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Takashi Yamazaki
Yamazaki Takashi from "Godzilla Minus One" at Red Carpet of the Tokyo International Film Festival 2023 (53348355520) (cropped) (2).jpg
Yamazaki in 2023
Born (1964-06-12) June 12, 1964 (age 60)
Alma mater Asagaya College of Art and Design [ja]
Occupation
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • visual effects supervisor
Years active 1984–present
Notable work
  • Returner (2002)
  • Always: Sunset on Third Street (2005)
  • Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 (2007)
  • Space Battleship Yamato (2010)
  • The Eternal Zero (2013)
  • Stand by Me Doraemon (2014)
  • Parasyte: Part 1 (2014)
  • Lupin III: The First (2019)
  • Stand by Me Doraemon 2 (2020)
  • Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Spouse(s)
(m. 2012)
Awards
  • Japan Academy Film Prize for Director of the Year
  • Japan Academy Film Prize for Screenplay of the Year
Signature
Takashi Yamazaki Signature.svg

Takashi Yamazaki (山崎 貴, Yamazaki Takashi, born June 12, 1964) is a Japanese filmmaker and visual effects supervisor. Known for his blockbusters with advanced visual effects, Yamazaki is considered a leading filmmaker in the Japanese film industry. He is the recipient of multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, eight Japanese Academy Awards, five Nikkan Sports Film Awards, and two Hochi Film Awards. His films have collectively grossed over $523 million worldwide.

Yamazaki developed an interest in filmmaking and visual effects after watching Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (both 1977). Starting his career in the industry at Shirogumi in 1986, he later made his feature film debut with Juvenile (2000). After directing Returner (2002), Yamazaki gained recognition with his third film, Always: Sunset on Third Street (2005), which won twelve awards at the 29th Japanese Academy Awards. He then moved onto direct several film adaptations of popular anime, novels, and manga, including Space Battleship Yamato (2010), Friends: Mononoke Shima no Naki (2011), The Eternal Zero (2013), and Stand by Me Doraemon (2014) respectively; the latter two films earned a total of nine awards at the 38th Japanese Academy Awards. These were followed by Parasyte (2014), Fueled: The Man They Called Pirate (2016), The Great War of Archimedes (2019), Dragon Quest: Your Story (2019), Lupin III: The First (2019), and Stand by Me Doraemon 2 (2020), Yokaipedia (2022).' Yamazaki's acclaimed latest film, Godzilla Minus One, was released in Japan in November 2023 and in the United States the next month. In 2024, he and his team became the first Japanese production crew ever to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects.

In April 2012, Yamazaki married fellow filmmaker Shimako Satō, whom he had been friends with since his years at Asagaya College of Art and Design [ja].

Early life

Yamazaki was born on June 12, 1964, in Matsumoto, Nagano. Yamazaki was first introduced to film by the "Umbrella Program" as a child; in 2023 he reflected that Ishirō Honda's Matango (1963) and King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) may have been among the first movies he ever saw. Growing up, Yamazaki was influenced to work in the film industry by the 1977 American science fiction films Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He filmed his directorial debut on 8 mm film with the assistance of a friend during his third year at Matsumoto Shiritsu Shimizu Junior High School [ja]. This 1979 science fiction short, entitled Glory, was lost for 43 years until it was rediscovered in 2022 and screened in the director's hometown.

Career

1984–1999: Early career

In 1984, Yamazaki began working as a miniature builder for Tatsuo Shimamura [ja]. Following his graduation from Asagaya College of Art and Design [ja] in 1986, he officially became an employee at Shimamura's animation and special effects studio Shirogumi in Chōfu, Tokyo.

After working on the Eko Eko Azarak series and Parasite Eve (1997), Yamazaki and his team at Shirogumi started pre-production on their feature NUE. The team spent two years preparing the project in collaboration with Robot Communications and they even went location scouting in Australia. Yamazaki, who was still heading the visual effects for up to three commercials monthly at this point, concluded that the film would require him to create the film on a relatively enormous budget of ¥2 billion, well above the average budget of ¥100 million usually given to first-time directors. Thus, Robot president Shūji Abe deemed NUE too expensive and requested that Yamazaki scrap it and attempt to make his directorial debut with a smaller scale.

2000–2007: First directorial features and breakthrough

Shortly after abandoning NUE, Yamazaki converted the idea for his debut feature film, Juvenile (2000), which he directed, wrote, and headed the visual effects for. A science fiction film, Juvenile is about a group of elementary school students who find a talking alien robot while camping in the woods and soon discover that it is their only hope in saving the planet from incoming evil alien invaders. Initially, Juvenile was to be shot on entirely on location by Kōzō Shibasaki under Yamazaki's direction on a budget of roughly ¥100 million, with Kiyoko Shibuya directing the visual effects on a budget of ¥50 million under Yamazaki's supervision. However, Abe decided to increase the film's budget to ¥450 million in order to allow Yamazaki to make it a "proper movie for the summer vacation lineup". Toho distributed Juvenile in July 2000 and it grossed ¥1.1 billion, making it the fifteenth highest-grossing Japanese film of that year.

