Torajirō Saitō (斎藤 寅次郎, Saitō Torajirō, January 30, 1905 – May 1, 1982) was a Japanese film director known for his comedy films. Born in Akita Prefecture, he entered Shōchiku's Kamata studio in 1922 and debuted as a director in 1926.[1] He later worked at the Shintoho and Toho studios.[1] He became known as the "god of comedy" for directing over 200 films, many of which were nonsense comedies featuring famous clowns such as Ken'ichi Enomoto, Roppa Furukawa, and Junzaburo Ban.[1][2][3]
Torajirō Saitō | |
|---|---|
 The filming site of the movie "Koisuredo Koisuredo Monogatari"(1956). The people in front are from right to left, Director Torajiro Saito, Tony Tani, Ichiro Arishima, and Mariko Miyagi. | |
| Born | January 30, 1905. |
| Died | May 1, 1982 (aged 77) |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Other names | The God of Comedy |
| Occupation | Film director |
| Years active | 1926-1962 |
| Known for | Directing over 200 Slapstick and nonsense comedy films |
| Notable work | Kodakara Sodo |
| Spouse | Tomoko Naniwa (actress) |
Filmography
editHis works include:
- Akeyuku Sora (1929)
- Wasei Kingu Kongu (1933)
- Kodakara Sodo (1935)
- Akireta musume-tachi, alternate title: (金語楼の子宝騒動) (1949)
- Nodo jimankyō jidai (1949)
- Odoroki ikka (1949)
- Akogare no Hawaii Kōro (1950)
- Aozora tenshi (1950)
- Tennō no Bōshi (天皇の帽子) (1950) jointly directed with Masaki Mori (ja:毛利正樹)
- Tokyo Kid (1950)
- Tonbo kaeri dōchū (1950)
- Unusual trip to Hawaii (Hawai chindochu) (1954)
- Ukare Gitsune Senbon Zakura (1954)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Saitō Torajirō". Nihon jinmei daijiten (in Japanese). Kōdansha. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ "Kigeki no kamisama Saitō Torajirō" (in Japanese). Laputa. Retrieved 28 November 2010. Program of 2005 Saitō retrospective.
- ^ Joseph L. Anderson, Donald Richie The Japanese Film: Art and Industry 1982 Page 198 "One of the earliest of the postwar comedies was Torajiro Saito's The Emperor's Hat (Tennō no Bōshi), made in 1950 and incorporating a plot which before the war would have constituted a severe political crime. A man working in a museum ..."
External links
edit
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