Akira Kurosawa (1910–1998)


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After training as a painter (he storyboards his films as full-scale paintings), Kurosawa entered the film industry in 1936 as an assistant director, eventually making his directorial debut with Sugata Sanshirô (1943). Within a few years, Kurosawa had achieved sufficient stature to allow him greater creative freedom. Yoidore tenshi (1948) was... See full bio »

Died:

(age 88) in Tokyo, Japan

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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 70 wins & 30 nominations. See more awards »

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Known For

Kagemusha Writer
(1980)
Ran Writer
(1985)
(1954)

Filmography

Hide Hide Show Show Writer (84 credits)
 2022 Living (original screenplay)
 2020 Nioh 2 (Video Game) (based upon original material by)
 2018 Her Spirit (Short) (inspired by the works of)
 2017 Nioh (Video Game) (based on original material by)
 2016 The Magnificent Seven (based on the screenplay by)
 2013 Norainu (TV Movie) (based on a script by)
 2011 U mong pa meung (based on screenplay by)
 2008 Kakushi toride no san akunin (original screenplay)
 2007 Tsubaki Sanjûrô (screenplay)
 2007 Tengoku to jigoku (TV Movie) (based on screenplay by)
 2004 Samurai 7 (TV Series) (film "Shichinin no samurai" - 26 episodes)
- Ochiru! (2004) ... (film "Shichinin no samurai")
- Ueru! (2004) ... (film "Shichinin no samurai")
- Chigiru! (2004) ... (film "Shichinin no samurai")
- Usotsuki! (2004) ... (film "Shichinin no samurai")
- Tawake! (2004) ... (film "Shichinin no samurai")
 2004 Seven Samurai 20XX (Video Game) (based upon original material by)
 2002 Umi wa miteita (original screenplay)
 2001-2002 Kaze no yojinbo (TV Series) (original creator - 25 episodes)
- So Long (2002) ... (original creator)
- The Close Call (2002) ... (original creator)
- The Great Excursion (2002) ... (original creator)
- Tha Tanokura Manor Ablaze (2002) ... (original creator)
- The Search for the Truth (2002) ... (original creator)
 2000 Dora-heita (screenplay)
 1999 Ame agaru (screenplay)
 1996 Last Man Standing (story)
 1993 Mâdadayo (writer)
 1990 Yume (written by)
 1986 Fame (TV Series) (based on the Japanese Daiei film "Rashomon" by - 1 episode)
- The Incident (1986) ... (based on the Japanese Daiei film "Rashomon" by)
 1985 Runaway Train (based on a screenplay by)
 1985 Ran (screenplay)
 1980 Kagemusha
 1975 Dersu Uzala (screenplay - as Akira Kurosava)
 1973 Nora inu (1949 screenplay)
 1970 Dodesukaden (screenplay)
 1970 Tora! Tora! Tora! (Japanese sequences - uncredited)
 1968 Xue cheng (screenplay)
 1965 Sugata Sanshirô (1943 screenplay "Sugata Sanshiro" and 1945 screenplay "Zoku Sugata Sanshiro")
 1965 Akahige (screenplay)
 1964 The Outrage (screenplay "Rashomon")
 1964 Per un pugno di dollari (screenplay "Yojimbo" - uncredited)
 1964 Jakoman to Tetsu (and earlier screenplay)
 1963 Tengoku to jigoku (screenplay)
 1962 Tateshi Danpei (1950 screenplay Tateshi danpei)
 1962 Sanjuro (screenplay)
 1961 Yôjinbô (screenplay) / (story)
 1960 Play of the Week (TV Series) (teleplay - 1 episode)
- Rashomon (1960) ... (teleplay)
 1960 Rashomon (TV Movie) (based on screenplay by)
 1960 The Magnificent Seven (screenplay "Shichinin no samurai" - uncredited)
 1960 Warui yatsu hodo yoku nemuru (written by)
 1959 Sengoku gunto-den (writer)
 1958 Kakushi-toride no san-akunin (written by)
 1957 Nichiro senso shori no hishi: Tekichu odan sanbyaku-ri (earlier screenplay "Techiku odan sanbyaku ri") / (screenplay)
 1957 Donzoko
 1957 Kumonosu-jô (screenplay)
 1955 Ikimono no kiroku (story)
 1955 Asunaro monogatari (screenplay)
 1955 Kieta chutai
 1954 Shichinin no samurai (screenplay by)
 1953 Fukeyo haru kaze (screenplay)
 1952 Ikiru (written by)
 1952 Sengoku burai
 1951 Hakuchi
 1950 Rashômon (screenplay)
 1950 Jiruba Tetsu (screenplay)
 1950 Shûbun (written by)
 1949 Nora inu (writer)
 1949 Jakoman to Tetsu (writer)
 1949 Jigoku no kifujin (writer)
 1949 Shizukanaru kettô (writer)
 1948 Shozo (writer)
 1948 Yoidore tenshi (written by)
 1947 Yottsu no koi no monogatari (segment "Hatsukoi")
 1946 Waga seishun ni kuinashi (uncredited) / (screenplay)
 1945 Appare Isshin Tasuke (screenplay)
 1944 Dohyo matsuri
 1944 Dohyosai
 1943 Sugata Sanshirô (writer)
 1941 Uma (uncredited)
Show Show Director (33 credits)
Show Show Second Unit Director or Assistant Director (25 credits)
Show Show Editor (17 credits)
Show Show Producer (11 credits)
Show Show Sound department (1 credit)
Show Show Soundtrack (2 credits)
Show Show Additional Crew (1 credit)
Show Show Thanks (13 credits)
Show Show Self (22 credits)
Show Show Archive footage (24 credits)

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Personal Details

Other Works:

His play, "Throne of Blood," was performed in an Oregon Shakespeare Festival production at the Angus Bowmer Theatre in Ashland, Oregon. Bill Rauch was artistic director. See more »

Publicity Listings:

4 Biographical Movies | 15 Print Biographies | 8 Interviews | 21 Articles | 1 Pictorial | See more »

Official Sites:

Facebook

Alternate Names:

Akira Kurosava | Kurosawa

Height:

5' 11½" (1.82 m)

Spouse:

Yôko Yaguchi  (her death)  (2 children)

Children:

Kazuko Kurosawa | See more »

Parents:

Isamu Kurosawa | Kurosawa, Shima

Relatives:

Takayuki Katô (grandchild) | See more »
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

I begin rehearsals in the actors' dressing room. First I have them repeat their lines, and gradually proceed to the movements. But this is done with costumes and makeup on from the beginning; then we repeat everything on the set. The thoroughness of the rehearsals makes the actual shooting every time very short. We don't rehearse just the actors, but every part of every scene - the camera ... See more »

Trivia:

He named the film that made him want to work in cinema as Abel Gance's film La roue (1923), particularly certain kinetic shots of trains. See more »

Trademark:

Characters who express their feelings in an open and uninhibited fashion. See more »

Nickname:

The Emperor See more »

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