Tadashi Sawashima

Director, Writer

May 19, 1926 — January 27, 2018 (91 years)
Tadashi Sawashima (沢島 忠, Sawashima Tadashi) (19 May 1926 – 27 January 2018) was a Japanese film director and theatre director. He directed films from the 1950s to the 1970s. He died on 27 January 2018 of multiple organ failure at the age of 91.

Sawashima was born in Kotō, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. He joined the Toei Studio in 1950 and worked as an assistant director under Masahiro Makino and Kunio Watanabe before debuting as a director in 1957 with Torawakamaru the Koga Ninja. He is most known for his work in Toei's ninkyo eiga series, but he also directed entertainment jidaigeki featuring Hibari Misora, Chiemi Eri, and Kinnosuke Nakamura. He directed his last film in 1977, and mostly directed stage productions after that. In his final years, he had been attempting to film a version of the Chushingura story, but did not succeed.

He was given a Special Award at the 40th Japan Academy Prize ceremony in 2017 for his career in cinema. He directed 49 films and wrote nine screenplays.

Known For

  • Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
    Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor1969
  • Life of Hishakaku
    Life of Hishakaku1963
  • Torawakamaru, the Koga Ninja
    Torawakamaru, the Koga Ninja1957
  • Three Yakuza
    Three Yakuza1965
  • Isshin Tasuke: A World in Danger
    Isshin Tasuke: A World in Danger1958
  • Drunken Sword
    Drunken Sword1962
  • Detective Hibari: Case of the Golden Hairpins
    Detective Hibari: Case of the Golden Hairpins1958
  • Samurai Vagabonds
    Samurai Vagabonds1960
  • Bride of White Castle
    Bride of White Castle1961
  • The Pirates
    The Pirates1960
  • Life of Hishakaku 2
    Life of Hishakaku 21963
  • Travels of Hibari and Chiemi: The Tumultuous Journey
    Travels of Hibari and Chiemi: The Tumultuous Journey1962
  • Lord Mito: Struggle of Suke and Kaku
    Lord Mito: Struggle of Suke and Kaku1961
  • Case of Umon: One-Eyed Wolf
    Case of Umon: One-Eyed Wolf1959
  • Noble Tasuke
    Noble Tasuke1958
  • Travels of Hibari and Chiemi 2
    Travels of Hibari and Chiemi 21963
  • A Young Warrior on Mount Fuji
    A Young Warrior on Mount Fuji1961
  • The Shogun and the Fishmonger
    The Shogun and the Fishmonger1961
  • Scarier than the Devil
    Scarier than the Devil1960
  • Case of Umon: Hell’s Windmill
    Case of Umon: Hell’s Windmill1960

Filmography

1966
1965
The Snake Princess · as Screenplay
1965
Irezumi hangan · as Screenplay
1963
Otoko ippiki dôchûki · as Screenplay
1963
1962
Drunken Sword · as Screenplay
1962
Sarariman Isshin Tasuke · as Screenplay
1962
1961
1961
1961
Bride of White Castle · as Screenplay
1961
Fuji ni tatsu wakamusha · as Screenplay
1960
Scarier Than the Devil · as Screenplay
1960
Pirates · as Screenplay
1960
1960
The Unwieldy Brothers · as Screenplay
1960
Hell's Windmill · as Screenplay
1959
1959
1959
Gentle Breeze · as Screenplay
1959
The One-eyed Wolf · as Screenplay
1959
Lords and Pirates · as Screenplay
1958
1958
The Town Hero · as Screenplay

2016
Ken San · as Self