Yasujirō Ozu
Japanese filmmaker known for family and generational themes.
He began his career during the silent film era and made his last films in color in the early 1960s. He is widely regarded as one of the world's greatest and most influential filmmakers, with his work continuing to receive acclaim since his death. His films often explore family and marriage, especially intergenerational relationships.
- died
- 12 December 1963
- field
- Filmmaker
- nationality
- Japanese
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
He was thrown out of the dormitory in 1920 after being accused of writing a love letter to a boy in a lower class. Ozu was hired by the Shochiku Film Company as an assistant in the cinematography department on 1 August 1923. He served a year of military service from December 1924, leaving as a corporal. In 1927, after a fracas in the studio cafeteria, he presented a film script and was promoted to director in the jidaigeki department, directing his first film, Sword of Penitence, which has since been lost. His 1932 film I Was Born, But... won acclaim as the first notable work of social criticism in Japanese cinema. He was stationed in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hankou, and his published diaries cover his wartime experiences, including references to chemical warfare and comfort stations.
Reader's Guide
Yasujirō Ozu's significance lies in his distinctive cinematic style and thematic focus on family and marriage, especially the relationships between generations. Ozu's legacy endures as one of the world's greatest and most influential filmmakers.
Did You Know?
- While stationed in Singapore during World War II, Ozu was particularly impressed by Orson Welles's Citizen Kane.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Yasujirō Ozu?
Yasujirō Ozu was a Japanese filmmaker whose career stretched from the silent-film era into the early 1960s. He is best known for intimate, character-driven dramas that examine family bonds and the emotional distance between generations.
What is Yasujirō Ozu's most celebrated film?
Tokyo Story (1953) is widely regarded as his masterpiece and remains his most frequently cited work. The film follows an aging couple who travel to Tokyo to visit their grown children and confront their own quiet isolation.
What subjects does Yasujirō Ozu typically explore?
His films consistently return to the rhythms of family life, marriage, and the slow drift that separates parents from adult children. He had a particular talent for showing how small domestic moments reveal larger shifts in a relationship.
When was Yasujirō Ozu born and when did he die?
He was born on 12 December 1903 and passed away on 12 December 1963, living exactly sixty years. His final color films in the early 1960s closed out a career that began during the silent era.
Why is Yasujirō Ozu considered one of the greatest filmmakers?
Critics and scholars worldwide have long placed him among the most influential directors in cinema history. His restrained visual grammar and deep empathy for ordinary domestic life continue to shape how filmmakers approach storytelling well after his death.
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