Wikipedia

Masaki Kobayashi

Masaki Kobayashi(Tiểu lâm chính thụ,Kobayashi Masaki,February 14, 1916 – October 4, 1996)was a Japanesefilm directorandscreenwriter,best known for theepictrilogyThe Human Condition(1959–1961), the samurai filmsHarakiri(1962) andSamurai Rebellion(1967), and the horror anthologyKwaidan(1964).[1]Senses of Cinemadescribed him as "one of the finest depicters of Japanese society in the 1950s and 1960s."[2]

Masaki Kobayashi
Tiểu lâm chính thụ
Kobayashi in 1953
Born(1916-02-14)February 14, 1916
Otaru,Empire of Japan
DiedOctober 4, 1996(1996-10-04)(aged 80)
Tokyo,Japan
EducationWaseda University
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter
Years active1941, 1946–1985
Notable work
Spouse
Chiyoko Fumiya
​
(m.1952)​
RelativesKinuyo Tanaka(second cousin)
Military career
AllegianceEmpire of Japan
BranchImperial Japanese Army
Years of service1942–1945
RankPrivate
UnitAzabu Third Regiment

Biography

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Early life (1916–1946)

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Childhood and schooling (1916–1942)

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Kobayashi was born on February 14, 1916, inOtaru,a port city on the island ofHokkaido.[1][3]Kobayashi's family was a part of the upper-middle class, as his father, Yuichi, worked forMitsui & Co.,and his mother, Hisako, was part of a merchant family.[4][5]He had two older brothers and a younger sister.[5]He was also a second cousin of the actress and directorKinuyo Tanaka.[6]The Kobayashi family descends from a samurai fromShimonoseki.[5]Kobayashi lived inTokyowhile in elementary school, but otherwise lived in Otaru until he was 17 years-old.[5]Kobayashi's household was warm and tolerant, and his parents encouraged the exploration of the arts.[5]He saw a movie for the first time when he was 7 years-old, and he frequently watched movies and visited art exhibitions, concerts, and theatre performances with his mother.[5]Kobayashi's older brother, Yasuhiko, who attended film study groups while in university, also helped further Kobayashi's understanding of film.[5]

In 1938, Kobayashi enrolled inWaseda Universityin Tokyo.[3][7]At the university, Kobayashi was taught byAizu Yaichi,a poet and historian who became a mentor of Kobayashi and influenced Kobayashi's perspectives on life and art.[7]Aizu specialized inBuddhistart, particularly that of theNara period,and frequently brought his class to Buddhist temples.[7]Outside of class, Kobayashi accompanied Aizu on trips toNaraand often visited Aizu's house.[7]Due in part to Aizu's influence, Kobayashi decided to study East Asian art and philosophy.[3][7]Kobayashi wrote his thesis onMurō-ji,a Buddhist temple located in Nara.[7]He spent a month living at Murō-ji while researching its history for his thesis.[7]Kobayashi would later work on a documentary about Aizu released in 1996.[7]

While attending Waseda University, Kobayashi would visitShochiku Studioto watch Kinuyo Tanaka, his second cousin, while she worked.[5]It was during his time at Waseda University that Kobayashi began to want to become a film director.[5]

After graduating from Waseda University in 1941, Kobayashi worked at Shochiku as a director in training for eight months.[1][7]While at Shochiku, Kobayashi assistedHiroshi ShimizuonDawn ChorusandHideo ŌbaonKaze kaoru niwa.[7]During this time, Kobayashi began writing a book set in Nara, about an Oriental art scholar who enlisted in the army.[7]

Wartime (1942-1946)

