Kinji Fukasaku 深作 欣二 | |
|---|---|
 Fukasaku in 1962 | |
| Born | (1930-07-03)3 July 1930 Mito, Ibaraki, Japan |
| Died | 12 January 2003(2003-01-12) (aged 72) Tokyo, Japan |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1961–2003 |
| Title | President of theDirectors Guild of Japan |
| Term | 1996–2003 |
| Predecessor | Nagisa Ōshima |
| Successor | Yoji Yamada |
| Spouse | Sanae Nakahara |
| Children | Kenta Fukasaku |
| Awards | Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year 1982Dotonbori River &Fall Guy 1987House on Fire 1995Crest of Betrayal |
Kinji Fukasaku (Japanese:深作 欣二,Hepburn:Fukasaku Kinji, 3 July 1930 – 12 January 2003) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. Known for his "broad range and innovative filmmaking",[1] Fukasaku worked in many different genres and styles, but was best known for his grittyyakuza films, typified by theBattles Without Honor and Humanity series (1973–1976). According to theBerkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, "his turbulent energy and at times extreme violence express a cynical critique of social conditions and genuine sympathy for those left out of Japan's postwar prosperity."[2] He used acinema verite-inspiredshaky camera technique in many of his films from the early 1970s.[3][4]
Fukasaku wrote and directed over 60 films between 1961 and 2003. Some Western sources have associated him with theJapanese New Wave movement of the '60s and '70s, but this belies his commercial success.[5][6] His works include the Japanese portion of theHollywood war filmTora! Tora! Tora! (1970),jidaigeki such asShogun's Samurai (1978), thespace operaMessage from Space (1978), the post-apocalyptic science fiction filmVirus (1980), thefantasy filmSamurai Reincarnation (1981), and the influential dystopian thrillerBattle Royale (2000).
Fukasaku won theJapan Academy Film Prize for Director of the Year three times, out of nine total nominations. He served as President of theDirectors Guild of Japan from 1996, until his death fromprostate cancer in 2003. In 1997, he received thePurple Medal of Honor from the Japanese government for his work in film.[7] His films have inspired directors such asQuentin Tarantino,[8]William Friedkin,[9] andJohn Woo.[10]
Kinji Fukasaku was born in 1930 inMito, Ibaraki Prefecture as the youngest of five children.[11] When he was 15 years old, Fukasaku's class was drafted, and he worked as a munitions worker duringWorld War II. In July 1945, the class was caught in bombing. Since the children could not escape the bombs, they had to dive under each other in order to survive. The surviving members of the class had to dispose of the corpses. After the war, he spent much of his time watching foreign films.[12][13]
Fukasaku studied cinema atNihon University, in the country's first film department, before switching to the literature department for scriptwriting his junior year. There he studied underKogo Noda and Katsuhito Inomata. After graduating in 1953, Fukasaku became an assistant director atToei in June 1954, where he worked under people such asMasahiro Makino andYasushi Sasaki.[11]
Fukasaku made his directorial debut in 1961 with the twofeaturettesDrifting Detective: Tragedy in the Red Valley andDrifting Detective: Black Wind in the Harbor, starringSonny Chiba. His first feature-length film for theNew Toei subsidiary wasHigh Noon for Gangsters that same year.[11] His first film produced in color wasGang vs. G-Men (1962). His first film for theToei Company proper wasThe Proud Challenge the following year starringKōji Tsuruta. He had his breakthrough hit in 1964 withKen Takakura starring inJakoman and Tetsu.[11] From 1966 to 1971, he created several modern gang films for Toei usually starring Tsuruta, such asCeremony of Disbanding (1967),Gambler's Farewell (1968), andJapan Organized Crime Boss (1969).
