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IMDbPro

Kenji Misumi(1921-1975)

  • Director
  • Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
  • Writer
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Kenji Misumi was born on March 2, 1921 in Kyoto, Japan. Misumi was the illegitimate child of a geisha mother and originally wanted to be a painter, but his father disapproved. Kenji attended Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. During this time Misumi met future Daiei studio head Kan Kikuchi, who gave Misumi a business card for a prominent studio executive. Kenji began his career at Daiei as a gofer before going on to become an assistant director. Moreover, after World War II Misumi spent about four years as an inmate at a prison of war camp in Siberia. Kenji directed his first film for Daiei in 1956 and worked profusely as a contract director for Daiei until the studio went bankrupt in 1971. In the wake of Daiei's collapse Misumi went on to direct several more movies that include four out of six entries in the hugely popular and successful "Lone Wolf and Cub" series. He died at age 54 on September 24, 1975.
BornMarch 2, 1921
DiedSeptember 24, 1975(54)
BornMarch 2, 1921
DiedSeptember 24, 1975(54)
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Known for

Shogun Assassin (1980)
Shogun Assassin
7.3
  • Director
  • 1980
The Tale of Zatoichi (1962)
The Tale of Zatoichi
7.6
  • Director
  • 1962
The Last Samurai (1974)
The Last Samurai
7.5
  • Director
  • 1974
Zatoichi and the Chess Expert (1965)
Zatoichi and the Chess Expert
7.3
  • Director
  • 1965

Credits

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Director

  • Shogun Assassin (1980)
    Shogun Assassin
  • Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman (1974)
    Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman
  • The Last Samurai (1974)
    The Last Samurai
  • Tomisaburô Wakayama in Mute Samurai (1973)
    Mute Samurai
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (1973)
    Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons
  • Hissatsu shiokinin (1973)
    Hissatsu shiokinin
  • Hissatsu shikakenin
  • Sakura no Daimon (1973)
    Sakura no Daimon
  • Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice (1972)
    Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades (1972)
    Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972)
    Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx
  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972)
    Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance
  • Shin onna tobakushi tsubogurehada (1971)
    Shin onna tobakushi tsubogurehada
  • Kitsune no kureta akanbô (1971)
    Kitsune no kureta akanbô
  • Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival (1970)
    Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival

Second Unit or Assistant Director

  • Gate of Hell (1953)
    Gate of Hell
  • Nishijin no shimai
  • Daibutsu kaigen (1952)
    Daibutsu kaigen

Writer

  • The Last Samurai (1974)
    The Last Samurai

Personal details

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    • March 2, 1921
    • Kyoto, Japan
    • September 24, 1975

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    He was a contract director for Daiei until the company's bankruptcy in 1971.

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