
Person
Zenzō Matsuyama
Writing · 1925–2016 · Kobe, Japan
Biography
Zenzō Matsuyama (松山 善三 Matsuyama Zenzō, 3 April 1925 - 27 August 2016) was a Japanese script writer and film director. He was born in Kobe and grew up in Yokohama. After leaving school, he began training to become a doctor but dropped out of medical school to take up a career in films. In 1948 he became an assistant director at Shochiku studios. With the support of Keisuke Kinoshita, he also began writing film scripts. His first filmed script was Kojo no tsuki, based on the song Kōjō no Tsuki, filmed in 1954. In 1955 he married actress Hideko Takamine. He made his debut as a director with a film called Na mo naku mazushiku utsukushikuin 1961. He continued to work as a scriptwriter for films like Proof of the Man as well as a director. He also wrote the lyrics for a song Ippon no enpitsu for Hibari Misora.
Known for

Drunkard's Paradise
Screenplay
My Hobo
Director

The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
Screenplay

Come Marry Me
Writer

Yearning
Screenplay

Bokyo
Screenplay

The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
Screenplay

Proof of the Man
Writer

Fushoku no kōzō
Screenplay

The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity
Screenplay
Filmography
- 2015IshibumiOriginal Film Writer
- 2006AdanWriter
- 2001Jesus is My BossWriter
- 2000Home Sweet HomeWriter
- 1998一本の手Director
- 1993BokyoScreenplay
- 1993Rainbow BridgeDirector
- 1988MotherDirector
- 1987Foxes of ChironupScreenplay
- 1985Kimi ga kagayaku tokiScreenplay
- 1981This Is NorikoScreenplay
- 1980Wings of Icarus' FlightScreenplay
- 1977Proof of the ManWriter
- 1977Fushoku no kōzōScreenplay
- 1976Two IidaDirector
- 1973The Black Battlefront KidnappersScreenplay
- 1973Long Journey into LoveScreenplay
- 1973The Twilight YearsWriter
- 1968The Age of Undutiful ChildrenStory
- 1968SôshunScreenplay
- 1967Happiness For You — Sentimental BoyScreenplay
- 1967O Luna, My Pony!Story
- 1967River of ForeverWriter
- 1966Come Marry MeWriter
- 1966The Swan ElegyStory
- 1966Look Up, Noble OneWriter
- 1966The DaphneStory
- 1966Moment of TerrorScreenplay
- 1965Rokujō yukiyama tsumugiDirector
- 1965Retirement of a Train EngineerWriter
- 1965We Will RememberDirector
- 1965The Last JudgmentScreenplay
- 1965Start HereScreenplay
- 1964Could I But LiveDirector
- 1964Blue Eyed BrideStory
- 1964YearningScreenplay
- 1963Double WeddingScreenplay
- 1963Honolulu, Tokyo, Hong KongScreenplay
- 1963Futari dake no torideScreenplay
- 1962My HoboDirector
- 1962Four SistersScreenplay
- 1962Tokyo BayScreenplay
- 1962Mother CountryScreenplay
- 1962The Injured BoyScreenplay
- 1962Our MarriageScreenplay
- 1962Drunkard's ParadiseScreenplay
- 1962The Wiser AgeScreenplay
- 1961Different SonsWriter
- 1961The Youth and His AmuletScreenplay
- 1961A Good Man, A Good DayScreenplay
- 1961The Other WomanScreenplay
- 1961Eternity of LoveWriter
- 1961The Human Condition III: A Soldier's PrayerScreenplay
- 1961Happiness of Us AloneScreenplay
- 1960The Lovelorn GeishaScreenplay
- 1960The Dangerous KissWriter
- 1960Daughters, Wives and a MotherScreenplay
- 1960Goodbye to GloryScreenplay
- 1959The Human Condition II: Road to EternityScreenplay
- 1959The Human Condition I: No Greater LoveScreenplay
- 1958Yurakucho 0 StreetScreenplay
- 1958Tokyo 1958Director
- 1957Black RiverWriter
- 1957Akuma no kaoScreenplay
- 1957Karada no naka o kaze ga fukuScreenplay
- 1957Good Luck to These TwoWriter
- 1957A Town with a Mountain and RiverScreenplay
- 1957Typhoon Over NagasakiWriter
- 1956I Will Buy YouScreenplay
- 1956Blue BudsScreenplay
- 1956The Lady Was PawnAdaptation
- 1956FountainheadWriter
- 1956Eyes of ChildrenScreenplay
- 1955Tama wa kudakezuWriter
- 1955YouthScreenplay
- 1955The First KissWriter
- 1955The Tattered WingsScreenplay
- 1955Beautiful DaysWriter
- 1951Carmen Comes HomeAssistant Director
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