
Yoji Yamada
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- September 13, 1931
- Birthplace
- Osaka, Japan
Yoji Yamada (山田 洋次 Yamada Yōji, born September 13, 1931 in Toyonaka City, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese film director best known for his Otoko wa Tsurai yo series of films. He was born in Osaka. But because of the work of his father, who was an engineer for the South Manchuria Railway, from the age of 2 he was brought up in Manchuria. Following the end of World War II, he came back to Japan and subsequently he lived in Ube in Yamaguchi Prefecture. After receiving his degree from Tokyo University in 1954, he entered Shochiku and worked under Yoshitaro Nomura as a scriptwriter or as an assistant director. He has won many awards throughout his lengthy career and is well respected in Japan and by critics throughout the world. He wrote his first screenplay in 1958, and directed his first movie in 1961. Yamada continues to make movies to this day. He once served as president of the Directors Guild of Japan, and is currently a guest professor of Ritsumeikan University.
Filmography

Yamazaki Riverside - Over an Actor's Shoulder - 2026
as Self

Tokyo Taxi 2025
Director, Screenplay

Home Sweet Home 2025
Writer

55th anniversary performance of Tora-San: Rakugo, Talk and Tora Jiro Returns 2024
Actor

Mom, Is That You?! 2023
Director, Screenplay

The Call of a Faraway Mountain 2022
Screenplay

It's a Flickering Life 2021
Screenplay, Director
- 戦争童画集 ~75年目のショートストーリー~
戦争童画集 ~75年目のショートストーリー~ 2020
Director

Tora-san, Wish You Were Here 2019
Director, Screenplay

Seijo Story: 60 Years of Making Films 2019
as Self

A Distant Cry from Spring 2018
Writer

Older Brother, Younger Sister 2018
Screenplay

What a Wonderful Family! 3 2018
Director, Screenplay

What a Wonderful Family! 2 2017
Director, Screenplay

Ken San 2016
Actor

What a Wonderful Family! 2016
Director, Screenplay

Nagasaki: Memories of My Son 2015
Director, Screenplay

700 Days with Ryuichi Sakamoto 2015
as Self

Sat-chan Tadashi-chan: Sengo minshu-teki dokuritsu pro funtō-ki 2015
as Self

The Little House 2014
Director, Screenplay

Tokyo Family 2013
Director, Screenplay

The Yellow Handkerchief 2011
Writer

Kyoto Story 2010
Story, Screenplay, Director

About Her Brother 2010
Director, Screenplay

Shinema Kabuki: Renjishi 2010
Director

Free and Easy 20: Final 2009
Screenplay

The Yellow Handkerchief 2009
Original Film Writer

Kabei: Our Mother 2008
Director, Screenplay

Love and Honor 2006
Director, Screenplay

Sea Without Exit 2006
Screenplay

Free and Easy 17 2006
Screenplay

Free and Easy 16 2005
Writer

The Hidden Blade 2004
Director, Screenplay

Free and Easy 14 2003
Writer

The Twilight Samurai 2002
Screenplay, Director

Free and Easy 13 2002
Writer

Free and Easy 12: Big Holiday Bonus Project 2001
Writer

A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen 2000
Director, Screenplay

Free and Easy: Samurai Edition 1998
Writer

A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage 1998
Director, Screenplay, Story

Free and Easy 10 1998
Screenplay

Otoko wa Tsurai yo: Torajirou Wasurenagusa 1998
Creator

The Rainbow Seeker 2 1997
Director, Writer

Tora-san's Tropical Fever Special Version 1997
Director, Writer

Shin Salaryman Senka 1997
Screenplay

Salaryman Senka: Tanshin Funin 1996
Screenplay

The Rainbow Seeker 1996
Director, Writer

A Class to Remember II 1996
Director, Screenplay

Free and Easy 8 1996
Writer

Salaryman Senka 1995
Screenplay

Tora-san to the Rescue 1995
Director, Writer

Toki no kagayaki 1995
Screenplay

Free and Easy 7 1994
Writer

Tora-san's Easy Advice 1994
Director, Writer

Free and Easy Special 1994
Writer

Free and Easy 6 1993
Writer

Tora-san's Matchmaker 1993
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

A Class to Remember 1993
Director, Screenplay

Film Director Satsuo Yamamoto 1993
as Self

Free and Easy 5 1992
Writer

Tora-san Makes Excuses 1992
Director, Screenplay

Free and Easy 4 1991
Writer

Tora-san Confesses 1991
Director, Screenplay

My Sons 1991
Director, Screenplay

Tora-san Takes a Vacation 1990
Director, Writer

Free and Easy 2 1989
Writer

Tora-san, My Uncle 1989
Director, Writer

Days with Harasu 1989
Writer

Tora-san Goes to Vienna 1989
Director, Writer

Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial 1988
Director, Original Story, Screenplay

