| Tokuzo Tanaka | |
| Birth Date: | 15 September 1920 |
| Birth Place: | Osaka, Japan |
| Known For: | Zatoichi series Nemuri Kyōshirō series |
| Occupation: | Film director |
| Yearsactive: | 1959–2007 |
was a Japanese film director.[1] [2] [3] He is well known for directing the Zatoichi and Nemuri Kyōshirō film series.[4]
Tanaka graduated from Kwansei Gakuin University.[5] In 1948, he joined the Daiei studio and started working as an assistant director under Kon Ichikawa, Kenji Mizoguchi and Kazuo Mori etc.[3] In 1958, Tanaka was promoted to director and debuted with Bakeneko Goyōda.[3] Tanaka received the Japan Directors Guild Special award for his Akumyō series films.[6] In 1971, he was released from his contract with Daiei and become a freelance director when the studio shut down film production. [3] As a freelance director he directed a lot of jidaigeki television dramas[3] [4] such as Hissatsu series.
His final work was in the 2007 short film Shonen Kawachiondotori Monogatari.[6] In December 2007, he died of Intracranial hemorrhage.[7]
| Title[8] | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rashomon | 1950 | Assistant director |
| The Tales of the Wave after the Rain Moon | 1953 | Assistant director |
| Sansho the Bailiff | 1954 | Assistant director |
| The Crucified Lovers | 1954 | Assistant director |
| Bakeneko Goyōda | 1958 | |
| Ukare Sandogasa | 1959 | |
| The Demon of Mount Oe Oe-yama Shutendōshi | 1960 | |
| Nuregami Botan | 1961 | |
| Akumyō | 1961 | |
| Hanakurabe Tanuki Dōchu | 1961 | |
| Ken ni Kakeru | 1962 | |
| Kujira Gami | 1962 | |
| Enter Kyōshirō Nemuri the Swordman Nemuri Kyōshirō Sappōjō | 1963 | |
| New Tale of Zatoichi Shin Zatōichi Monogatari | 1963 | |
| Shutō | 1963 | |
| Zatoichi the Fugitive Zatōichi Kyōjōtabi | 1963 | |
| Shinobi no Mono 4 Siege Shinobi no Mono Kirigakure Saizō | 1963 | |
| Yadonashi Inu | 1964 | |
| Kojiki Taishō | 1964 | |
| Hoodlum Soldier and the C.O. | 1965 | |
| Akai Shuriken | 1965 | |
| Ootate Orochi | 1965 | |
| Zatoichi's Vengeance | 1966 | |
| Assignment Dragon No.3 | 1966 | |
| Hoodlum Soldier on the Attack Heitai Yakuza Nagurikomi | 1967 | |
| Heitai Yakuza Ore ni Makasero | 1967 | |
| The Night Flying Hikisakareta Shōsō | 1967 | |
| Sleepy Eyes of Death 10: Hell Is a Woman Nemuri Kyōshirō Jorōjigoku | 1967 | |
| The Snow Woman Kaidan Yukijorō | 1968 | |
| Secrets of a Women's Temple Hiroku Onnadera | 1969 | |
| Tejō Muyō | 1969 | |
| Haunted Castle Hiroku Kaibōden | 1969 | |
| Tobira wa Hirakareta | 1975 | |
| Shōnen Kawachiond Monogatari | 2007 | |