His next film, the science fiction actioner Returner (2002), follows the story of Milly, a young woman living in a war-torn future, who is recruited by a mysterious time traveler named Miyamoto. The film was distributed by Toho in Japan on August 31, 2002 and was later in American theaters in October of the following year, where it was critically savaged. Lou Lumenick of New York Post wrote in his review: "Returner was a huge hit in Japan, but this would- be sci-fi epic is soporific, shamelessly derivative and barely coherent by American standards." After its release, Yamazaki proposed a sequel to Returner but Abe asked him to make a film set in the Shōwa era instead.

Yoshioka Hidetaka from "Tora-san, Wish You Were Here" at Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival 2019 (49013472433) (cropped)
Hidetaka Yoshioka, a frequent lead in Yamazaki's films

Yamazaki's breakthrough came when he departed from the science fiction genre to create his third directorial feature, Always: Sunset on Third Street (2005), an adaptation Ryōhei Saigan's manga series Sunset on Third Street. Set in Tokyo during postwar Japan, this film tells the "heartwarming" story of the residents living at Third Street: Ryunosuke, a writer from the countryside; Norifumi, an auto mechanic; and sake bar owner Hiromi. Always: Sunset on Third Street – starring Hidetaka Yoshioka, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Koyuki, Maki Horikita, and Kenta Suga – was released to overwhelmingly positive reviews and grossed ¥3.23 billion, ranking fifteenth at the Japanese box office. In 2005, film critic Tadao Satō regarded the film as a milestone in the usage for computer-generated imagery and acclaimed Yamazaki's direction. At the 29th Japanese Academy Awards, the film won twelve awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Yamazaki next directed, co-wrote (with Ryota Kosawa [ja]), and headed the visual effects for Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 (2007), a sequel to Always: Sunset on Third Street also based on the manga series. The film opens with an "imaginary sequence" of Godzilla attacking Tokyo before returning to the story of the residents of Third Street. Yamazaki stated that he is a lifelong fan of the Godzilla franchise and incorporated the opening scene in order to "start with something fresh from the first film" and added that "having Godzilla destroy Tokyo Tower with his oral beam was a great way to surprise audiences". He also noted that the "two minutes (in which Godzilla appears) required a tremendous amount of work", with half of the crew having to work on the sequence over the course of six months. Upon its November 3 release, Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 became Yamazaki's biggest box office hit, ranking the third-highest-grosser at Japanese box office that year.

2008–2018: Directing film adaptations

Takashi Yamazaki - Yebisu Garden Cinema (cropped)
Yamazaki in October 2016

In 2008, Yamazaki turned to assisting his fellow Asagaya College of Art and Design [ja] graduate and future wife, Shimako Satō, with the visual effects and screenplay for her action film, K-20: Legend of the Mask. Based on a novel by Sō Kitamura, K-20 is set in an alternate reality version of Japan during the 1940s and follows the mysterious masked antihero known as "K-20" who robs the rich and powerful, leaving behind a trail of dismay. K-20 was released in December 2008 and grossed ¥2 billion, making it the eighteenth highest-grossing Japanese film of 2009.

In 2009, Yamazaki created the visual effects for Yōjirō Takita's Sanpei The Fisher Boy – based on the manga Fisherman Sanpei – and directed, wrote and made the effects for the live-action jidaigeki romance film Ballad [ja] based on the 2002 anime feature Crayon Shin-chan: Fierceness That Invites Storm! The Battle of the Warring States –. Yamazaki was inspired to create Ballad after visiting the filming location of The Last Samurai (2003) and contemplating "Maybe Japan could make a historical drama centered around battles?".

In October 2009, Yamazaki started filming his first science fiction film since 2002's Returner, Space Battleship Yamato. Featuring a screenplay by his partner Shimako Satō, it is an adaptation of famed manga artist Leiji Matsumoto's 1974 anime series of the same name. With a budget estimated at ¥2 billion ($22–23.9 million) and CGI used in 80% of the entire picture, it was anticipated to become an "unprecedented science fiction blockbuster", and Toho spent an additional ¥100 million on New Years Day alone to promote the film and ensure it met their expectations. Space Battleship Yamato was released in Japan during December 2010 and grossed ¥4.1 billion.

