Nagaharu Yodogawa
Encyclopedia
was a prominent Japanese film critic, film historian, and television personality. Members of both the Japanese and foreign press have referred to him as the "giant of film critiques", a "cultural institution", as well as "Japan's most famous movie critic".
and grew-up in his father's geisha
agency in the Shinkaichi
entertainment district, along with his brother and two sisters. His family were regular movie-goers, visiting the cinema several times a week. Yodogawa began accompanying his family at age four. By the age of seven he proved himself to be a budding cinemaphile
; he would often go to the movies on his own, seeing as many as 10 films in one week.
he became Chief Editor of Eiga no Tomo (Film Friend), a post he held for 20 years.
After his tenure at Eiga no Tomo, Yogodowa went on to do freelance work in radio, television and print, all in relation to film. In 1962 he began working at TV Asahi
as the host of Sunday Western Movie Theatre, a job to which he was so devoted that he did not miss a single appearance until just a week before his death in 1998. During his 3 decades as the show's host he interviewed film stars "ranging from Charlie Chaplin
to Steven Seagal
". He is also known for closing each show with his signature line "Sayonara, sayonara, sayonara".
. He preferred silent movies over sound film
because he felt that silent films depicted real life and were easy to understand, even without Japanese captions
.
Over his career, Yodogawa became increasingly critical of modern Japanese film, once stating: "It is because I love film so much that I hate those incompetent and uninteresting new movies." In contrast, he believed that even the worst movies were worth watching; he felt that all films had at least one redeeming feature, such as a well composed shot. Near the end of his life he did however show interest in the new style of film-making of Takeshi Kitano
, to whom he referred as "the true successor to Kurosawa
".
once said: "We usually watch films with the intellect, but Yodogawa watched them with every fibre of his being." The award-winning actor Hiroyuki Sanada
also credited Yodogawa as having introduced him to foreign movies.
In 1991, the Yodogawa Nagaharu Award, sponsored by Road Show Magazine (Japan), was created to commemorate the film critic; the award is presented to a person or group who contributed greatly to the Japanese film industry in the preceding year. In 2005, Jackie Chan
became the first non-Japanese recipient of the award.
Nagaharu Yodogawa died November 11, 1998 of heart failure. Yodogawa Nagaharu monogatari - Kobe-hen: Sainara, a biographical film depicting his life, directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi
, was released the following year.
Early life
Yodogawa was born in KobeKobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
and grew-up in his father's geisha
Geisha
, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...
agency in the Shinkaichi
Shinkaichi
is a district of Kobe, Japan. It is one of the major downtown areas in the city.The name of Shinkaichi means 'newly opened area'. It was named so because the district was really newly developed area after moving the Minato-gawa River from this area to the west end of the city in the early 20th...
entertainment district, along with his brother and two sisters. His family were regular movie-goers, visiting the cinema several times a week. Yodogawa began accompanying his family at age four. By the age of seven he proved himself to be a budding cinemaphile
Cinemaphile
Cinephilia is the term used to refer to a passionate interest in cinema, film theory and film criticism. The term is a portmanteau of the words cinema and philia, one of the four ancient Greek words for love...
; he would often go to the movies on his own, seeing as many as 10 films in one week.
Career in film criticism
Upon graduating from Kobe High School, Yogodowa started his journalistic career working for the magazine Eiga Sekai (Movie World). After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he became Chief Editor of Eiga no Tomo (Film Friend), a post he held for 20 years.
After his tenure at Eiga no Tomo, Yogodowa went on to do freelance work in radio, television and print, all in relation to film. In 1962 he began working at TV Asahi
TV Asahi
, also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network....
as the host of Sunday Western Movie Theatre, a job to which he was so devoted that he did not miss a single appearance until just a week before his death in 1998. During his 3 decades as the show's host he interviewed film stars "ranging from Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
to Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal
Steven Frederic Seagal is an American action film star, producer, writer, martial artist, guitarist and reserve deputy sheriff. A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan...
". He is also known for closing each show with his signature line "Sayonara, sayonara, sayonara".
Love of film
Yodogawa's first love was silent filmSilent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
. He preferred silent movies over sound film
Sound film
A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades would pass before sound motion pictures were made commercially...
because he felt that silent films depicted real life and were easy to understand, even without Japanese captions
Subtitle (captioning)
Subtitles are textual versions of the dialog in films and television programs, usually displayed at the bottom of the screen. They can either be a form of written translation of a dialog in a foreign language, or a written rendering of the dialog in the same language, with or without added...
