Director and Screenwriter who received widespread recognition for In the Realm of the Senses and Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.
He created the film Cruel Story of Youth after graduating from Kyoto University in Japan.
He received the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1978.
He married Akiko Koyama in 1960.
His 1983 film, Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, starred rocker David Bowie.
