Who Is Yasujirō Ozu? Age, Biography and Wiki
As of 2025, Yasujirō Ozu would be 121 years old. Renowned for his insights into post-war Japanese society, Ozu’s films such as "Tokyo Story" and "Late Spring" are pivotal in understanding familial relationships and societal norms. His work is characterized by a distinctive visual style and a slow, contemplative pacing, marked by the innovative use of camera angles and minimalism.
| Occupation | Screenwriter |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 12, 1903 |
| Age | 60 Years |
| Birth Place | Fukagawa, Tokyo City, Empire of Japan |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | Japan |
| Date of death | 12 December, 1963 |
| Died Place | Bunkyō City, Tokyo, Japan |
Popularity
Yasujirō Ozu's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While precise details of Yasujirō Ozu’s height and weight are not extensively documented, it is generally understood that he had an average build for a male of his era. His stature and presence contributed to the persona he cultivated as an auteur in the world of cinema.
- Height: Approximately 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
- Weight: Estimated around 150 lbs (68 kg)
Ozu is probably as well known for the technical style and innovation of his films as for the narrative content. The style of his films is most striking in his later films, a style he had not fully developed until his post-war sound films. He did not conform to Hollywood conventions.
Rather than using the typical over-the-shoulder shots in his dialogue scenes by most directors, the camera gazes on the actors directly, which has the effect of placing the viewer in the middle of the scene. Throughout his career, Ozu used a 50mm lens, which is usually considered to be the lens closest to human vision.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Yasujirō Ozu was known to be a private individual who did not extensively disclose details about his personal life, including family relationships. He remained unmarried throughout his life, and there is little documentation regarding any significant romantic relationships. Ozu's dedication to his craft often took precedence over romantic pursuits, with many of his characters reflecting the solitude and introspection he experienced.
His family was a branch of the Ozu Yoemon merchant family from Ise, and Toranosuke was the 5th generation manager of the family's fertilizer business in Nihonbashi. Asae came from the Nakajō merchant family. Ozu had five brothers and sisters. When he was three, he developed meningitis, and was in a coma for a couple of days.
Asae devoted herself to nursing him, and Ozu made a recovery. He attended Meiji nursery school and primary school. In March 1913, at the age of nine, he and his siblings were sent by his father to live in his father's home town of Matsusaka in Mie Prefecture, where he remained until 1924.
In March 1916, at the age of 12, he entered what is now Ujiyamada High School. He was a boarder at the school and did judo. He frequently skipped classes to watch films such as Quo Vadis or The Last Days of Pompeii. In 1917, he saw the film Civilization and decided that he wanted to be a film director.
Net Worth and Salary
Given that Yasujirō Ozu passed away in 1963, assessing his net worth in 2025 is speculative. During his lifetime, Ozu's films were not immediately commercially successful outside Japan, but over time, his work gained immense recognition and critical acclaim. Today, his films are considered masterpieces and can command high values in film retrospectives and auctions.
The estimated value of his filmography and reputation suggests a considerable posthumous net worth, likely in the millions, attributed to royalties, licensing, and renewed interest in his works.
Career, Business and Investments
Yasujirō Ozu’s career spanned from the silent film era to the early years of talkies, with a prolific output of over 54 films. His unwavering commitment to storytelling and character development revolutionized narrative cinema. Some of his most significant works include:
- Tokyo Story (1953)
- All That Night (1931)
- Late Spring (1949)
In 1926, he became a third assistant director at Shochiku. In 1927, he was involved in a fracas where he punched another employee for jumping a queue at the studio cafeteria, and when called to the studio director's office, used it as an opportunity to present a film script he had written.
In September 1927, he was promoted to director in the jidaigeki (period film) department, and directed his first film, Sword of Penitence, which has since been lost. Sword of Penitence was written by Ozu, with a screenplay by Kogo Noda, who would become his co-writer for the rest of his career.
On September 25, he was called up for service in the military reserves until November, which meant that the film had to be partly finished by another director.
Social Network
As Ozu lived most of his life before the rise of social media, he did not participate in the modern digital landscape. However, his influence continues to resonate deeply within film communities. Today, Ozu has a significant following on various platforms where cinephiles discuss his work, and many film festivals honor his legacy. Academic institutions frequently incorporate his films into their curricula, contributing to a robust online dialogue about his contributions to cinema.
Yasujirō Ozu (小津 安二郎) was a Japanese filmmaker. He began his career during the era of silent films, and his last films were made in colour in the early 1960s. Ozu first made a number of short comedies, before turning to more serious themes in the 1930s.
The most prominent themes of Ozu's work are family and marriage, and especially the relationships between generations. His most widely beloved films include Late Spring (1949), Tokyo Story (1953) and An Autumn Afternoon (1962).
Education
Yasujirō Ozu attended the prestigious Kwansei Gakuin University, where he initially pursued studies in political science. However, his passion for film eventually led him to become an integral part of Japanese cinema. After entering the film industry as an assistant director, his distinctive style emerged, carving out his niche as a filmmaker of great renown.
In conclusion, while Yasujirō Ozu may no longer be with us, his contributions to filmmaking and storytelling remain timeless. His meticulous craftsmanship and gentle explorations of the human condition continue to inspire new generations of filmmakers and film lovers alike in 2025 and beyond.
In 1920, at the age of 17, he was thrown out of the dormitory after being accused of writing a love letter to a good-looking boy in a lower class, and had to commute to school by train.
