Director Profile

1. Director Profile - Kinji Fukasaku
Kinji Fukasaku is a directorial leviathan and national treasure within Japanese cinema. In a career
that spanned over 40 years, he directed 60 plus films that continue to influence cinema today. Be-
yond the land of the Rising Sun, he is best known for his films Battle Royale and the Japanese half
of Tora Tora Tora.
The unique style and unflinching realism of his movies heralded Fukasaku as a pioneer of the 70s
avante guarde paradigm switch towards the anti hero in popular culture. However when you review
his body of work it proves difficult to pigeon hole such an innovative and prolific creative force.
Early Life
Born in 1930 Mito Japan, Fukasaku’s childhood was short lived. At the age of 15 (the same age as
the cannon fodder in Battle Royale) he was drafted along with his class to work in a munitions fac-
tory during Work War II.
The factory was a regular target for enemy bombings. It was here that the future director’s themes
of violence and the predominance of self preservation took root. When the factory was bombed the
workers made human shields of their living friends and scrambled beneath dead bodies to survive.
After the raids passed the survivors disposed of the dead.
Early Career
Followings the war Fukasaku developed a passion for watching foreign movies and was inspired to
pursue a career in the field. He attended the country’s first film department in Nihon University and
went on to study scriptwriting. The phrase “those who can, do; those who can’t, teach” does not
really apply to Nihon during this time. The aspiring filmmaker was fortunate to study under sterling
names such as Katshhito Inomata and Kogo Noda who later co wrote “Tokyo Story” and penned
the majority of Yasujiro Ozu’s masterpieces.
In 1961 Fukasaku made his directorial debut with a two featurettes starring Sonny Chiba. Chiba
went on to become Japan’s version of Bruce Lee and is the star of the street fighter series that fea-
tures in True Romance.
“Jakoman and Tetsu" starring Ken Takakura (1964) was a commercial success. Following this Fu-
kasaku’s reputation within the Toei film company grew and he quickly became the go to guy for
modern gangster films.
70s: Yakuza Realism
Traditionally Yakuza films were set in pre war times, with protagonists operating by a code of chiv-
alry. Fukasaku was to turn all this on its head with his 1973 classic “Battles without Honor and Hu-
manity”.
This offered a visceral and more realistic depiction of a morally ambiguous society, whelped from
years of post war impoverishment. Via innovative shaky camera shots, that came to epitomise Fu-
kasaku’s style, the director took audiences out of their comfort zone and drew them into the frame,
to be mired in the blood and violence of a scene. And they loved him for it!
The film was a cash cow and lay down a marker for all Yakuza films that would follow. The genre
rapidly moved from cult to mainstream. Fukasaku directed a string of commercial successes on the
same template until 1977 when decide to leave the genre.
It’s a brave man that leaves the warmth and comfort of a back patting entourage for the uncharted
waters of creative ambiguity, yet success breeds certainty and on he strode .
Fukasaku’s Battle Royale: A Bloody Swan Song

2. After leaving the Yakuza genre he had the freedom to bounce between genres and push his crea-
tive boundaries. He directed several historical epics before switching it up again to direct sci-fi.
Near the end of his career he even branched out into video games.
His biggest international hit was to be his final film. Battle Royale was to be his swan song and is a
fitting last picture in the story arc of the prolific director.
The main characters were 15 year old students conscripted unwillingly to kill each other. This was
the same age Fukasaku was when conscripted along with his class. All those years shooting fight
scenes, developing memorable characters and drawing audiences into the action of a frame found
perfect symmetry here.
He never lost his youthful passion for creativity.To audiences this early (and better) version of the
hunger games felt like the vision of an exciting new director was on show. Battle Royale also
showcases the directors ability, even in old age, to reflect the visceral nature of his surroundings
even if it disturbs the status quo. In Japan the movie stirred up controversy, authorities even at-
tempted to have it banned.
He died of prostate cancer in late December of 2003. Against the advice of doctors he was in the
process of filming Battle Royale 2 at the time.