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Shūsuke Kaneko

Shūsuke Kaneko

Director and writer · Born June 8, 1955 (71) · Tokyo, Japan

Shusuke Kaneko (born June 8, 1955) is a Japanese filmmaker and screenwriter. Kaneko began his career at Nikkatsu and would serve as a writer for film and anime. Establishing himself as an up and coming director, Kaneko would win accolades at various film festivals. His film Summer Vacation 1999, would garner him his first award for best director at the Yokohama Film Festival. As a lifelong fan of the original Godzilla films, Kaneko would be chosen as the director for Daiei's revival of the Gamera franchise. Kaneko's work on the Gamera films were met with unprecedented critical acclaim. He would be honored with the Director's Award at the 17th Yokohama Film Festival for his work on Gamera: Guardian of the Universe. This film would also go on to top Kinema Junpo's best films of the year list and earn Blue Ribbon awards for best Director and Best supporting actress. Kaneko would go on to direct the most successful Godzilla film of the millennium series as well as the live action adaptations of Death Note. Kaneko has also contributed to various documentaries on kaiju films, particularly those of Ishiro Honda, championing their artistry and imagination

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 8, 1955 (71)
From
Tokyo, Japan
Works as
Director and writer
Titles
12 on MovieCove · 71 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Up 25% in 30 days

What are Shūsuke Kaneko's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
27%
Morality
24%
Self
20%
Bonds
15%
Power
8%
Ideas
6%
Survival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 2 · Serious 3 · Dark 6

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

Intense: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their intense movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 2 · Intense 9

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 2 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 0 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 3 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Thrilling
6
Melancholic
4
Dread
4
Romantic
2
Other
4

How their films linger

Bittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Shūsuke Kaneko's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 6 of their 12 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Shūsuke Kaneko's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

71 credits, 12 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Gold Boy‎ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Director

  • When the Rain Falls(2022)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Nobutora - Samurai Tiger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Director

  • Matchmaking Cruise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Linking Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Death Note: Genius of the Counterattack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • Scanner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • Danger Dolls(2014)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Jellyfish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • Sacrifice Dilemma: Last Part (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • Sacrifice Dilemma: Second Part (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • Sacrifice Dilemma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • Kiken na Kankei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 16 episodes · Director

  • The Centenarian Clock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director

  • Messiah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • The Idiots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • Pride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director

  • What's a Director? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Death Note: The Last Name(2006)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The iDol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Producer

  • God's Left Hand, Devil's Right Hand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • Death Note(2006)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Ultra Q Monster Legend: Jun Manjome's Confession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · as Self

  • Ultraman Monster Legend: The 40 Year Old Truth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • Ultraman Max (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

  • Holyland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 13 episodes · Director · Series Director

  • Azumi 2: Death or Love(2005)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • 恋に唄えば♪ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director

  • Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack(2001)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Crossfire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris(1999)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • GAMERA 1999 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • F (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Haunted School 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director · Writer

  • Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion(1996)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe(1995)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Making of Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Actor

  • It's a Summer Vacation Everyday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director · Writer

  • Necronomicon: Book of Dead(1993)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Graduation Journey: I Came from Japan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director

  • All's Quiet on the Recruit Front (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director · Screenplay

  • My Soul Is Slashed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director · Writer

  • Hong Kong Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Who Do I Choose? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Last Cabaret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Director

  • Summer Vacation 1999 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Director

  • Yamada Village Waltz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Director

  • Kyoufu no Yacchan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director

  • Mischievous Lolita: Attacking the Virgin from Behind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director

  • I'm All Yours(1985)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Eve-chan no hime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • Sukeban Kabushiki-gaisha: Yacchae! Ojôsan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Assistant Director · Screenplay

  • Office Ladies: Lesbians in Uniforms 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • Main Theme (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Assistant Director

  • Mai Inoue: Blue Rape Attacked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Koichiro Uno's Wet and Swinging (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • Final Scandal: Madam Likes It Hard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Assistant Director · Writer

  • The Red Shoes: Tokyo Rape Incident (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Assistant Director

  • Magical Angel Creamy Mami (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

  • Uno Koichiro no nurete manabu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Assistant Director · Screenplay

  • The Family Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Assistant Director · as Bookstore Clerk (uncredited)

  • Pink Cut: Love Me Hard, Love Me Deep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    First Assistant Director

  • Oh! Takarazuka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Assistant Director

  • Gigolo: A Docu-Drama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Assistant Director · as Cameraman's assistant

  • Zeccho shimai ochiru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Assistant Director

  • Female Teacher Hunting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Assistant Director

  • Seiko no futomomo: Za chiagāru (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Screenplay

  • Zoom Up: Seiko's Thigh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Screenplay

  • Panic in High School(1978)

    Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Siberia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 71 titles, 70 of them dated from 1978 to 2024.

Biggest box office

Death Note: The Last Name (2006)

$48M worldwide

Highest rated

Death Note (2006)

Midcredits 87th

Film career

  • 1983Screen debut· The Family Game

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting5 of 71: 2 only acting, 3 with another roleDirecting53 of 71: 39 only directing, 14 with another role · typical Midcredits score78thWriting18 of 71: 3 only writing, 15 with another roleProducing1 of 71: 1 only producing, 0 with another roleOther crew13 of 71: 7 only other crew, 6 with another role

71 titles, 19 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 12 of them.

By decade

1970s1 · crew1980s25 · 2 acting · 25 crew1990s13 · 2 acting · 12 crew2000s15 · 1 acting · 14 crew2010s13 · crew2020s3 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Shūsuke Kaneko's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 76th percentile, the median of all 12; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 76th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

83rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 12 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th2
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

7 of their 12 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · director

Danger Dolls (2014)

86th percentile spread · 29% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Death Note (2006)

Midcredits 87th · 80% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 63/100 and the pacing 50/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Shūsuke Kaneko's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 55 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles5–48 · median 17 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 28 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 62 · intenseMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Shūsuke Kaneko work with?

People who share at least 2 of Shūsuke Kaneko's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kazunori Itô shares the most, 4.

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers