Director
Akira Kurosawa
Born 23 March 1910 · Shinagawa, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan — died 6 September 1998
Akira Kurosawa (1910–1998) was a Japanese director and painter who made thirty films over five decades. Known for dynamic visuals and period dramas as well as contemporary stories, he often worked with actor Toshiro Mifune. Rashomon's success opened Western markets to Japanese cinema, and his work influenced filmmakers worldwide.
Key films
Rashomon (1950)On Cinespective
Won the Golden Lion at Venice and brought Japanese cinema international attention.
Ikiru (1952)
Humane drama about a dying bureaucrat searching for meaning, among his most acclaimed contemporary stories.
Seven Samurai (1954)On Cinespective
Epic samurai film that became a landmark of world cinema and widely imitated.
Throne of Blood (1957)
Transposes Shakespeare's Macbeth to feudal Japan, showing his skill at adapting Western literature.
Ran (1985)
Late-career epic loosely based on King Lear, regarded as one of his crowning achievements.
Key awards
- 1951 Golden Lion, Venice Film Festival (Rashomon)
- 1952 Academy Honorary Award for Rashomon (Best Foreign Language Film)
- 1976 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (Dersu Uzala)
- 1990 Academy Honorary Award for lifetime achievement
- 1954 Silver Lion, Venice Film Festival (Seven Samurai)
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 61
- 1943Sanshiro SugataDirector
- 1944The Most BeautifulDirector
- 1945Sanshiro Sugata, Part TwoDirector
- 1946No Regrets for Our YouthDirector
- 1946Those Who Make TomorrowDirector
- 1947One Wonderful SundayDirector
- 1948Drunken AngelDirector
- 1949Stray DogDirector
- 1949The Quiet DuelDirector
- 1950RashomonDirector
- 1950ScandalDirector
- 1951The IdiotDirector
- 1952IkiruDirector
- 1952The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's TailDirector
- 1954Seven SamuraiDirector
- 1955I Live in FearDirector
- 1957Throne of BloodDirector
- 1957The Lower DepthsDirector
- 1958The Hidden FortressDirector
- 1960The Bad Sleep WellDirector
- 1961YojimboDirector
- 1962SanjuroDirector
- 1963High and LowDirector
- 1965Red BeardDirector
- 1970Dodes'ka-denDirector
- 1970Song of the HorseDirector
- 1975Dersu UzalaDirector
- 1980KagemushaDirector
- 1985RanDirector
- 1985A. K. · as SelfActor
- 1985Making of Ran · as SelfActor
- 1990DreamsDirector
- 1990Making of 'Dreams' · as SelfActor
- 1991Rhapsody in AugustDirector
- 1993MadadayoDirector
- 1993Akira Kurosawa: My Life in Cinema · as SelfActor
- 1993In Love With and Living Within Movies - Akira Kurosawa and Hayao Miyazaki · as SelfActor
- 1999Kurosawa: The Last EmperorActor
- 2000A Message from Akira Kurosawa: For Beautiful Movies · as SelfActor
- 2000Kurosawa · as SelfActor
- 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Seven Samurai' · as SelfActor
- 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Kagemusha' · as SelfActor
- 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Hidden Fortress' · as SelfActor
- 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Lower Depths' · as SelfActor
- 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Red Beard' · as SelfActor
- 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Ikiru' · as SelfActor
- 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Drunken Angel' · as SelfActor
- 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Stray Dog' · as SelfActor
- 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'The Bad Sleep Well' · as SelfActor
- 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Dodes'ka-den' · as SelfActor
- 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'High and Low' · as SelfActor
- 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Sanjuro' · as SelfActor
- 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Yojimbo' · as SelfActor
- 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Throne of Blood' · as SelfActor
- 2002Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create: 'Ran' · as SelfActor
- 2011Kurosawa's Way · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2012The World of Kazuo Miyagawa · as SelfActor
- 2013What Is Cinema? · as SelfActor
- 2020Babenco: Tell Me When I Die · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2021Morceaux de CannesActor
- 2025Searching For KurosawaActor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.