Biography
Naomi Kawase (河瀨直美 Kawase Naomi, born May 30, 1969) is a Japanese film director. She graduated from Visual Arts Osaka in 1989. Many of her works have been documentaries, including Embracing, about her search for the father who abandoned her as a child, and Katatsumori, about the grandmother who raised her. Aside from being a filmmaker, she is the founder and Executive Director for the Nara International Film Festival.
Directed 50
2020s
- 2025
- 2023
echo
Director
- 2022
Official Film of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Side B
Director
Official Film of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Side A
Director
- 2020
2010s
- 2018
The Moon
Director
Cinema Fighters
Director
Parallel World
Director
- 2017
Where Does the Sand Go?
Director
- 2016
Amami
Director
Lies
Director
Seed
Director
- 2015
Amami
Director
- 2014
- 2012
Hikaru Utada: Sakura Nagashi
Director
Hanezu
Director
- 2011
60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero
Director
3.11 A Sense of Home Films
Director
- 2010
Genpin
Director
2000s
- 2009
Koma
Director
Haiku
Director
- 2008
Nanayo
Director
- 2007
- 2006
Birth/Mother
Director
- 2003
Shara
Director
- 2002
Letter from a Yellow Cherry Blossom
Director
- 2001
Sky, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth
Director
Firefly
Director
1990s
- 1999
- 1998
The Weald
Director
- 1997
Suzaku
Director
- 1996
Sun on the Horizon
Director
This World (A Correspondence Between Naomi Kawase and Hirokazu Koreeda)
Director
- 1995
See Heaven
Director
- 1994
Katatsumori
Director
- 1993
White Moon
Director
- 1992
Embracing
Director
- 1991
Like Happiness
Director
- 1990
The Girls' Daily Bread
Director
1980s
- 1989
My Sole Family
Director
A Small Largeness
Director
Presently,
Director
- 1988
The Concretization of These Things Flying Around Me
Director
Papa's Ice Cream
Director
My J-W-F
Director
I Focus on That Which Interests Me
Director
Wrote 24
2020s
- 2025
- 2020
2010s
- 2018
The Moon
Writer
Cinema Fighters
Writer
- 2017
Where Does the Sand Go?
Writer
- 2016
Seed
Writer
- 2015
- 2014
- 2012
Hanezu
Screenplay
- 2010
Genpin
Writer
2000s
- 2008
Nanayo
Screenplay
- 2007
- 2003
Shara
Writer
- 2002
Letter from a Yellow Cherry Blossom
Writer
- 2001
Sky, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth
Writer
Firefly
Writer
1990s
- 1999
- 1998
The Weald
Writer
- 1997
Suzaku
Writer
- 1996
Sun on the Horizon
Writer
- 1994
Katatsumori
Writer
- 1992
Embracing
Writer
Produced 15
2020s
- 2026
Transit in Flamingo
Executive Producer
- 2023
Beyond the Fog
Producer
- 2021
Tracing Her Shadow
Executive Producer
2010s
- 2019
The Nikaidos' Fall
Executive Producer
- 2018
- 2015
A Midsummer's Fantasia
Producer
- 2014
- 2012
Hanezu
Producer
- 2010
Genpin
Producer
2000s
- 2008
Nanayo
Producer
- 2007
1990s
- 1998
The Weald
Producer
- 1994
Katatsumori
Producer
- 1992
Embracing
Producer
Acted in 11
2020s
- 2026
Echoes of Motherhood
Movie
The Wolf, the Fox, and the Leopard
Tanaka
- 2025
Emergency Exit
Movie
- 2021
What Kento Nakajima Wants to Know About Movies Now
TV
- 2020
2010s
- 2013
The Tale of Iya
Dr. Amamiya
- 2011
2000s
- 2008
Rien ne s'efface
elle-même
- 2003
Shara
Reiko
1990s
- 1998
Camera 10
2020s
- 2020
2010s
- 2012
Hanezu
Director of Photography
2000s
- 2006
Birth/Mother
Director of Photography
- 2002
Letter from a Yellow Cherry Blossom
Director of Photography
- 2001
Sky, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth
Director of Photography
1990s
- 1999
- 1998
The Weald
Director of Photography
- 1996
Sun on the Horizon
Camera Operator
- 1994
Katatsumori
Director of Photography
- 1992
Embracing
Director of Photography
Edited 10
2010s
- 2014
- 2012
Hanezu
Editor
2000s
- 2008
Nanayo
Editor
- 2002
Letter from a Yellow Cherry Blossom
Editor
- 2001
Sky, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth
Editor
Firefly
Editor
1990s
- 1999
- 1998
The Weald
Editor
- 1994
Katatsumori
Editor
- 1992
Embracing
Editor
Sound 2
2000s
- 2001
Firefly
Music
1990s
- 1992
Embracing
Sound Recordist
Appearances13
2010s
- 2016
Amami
Self
- 2015
Amami
Narrator (voice)
- 2014
Reel Herstory: The Real Story of Reel Women
Self
2000s
- 2006
Birth/Mother
Self
- 2004
Women Make Films
Self
- 2002
Letter from a Yellow Cherry Blossom
Self
- 2001
Sky, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth
Self
1990s
- 1999
- 1998
- 1996
Sun on the Horizon
Self
- 1995
See Heaven
Self
- 1994
Katatsumori
Self
- 1992
Embracing
Self
