Takashi Yamazaki

Born on June 12, 1964, in Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan, Takashi Yamazaki is a film director with 27 credits to his name. Godzilla Minus One (2023) is his best-known work. He also directed Returner (2002), Always - Sunset on Third Street (2005), Space Battleship Yamato (2010) and The Eternal Zero (2013), followed by Parasyte: Part 1 (2014) and Part 2 (2015). His animated and franchise titles include Stand by Me Doraemon (2014), Stand by Me Doraemon 2 (2020), Lupin III: The First (2019) and Dragon Quest: Your Story (2019).

Among his awards are the 2024 Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, three Japan Academy Prizes in 2006 for Director, Screenplay and Picture of the Year, the 2014 Nikkan Sports Film Award for Best Director and a Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay. Coming up next are Godzilla Minus Zero, set for November 3, 2026, and Grandgear, slated for January 2028.

New & upcoming work

• Godzilla Minus Zero · 3 Nov 2026
• Grandgear · 13 Jan 2028

Frequent co-stars

• Hidetaka Yoshioka · 5 films together: Godzilla Minus One, Always: Sunset on Third Street 2, Always - Sunset on Third Street, Fueled: The Man They Called "Pirate"
• Shinichi Tsutsumi · 5 films together: Space Battleship Yamato, Always: Sunset on Third Street 2, Always - Sunset on Third Street, Destiny: The Tale of Kamakura
• Sadao Abe · 4 films together: Parasyte: Part 1, Parasyte: Part 2, Friends: Naki on Monster Island, Tales of the Bizarre 25th Anniversary Autumn Special: Film Directors Collection
• Hiroko Yakushimaru · 3 films together: Always: Sunset on Third Street 2, Always - Sunset on Third Street, Always: Sunset on Third Street '64
• Shota Sometani · 3 films together: Parasyte: Part 1, Parasyte: Part 2, Fueled: The Man They Called "Pirate"
• Tomokazu Miura · 3 films together: Always: Sunset on Third Street 2, Always - Sunset on Third Street, Always: Sunset on Third Street '64

Awards won

• Academy Award for Best Visual Effects (2024)
• Nikkan Sports Film Award for Best Director (2014)
• Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year (2006)
• Japan Academy Prize for Screenplay of the Year (2006)
• Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year (2006)
• Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay

Nominations

• Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year (2013)
• Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year (2008)
• Japan Academy Prize for Screenplay of the Year (2008)
• Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year (2008)
• Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year (2006)
• Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year (2006)
• Japan Academy Prize for Screenplay of the Year (2006)

Career at a glance

First credit: Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan (1981) · Credits: 26

Roles played

Titles reviewed on Drama4U

• Godzilla Minus One2023 · DirectorReviewed

Other work

• Foodlosslla2024 · Director
• Ghost Book2022 · Director
• Stand by Me Doraemon 22020 · Director
• Lupin III: The First2019 · Director
• Dragon Quest: Your Story2019 · Director
• The Great War of Archimedes2019 · Director
• Destiny: The Tale of Kamakura2017 · Director
• Fueled: The Man They Called "Pirate"2016 · Director
• Tales of the Bizarre 25th Anniversary Autumn Special: Film Directors Collection2015 · Director
• Parasyte: Part 22015 · Director
• Parasyte: Part 12014 · Director
• Stand by Me Doraemon2014 · Director
• The Eternal Zero2013 · Director
• The Human Trust2013 · Masami's Subordinate
• Always: Sunset on Third Street '642012 · Director
• Friends: Naki on Monster Island2011 · Director
• Space Battleship Yamato2010 · Director
• Ballad2009 · Director
• Always: Sunset on Third Street 22007 · Director

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Profile based on TMDB and Wikidata facts and checked against public sources. Career information only.