Takashi Yamazaki

Takashi Yamazaki

Original Name 山崎 貴
Born June 12, 1964 (59)
Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan

One of Japan’s premiere directors of fantasy and drama, specializing in visual effects films, particularly science fiction and period dramas. He was influenced from an early age by Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (both 1977), and in 1986 he joined the Shirogumi effects house, which has had a hand in each of his directorial efforts. He made his debut in 2000 with the small-scale sci-fi film Juvenile. Yamazaki’s third film, Always (2005), was a massive critical success and swept the Japanese Academy Awards, winning 12 of 13 nominations. Yamazaki’s subsequent works haven’t yet matched Always for critical acclaim, but they have been well-received regardless.

Yamazaki popularized the term ‘VFX’ in film, and has always placed a VFX credit alongside his director credit at the end of his films. His passion project Space Battleship Yamato (2010) spent nearly a year in post-production to concentrate on its visuals. The film would go on to best Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 at the Japanese box office. Yamazaki’s Always 3 (2012) was the first full-length Japanese film to be shot entirely on 3D cameras. Yamazaki has also branched out into 3D animated films, co-directing Friends (2011) and Stand By Me, Doraemon (2014) with Ryuichi Yagi.

Yamazaki’s films are generally family-friendly fare, with the notable exception of the Parasyte films, which are his only full-on horror works. He is married to director/screenwriter Shimako Sato. They collaborated together on Sato’s Eko Eko Azarak films (1995, 1996), K-20 (2008) and Space Battleship Yamato. Yamazaki has consistently worked with composer Naoki Sato since Always (which nabbed Naoki his first Japanese Academy Award). Yamazaki is a fan of the Japanese pop band BUMP OF CHICKEN; he has directed several of their music videos, and they have provided the theme songs for his Always films. In December 2017, Yamazaki was appointed to the planning committee for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Original Name 山崎 貴
Born June 12, 1964 (59)
Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan

One of Japan’s premiere directors of fantasy and drama, specializing in visual effects films, particularly science fiction and period dramas. He was influenced from an early age by Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (both 1977), and in 1986 he joined the Shirogumi effects house, which has had a hand in each of his directorial efforts. He made his debut in 2000 with the small-scale sci-fi film Juvenile. Yamazaki’s third film, Always (2005), was a massive critical success and swept the Japanese Academy Awards, winning 12 of 13 nominations. Yamazaki’s subsequent works haven’t yet matched Always for critical acclaim, but they have been well-received regardless.

Yamazaki popularized the term ‘VFX’ in film, and has always placed a VFX credit alongside his director credit at the end of his films. His passion project Space Battleship Yamato (2010) spent nearly a year in post-production to concentrate on its visuals. The film would go on to best Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 at the Japanese box office. Yamazaki’s Always 3 (2012) was the first full-length Japanese film to be shot entirely on 3D cameras. Yamazaki has also branched out into 3D animated films, co-directing Friends (2011) and Stand By Me, Doraemon (2014) with Ryuichi Yagi.

Yamazaki’s films are generally family-friendly fare, with the notable exception of the Parasyte films, which are his only full-on horror works. He is married to director/screenwriter Shimako Sato. They collaborated together on Sato’s Eko Eko Azarak films (1995, 1996), K-20 (2008) and Space Battleship Yamato. Yamazaki has consistently worked with composer Naoki Sato since Always (which nabbed Naoki his first Japanese Academy Award). Yamazaki is a fan of the Japanese pop band BUMP OF CHICKEN; he has directed several of their music videos, and they have provided the theme songs for his Always films. In December 2017, Yamazaki was appointed to the planning committee for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.