Juzo Itami

Juzo Itami was a Japanese filmmaker who was known for his critical, sometimes satirical, portraits of Japan and its history. He had a successful 20-year career as an actor in films such as 55 Days at Peking (1963), an American vehicle, before venturing into directing. His directorial debut, Ososhiki (1984; The Funeral), was acclaimed for its satire of social customs and rituals surrounding death. His second film, Tampopo (1985), was a comedy about a widow's quest to make the best noodles, which became an international hit and a cult classic. He went on to make eight more films, all of which he wrote himself, that dealt with various topics such as taxes, corruption, sex, violence, food, and the yakuza. He was regarded as one of the most original and influential directors of his generation, and was often compared to his contemporary, Akira Kurosawa. He was also the brother-in-law of Nobel Prize-winning novelist Kenzaburo Oe, and the uncle of composer Hikari Oe. He died in 1997, at the age of 64, after jumping from the roof of his office building in Tokyo. His death was officially ruled a suicide, but some speculated that he was driven to it by the yakuza, who had attacked him in 1992 for his portrayal of them in his film Minbo no onna (1992; The Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion). He left behind a legacy of films that challenged and entertained audiences with their humor, insight, and courage.