
Yoji Yamada
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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
Credits

Tokyo Taxi (2025)
Screenplay

The Twilight Samurai (2002)
Screenplay

Love and Honor (2006)
Screenplay

My Sons (1991)
Screenplay

The Yellow Handkerchief (1977)
Screenplay

Tokyo Family (2013)
Screenplay

The Castle of Sand (1974)
Screenplay

Kabei: Our Mother (2008)
Screenplay

What a Wonderful Family! 2 (2017)
Screenplay

It's a Flickering Life (2021)
Screenplay

A Distant Cry from Spring (1980)
Screenplay

The Hidden Blade (2004)
Screenplay

Tora-san, Wish You Were Here (2019)
Screenplay

What a Wonderful Family! (2016)
Screenplay

Marriage Counselor Tora-san (1984)
Screenplay

The Little House (2014)
Screenplay

About Her Brother (2010)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Love in Osaka (1981)
Screenplay

Nagasaki: Memories of My Son (2015)
Screenplay

The Greatest Challenge of All (1967)
Screenplay

Tora-san, Our Lovable Tramp (1969)
Screenplay

Mom, Is That You?! (2023)
Screenplay

Tora-san, the Good Samaritan (1971)
Screenplay

Monthly Salary: 13,000 Yen (1958)
Screenplay

What a Wonderful Family! 3 (2018)
Screenplay

Older Brother, Younger Sister (2018)
Screenplay

Downtown Heroes (1988)
Screenplay

Tora-san, the Expert (1982)
Screenplay

Toki no kagayaki (1995)
Screenplay

To Your Majesty, The Emperor 2 (1964)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Love Call (1971)
Screenplay

A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen (2000)
Screenplay

The Call of a Faraway Mountain (2022)
Screenplay

Tora-san Meets the Songstress Again (1975)
Screenplay

Ohana han (1966)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Dear Old Home (1972)
Screenplay

Where Spring Comes Late (1970)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Runaway (1970)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Cherished Mother (1969)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Forget Me Not (1973)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Dream-Come-True (1972)
Screenplay

The Sunshine Girl (1963)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Promise (1981)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Island Encounter (1985)
Screenplay

At the Side of the Bridge (1962)
Screenplay

Zero Focus (1961)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy (1986)
Screenplay

Free and Easy 17 (2006)
Screenplay

Follow the Girls (1971)
Screenplay

Center of Tokyo (1974)
Screenplay

Song of Love (1967)
Screenplay

Tora-san Plays Daddy (1987)
Screenplay

At the Side of the Bridge 4 (1963)
Screenplay

Home from the Sea (1972)
Screenplay

Tora-san, the Go-Between (1985)
Screenplay

Tora-san Confesses (1991)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Matchmaker (1993)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Grand Scheme (1970)
Screenplay

Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san (1982)
Screenplay

Salaryman Senka (1995)
Screenplay

Tora-san, His Tender Love (1970)
Screenplay

The Million Dollar Pursuit (1968)
Screenplay

Sea Without Exit (2006)
Screenplay

Foster Daddy, Tora! (1980)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial (1988)
Screenplay

Salaryman Senka: Tanshin Funin (1996)
Screenplay

Ohana han: Dai ni bu (1966)
Screenplay

Modan dôchû: Sono koi matta nashi (1958)
Screenplay

At the Side of the Bridge 2 (1962)
Screenplay

Free and Easy 10 (1998)
Screenplay

Gamblers' Luck (1966)
Screenplay

Tora-san Makes Excuses (1992)
Screenplay

A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage (1998)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Song of Love (1983)
Screenplay

Free and Easy 20: Final (2009)
Screenplay

Tora-san's Shattered Romance (1971)
Screenplay

Tora-san Goes North (1987)
Screenplay

A Class to Remember (1993)
Screenplay

The Honest Fool (1964)
Screenplay

The Lovable Tramp (1966)
Screenplay

A Class to Remember II (1996)
Screenplay

Kyoto Story (2010)
Screenplay

At the Side of the Bridge 3 (1963)
Screenplay

Onna no issho (1967)
Screenplay

Kyū-chan ondo (1962)
Screenplay

The Donkey Comes on a Tank (1964)
Screenplay

The Irresponsible Fool (1964)
Screenplay

Koi no gashū (1961)
Screenplay

Kanbi no ware koso wa ittō shain (1962)
Screenplay

Akatsuki no chiheisen (1959)
Screenplay

Shin Salaryman Senka (1997)
Screenplay

The Girl Who Creates Tomorrow (1958)
Screenplay

Yellow Cherries (1960)
Screenplay

Hachi no ko (1957)
Screenplay