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In January 1942, Kobayashi was drafted into the Azabu Third Regiment of theImperial Japanese Army.[1][7]After three months of training as a heavy machine gunner, Kobayashi was sent nearHarbininManchuria.[1][7]In September 1943, Kobayashi's squad was sent to patrol along theUssuririver.[7]In June 1944, his regiment returned to Japan, from which they were to be transferred to thePhilippines.[7]However,Alliedsubmarines prevented the Azabu Third Regiment from reaching the Philippines, so they headed forOkinawa Islandinstead.[7]While traveling to Okinawa, Kobayashi's group diverted toMiyako-jimain theRyukyu Islands,where they remained until the end of the war.[7]During that time, his group worked towards building an airfield.[7]Kobayashi's time on the island was difficult, with his group frequently resorting to eating grasshoppers and dogs to survive.[7]He kept a diary during his time on Miyako-jima, which documented his experience in the war and included anI-novelabout the loss of his youth.[7]In his diary, Kobayashi shows support for the Japanese war effort, but laments the death and destruction that the war caused.[7]Kobayashi never participated in frontline fighting during his time in the army.[7]Kobayashi regarded himself as a pacifist and a socialist, and resisted by refusing promotion to a rank higher thanprivate.[8]

After the war ended, Kobayashi spent nearly a year in aprisoner of warlabor camp inKadena, Okinawa.[7][9]At the camp, Kobayashi ran a theater company with other inmates, and produced several shows.[7]Kobayashi was released from the labor camp in November 1946.[1][10]Upon returning home, he learned that his father had died in 1945 and that his older brother, Yasuhiko, died in battle in China in 1944.[10]

Film career (1946–1996)

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Assisting Kinoshita (1946–1953)

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After returning to Japan in 1946, Kobayashi rejoinedShochikuas assistant.[1]He was initially assigned to assist Keisuke Sasaki, but then was assigned toKeisuke Kinoshita.[1][10]During his time helping Kinoshita, Kobayashi grew to admire the compassion, intelligence and skill in directing of Kinoshita.[10]The two bonded over shared experiences in the war and in the deaths of their mothers.[10]Kobayashi's first job under Kinoshita was as a second assistant director onPhoenixin 1947.[10]In 1948, Kobayashi was promoted to the position of chief assistant director onApostasy.[10]He remained as a chief assistant director for the rest of his time spent as an assistant to Kinoshita.[10]In 1949, Kobayashi co-scriptedBroken Drumwith Kinoshita.[10]The final Kinoshita film that Kobayashi assisted with wasA Japanese Tragedy,released in 1953.[10]In 1953, Kinoshita began looking for material that could be adapted for Kobayashi's debut film.[10]Kinoshita had Shochiku purchase the rights to theJinkō Teiennovel, with the intent of the novel being used for Kobayashi's debut film.[10]Kinoshita would end up adapting the novel himself in the 1954 filmThe Garden of Women.[10]

Early films (1953-1959)

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Kobayashi's directorial debut was in 1952 withMy Son's Youth.[11]This film was part of an initiative byShochikuto release short films, called "sister films", that were intended as introductions to new directors.[11]On April 1, 1952, Kobayashi married Chiyoko Fumiya, an actress at Shochiku.[11]In 1953,Sinceritywas released, which was Kobayashi's first feature length film.[11]The film was written by Kobayashi's mentor,Keisuke Kinoshita.[11]BothMy Son's YouthandSinceritydrew inspiration from Kobayashi's family and childhood, with some of the characters being modeled after members of his family.[11]

In 1953, Kobayashi finished filmingThe Thick-Walled Room,aboutClass B and Class C war criminalsbeing held inSugamo Prison.[11]The film was based on the diaries of real war criminals and was a substantial departure from the type of films Shochiku typically at that time.[11]Shochiku initially refused to releaseThe Thick-Walled Roomwithout alteration, due to the Japan government's fear that the film's criticism of theAllied occupation of Japanwould upset theUnited States.[11][12]Kobayashi refused to cut any content, so the film was not released until 1956.[12]The Thick-Walled Roomhurt Kobayashi's reputation within Shochiku, so he attempted to reestablish himself by making his next four films more similar to the typical style of Shochiku.[11]

In 1954,Three Loveswas released.[11]This film features scenes shot inside the same church that Kobayashi and Chiyoko Fumiya were married in.[11]Later in 1954,Somewhere Under the Broad Skywas released.[11]This film included the first appearance ofKeiji Sadain a Kobayashi-directed film, who was close friends with Kobayashi and would go on to appear in 6 of Kobayashi's films.[11]In 1956,Fountainheadwas released, which was the last of Kobayashi's films that strongly resembled the typical Shochiku style.[11]

