Famous People in Japan


Oshima Nagisa

Date of Birth 31 March 1932
Place of Birth Kyoto

Oshima Nagisa has produced new and extreme works as a forerunner of the "Neberu Bagu"(New Wave) movement in Japanese cinema. All works that he produces attract not only Japanese attention but also all over the world and always raise a controversy.

In 1950, he entered Kyoto University to study law. After graduation, he joined the Shochiku Film Company in 1954 as an assistant director. In 1959, he directed the film, 'Ai to kibo no machi'(A Town of Love and Hope) for the first time. In the next year of rising left-wing political movements, he presented 'Seishun zankoku monogatari' (A Story of the Cruelties of Youth), which focuses on the youth of young people who go to ruin in modern society. It aroused the sympathy of many young people. After that, he resigned Shochiku to establish his independent production company, Sozosha.

The film is probably best known in the Western countries is 'Ai no corrida'(In the Realm of the Senses)(1976) produced by French source. It deals with an obsessive sexual relationship. 'Ai no borei'(In the Realm of Passion)(1978) was produced two years later and he received the best director award in Cannes international film festival.

In 1983, he produced 'Senjo no Merii Kurisumasu'(Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence) casted David Bowie, Sakamoto Ryuichi, Kitano Takeshi and so on, and attracted international attention. His latest work is 'Gohatto'(Taboo)(1999), which presents Shinsengumi in Meiji restoration.

He appears on many TV programs as a commentator and is popular for a his dry criticism. He also published a variety of books, for example, on film criticism, the philosophy of life, a translation and so on. Now we are looking forward to his new film and other various activities.

Year Title
1959 Ai to kibo no machi (A Town of Love and Hope)
1960 Seishun zankoku monogatari (A History of the Cruelties of Youth)
Taiyo no hakaba (The Sun's Burial)
Nihon no yoru to kiri (Night and Fog in Japan)
1961 Shiiku (The Catch)
1962 Amakusa tenshiro tokisada (The Revolutionary)
1965 Etsuraku (The Pleasures of the Flesh)
Yunbogi no nikki (Yunbogi's Diary)
1966 Hakucyu no torima (The Daylight Demon)
1967 Ninja bugei-cho (Band of Ninja)
Nihon Shunka-ko (Sing a song of Sex)
Murishinju: Nihon no natsu (Japanese Summer: Double Suicide)
1968 Koshikei (Death by Hanging)
Kaettekita yopparai (Three Resurrected Drunkards)
1969 Shinjuku dorobo nikki (Diary of a Shinjuku Burglar)
Shonen (Boy)
1970 Tokyo senso sengo hiwa (He Died After the War)
1971 Gishiki (The Ceremony)
1972 Natsu no imoto (Dear Summer Sister)
1976 Ai no corrida (In the Realm of the Senses)
1978 Ai no borei (In the Realm of Passion)
1983 Senjo no Merii kurisumasu (Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence)
1986 Max, mon amour (Max My Love)
1999 Gohatto (Taboo)

References:

http://www.shochiku.co.jp/gohatto/, http://www.aino-corrida.com

Reported by: Saori Ioka
Data verified by: Sato Yamamoto
Date of Report: 17 January 2002

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