Takashi Yamazaki: Biography, Age & Movies

Takashi Yamazaki is a Japanese director born on June 12, 1964, in Matsumoto, Nagano. Across 27 credits, he is best known for Godzilla Minus One (2023). His other films as director include Returner (2002), Always - Sunset on Third Street (2005), Space Battleship Yamato (2010), The Eternal Zero (2013), the two-part Parasyte (2014–2015), Stand by Me Doraemon (2014) and its 2020 sequel, as well as Lupin III: The First and Dragon Quest: Your Story, both released in 2019.

His honours include the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 2024, Japan Academy Prizes for Director, Screenplay and Picture of the Year in 2006, the Nikkan Sports Film Award for Best Director in 2014 and a Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay. His upcoming projects are Godzilla Minus Zero, scheduled for November 3, 2026, and Grandgear, planned 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