Itami Jūzō

Japanese director and screenwriter

Also known as: Ikeuchi Yoshihiro

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Original name:: Ikeuchi Yoshihiro

Born:: May 15, 1933, Kyōto, Japan

Died:: Dec. 20, 1997, Tokyo

Also Known As:: Ikeuchi Yoshihiro

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Itami Jūzō (born May 15, 1933, Kyōto, Japan—died Dec. 20, 1997, Tokyo) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He had a successful 20-year career as an actor in films such as 55 Days at Peking (1963), an American vehicle, before venturing into directing. His directorial debut, Ososhiki (1984; The Funeral), was acclaimed for its satire of social conventions, a novelty in Japanese cinema. He became an international success with his artful and entertaining Tampopo (1986) and Marusa no onna (1987; A Taxing Woman). His satire on Japan’s crime syndicate, Minbo no onna (1992; The Gangster’s Moll), provoked a near-deadly attack on him by gangsters.

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