Biography
Shinichi Sekizawa (June 2, 1921 – November 11, 1992) was a Japanese screenwriter known for his immense contributions to the original Godzilla series, providing screenplays and/or stories for 10 of the original 15 Showa films. He began his career in his native Kyoto, joining an association of manga cartoonists which included the anime pioneer Osamu Tezuka. His career would be interrupted when he was reluctantly drafted to fight in the South Pacific during WWII. Sekizawa would reignite his film career in 1946 when he joined Beehive Productions as an assistant director, demonstrating a talent for screenwriting when completing the screenplay for the film Profile of the City in a record four days. Later at Shintoho Studios he would direct the now considered lost film Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers. His career at Toho began in 1958 working on Kihachi Okamoto's early films before eventually became the studio's go-to monster scripter after the immense success of his screenplay for Mothra. His kaiju screenplays for Ishiro Honda have been noted for their inventiveness, especially in his interplay of human drama blending with monster action and characterization. His lighthearted approach was contrasted to that of Takeshi Kimura, whose scripts had a darker, more cynical sensibility. Sekizawa's talents were not limited to science fiction, with his output in the 60s being as many as six screenplays a year in genres such as salaryman comedies and war movies as well as TV shows such as the original Ultraman. While Sekizawa enjoyed writing monster movies, he would eventually become tired of the Godzilla series and moved on to scripting for animating features while continuing his career as a lyricist. He was also an aficionado of model trains and published numerous publications on the subject. Before his death he was awarded a Purple ribbon by the Japanese government due to his immense artistic and cultural contributions.
Wrote 73
1990s
- 1997
- 1996
Super Atragon - Part II
Original Film Writer
- 1995
Super Atragon - Part I
Original Film Writer
- 1993
Ultraman vs. Kamen Rider
Writer
- 1992
1980s
- 1989
- 1987
Mighty Jack
Writer
1970s
- 1974
- 1973
- 1972
1960s
- 1969
Latitude Zero
Screenplay
Motta, the Flying Dracula Monster
Screenplay
- 1968
Homeless Ninja Trick Book: Lose in All Directions
Screenplay
Phantom Monster Agon
Screenplay
Agon: The Atomic Dragon
Writer
- 1967
Jack and the Witch
Screenplay
Do Your Best! Godzilla
Screenplay
The Killing Bottle
Screenplay
- 1966
The Mad Atlantic
Writer
Zero Fighter
Writer
- 1965
Homeless Ninja Trick Book
Screenplay
- 1964
A Keg of Powder
Screenplay
Dogora
Screenplay, Adaptation
Ant Hell War
Writer
- 1963
Samurai Pirate
Screenplay
Operation Mad Dog
Writer
Warring Clans
Writer
Attack Squadron
Writer
- 1962
Operation Enemy Fort
Screenplay
Local Reporter
Screenplay
The Crimson Sky
Screenplay
- 1961
Hiroshi Moriya Sadogasa: Thank You, Sandogasa
Screenplay
Hiroshi Moriya Sandogasa: I Want to Weep
Screenplay, Lyricist
Blueprint of Murder
Screenplay, Lyricist
- 1960
Adventures of Princess Anmitsu
Screenplay
Westward Desperado
Screenplay
University Bandits
Screenplay
The Last Gunfight
Screenplay, Lyricist
1950s
- 1959
Gambling Youth
Screenplay
Mariko's Autobiography: Flowing Constellation
Adaptation
A Young Boss Tries Really Hard
Lyricist
The Big Boss
Screenplay
- 1958
The Young Boss is Third Generation
Screenplay
Varan
Screenplay
Tomboy Samurai
Screenplay
Shōjo to fūsen
Screenplay
- 1957
Queen of Asia
Screenplay
A Texan in Tokyo
Screenplay
Tokyo is a Fine Place
Idea
- 1956
Devil Princess’ Beauty Competition
Screenplay
A Man's Flower Path
Adaptation
Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers
Writer
- 1953
Tokyo Profile
Screenplay
1940s
- 1949
娘十八嘘つき時代
Screenplay
- 1948
Tomorrow Will Be Fine Weather
Writer
Other crew 2
1960s
- 1968
Phantom Monster Agon
Creator
- 1960
Maboroshi Tantei: Chiteijin Shūrai
Script
Produced 2
1960s
- 1968
Agon: The Atomic Dragon
Production Supervisor
1950s
- 1951
Children of the Beehive: What Happened Next
Production Designer
Art department 1
1950s
- 1952
Children of the Great Buddha
Production Design
Directed 1
1950s
- 1956
Fearful Attack of the Flying Saucers
Director
Created 1
1960s
- 1968
Agon: The Atomic Dragon
Creator