was a Japanese film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for directing five entries in the Godzilla series for Toho starting with Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966) as well as the spy films Ironfinger (1965) and Golden Eyes (1968) starring Akira Takarada. Son of Godzilla (1967) has received particular attention from Godzilla fans. His next features with Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972) and Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) were constrained with the extensive use of stock footage. His last Godzilla film Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) was the first of numerous ones to feature the character of Mechagodzilla, which he co-wrote the screenplay for. While he did not particularly enjoy the five Godzilla films he made for Toho, he understood the appreciation the films had in some circles, particularly among children.https://www.tohokingdom.com/blog/they-werent-fans-godzilla-directors/
Selected filmography
Year Title Director Writer Producer Assist. Director Notes1949Suishô-yama no shônen1952Minato e kita otoko1953Akasen kichiHana no naka no musumetachi1954Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto1955Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji TempleSo Young, So Bright1956RodanShujinsenAnkokugai1957Yagyu bugeicho1958Yagyu bugeicho: Ninjitsu1959Osorubeki hi asobi1960The Secret of the Telegian1961Ankokugai gekimetsu meireiArigataya sandogasaNakito gozansuNasake muyo no wanaHoero datsugokushu1962Josei jishinCo-wrote w/ Shirō Horie and Sampei KashimuraAnkokugai no kibaCo-wrote w/ Ei Ogawa and Takashi TsuboshimaNihon ichi no wakadaisho1963Norainu sakusenHawai no wakadaishôNippon jitsuwa jidai1964Chi to daiyamondoKokusai himitsu keisatsu: Tora no kiba1965IronfingerHonkon no shiroibaraAnkokugai gekitotsu sakusenCo-wrote w/ Ei Ogawa and Yoshihiro Ishimatsu1966Ebirah, Horror of the DeepDoto ichiman kairiCo-wrote w/ Ei Ogawa and Shinichi Sekizawa1967Son of Godzilla1968Golden EyesCo-wrote w/ Ei Ogawa and Michio TsuzukiOperation: MysteryWriter (2 episodes)1969Konto 55: The Great Outer Space AdventureDai Nippon suri washudanNyu jirando no wakadaishoFuresshuman wakadaisho1970Kigeki sore ga otoko no ikiru michi1971Nishi no betenshi, higashi no sagishi3000 kiro no wana1972Godzilla vs. Gigan1973Zone FighterDirector (6 episodes)Writer (3 episodes)Godzilla vs. MegalonHorror of the WolfCo-wrote w/ Shirô Ishimori and Masashi Matsumoto1974Kigeki damashi no jingiCo-wrote w/ Tsunesaburo Nishikawa and Yasuo TanamiGodzilla vs. MechagodzillaCo-wrote w/ Hiroyasu YamamuraESPY1975Detective HagureDirector (1 episode)1977The War in Space1978Monkey Director (8 episodes)1987Stardust StoryCo-directed w/ Daisuke Yahagi
References
External links