Thanks to a non-exclusive contract, he also directedBlack Lizard, based onYukio Mishima's stage adaptation of theEdogawa Rampo novel, andBlack Rose Mansion forShochiku both of which starred the transvestite actorAkihiro Miwa. In 1968 he directedThe Green Slime, a United States-Japanscience fiction co-production.[11]
In 1970, Fukasaku was recruited to direct the Japanese portion of another US-Japan film,Tora! Tora! Tora!, afterAkira Kurosawa pulled out. Using his pay from the project, he bought the rights to adaptUnder the Flag of the Rising Sun. The movie was critically acclaimed, even being selected as Japan's entry forBest Foreign Language Film at the45th Academy Awards in 1972, although it was not accepted as a nominee. That year also saw the release ofStreet Mobster starringBunta Sugawara, which resulted in Toei producer Koji Shundo selecting Fukasaku to direct a groundbreakingyakuza film.[11]Battles Without Honor and Humanity was released in 1973. Up to this point, Japan's many yakuza films had usually been tales of chivalry set in the pre-war period, but Fukasaku's ultra-violent, documentary-style film took place in chaotic post-WarHiroshima. A commercial and critical success, it gave rise to seven sequels by Fukasaku and three movies that are based on the series but directed by others. After directing several more yakuza films,Graveyard of Honor (1975),Cops vs. Thugs (1975),Yakuza Graveyard (1976), andHokuriku Proxy War (1977), Fukasaku left the genre.[11]
He focused on historical epics;Shogun's Samurai (1978),The Fall of Ako Castle (1978),Samurai Reincarnation (1981); and science fiction;Message from Space (1978) andVirus (1980).Virus was Japan's most expensive production at the time, and became a financial flop. However, two years later he directed the acclaimed comedyFall Guy, which won both theJapan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year andKinema Junpo Award for Best Film of the Year. Fukasaku was chosen to directViolent Cop (1989), but a scheduling conflict caused him to pull out andTakeshi Kitano took over in his first directorial role.[14]
In 2000,Battle Royale was released. The film received positive critical praise and became a major financial success, grossing ¥3.11 billion domestically.[15][16][17] It became a cultural phenomenon, creating thebattle royale genre, a fictional narrative genre and/or mode of entertainment in which a select group of people are instructed to kill each other off until there is a triumphant survivor.[17] Near the end of his life, Fukasaku branched out into the world of video games by serving as the director of theCapcom/Sunsoftsurvival horror gameClock Tower 3 (2002).
Fukasaku announced he hadprostate cancer in September 2002.[7] In late December 2002, shortly after filming began onBattle Royale II: Requiem, he was hospitalized when his condition worsened. Fukasaku died at a Tokyo hospital on 12 January 2003, aged 72.[7] Having directed only a single scene, his son,Kenta took over the film.
| Year | Title | Japanese | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Drifting Detective: Tragedy in the Red Valley a.k.a.Duel in the Valley | 風来坊探偵 赤い谷の惨劇 | Fūraibō Tantei: Akai Tani no Sangeki |
| Drifting Detective: Black Wind in the Harbor | 風来坊探偵 岬を渡る黒い風 | Fūraibō Tantei: Misaki wo Wataru Kuroi Kaze | |
| Hepcat in the Funky Hat a.k.a.Man with the Funky Hat | ファンキーハットの快男児 | Fankī Hatto no Kaidanji | |
| Hepcat in the Funky Hat: The 20,000,000 Yen Arm | ファンキーハットの快男児 2千万円の腕 | Fankī Hatto no Kaidanji: Nisenman-en no Ude | |
| High Noon for Gangsters a.k.a.Greed in Broad Daylight | 白昼の無頼漢 | Hakuchū no Buraikan | |
| 1962 | The Proud Challenge | 誇り高き挑戦 | Hokori Takaki Chōsen |
| Gang vs. G-Men | ギャング対Gメン | Gyangu Tai Jī-men | |
| 1963 | League of Gangsters a.k.a.Gang Alliance | ギャング同盟 | Gyangu Dōmei |
| 1964 | Jakoman and Tetsu a.k.a.One-Eyed Captain and Tetsu | ジャコ萬と鉄 | Jakoman to Tetsu |
| Wolves, Pigs and Men a.k.a.Wolves, Pigs and People | 狼と豚と人間 | Ōkami to Buta to Ningen | |
| 1966 | The Threat | 脅迫 | Odoshi |
| Kamikaze Man: Duel at Noon a.k.a.The Kamikaze Guy | カミカゼ野郎 真昼の決斗 | Kamikaze Yarō: Mahiru no Kettō | |
| Rampaging Dragon of the North a.k.a.North Sea Dragon | 北海の暴れ竜 | Hokkai no Abare Ryū | |