2018–present: Godzilla and other activities

Kamiki and Yamazaki of "Godzilla Minus One" (cropped)
Yamazaki (right) with actor Ryunosuke Kamiki at the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival

In July 2018, the production of Yamazaki's next film The Great War of Archimedes was announced; based on a manga by Norifusa Mita, this picture about the building of the battleship Yamato, and starred Masaki Suda in his first collaboration with Yamazaki. It was released by in July 2019, and was the sixteenth highest-grossing Japanese film of 2019.

After the release of The Great War of Archimedes, Yamazaki was given the opportunity to make a Godzilla film by Toho executive and film producer Minami Ichikawa. Ichikawa stated that he and Yamazaki decided to collaborate on the project during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and Yamazaki spent three years writing the screenplay. The film, entitled Godzilla Minus One, was released in Japanese theaters in November 2023, and became one of the most acclaimed films in the franchise. For their work on the film, Yamazaki and his team became the first Japanese film to ever to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects.

On December 27, 2023, Yamazaki began directing a kaiju web film in Ashikaga, Tochigi for a major food corporation, scheduled for a March 2024 release with a runtime of approximately one minute. Its visual effects were also made by the same team behind Godzilla Minus One. It was later revealed to be titled Food Losslla (フードロスラ, Fūdo Rosura) and produced by Ajinomoto.

Yamazaki declared in February 2024 that he has a new film in development.

Personal life

Yamazaki is married to fellow filmmaker Shimako Satō, whom he met at Asagaya College of Art and Design [ja]. The couple own several cats.

Filmography

Films

Film work by Takashi Yamazaki
Year Title Director Writer Effects Notes
Visual Special
1987 The Drifting Classroom No No No Yes
1988 A Taxing Woman's Return No No No Yes
1989 Sweet Home No No No Yes
1993 Daibyonin No No No Yes Also digital compositor
1994 Uneasy Encounters No No No Yes
1995 Eko Eko Azarak: Wizard of Darkness No No No Yes
A Quiet Life No No No Yes
1996 Eko Eko Azarak II: Birth of the Wizard No No No Yes
Supermarket Woman No No No Yes
1997 Parasite Eve No No No Yes Also storyboarder
2000 Juvenile Yes Yes Yes No
2002 Returner Yes Yes Yes No
2005 Always: Sunset on Third Street Yes Yes Yes No
2007 Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 Yes Yes Yes No Also Godzilla designer
2008 K-20: Legend of the Mask No Associate Associate No
2009 Ballad Yes Yes Yes No
2010 Space Battleship Yamato Yes No Yes No
2011 Friends: Naki on Monster Island Yes Yes No No
2012 Always: Sunset on Third Street '64 Yes Yes Yes No
2013 The Eternal Zero Yes Yes Yes No
2014 Stand by Me Doraemon Yes Yes No No
Parasyte: Part 1 Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bump of Chicken: Willpolis 2014 Yes No No No
2015 Parasyte: Part 2 Yes Yes Yes Yes
2016 Fueled: The Man They Called Pirate Yes Yes Yes No
2017 Destiny: The Tale of Kamakura [ja] Yes Yes Yes No
2019 The Great War of Archimedes Yes Yes Yes No
Dragon Quest: Your Story Yes Yes No No
Lupin III: The First Yes Yes No No
2020 Stand by Me Doraemon 2 Yes Yes No No
2021 It's a Flickering Life [ja] No No Yes No
2022 Ghost Book Obakezukan [ja] Yes Yes Yes No Also character designer
2023 Godzilla Minus One Yes Yes Yes No Also Godzilla designer
2024 Food Losslla Yes No Yes No Short web film

Commercials

  • Lotte: Airs (2006)
  • CR Neon Genesis Evangelion ~Apostle, Again~ [ja] (2007)

Music videos

  • Bump of Chicken: "Namida no Furusato" (2006)
  • Bump of Chicken: "Good Luck" (2012)

Theme park attraction

  • Godzilla the Ride: Giant Monsters Ultimate Battle - Seibu-en (2021)
  • Ultraman the Ride: The Great Duel of the Century - Seibu-en (2023)

Video games

  • "Onimusha 3: Demon Siege" (Opening CG movie director) (2004)

