Negishi Kichitaro

Kichitaro NEGISHI (1950, Japan) is a highly regarded director known for his sensitive portrayal of characters and his exceptional directorial skills across a wide range of genres. He began his career in 1974 at Nikkatsu, where he quickly rose to prominence as an up-and-coming director. His breakthrough came with Distant Thunder (1981), earning him the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Director and the Art Festival’s New Talent Award. In 2005, What the Snow Brings (2005) made history by winning four awards at the 18th Tokyo International Film Festival. The film became the talk of the Japanese film industry in 2006, sweeping numerous best director awards, including those from Kinema JunpoBest Ten, Mainichi Film Awards and NikkanSports Film Awards. After 2009, Negishi shifted his focus to teaching, helping develop new talent at Tohoku University of Art & Design, where he serves as chairman. He is also a board member at Kyoto University of the Arts, supporting the development of filmmaking programs. Yasuko, Songs of Days Past (2025) is his first film since Villon’s Wife (2009), for which he won best director at the Montreal World Film Festival.

Filmography

(selection) From Orion’s Testimony: Formula for Murder (1978), Distant Thunder/Crazy Fruit (1981), Detective Story (1983), Flakes of Snow (1985), Whooh! Exploration Unit (1986), Eien no 1/2 (1987), Kizuna (1998), Embers (2004), What The Snow Brings (2005), Dog in a Sidecar (2007), Villon’s Wife (2009), ゆきてかへらぬ/Yasuko, Songs of Days Past (2025)

More info: Wikipedia, Kichitaro Negishi