| 1967 | Ceremony of Disbanding | 解散式 | Kaisanshiki |
| 1968 | Gambler's Farewell | 博徒解散式 | Bakuto Kaisanshiki |
| Black Lizard | 黒蜥蝪 | Kurotokage | |
| Blackmail Is My Life | 恐喝こそわが人生 | Kyōkatsu Koso Waga Jinsei | |
| The Green Slime | ガンマ3号 宇宙大作戦 | Gammā Daisan Gō: Uchū Dai Sakusen | |
| 1969 | Black Rose Mansion | 黒薔薇の舘 | Kurobara no Yakata |
| Japan Organized Crime Boss | 日本暴力団 組長 | Nihon Bōryoku-dan: Kumichō | |
| 1970 | Bloodstained Clan Honor a.k.a.Bloody Gambles | 血染の代紋 | Chizome no Daimon |
| If You Were Young: Rage | 君が若者なら | Kimi ga Wakamono Nara | |
| Tora! Tora! Tora! | トラ・トラ・トラ！ | Tora Tora Tora! | |
| 1971 | Sympathy for the Underdog | 博徒外人部隊 | Bakuto Gaijin Butai |
| 1972 | Under the Flag of the Rising Sun | 軍旗はためく下に | Gunki Hatameku Moto ni |
| Street Mobster | 現代やくざ 人斬り与太 | Gendai Yakuza: Hitokiri Yota | |
| Outlaw Killers: Three Mad Dog Brothers | 人斬り与太・狂犬三兄弟 | Hitokiri Yota: Kyōken San Kyōdai | |
| 1973 | Battles Without Honor and Humanity a.k.a.The Yakuza Papers (Volume 1) | 仁義なき戦い | Jinginaki Tatakai |
| Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima a.k.a.The Yakuza Papers: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima (Volume 2) | 仁義なき戦い 広島死闘篇 | Jinginaki Tatakai: Hiroshima Shitō-hen | |
| Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War a.k.a.The Yakuza Papers: Proxy War (Volume 3) | 仁義なき戦い 代理戦争 | Jinginaki Tatakai: Dairi Sensō | |
| 1974 | Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Police Tactics a.k.a.The Yakuza Papers: Police Tactics (Volume 4) | 仁義なき戦い 頂上作戦 | Jinginaki Tatakai: Chōjō Sakusen |
| Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode a.k.a.The Yakuza Papers: Final Episode (Volume 5) | 仁義なき戦い 完結篇 | Jinginaki Tatakai: Kanketsu-hen | |
| New Battles Without Honor and Humanity | 新仁義なき戦い | Shin Jinginaki Tatakai | |
| 1975 | Graveyard of Honor | 仁義の墓場 | Jingi no Hakaba |
| Cops vs. Thugs a.k.a.Police vs. Violence Groups | 県警対組織暴力 | Kenkei tai Soshiki Bōryoku | |
| Cross the Rubicon! a.k.a.Gambling Den Heist | 資金源強奪 | Shikingen Gōdatsu | |
| New Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Boss's Head | 新仁義なき戦い 組長の首 | Shin Jinginaki Tatakai: Kumichō no Kubi | |
| 1976 | Violent Panic: The Big Crash | 暴走パニック 大激突 | Bōsō Panikku: Dai Gekitotsu |
| New Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Last Days of the Boss | 新仁義なき戦い 組長最後の日 | Shin Jinginaki Tatakai: Kumichō Saigo no Hi | |
| Yakuza Graveyard a.k.a.Yakuza Burial: Jasmine Flower | やくざの墓場 くちなしの花 | Yakuza no Hakaba: Kuchinashi no Hana | |
| 1977 | Hokuriku Proxy War | 北陸代理戦争 | Hokuriku Dairi Sensō |
| Doberman Cop | ドーベルマン刑事 | Dōberman Deka | |
| 1978 | Shogun's Samurai a.k.a.Yagyu Clan Conspiracy | 柳生一族の陰謀 | Yagyū Ichizoku no Inbō |
| Message from Space | 宇宙からのメッセージ | Uchū Kara no Messēji | |
| The Fall of Ako Castle | 赤穂城断絶 | Akōjō Danzetsu | |
| 1980 | Virus | 復活の日 | Fukkatsu no Hi |
| 1981 | The Gate of Youth | 青春の門 | Seishun no Mon |
| Samurai Reincarnation | 魔界転生 | Makai Tenshō | |
| 1982 | Dotonbori River a.k.a.Lovers Lost | 道頓堀川 | Dōtonborigawa |
| Fall Guy | 蒲田行進曲 | Kamata Kōshin Kyoku | |
| 1983 | Theater of Life (directed one of three segments) | 人生劇場 | Jinsei Gekijō |
| Legend of the Eight Samurai | 里見八犬伝 | Satomi Hakkenden | |
| 1984 | Shanghai Rhapsody | 上海バンスキング | Shanghai Bansu Kingu |
| 1986 | House on Fire | 火宅の人 | Kataku no Hito |
| 1987 | Sure Death 4: Revenge | 必殺4 恨みはらします | Hissatsu Fō: Urami Harashimasu |
| 1988 | A Chaos of Flowers | 華の乱 | Hana no Ran |
| 1992 | The Triple Cross a.k.a.The Day's Too Bright | いつかギラギラする日 | Itsuka Giragira Suru Hi |
| 1994 | Crest of Betrayal a.k.a.Loyal 47 Ronin: Yotsuya Ghost Story | 忠臣蔵外伝 四谷怪談 | Chūshingura Gaiden: Yotsuya Kaidan |
| 1995 | The Abe Clan | 阿部一族 | Abe Ichizoku |
| 1997 | The Eaters | 20世紀末黙示録 もの食う人びと | Nijusseikimatsu Mokushiroku: Mono kuu Hitobito |
| 1998 | The Geisha House | おもちゃ | Omocha |
| 2000 | Battle Royale | バトル・ロワイアル | Batoru Rowaiaru |
| 2003 | Battle Royale II: Requiem (directed one scene) | バトル・ロワイヤル II: 【鎮魂歌】 | Batoru Rowaiaru Tsū: "Rekuiemu" |
His loose affiliation with the '60s New Wave of Japanese arthouse cinema belies Kinji Fukasaku's raw commercial appeal.
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