Yōichi Higashi

Director, Writer, Editor

November 14, 1934 — January 21, 2026 (91 years)
Yōichi Higashi (東陽一 Higashi Yōichi) was a Japanese film director. He began his career working on documentaries at Iwanami Productions but, after going independent, turned to fiction film. He won the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award for Yasashii Nipponjin in 1971, and then the award for Best Director at the 17th Hochi Film Awards for The River with No Bridge. In 1996, he won the Silver Bear for an outstanding single achievement at the 46th Berlin International Film Festival for the film Village of Dreams.

Known For

  • Village of Dreams
    Village of Dreams1996
  • Third Base
    Third Base1978
  • No More Easy Life
    No More Easy Life1979
  • Four Seasons: Natsuko
    Four Seasons: Natsuko1980
  • The Rape
    The Rape1982
  • Metamorphosis
    Metamorphosis1986
  • Wandering Home
    Wandering Home2010
  • A Tale of Happiness
    A Tale of Happiness1988
  • Somebody's Xylophone
    Somebody's Xylophone2016
  • Jealousy Game
    Jealousy Game1982
  • The Crying Wind
    The Crying Wind2004
  • Love Letter
    Love Letter1981
  • The River with No Bridge
    The River with No Bridge1992
  • The Second Love
    The Second Love1983
  • The Crossing
    The Crossing2000
  • Mad Sultry Sisters
    Mad Sultry Sisters2011
  • Nurse Natsuko's Hot Summer
    Nurse Natsuko's Hot Summer2010