Biography
Akio Jissoji was a Japanese television and film director best known outside Japan for the 1960s TV series Ultraman and Ultra Seven, as well as for his auteur erotic ATG-produced Buddhist trilogy Mujō (無常), Mandala (曼陀羅), and Uta (哥). He was also known for his film adaptations of Japanese horror author Rampo Edogawa. Jissoji possessed a very distinctive visual style that was notable even in Japanese cinema which is known internationally for its visual style. Every project he directed, from children's action shows to the most disturbing adult films had an uncompromising approach to cinematic story telling. His episodes of the Ultraman TV shows are unique and quite unusual for children's television. His career is also unusual in that he went back and forth from children's television to film projects that were sexually provocative in some way or another. It is perhaps this aspect of his work that has prevented wider distribution of his films. Sadomasochistic and non-consensual sexual practices are featured in many of his film works with women receiving the brunt of the abuse. Another recurring theme was to pull the camera back and reveal the set his actors were working on.
Directed 43
2000s
- 2007
- 2006
Silver Mask
Director
- 2005
Summer of Ubume
Director
Arthouse Ultraman
Director
Rampo Noir
Director
- 2004
Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy
Director
1990s
- 1998
Murder on D Street
Director
- 1997
- 1996
- 1994
A Watcher in the Attic
Director
- 1992
Dialogue
Director
Akio Jissoji's Museum of Wonders - Volume of Discourse
Director
Akio Jissoji's Wonder Museum 1
Director
Akio Jissoji's Museum of Wonders - Volume of the Unknown
Director
- 1990
Ultra Q The Movie: Legend of the Stars
Director
1980s
- 1989
Arietta
Director
The Men Who Made Ultraman
Script Supervisor
- 1988
Marquis de Sade’s Prosperities of Vice
Director
- 1986
Blue Lake Girl
Director
Tokyo Illusion
Director
- 1984
Longing for Spring
Director
- 1983
Lanterns on Blue Waters
Director
- 1980
Twenty-Four Eyes
Director
1970s
- 1979
- 1977
Utamaro's World
Director
- 1974
It Was a Faint Dream
Director
- 1972
Poem
Director
- 1971
Silver Kamen
Director
Mandala
Director
- 1970
This Transient Life
Director
1960s
- 1969
I Want to Buy Kyoto
Director
The Accursed Urns
Director
When Twilight Draws Near
Director
- 1968
Operation: Mystery
Director
Horror Telephone
Director
Lullaby of Death
Director
- 1967
- 1966
The Birth of Ultraman
Director
The Father of Ultra Q
Director
Wrote 11
2000s
- 2007
Kaiki Daisakusen - Second File
Writer
1990s
- 1996
Tokyo Decameron
Original Story
- 1992
Dialogue
Screenplay
Akio Jissoji's Wonder Museum 1
Screenplay
- 1990
1980s
- 1989
Arietta
Screenplay
The Men Who Made Ultraman
Story
- 1986
Tokyo Illusion
Screenplay
1970s
- 1979
Marital War in Kibogaoka
Original Story
- 1971
1960s
- 1967
Produced 8
2000s
- 2006
Silver Mask
Executive Producer
The Rug Cop
Supervising Producer
1990s
- 1997
Akio Jissoji's Mystery File 1
Producer
Akio Jissoji's Mystery File 3
Producer
Akio Jissoji's Mystery File 2
Producer
- 1992
Akio Jissoji's Wonder Museum 2
Production Supervisor
Akio Jissoji's Wonder Museum 1
Production Supervisor
1980s
- 1988
Other crew 6
1990s
- 1991
Kaiki Senyaichiya Monogatari: Yoru no Maki
Creator
Kaiki Senyaichiya Monogatari: Kai no Maki
Creator
Kaiki Senyaichiya Monogatari: Ki no Maki
Creator
Kaiki Senyaichiya Monogatari: !! no Maki
Creator
Kaiki Senyaichiya Monogatari: Sen no Maki
Creator
Kaiki Senyaichiya Monogatari: Ichi no Maki
Creator
Art department 1
2000s
- 2000
Zombie Snake
Title Designer
Edited 1
1990s
- 1992
Dialogue
Editor
Created 1
1970s
- 1971
Silver Kamen
Creator
Appearances3
2000s
- 2006
Cross the Lens
Self
- 2005
Ultra Heroine Legend: Contest of Goddesses
Self
- 2004
Ultra Heroine Legend: From Anne to Seven
Self