
Person
Tadashi Sawashima
Directing · 1926–2018 · Shiga, Japan
Biography
Tadashi Sawashima (沢島 忠, Sawashima Tadashi) (19 May 1926 – 27 January 2018) was a Japanese film director and theatre director. He directed films from the 1950s to the 1970s. He died on 27 January 2018 of multiple organ failure at the age of 91. Sawashima was born in Kotō, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. He joined the Toei Studio in 1950 and worked as an assistant director under Masahiro Makino and Kunio Watanabe before debuting as a director in 1957 with Torawakamaru the Koga Ninja. He is most known for his work in Toei's ninkyo eiga series, but he also directed entertainment jidaigeki featuring Hibari Misora, Chiemi Eri, and Kinnosuke Nakamura. He directed his last film in 1977, and mostly directed stage productions after that. In his final years, he had been attempting to film a version of the Chushingura story, but did not succeed. He was given a Special Award at the 40th Japan Academy Prize ceremony in 2017 for his career in cinema. He directed 49 films and wrote nine screenplays.
Known for
The 47 Ronins of Ako
Director

The Edo Official and Apprentice
Director

Travels of Hibari and Chiemi 2
Director

Maboroshi no Satsui
Screenplay

Lord Mito: Struggle of Suke and Kaku
Director

Drunken Sword
Director

Ishimatsu: the One-Eyed Avenger
Director

Torawakamaru, the Koga Ninja
Director

The Man of Five Rings
Director

The Shogun and the Fishmonger
Director
Filmography
- 1981The Man of Five RingsDirector
- 1979The 47 Ronins of AkoDirector
- 1977Kyojin-gun monogatari: Susume eikô eDirector
- 1971Onna no hanamichiScreenplay
- 1971Maboroshi no SatsuiScreenplay
- 1969Shinsengumi: Assassins of HonorDirector
- 1969Admiral Borneo: Betting at the EquatorDirector
- 1968Cry of the MountainDirector
- 1966Golden NinjaDirector
- 1966The ProtectorDirector
- 1966The Actress vs. the Greedy SharksDirector
- 1965Snake Princess: Oshima and SentaroDirector
- 1965Three YakuzaDirector
- 1965The Tattooed LordDirector
- 1964間諜Director
- 1964Life of Hishakaku 3Director
- 1963Okashina yatsuDirector
- 1963Life of Hishakaku 2Director
- 1963Life of HishakakuDirector
- 1963A Fishmonger's TourScreenplay
- 1963Travels of Hibari and Chiemi 2Director
- 1962Hibari's Tale of PathosScreenplay
- 1962Drunken SwordDirector
- 1962Hibari the Traveling PerformerScreenplay
- 1962The Ambitious YouthDirector
- 1962Good RascalsDirector
- 1962Travels of Hibari and Chiemi: The Tumultuous JourneyDirector
- 1961Case of a Young Lord 9: Black CamelliaScreenplay
- 1961Lord Mito: Struggle of Suke and KakuDirector
- 1961Bride of White CastleDirector
- 1961A Young Warrior on Mount FujiScreenplay
- 1961The Shogun and the FishmongerDirector
- 1960Scarier than the DevilDirector
- 1960The PiratesDirector
- 1960The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 3Screenplay
- 1960Unwieldy BrothersDirector
- 1960Ishimatsu: the One-Eyed AvengerDirector
- 1960Case of Umon: Hell’s WindmillDirector
- 1960Samurai VagabondsDirector
- 1959Isshin Tasuke: A Man Among MenDirector
- 1959The Edo Official and ApprenticeDirector
- 1959Gentle BreezeScreenplay
- 1959House of Spider WebsDirector
- 1959Case of Umon: One-Eyed WolfDirector
- 1959Diary of a Wandering LordScreenplay
- 1958Case of a Young Lord 7: Red Crane HouseScreenplay
- 1958Isshin Tasuke: A World in DangerScreenplay
- 1958Yaji and Kita's Ghost Story JourneyDirector
- 1958Detective Hibari: Case of the Golden HairpinsDirector
- 1958Noble TasukeDirector
- 1957Torawakamaru, the Koga NinjaDirector
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