Biography
Tadashi Sawashima (沢島 忠, Sawashima Tadashi) (19 May 1926 – 27 January 2018) was a Japanese film director and theatre director. He directed films from the 1950s to the 1970s. He died on 27 January 2018 of multiple organ failure at the age of 91. Sawashima was born in Kotō, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. He joined the Toei Studio in 1950 and worked as an assistant director under Masahiro Makino and Kunio Watanabe before debuting as a director in 1957 with Torawakamaru the Koga Ninja. He is most known for his work in Toei's ninkyo eiga series, but he also directed entertainment jidaigeki featuring Hibari Misora, Chiemi Eri, and Kinnosuke Nakamura. He directed his last film in 1977, and mostly directed stage productions after that. In his final years, he had been attempting to film a version of the Chushingura story, but did not succeed. He was given a Special Award at the 40th Japan Academy Prize ceremony in 2017 for his career in cinema. He directed 49 films and wrote nine screenplays.
Directed 47
1980s
- 1981
The Man of Five Rings
Director
1970s
- 1977
Kyojin-gun monogatari: Susume eikô e
Director
- 1971
Onna no hanamichi
Director
Maboroshi no Satsui
Director
1960s
- 1969
Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor
Director
- 1968
Cry of the Mountain
Director
- 1966
Golden Ninja
Director
The Actress vs. the Greedy Sharks
Director
- 1965
Snake Princess: Oshima and Sentaro
Director
Three Yakuza
Director
- 1964
間諜
Director
- 1963
Okashina yatsu
Director
Life of Hishakaku 2
Director
A Fishmonger's Tour
Director
Travels of Hibari and Chiemi 2
Director
- 1962
Drunken Sword
Director
The Ambitious Youth
Director
Good Rascals
Director
Travels of Hibari and Chiemi: The Tumultuous Journey
Director
- 1961
Case of a Young Lord 9: Black Camellia
Director
Lord Mito: Struggle of Suke and Kaku
Director
Bride of White Castle
Director
A Young Warrior on Mount Fuji
Director
The Shogun and the Fishmonger
Director
- 1960
Scarier than the Devil
Director
The Pirates
Director
Unwieldy Brothers
Director
Ishimatsu: the One-Eyed Avenger
Director
Case of Umon: Hell’s Windmill
Director
Samurai Vagabonds
Director
1950s
- 1959
Isshin Tasuke: A Man Among Men
Director
The Edo Official and Apprentice
Director
Gentle Breeze
Director
House of Spider Webs
Director
Case of Umon: One-Eyed Wolf
Director
Diary of a Wandering Lord
Director
- 1958
Case of a Young Lord 7: Red Crane House
Director
Isshin Tasuke: A World in Danger
Director
Yaji and Kita's Ghost Story Journey
Director
Detective Hibari: Case of the Golden Hairpins
Director
Noble Tasuke
Director
- 1957
Torawakamaru, the Koga Ninja
Director
Wrote 30
1980s
- 1981
The Man of Five Rings
Screenplay
1970s
- 1977
Kyojin-gun monogatari: Susume eikô e
Writer
- 1971
Onna no hanamichi
Screenplay
Maboroshi no Satsui
Screenplay
1960s
- 1966
The Actress vs. the Greedy Sharks
Screenplay
- 1965
Snake Princess: Oshima and Sentaro
Screenplay
- 1964
間諜
Screenplay
- 1963
A Fishmonger's Tour
Screenplay
Travels of Hibari and Chiemi 2
Screenplay
- 1962
Drunken Sword
Screenplay
Hibari the Traveling Performer
Screenplay
The Ambitious Youth
Screenplay
Travels of Hibari and Chiemi: The Tumultuous Journey
Screenplay
- 1961
Case of a Young Lord 9: Black Camellia
Screenplay
Lord Mito: Struggle of Suke and Kaku
Screenplay
Bride of White Castle
Screenplay
A Young Warrior on Mount Fuji
Screenplay
- 1960
Scarier than the Devil
Screenplay
The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 3
Screenplay
Unwieldy Brothers
Screenplay
Ishimatsu: the One-Eyed Avenger
Screenplay
Case of Umon: Hell’s Windmill
Screenplay
1950s
- 1959
Isshin Tasuke: A Man Among Men
Writer
The Edo Official and Apprentice
Screenplay
Gentle Breeze
Screenplay
Case of Umon: One-Eyed Wolf
Screenplay
Diary of a Wandering Lord
Screenplay
- 1958
Case of a Young Lord 7: Red Crane House
Screenplay
Isshin Tasuke: A World in Danger
Screenplay