Yukiko Takayama Explained

Yukiko Takayama
Death Place:	Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
Years Active:	1974–2011
Notable Works:	Terror of Mechagodzilla Hoshi no Ko Chobin

was a Japanese screenwriter and director known for Terror of Mechagodzilla, Hoshi no Ko Chobin, , Hissatsu Shigotonin, and .

Biography

Yukiko Takayama, a native of Tokyo, was born between 1939 and 4 April 1945. She was the daughter of Nihonga painter .^[1] After graduating from the Keio University Faculty of Letters, she studied film screenwriting at the Scenario Center (a vocational school for screenwriters) while working as a housewife.^[2]

After writing for the 1974 anime Hoshi no Ko Chobin, Takayama made her debut as a screenwriter with Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975), the fifteenth film in the Godzilla franchise, after being selected for Ishirō Honda's Godzilla screenplay contest for screenwriting school students. She was the franchise's first female main staff member. She was later a screenwriter for the 1977 anime .^[3] She also wrote for the Hissatsu television series, writing three episodes each for Hissatsu Shigotonin (1981–1982) and Hissatsu Shigotonin Gekitotsu (1991–1992).^{[4] [5]}

Takayama also worked as a film director, starting with Kaze no Katami (1996) and later Musume Dojoji: Jaen no Koi. In 2011, Takayama released the novel Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo.^[6] The book later had a film adaptation, and she was credited as one of the film's screenwriters.^[7] She also worked at the Scenario Center as a lecturer.^[8]

Takayama died at home in Setagaya at 11:16, on 2 June 2023, at age 83.^{[9] [10]} Her funeral took place on 12 June at Koyasan Tokyo Betsuin.^[9]

Works

Film screenplays

• Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)^[2]
• (2011)^[7]

Television screenplays

• Hoshi no Ko Chobin (1974)^[11]
• Tokubetsu Kidō Sōsa-tai (1976; episodes 719 and 747)^{[12] [13]}
• (1977)^[3]
• Hissatsu Shigotonin (1981–1982; episodes 9, 15, 17)^[4]
• Kūhaku Meiro (1982)^[14]
• Shigotonin Daishugō (1982)^[15]
• Natsu no Arashi (1989; ep 11 to 15)^[16]
• Tsukikage Hyōgo Abare Tabi (1989; season 1 episodes 4 and 10)^[17]
• Tsuki Umaya Oen Jiken-chō (1990; season 1 episode 5)^[18]
• Makeup (1990)^[19]
• Tsukikage Hyōgo Abare Tabi (1990; season 2 episodes 4 and 9)^[20]
• Hissatsu Shigotonin Gekitotsu (1991–1992; episodes 5, 11, and 18)^[5]
• Tsuki Umaya Oen Jiken-chō (1993; season 2 episode 7)^[21]
• Tsuki Umaya Oen Jiken-chō Special: Onna no Sono ni Chiru Hanasaku Hana! Yoshiwara to Ōoku no Hikari to Kage! (1993)^[22]

Films directed

• Kaze no Katami (1996)^[9]
• Musume Dojoji: Jaen no Koi^[10]

Notes and References

1. News: 高山由紀子さん死去（脚本家） . ja . Jiji Press . 2 June 2023.
2. Book: ゴジラ 東宝チャンピオンまつり パーフェクション . ASCII Media Works . 2014 . 978-4-04-866999-3 . 116–117 . ja . 東宝チャンピオンまつりスタッフインタビュー5 髙山由紀子.
3. Web site: くまの子ジャッキー . 2 June 2023 . TV Drama Database . ja.
4. Web site: 新必殺仕事人 . 4 June 2023 . TV Drama Database . ja.
5. Web site: 必殺仕事人(9)激突！ . 4 June 2023 . TV Drama Database . ja.
6. Web site: 源氏物語 千年の謎 . 3 June 2023 . KADOKAWAオフィシャルサイト . Kadokawa Corporation . ja.
7. Web site: 映画「源氏物語 千年の謎」 . 2 June 2023 . Tokyo Broadcasting System . ja.
8. Web site: シナリオ・脚本、小説も！プロの技術が学べる学校 . 2 June 2023 . Scenario Center . ja.
9. News: 2 June 2023 . 「メカゴジラの逆襲」「必殺仕事人」シリーズ...脚本家の高山由紀子さん死去、83歳 . ja . Yomiuri Shimbun . 2 June 2023.
10. News: 2 June 2023 . 脚本家高山由紀子さん死去、83歳 映画「メカゴジラの逆襲」テレビ時代劇「必殺」シリーズなど – 社会 : 日刊スポーツ . ja . Nikkan Sports . Kyodo News . 2 June 2023.
11. Web site: 星の子チョビン . 4 June 2023 . TV Drama Database . ja.
12. Web site: 特別機動捜査隊（第719回）瞼の母が憎い . 4 June 2023 . TV Drama Database . ja.
13. Web site: 特別機動捜査隊（第747回）人質の女 . 4 June 2023 . TV Drama Database . ja.
14. Web site: 空白迷路 . 4 June 2023 . TV Drama Database . ja.
15. Web site: 仕事人大集合 . 4 June 2023 . TV Drama Database . ja.
16. Web site: 夏の嵐 . 4 June 2023 . TV Drama Database . ja.
17. Web site: 月影兵庫あばれ旅(1) . 4 June 2023 . TV Drama Database . ja.
18. Web site: 付き馬屋おえん事件帳(1) . 4 June 2023 . TV Drama Database . ja.
19. Web site: メイクアップ . 4 June 2023 . TV Drama Database . ja.
20. Web site: 月影兵庫あばれ旅(2) . 4 June 2023 . TV Drama Database . ja.
21. Web site: 付き馬屋おえん事件帳(2) . 4 June 2023 . TV Drama Database . ja.
22. Web site: 付き馬屋おえん事件帳スペシャル . 4 June 2023 . TV Drama Database . ja.