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Eiichi Kudō

Eiichi Kudō

Director · Died September 23, 2000, aged 71 · Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan

Eiichi Kudo (工藤 栄一, Kudō Eiichi, 17 July 1929 – 23 September 2000) was a Japanese film director. He directed 30 films between 1956 and 1998. His 1982 film Yaju-deka was entered into the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival. One of his most famous movies is the 1963 film 13 Assassins. This movie was remade in 2010 by Takashi Miike.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 17, 1929
Died
September 23, 2000 (aged 71)
From
Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Japan
Works as
Director
Titles
4 on MovieCove · 76 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 27Down 32% in 30 days

What are Eiichi Kudō's films like?

Across a limited sample of 4 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
61%
Self
14%
Survival
14%
Society
10%
Justice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 4 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 1 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 1 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 0 · Intense 3

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

Steady 2 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 0 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 2 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings shown from 5 titles

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
3
Melancholic
2
Contemplative
1
Thrilling
1
Dread
1
Other
1

How their films linger

Bittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

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 Eiichi Kudō's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 2 of their 4 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Eiichi Kudō'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

76 credits, 4 with a MovieCove page.

  • Ando Gumi Gaiden Genealogy of the Group Wolf 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Shadow Warrior Tokugawa Ieyasu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 10 episodes · Director

  • Account of the Ando Gang: Tale of a Scarface (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Ando Gumi Gaiden Genealogy of the Group Wolf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Shadow Warrior of Nobunaga Oda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director

  • Kumokiri Nizaemon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 15 episodes · Director

  • Gokenin Zankuro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

  • Ring! Ring! Ring! The Champion Belt of Tears (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director

  • Chronicle of the Town Magistrate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • Taira no Kiyomori (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • Catch Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Passion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • Nakibokuro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Saito Dosan: Rage of Power (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Betrayal Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Water Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director

  • おんなの密書 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director

  • The Eccentric Shinza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director

  • A Homance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Sure Death! 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director

  • Love Letter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Man in Detention

  • Hanzo: The Razor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • Assassination Orders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • The Catch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Bar Owner

  • Nogare no machi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Tonga Adventure Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Director

  • The Dropout (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Director

  • Cliff of Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Director

  • Yokohama BJ Blues(1981)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • 47 Ronin and the Shadow Ninja (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director

  • Shadow Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Shadow Warriors: Hattori Hanzo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director

  • Aftermath of Battles Without Honor and Humanity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Director

  • Hissatsu Shigotonin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 84 episodes · Director

  • I Can Hear the Sound of Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Yokomizo Seishi Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

  • Please Hire Me! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Priest of Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Unified Shadows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 28 episodes · Director

  • Wounded Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

  • The Viper Brothers: Up on 30 Charges (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director

  • Dangerous Trade in Kobe(1973)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Fort of Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director

  • Sky Scraper! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Screenplay

  • Industrial Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director

  • A History of the Japanese Underworld (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director

  • Eleven Samurai(1967)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • A History of the Japanese Underworld - The Bloody Resistance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director

  • Convicted Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Director

  • Yakuza G-Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • Chivalrous Nature (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • The Great Killing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director

  • 13 Assassins(1963)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Young Master Yakuza: Edoite Goblin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director

  • Castle of Owls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director

  • The Mysterious Purple Hood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director

  • Revenge for His Lover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Director

  • Shimmering Sword (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Director

  • The Princess and the Bearded Lord (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Director

  • Travels of Gonkuro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • Yakuza Princess of Edo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • Case of Umon: Woman of the Magic Lantern (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • A Fishwife's Tale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • Samurai Knights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • Flowers on the Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • Heavenly Dragon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director

  • Bloody Account of Jirocho: Raid on the Holy Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director

  • Bloody Account of Jirocho: Duel at Fujimi Pass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director

  • Paper Crane Palanquin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director

  • Lair of the Snakegod (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director

  • Bloody Account of Jirocho: Raid on the Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director

  • Bloody Account of Jirocho: Duel at Akiba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director

  • Secrets of Fuji 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Director

  • Secrets of Fuji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Director

  • Roughneck From Asama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Assistant Director

  • Detective Hibari: Case of the Golden Hairpins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Assistant Director

Career shape

A full career of 76 titles from 1958 to 1998.

Highest rated

13 Assassins (1963)

Midcredits 91st

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 76: 3 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting70 of 76: 64 only directing, 6 with another roleWriting7 of 76: 1 only writing, 6 with another roleOther crew2 of 76: 2 only other crew, 0 with another role

76 titles, 6 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 6 of them.

By decade

1950s4 · crew1960s30 · crew1970s10 · crew1980s17 · 3 acting · 14 crew1990s15 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it.

How do Eiichi Kudō's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 81st percentile, the median of all 4; across a limited sample of 4 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 84th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Approval · how many liked their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Reach · how many have seen their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Midcredits score across 4 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 50th to 74th2

Shape of the crowd

3 of their 4 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Crowd Pleaser3
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · director

Dangerous Trade in Kobe (1973)

64th percentile spread · 17% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

13 Assassins (1963)

Midcredits 91st · 78% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 76/100 and the pacing 57/100 in their films, across 3 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.

Who does Eiichi Kudō work with?

People who share at least 2 of Eiichi Kudō's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kantarō Suga shares the most, 2.

Actors

Composers

Producers