KK
Photo of Kei Kumai

Kei Kumai

Director, Writer, Producer, Additional Credits
Born June 1, 1930Died May 23, 2007 (76 years)
Kei Kumai (熊井 啓, Kumai Kei, 1 June 1930 – 23 May 2007) was a Japanese film director from Azumino, Nagano prefecture. After his studies in literature at Shinshu University, he began work as a director's assistant.

He won the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award for his first film, Nihon rettō, in 1965.[2] His 1972 film Shinobu Kawa was entered into the 8th Moscow International Film Festival.[3] His 1973 film Rise, Fair Sun was entered into the 24th Berlin International Film Festival.

Sandakan No. 8 received widespread acclaim for tackling the issue of a woman forced into prostitution in Borneo before the outbreak of World War II. The film was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 48th Academy Awards.

Known For

  • The Sea Is Watching
  • Sandakan No. 8
  • Hiroshima
  • Death of a Tea Master
  • The Sea and Poison
  • The Sands of Kurobe
  • To Love
  • Luminous Moss
  • Darkness in the Light
  • Apart from Life
  • Love and Faith
  • The Long Death
  • A Chain of Islands
  • Muteki ga ore o yondeiru
  • Ginza no koi no monogatari

Kei Kumai Filmography

2002
The Sea Is Watching · as Screenplay
2001
Darkness in the Light · as Screenplay
1997
1995
Deep River · as Screenplay
1992
1986
The Sea and Poison · as Screenplay
1976
Cape of the North · as Screenplay
1974
1972
1970
1968
The Sands of Kurobe · as Screenplay
1965
A Chain of Islands · as Screenplay
1964
The Long Death · as Screenplay
1962
Sun and Stars · as Screenplay
1962
1962
1960
1960
Tekkaba no kaze · as Screenplay

1962
Sun and Stars · as Assistant Director
1953
Hiroshima · as First Assistant Director

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