Shinji Aoyama
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese film director
, screenwriter
, composer, and novelist. He graduated from Rikkyo University
. He won two awards at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival
for his film Eureka
.
, Japan, where he attended Kitakyushu Midorigaoka public junior/senior high school. He graduated in 1989 from Rikkyo University
, where he majored in film studies in the department of British and American Studies. While he was a student, he was deeply influenced by the theorist and film critic Shigehiko Hasumi
, from whom he took classes.
After graduating, Aoyama worked as an assistant director to Swiss independent film director Daniel Schmid, Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa
, and others. In 1995 he made his directorial debut with the V-Cinema
production Kyokasho ni nai! (Very Private Lesson), based on the manga
publication of the same name.
In 1996 Aoyama made Helpless, a film set in his native Fukuoka. His 2000 film Eureka
, also set in Fukuoka, opened at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival
where it received both the FIPRESCI prize and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury
. Together with the 2007 film Sad Vacation
, Eureka and Helpless comprise Aoyama's "Kitakyushu Saga".
Aoyama's literary output includes his 2001 novelization
of Eureka, which won the Yukio Mishima Prize
, as well as the novel Hotel Chronicles, which was nominated for the Noma Literary Prize
in 2005.
Shinji Aoyama is married to Japanese actress Maho Toyota
.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, composer, and novelist. He graduated from Rikkyo University
Rikkyo University
, also known as Saint Paul's University, is a private university, based on Christian precepts, in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. There is a suburban campus in Niiza in nearby Saitama.It is known for its liberal climate symbolized by the motto -History:...
. He won two awards at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival
2000 Cannes Film Festival
The 2000 Cannes Film Festival started on May 14 and ran until May 25. The Palme d'Or went to the Danish film Dancer in the Dark by Lars von Trier.-Jury:* Luc Besson, President * Jonathan Demme * Nicole Garcia...
for his film Eureka
Eureka (2000 film)
Eureka is a 2000 Japanese film directed and written by Shinji Aoyama. It stars Kōji Yakusho, Aoi Miyazaki, and Masaru Miyazaki.-Synopsis:...
.
Biography
Shinji Aoyama was born in Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka PrefectureFukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
, Japan, where he attended Kitakyushu Midorigaoka public junior/senior high school. He graduated in 1989 from Rikkyo University
Rikkyo University
, also known as Saint Paul's University, is a private university, based on Christian precepts, in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. There is a suburban campus in Niiza in nearby Saitama.It is known for its liberal climate symbolized by the motto -History:...
, where he majored in film studies in the department of British and American Studies. While he was a student, he was deeply influenced by the theorist and film critic Shigehiko Hasumi
Shigehiko 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...
, from whom he took classes.
After graduating, Aoyama worked as an assistant director to Swiss independent film director Daniel Schmid, Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
is a Japanese filmmaker. He is best known for his many contributions to the Japanese horror genre.-Biography:Born in Kobe on July 19, 1955, Kiyoshi Kurosawa is not related to director Akira Kurosawa...
, and others. In 1995 he made his directorial debut with the V-Cinema
V-Cinema
Japanese is the direct-to-video industry that appeared in Japan in the 1980s. The term is a trademark of Toei Company but is widely used in the West to describe any Japanese direct-to-video release. In Japan the term used is...
production Kyokasho ni nai! (Very Private Lesson), based on the manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
publication of the same name.
In 1996 Aoyama made Helpless, a film set in his native Fukuoka. His 2000 film Eureka
Eureka (2000 film)
Eureka is a 2000 Japanese film directed and written by Shinji Aoyama. It stars Kōji Yakusho, Aoi Miyazaki, and Masaru Miyazaki.-Synopsis:...
, also set in Fukuoka, opened at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival
2000 Cannes Film Festival
The 2000 Cannes Film Festival started on May 14 and ran until May 25. The Palme d'Or went to the Danish film Dancer in the Dark by Lars von Trier.-Jury:* Luc Besson, President * Jonathan Demme * Nicole Garcia...
where it received both the FIPRESCI prize and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury
The Prize of the Ecumenical Jury is an independent film award for feature films at the Cannes Film Festival since 1974. The Ecumenical Jury is one of three juries at the Cannes Film Festival, along with the official jury and the FIPRESCI jury. The award was created by Christian film makers, film...