.
Over his career, Yodogawa became increasingly critical of modern Japanese film, once stating: "It is because I love film so much that I hate those incompetent and uninteresting new movies." In contrast, he believed that even the worst movies were worth watching; he felt that all films had at least one redeeming feature, such as a well composed shot. Near the end of his life he did however show interest in the new style of film-making of Takeshi Kitano
Takeshi Kitano
is a Japanese filmmaker, comedian, singer, actor, film editor, presenter, screenwriter, author, poet, painter, and one-time video game designer who has received critical acclaim, both in his native Japan and abroad, for his highly idiosyncratic cinematic work. The famed Japanese film critic...
, to whom he referred as "the true successor to Kurosawa
Akira Kurosawa
was a Japanese film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. Regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, Kurosawa directed 30 filmsIn 1946, Kurosawa co-directed, with Hideo Sekigawa and Kajiro Yamamoto, the feature Those Who Make Tomorrow ;...
".
Influence
Yodogawa's appreciation of film is notable amongst the film industry of Japan; fellow critic and scholar Shigehiko HasumiShigehiko Hasumi
is a male film critic and one of the most popular professional academic researchers on French literature in Japan. He is also the former president of the University of Tokyo, and is still continuing his critical activities after his retirement.- Family :Hasumi's father Shigeyasu was a professor at...
once said: "We usually watch films with the intellect, but Yodogawa watched them with every fibre of his being." The award-winning actor Hiroyuki Sanada
Hiroyuki Sanada
is a Japanese actor.-Life and career:Sanada was born in Tokyo. Originally aiming to be an action star, starting with shorinji kempo, he eventually took up Kyokushin kaikan Sanada began training at age 11 with actor and martial arts star Sonny Chiba's Japan Action Club where he developed good...
also credited Yodogawa as having introduced him to foreign movies.
In 1991, the Yodogawa Nagaharu Award, sponsored by Road Show Magazine (Japan), was created to commemorate the film critic; the award is presented to a person or group who contributed greatly to the Japanese film industry in the preceding year. In 2005, Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
became the first non-Japanese recipient of the award.
Final years
Yodogawa lived the last years of his life in the Zen Nikku Hotel in Tokyo, where he paid for his room in cash every 10 days. He continued working as the host of Sunday Western Movie Theatre until just weeks before his death.Nagaharu Yodogawa died November 11, 1998 of heart failure. Yodogawa Nagaharu monogatari - Kobe-hen: Sainara, a biographical film depicting his life, directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi
Nobuhiko Obayashi
is a Japanese director, screenwriter and editor of films and television advertisements who is well known for his surreal visual style. He began his career as a pioneering figure in Japanese experimental film during the 1960s before transitioning to directing more mainstream works such as television...
, was released the following year.
Partial bibliography
- Yodogawa, Nagaharu (1987). Eiga No michi, Jinsei No michi. 350 pages. ISBN 4826107072.
- Yodogawa, Nagaharu (1987). Rekishi Wa Eiga De Tsukurareru. 334 pages. ISBN 4826107056.
- Yodogawa, Nagaharu (1987). Watakushi No Eiga No Jikan, Tabi to Zatsugaku. 318 pages. ISBN 4826107064.
- Yodogawa, Nagaharu (1988). Eiga Senya Ichiya. 796 pages. ISBN 412001696X.
- Yodogawa, Nagaharu (1990). Shine Kurabu jidai : Atene Furanse Bunka Sentā tōku sesshon = L'Age du cine-club. 348 pages. ISBN 4845990873.
- Yodogawa, Nagaharu (1991). Eiga. 261 pages. ISBN 4878938250.
- Yodogawa, Nagaharu (1993). Waga eiga jinsei ni kui nashi. 170 pages. ISBN 4537050217.
- Yodogawa, Nagaharu (1999). Saigo no sayonara sayonara sayonara. 334 pages. ISBN 4087802949.
- Yodogawa, Nagaharu (1999). Kurosawa Akira o kataru = Yodogawa Nagaharu talks about Kurosawa Akira. 253 pages. ISBN 4309263798.
- Yodogawa, Nagaharu (1999). Eiga wa kataru. 509 pages. ISBN 4120028895.