In 1956,The Thick-Walled Roomwas released to the public.[12]Later that year,I Will Buy Youwas released, aboutcorruptioninbaseballscouting.[13]In 1957,Black Riverwas released, about the crime and prostitution that arised around US bases in Japan during and after the American occupation.[13]This was the first of Kobayashi's films to starTatsuya Nakadaiin a major role.[13]Nakadai would become a mainstay of Kobayashi's film, starring in 9 of Kobayashi's next 13 films.[13]

Peak of recognition (1959-1967)

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Kobayashi (bottom, second from left) with the cast ofNo Greater Lovein 1959

From 1959 to 1961, Kobayashi directedThe Human Condition(1959–1961), a trilogy on the effects ofWorld War IIon a Japanesepacifistand socialist. The total length of the films is almost ten hours, which makes it one of the longest fiction films ever made for theatrical release.[1]

In 1962 he directedHarakiri,which won theJury Prizeat the1963 Cannes Film Festival.[14]

In 1964, Kobayashi madeKwaidan(1964), his first color film, a collection of four ghost stories drawn from books byLafcadio Hearn.Kwaidan won theSpecial Jury Prizeat the1965 Cannes Film Festival,[15]and received anAcademy Awardnomination forBest Foreign Language Film.[16]

Later films (1967-1996)

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In 1968,Akira Kurosawa,Keisuke Kinoshita,Kon Ichikawaand Kobayashi founded the directors group,Shiki no kai-The Four Horsemen Club,in an attempt to create movies for younger generations.[1][17]

In 1969, he was a member of the jury at the19th Berlin International Film Festival.[18]

He was also a candidate for directing the Japanese sequences forTora! Tora! Tora!after Akira Kurosawa left the film. But insteadKinji FukasakuandToshio Masudawere chosen.

In 1990, Kobayashi was awarded theOrder of the Rising Sunby theJapanese governmentand theOrder of Arts and Lettersby theFrench government.[19]

One of his grand projects was a film onYasushi Inoue's novel about Buddhist China,Tun Huang,which never came to fruition.[1]

Filmography

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Main article:Masaki Kobayashi filmography

Awards and honors

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Year of Award or Honor Name of Award or Honor Awarding Organization Country of
Origin		 Film Title
(if applicable)
1960 San Giorgio Prize[20] Venice Film Festival Italy The Human Condition
Pasinetti Award[20]
1961 Best Film[21] Mainichi Film Awards Japan A Soldier's Prayer
Best Director[22]
1962 Best Film[23] Harakiri
1963 Special Jury Prize Cannes Film Festival France
1965 Kwaidan
1967 Best Film of the Year[24] Kinema Junpo Japan Samurai Rebellion
Best Director[25]
FIPRESCI Prize[25] International Federation of Film Critics
Best Film[25] Mainichi Film Awards Japan
1975 Best Film[26] The Fossil
1983 Best Film[27] Blue Ribbon Awards Tokyo Trials
1990 Order of Arts and Letters French government France
Order of the Rising Sun Japanese government Japan
1996 Special Award[28] Mainichi Film Awards