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2000 30th Giffoni Film Festival Early Screens Section Juvenile Won
2005 30th Hochi Film Awards Best Picture Always: Sunset on Third Street
18th Nikkan Sports Film Awards Yūjirō Ishihara Award
2006 9th Far East Film Festival Audience Award Nominated
29th Japan Academy Film Prize Picture of the Year Won
Director of the Year
Screenplay of the Year
79th Kinema Junpo Awards Readers' Choice Award
60th Mainichi Film Awards Readers' Choice Award
Technical Award
27th Yokohama Film Festival Best Technical
27th New York Asian Film Festival Audience Award
2008 31st Japan Academy Film Prize Picture of the Year Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 Nominated
Director of the Year
Screenplay of the Year
2nd Asian Film Awards Best Visual Effects
2011 24th Nikkan Sports Film Awards Readers' Choice Award Space Battleship Yamato Won
5th Asian Film Awards Best Visual Effects Nominated
2013 36th Japan Academy Film Prize Animation of the Year Friends: Naki on the Monster Island
56th Blue Ribbon Awards Best Film The Eternal Zero
2014 38th Japan Academy Film Prize Picture of the Year Won
Director of the Year
Screenplay of the Year Nominated
16th Far East Film Festival Audience Award Won
27th Nikkan Sports Film Award Best Film
Best Director The Eternal Zero and Stand by Me Doraemon
38th Japan Academy Film Prize Animation of the Year Stand by Me Doraemon
2015 5th Asian Film Awards Best Visual Effects Parasyte: Part 1 Nominated
12th Nippon Connection Japanese Film Festival Best Film
Parasyte: Part 2
2018 Destiny: The Tale of Kamakura [ja]
2019 44th Hochi Film Awards Best Picture The Great War of Archimedes
32nd Nikkan Sports Film Awards Yūjirō Ishihara Award Won
2020 43rd Japan Academy Film Prize Animation of the Year Lupin III: The First Nominated
42nd Annecy International Animated Film Festival Best Feature Film
2021 5th Hawaii Film Critics Society Awards Best Animated Film Won
44th Japan Academy Film Prize Animation of the Year Stand by Me Doraemon 2 Nominated
2023 36th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Best Use of Visual Effects Godzilla Minus One Won
Best Foreign Language Film Nominated
28th Florida Film Critics Circle Awards Best Visual Effects Won
Best Foreign Language Film Nominated
48th Hochi Film Awards Best Picture
Best Director Won
15th Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards Best Film Nominated
Best Foreign Language Film Runner-up
27th Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards Best Horror/Sci-Fi Movie Won
Best International Movie
Best Visual Effects Nominated
Best Action Movie
36th Nikkan Sports Film Award Yūjirō Ishihara Award
7th Philadelphia Film Critics Circle Awards Philips Steaks Cheesesteak Award Runner-up
10th Phoenix Critics Circle Awards Best Foreign Language Film Nominated
20th St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards Best Visual Effects
2024 96th Academy Awards Best Visual Effects Won
17th Asian Film Awards Best Visual Effects
19th Austin Film Critics Association Awards Best Film 6th Place
Best International Film Won
67th Blue Ribbon Awards Best Film
Best Director Nominated
5th Chicago Indie Critics Awards Best Visual Effects Won
7th Columbus Film Critics Association Awards Best Film Nominated
Best Foreign Language Film
29th Critics' Choice Awards Best Foreign Language Film
16th Denver Film Critics Society Awards Best Sci-Fi/Horror Won
Best Visual Effects Nominated
Best Non-English Language Feature Won
5th DiscussingFilm Critic Awards Best International Film Runner-up
Best Visual Effects Won
13th Georgia Film Critics Association Awards Best Picture Nominated
Best International Film Won
6th Greater Western New York Film Critics Association Awards Best Foreign Film Nominated
8th Hawaii Film Critics Society Awards Best Visual Effects
Best Horror Film
Best Sci-Fi Film Won
Best Foreign Language Film Nominated
17th Houston Film Critics Society Awards Best Picture
Best Foreign Language Film
Best Visual Effects
47th Japan Academy Film Prize Picture of the Year Won
Best Director Nominated
Best Screenplay Won
59th Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards Best Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror Won
Latino Entertainment Journalists Association Awards Best International Film Pending
Best Visual Effects
78th Mainichi Film Awards Excellence Award
Best Director
6th Music City Film Critics' Association Awards Best International Film Won
Best Action Film Nominated
12nd North Carolina Film Critics Association Awards Best Narrative Film
Best Foreign Language Film
5th North Dakota Film Society Awards Best Visual Effects
27th Online Film Critics Society Awards Best Visual Effects
Best Film Not in the English Language
3rd Portland Critics Association Awards Best Film Not in the English Language
Best Science Fiction Feature Won
Best Visual Effects Nominated
Best Stunts or Action Choreography
28th San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Best Foreign Language Film Runner-up
Best Visual Effects Won
Best Sound Design Nominated
8th Seattle Film Critics Society Awards Best International Film Won
Best Visual Effects
Best Action Choreography Nominated
22nd Utah Film Critics Association Awards Best Non-English Feature Runner-up
Best Visual Effects Won
22nd Visual Effects Society Awards Outstanding Animated Character in a
Photoreal Feature
Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Takashi Yamazaki para niños

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