978)
  • Schoolgirl (1979)
  • Wet Weekend (1979)
  • Female Teacher: Tarnished Afterschool (1981)
  • Kurutta Kajitsu (1981)
  • Tenrai (1981)
  • Cabaret Diary (1982)
  • Detective Story (1983)
  • A Single Snowflake (1985)
  • Uhhoh Exploration Squad (1986)
  • Half of Eternity (1987)
  • Kacho Shima Kosaku (1992)
  • Kizuna (1998)
  • Tree of Translucence (2004)
  • Prayers in Snow (2005)
  • Dog in a Sidecar (2007)
  • Villon's Wife ~Cherries and Dandelions~ (2009)
  • Yukite Kaeranu (2025)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Realistic direction emphasizing character depictionQuiet, lyrical visual style
Recurring Motifs
Snow and natural landscapesFamily and bondsLoneliness and rebirth

Legacy

A director who transitioned from early Roman Porno films to mainstream and literary cinema, earning recognition from the 1980s onward. He has also contributed to education as chairman of an art university.

Academic Societies

  • Tohoku University of Art & Design (affiliated)

Trivia

  • Joined Nikkatsu in 1974 and directed many Roman Porno films early in his career.
  • Won multiple awards at home and abroad for the 2005 film Prayers in Snow.
  • Awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2010.