References

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  1. ^abcdefghijkKirkup, James (October 15, 1996)."Masaki Kobayashi: Obituary".The Independent.London.
  2. ^Andrea Grunert (August 27, 2007)."Kobayashi, Masaki – Senses of Cinema".RetrievedApril 17,2022.
  3. ^abcWakeman, John, ed. (1988).World film directors.New York: H.W. Wilson. p. 527.ISBN0-8242-0763-7.OCLC778946190.
  4. ^Kuramoto, Sō; thương bổn thông (2002).Gusha no tabi(Shohan ed.). Rironsha. p. 137.ISBN4-652-07709-2.OCLC51299958.
  5. ^abcdefghiPrince, Stephen(November 16, 2017). "Conjoining Spirit and World".A Dream of Resistance: The Cinema of Kobayashi Masaki.Rutgers University Press.pp.13–19.ISBN978-0-8135-9235-0.
  6. ^Sharpe, Jasper (2011).Historical Dictionary of Japanese Cinema.Scarecrow Press. pp.240–242.ISBN978-0-8108-7541-8.
  7. ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxPrince, Stephen(November 16, 2017). "Conjoining Spirit and World".A Dream of Resistance: The Cinema of Kobayashi Masaki.Rutgers University Press.pp.19–30.ISBN978-0-8135-9235-0.
  8. ^"Harakiri: Kobayashi and History – From the Current – The Criterion Collection".Criterion.RetrievedJanuary 19,2013.
  9. ^Bock, Audie (1985).Japanese film directors.Kodansha International. p. 248.ISBN978-0-87011-714-5.OCLC1015968920.
  10. ^abcdefghijklmPrince, Stephen(November 16, 2017). "Conjoining Spirit and World".A Dream of Resistance: The Cinema of Kobayashi Masaki.Rutgers University Press.pp.30–38.ISBN978-0-8135-9235-0.
  11. ^abcdefghijklmnoPrince, Stephen(November 16, 2017). "Conjoining Spirit and World".A Dream of Resistance: The Cinema of Kobayashi Masaki.Rutgers University Press.pp.38–69.ISBN978-0-8135-9235-0.
  12. ^abcKoresky, Michael (April 17, 2013)."Eclipse Series 38: Kobayashi Against the System".The Criterion Collection.Archivedfrom the original on December 8, 2024.RetrievedDecember 26,2024.
  13. ^abcdPrince, Stephen(November 16, 2017). "A Sharp and Piercing Thorn".A Dream of Resistance: The Cinema of Kobayashi Masaki.Rutgers University Press.pp.70–122.ISBN978-0-8135-9235-0.
  14. ^"Awards 1963: All Awards".Festival de Cannes.Archived fromthe originalon December 25, 2013.
  15. ^"Festival de Cannes: Kwaidan".festival-cannes.RetrievedMarch 4,2009.
  16. ^"The 38th Academy Awards (1966) Nominees and Winners".oscars.org.RetrievedNovember 6,2011.
  17. ^Hashimoto, Shinobu (2015).Compound Cinematics: Akira Kurosawa and I.Vertical, Inc.ISBN9781939130587.
  18. ^"Berlinale 1969: Juries".berlinale.de.RetrievedMarch 6,2010.
  19. ^Prince, Stephen(November 16, 2017). "Introduction".A Dream of Resistance: The Cinema of Kobayashi Masaki.Rutgers University Press.pp.1–11.ISBN978-0-8135-9235-0.
  20. ^ab"Internationally".Shochiku.Archivedfrom the original on December 23, 2024.RetrievedDecember 30,2024.
  21. ^16 1961 năm(in Japanese). japan-movie.net. Archived fromthe originalon October 5, 2010.RetrievedJanuary 10,2011.
  22. ^Mỗi ngày ánh họa コンクール đệ 16 hồi ( 1961 năm )[16th Mainichi Film Awards (1961)].Mainichi Film Awards(in Japanese).Archivedfrom the original on November 26, 2024.RetrievedDecember 30,2024.
  23. ^Mỗi ngày ánh họa コンクール đệ 17 hồi ( 1962 năm )[17th Mainichi Film Awards (1962)].Mainichi Film Awards(in Japanese).Archivedfrom the original on November 26, 2024.RetrievedDecember 30,2024.
  24. ^"デジタル đại từ tuyền プラス “Thượng ý thảo ち 拝 lãnh thê từ đầu đến cuối” の giải thích ".KOTOBANK.RetrievedJuly 21,2021.
  25. ^abcGalbraith IV, Stuart (2008).The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography.Scarecrow Press.ISBN978-1461673743.RetrievedOctober 29,2013.
  26. ^Mỗi ngày ánh họa コンクール đệ 30 hồi ( 1975 năm )[30th Mainichi Film Awards (1975)].Mainichi Film Awards(in Japanese).Archivedfrom the original on January 20, 2023.RetrievedDecember 30,2024.
  27. ^ブルーリボン thưởng ヒストリー(in Japanese). Cinema Hochi. Archived fromthe originalon February 7, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 17,2010.
  28. ^Mỗi ngày ánh họa コンクール đệ 51 hồi ( 1996 năm )[51st Mainichi Film Awards (1996)].Mainichi Film Awards(in Japanese).Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2024.RetrievedDecember 30,2024.
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