Art Encouragement Prize for Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
1 appearances
-
Edition 59 (2009) award
Yojiro Takita
たきた ようじろう
Takita Yōjirō
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1955-12-04 （Fukuoka, Nishi-Tonami District, Toyama Prefecture (now Takaoka), Japan）
- Nationality
- Japan
- Languages
- Japanese
Career
- Occupations
- Film director, Screenwriter, Producer
- Active Years
- 1974-
- Affiliations
- A-Team (agency)
- Memberships
- Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- Influenced By
- Hiroshi Mukai, Shinya Yamamoto
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyama Prefectural Takaoka Commercial High School | — | — | — | — | Japan |
Toyama Prefectural Takaoka Commercial High School
Country:
Japan
After high school he entered the film industry and became an assistant director.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film | Departures | — | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | winner |
| 2009 | Japan Academy Prize - Director of the Year (Best Director) | Departures | — | Japan Academy Prize Association | winner |
| 2004 | Japan Academy Prize - Picture of the Year (Best Picture) | When the Last Sword Is Drawn | — | Japan Academy Prize Association | winner |
| 2008 | Montreal World Film Festival Grand Prix | Departures | — | Montreal World Film Festival | winner |
| 1994 | Blue Ribbon Award - Best Director | We Are All Alive / Nemuranai Machi: Shinjuku Shark | — | Blue Ribbon Awards | winner |
| 2009 | Kinema Junpo - Japan Film Director Award | Departures | — | Kinema Junpo | winner |
| 2014 | Order of the Purple Ribbon (Shiju Hosho) | — | — | Government of Japan | recipient |
| 1986 | Hochi Film Award - Best Film | I Don't Need Comic Magazines! | — | Hochi Film Awards | winner |
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
2009
Work:
Departures
Organization:
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Result:
winner
Japan Academy Prize - Director of the Year (Best Director)
2009
Work:
Departures
Organization:
Japan Academy Prize Association
Result:
winner
Japan Academy Prize - Picture of the Year (Best Picture)
2004
Work:
When the Last Sword Is Drawn
Organization:
Japan Academy Prize Association
Result:
winner
Montreal World Film Festival Grand Prix
2008
Work:
Departures
Organization:
Montreal World Film Festival
Result:
winner
Blue Ribbon Award - Best Director
1994
Work:
We Are All Alive / Nemuranai Machi: Shinjuku Shark
Organization:
Blue Ribbon Awards
Result:
winner
Kinema Junpo - Japan Film Director Award
2009
Work:
Departures
Organization:
Kinema Junpo
Result:
winner
Order of the Purple Ribbon (Shiju Hosho)
2014
Organization:
Government of Japan
Result:
recipient
Hochi Film Award - Best Film
1986
Work:
I Don't Need Comic Magazines!
Organization:
Hochi Film Awards
Result:
winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Departures
2008 Film (Drama)A drama about a cellist-turned-nokan-shi (traditional mortician) who rediscovers life, death and family ties through his work. The film won international acclaim and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Confronting deathFamilyRenewal
Onmyoji
2001 Film (Fantasy / Historical)A historical fantasy based on the novels by Baku Yumemakura, centered on the onmyoji Abe no Seimei and supernatural incidents; a major commercial success in Japan.
Legend and the supernaturalPower struggles
When the Last Sword Is Drawn / Mibu Gishi Den
2003 Film (Historical / Drama)A human drama concerning members of the Shinsengumi, exploring themes of bushido, loyalty and memory; the film received high honors at the Japan Academy Awards.
LoyaltyHistorical memory
We Are All Alive
1993 Film (Drama)An ensemble drama about youth, portraying contemporary society through multiple characters' lives.
YouthCommunity
Tenchi Meisatsu (Heaven and Earth Observations)
2012 Film (Historical / Biographical)A historical drama about the creation of a calendar in the Edo period, focusing on astronomy and human relationships.
Science and humanityCuriosity
Kita no Sakuramori (The Guardians of the Northern Cherry Blossoms)
2018 Film (Drama)A postwar mother-and-son story that centers on memory, loss and renewal.
FamilyPostwar history
Bibliography
- I Don't Need Comic Magazines! (1986)
- Onmyoji (2001)
- When the Last Sword Is Drawn (2003)
- Departures (2008)
- Tenchi Meisatsu (2012)
- Kita no Sakuramori (2018)
Adaptations
- Onmyoji (novel → film)
- When the Last Sword Is Drawn (novel → film)
- Departures (original film)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Lyrical, composed styleCareful depiction of characters' inner lives and relationships
- Recurring Motifs
- FamilyDeath and farewellLocal/regional landscapesWork and professional ethics
Legacy
Yojiro Takita rose from the pink-film world to mainstream cinema and became an influential director with a wide stylistic range. The international success of Departures boosted global recognition of Japanese cinema; he has received numerous honors including the Order of the Purple Ribbon.
In Popular Culture
- Departures increased public interest in the profession of nōkanshi (traditional morticians) and influenced popular culture.
Trivia
- Graduated from Toyama Prefectural Takaoka Commercial High School
- Height listed as 175 cm in source material
- Worked in pink films early in his career as assistant director and director
- Reported to have 3rd dan in go (2012)
- Won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for Departures