. Together with the 2007 film Sad Vacation
Sad Vacation
is a 2007 Japanese drama film written and directed by Shinji Aoyama, adapted from his own novel. It was named after the Johnny Thunders song.The film concerns a Japanese man, Kenji, who is involved in the human trafficking of illegal immigrants from China. When one of the children is left behind by...
, Eureka and Helpless comprise Aoyama's "Kitakyushu Saga".
Aoyama's literary output includes his 2001 novelization
Novelization
A novelization is a novel that is written based on some other media story form rather than as an original work.Novelizations of films usually add background material not found in the original work to flesh out the story, because novels are generally longer than screenplays...
of Eureka, which won the Yukio Mishima Prize
Yukio Mishima Prize
The is a Japanese literary award presented annually. It was established in 1988 in memory of author Yukio Mishima.- Winners :* 1 1988 Genichiro Takahashi for 優雅で感傷的な日本野球 Yūga de Kanshōtekina Nippon Yakyū* 4 1999 Kazumi Saeki for ア・ルース・ボーイ...
, as well as the novel Hotel Chronicles, which was nominated for the Noma Literary Prize
Noma Literary Prize
The Noma Literary Prize was established in 1941 by the Noma Service Association in accordance with the last wishes of Noma Seiji , founder and first president of the Kōdansha publishing company. The Noma Literary Prize has been awarded annually to an outstanding new work published in Japan...
in 2005.
Shinji Aoyama is married to Japanese actress Maho Toyota
Maho Toyota
is a Japanese model and actress, who has appeared on film, television, stage and in television commercials. She is frequently seen on television, where she has acted in over 100 serial dramas and television movies...
.
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Helpless | Director, writer, composer, actor |
| Chinpira: Two Punks | Director | |
| 1997 | Wild Life | Director, writer |
| 1999 | Shady Grove | Director, writer, composer |
| EM Embalming | Director | |
| 2000 | Eureka Eureka (2000 film) Eureka is a 2000 Japanese film directed and written by Shinji Aoyama. It stars Kōji Yakusho, Aoi Miyazaki, and Masaru Miyazaki.-Synopsis:... |
Director, writer, composer, editor |
| 2001 | Desert Moon Desert Moon (2001 film) is a 2001 film written, directed and edited by Japanese film director Shinji Aoyama. It was in competition at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.-Synopsis:The film's main theme is the conflict between work and family commitments in modern Japan... |
Director, writer, editor |
| Roji e: Nakagami Kenji no nokoshita firumu | Director | |
| 2002 | Mike Yokohama: A Forest with No Name | Director, writer |
| 2003 | Ajima no uta: Uehara Tomoko, tenjo no utagoe | Director |
| 2004 | Lakeside Murder Case | Director, writer, editor |
| 2005 | My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? is a 2005 Japanese drama film directed by Shinji Aoyama. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Tadanobu Asano - Mizui* Aoi Miyazaki - Hana... |
Director, writer |
| 2006 | Crickets | Director |
| 2007 | Sad Vacation Sad Vacation is a 2007 Japanese drama film written and directed by Shinji Aoyama, adapted from his own novel. It was named after the Johnny Thunders song.The film concerns a Japanese man, Kenji, who is involved in the human trafficking of illegal immigrants from China. When one of the children is left behind by... |
Director, writer |
| 2011 | Tokyo kōen Tokyo Koen is a 2011 Japanese film directed by Shinji Aoyama. It is based on the novel by Yukiya Shoji. It was released in Japanese cinemas on 18 June 2011. -Cast:* Haruma Miura as Koji* Nana Eikura * Manami Konishi * Haruka Igawa* Shota Sometani* Yo Takahashi... |
Director, writer |
Further reading
- Gerow, Aaron (2002). "Aoyama Shinj", in Fifty Contemporary Filmmakers. Ed. Yvonne Tasker. London: Routledge. ISBN 041518973X