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Junya Satō

Junya Satō

Director · 1932–2019 · Tokyo, Japan

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Biography

Junya Satō (佐藤 純彌, Satō Jun'ya, 6 November 1932 – 9 February 2019) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. His son, Tōya Satō (佐藤 東弥, Satō Tōya), is also a film director. Born in Tokyo, Satō graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1956 with a degree in French literature. He joined the Toei studio and worked as an assistant to such directors as Tadashi Imai and Miyoji Ieki. He debuted as a director in 1963 with Rikugun Zangyaku Monogatari, for which he won a best newcomer's award at the Blue Ribbon Awards. While starting in mostly yakuza film, Satō eventually became known for big budget spectaculars. The Go Masters, a China-Japan co-production he co-directed with Duan Jishun, won the grand prize at the Montreal World Film Festival in 1983. He won the Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year in 1989 for The Silk Road.

Directed 43

2010s

  1. 2010

    Sakurada Gate Incident

    Director

2000s

  1. 2005

    Yamato

    Director

    61
  2. 2002

    金融腐蝕列島 再生

    Director

1990s

  1. 1997

    The Peking Man

    Director

  2. 1994

    Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown

    Director

  3. 1992

    Hold Me and Kiss Me

    Director

  4. The Dream of Russia

    Director

    68

1980s

  1. 1988

    The Silk Road

    Director

    67
  2. 1986

    Lost in the Wilderness

    Director

  3. 1984

    Kukai

    Director

  4. 1983

    Theater Of Life

    Director

  5. 1982

    Gメン'82

    Director

  6. The Go Masters

    Director

  7. 1980

    Drive for the Future

    Director

  8. The Way to The Gold Medals

    Director

1970s

  1. 1978

    Never Give Up

    Director

    62
  2. 1977

    Proof of the Man

    Director

    69
  3. 1976

    Manhunt

    Director

    66
  4. 1975

    The Bullet Train

    Director

    68
  5. 1974

    Miracle on Lubang Island: Army Nakano School

    Director

  6. 1973

    Golgo 13

    Director

    58

  7. The Ando Gang Documentary Film

    Director

  8. A True Story of the Private Ginza Police

    Director

  9. Quarreling with Yakuza

    Director

  10. 1972

    Yakuza Skirmishes

    Director

  11. Gang Warfare

    Director

  12. 1971

    The Armed Organization

    Director

  13. The Gambler's Counterattack

    Director

  14. 1970

    The Last Kamikaze

    Director

  15. The Japan Derby Race

    Director

1960s

  1. 1969

    Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers

    Director

  2. The Private Police

    Director

  3. Yakuza on Foot

    Director

  4. 1968

    The Drifting Avenger

    Director

    62

  5. Key Hunter

    Director

  6. 1967

    Organized Violence II

    Director

  7. Organized Violence

    Director

  8. 1966

    Thirst for Love

    Director

  9. 1964

    Raised in a Palace

    Director

  10. 1963

    The King 2

    Director

  11. Tale of Army Brutality

    Director

  12. 1962

    The King

    Assistant Director

  13. 1961

    Invasion of the Neptune Men

    Assistant Director

    25

Wrote 13

2010s

  1. 2010

    Sakurada Gate Incident

    Screenplay

2000s

  1. 2005

    Yamato

    Screenplay

    61

1970s

  1. 1975

    The Bullet Train

    Screenplay

    68
  2. 1972

    Yakuza Skirmishes

    Screenplay

  3. Gang Warfare

    Screenplay

  4. 1971

    The Gambler's Counterattack

    Screenplay

  5. 1970

    The Japan Derby Race

    Screenplay

1960s

  1. 1969

    Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers

    Screenplay

  2. 1966

    Thirst for Love

    Screenplay

  3. 1964

    Wolves, Pigs & Men

    Screenplay

    77