Free and Easy 1988
Writer

Downtown Heroes 1988
Director, Screenplay

Lady Camellia 1988
Script

Tora-san Plays Daddy 1987
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Tora-san Goes North 1987
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy 1986
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies 1986
Director, Writer

Tora-san's Island Encounter 1985
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Tora-san, the Go-Between 1985
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Tora-san's Forbidden Love 1984
Director, Writer, Original Story

Marriage Counselor Tora-san 1984
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Tora-san Goes Religious? 1983
Director, Writer, Original Story

I Lived, But... 1983
as Self

Tora-san's Song of Love 1983
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Itoshi no Lahaina 1983
Original Story

Tora-san, the Expert 1982
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san 1982
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Tora-san's Promise 1981
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Xiongmao Monogatari TaoTao 1981
Story

Tora-san's Love in Osaka 1981
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Foster Daddy, Tora! 1980
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Tora-san's Tropical Fever 1980
Director, Writer

A Distant Cry from Spring 1980
Director, Screenplay

Tora-san's Dream of Spring 1979
Director, Writer

Tora-san, the Matchmaker 1979
Director, Writer

Our Symphony 1979
Original Story

Ore wa Ueno no puresurī 1978
Story

Talk of the Town Tora-san 1978
Director, Writer

Ore wa inaka no puresurī 1978
Story

Stage-Struck Tora-san 1978
Director, Writer

Tora-san Plays Cupid 1977
Director, Writer

The Yellow Handkerchief 1977
Director, Screenplay

Tora-san Meets His Lordship 1977
Director, Writer

Tora-san's Pure Love 1976
Director, Writer

Oretachi no toki 1976
Original Story

Two Iida 1976
Co-Writer

Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset 1976
Director, Writer

Tora-san, the Intellectual 1975
Director, Writer

The Village 1975
Director, Writer

Tora-san Meets the Songstress Again 1975
Director, Original Story, Screenplay

Tora-san's Lullaby 1974
Director, Writer

The Castle of Sand 1974
Screenplay

Tora-san's Lovesick 1974
Director, Writer

Center of Tokyo 1974
Screenplay

Tora-san Loves an Artist 1973
Director, Writer

Tora-san's Forget Me Not 1973
Director, Original Story, Screenplay

Tora-san's Dream-Come-True 1972
Director, Original Story, Screenplay

Home from the Sea 1972
Director, Screenplay

Tora-san's Dear Old Home 1972
Director, Original Story, Screenplay

Tora-san's Love Call 1971
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Follow the Girls 1971
Screenplay

Tora-san, the Good Samaritan 1971
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Tora-san's Shattered Romance 1971
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Where Spring Comes Late 1970
Director, Story, Screenplay

Tora-san's Runaway 1970
Director, Screenplay

Tora-san's Grand Scheme 1970
Original Story, Screenplay

Tora-san, His Tender Love 1970
Original Story, Screenplay

Tora-san's Cherished Mother 1969
Director, Screenplay, Original Story

Women Can't Be Beaten 1969
Original Story

Tora-san, Our Lovable Tramp 1969
Director, Screenplay

Vagabond Schemer 1969
Director, Writer

It's Tough Being a Man (Television Drama DVD Edit Edition) 1968
Original Story, Adaptation

The Shy Deceiver 1968
Director, Writer

I, the Executioner 1968
Writer

The Million Dollar Pursuit 1968
Screenplay, Director

Onna no issho 1967
Screenplay

The Greatest Challenge of All 1967
Screenplay, Director

Song of Love 1967
Screenplay, Director

Let's Have A Dream 1967
Director, Writer

The Lovable Tramp 1966
Director, Screenplay

Ohana han: Dai ni bu 1966
Screenplay

Ohana han 1966
Screenplay

Warm Current 1966
Writer

Gamblers' Luck 1966
Director, Screenplay

A Trap 1965
Director

The Donkey Comes on a Tank 1964
Director, Screenplay

The Irresponsible Fool 1964
Director, Screenplay

The Honest Fool 1964
Director, Screenplay

To Your Majesty, The Emperor 2 1964
Screenplay

At the Side of the Bridge 4 1963
Screenplay

The Sunshine Girl 1963
Director, Screenplay

At the Side of the Bridge 3 1963
Screenplay

At the Side of the Bridge 2 1962
Screenplay

Kyū-chan ondo 1962
Screenplay

At the Side of the Bridge 1962
Screenplay

Kanbi no ware koso wa ittō shain 1962
Screenplay

The Strangers Upstairs 1961
Director, Writer

Koi no gashū 1961
Screenplay

Zero Focus 1961
Screenplay

One-Way Ticket to Love 1960
Assistant Director

Yellow Cherries 1960
Screenplay

Akatsuki no chiheisen 1959
Screenplay

The Girl Who Creates Tomorrow 1958
Screenplay

Modan dôchû: Sono koi matta nashi 1958
Screenplay

Monthly Salary: 13,000 Yen 1958
Screenplay

Hachi no ko 1957
Screenplay
Credits from TMDB.