Skip to content
MovieCove
Kazuo Miyagawa

Kazuo Miyagawa

Cinematographer, also actor · Died August 7, 1999, aged 91 · Kyoto, Japan

Kazuo Miyagawa (宮川 一夫 Miyagawa Kazuo, February 25, 1908 – August 7, 1999) was an acclaimed Japanese cinematographer. Miyagawa is best known for his tracking shots, particularly those in Rashomon (1950), the first of his three collaborations with preeminent filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. He also worked on films by major directors Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujirō Ozu, and Kon Ichikawa, such as Ugetsu Monogatari (1953), Floating Weeds (1959) and the documentary Tokyo Olympiad (1965) respectively. Miyagawa is regarded as having invented the cinematographic technique known as bleach bypass, for Ichikawa's 1960 film Her Brother.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 25, 1908
Died
August 7, 1999 (aged 91)
From
Kyoto, Japan
Works as
Cinematographer, also actor
Titles
18 on MovieCove · 96 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 2% in 30 days

What are Kazuo Miyagawa's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 97th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 92nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 89th percentile
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
31%
Power
19%
Bonds
16%
Survival
10%
Self
8%
Society
8%
Ideas
7%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 2 · Serious 7 · Dark 10

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

Grounded 2 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 6

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 7 · Intense 11

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 10 · 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 3 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Melancholic
10
Contemplative
5
Dread
5
Thrilling
4
Other
17

How their films linger

Bittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic2

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 Kazuo Miyagawa's films?

As of October 24, 2026, all 18 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kazuo Miyagawa'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

96 credits, 18 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Dancer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Gonza the Spearman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer

  • MacArthur's Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • The Love Suicides at Sonezaki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Cinematographer

  • Island of the Evil Spirits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Cinematographer

  • Ballad of Orin(1977)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Possessed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Cinematographer

  • Akumyo: Notorious Dragon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

  • Hanzo the Razor: The Snare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Cinematographer

  • Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril(1972)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Fearless Avenger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Cinematographer

  • The Trail of Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Cinematographer

  • Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Cinematographer

  • Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival(1970)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo(1970)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Magoichi Saga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Cinematographer

  • Devil's Temple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Cinematographer

  • 出獄四十八時間 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Cinematographer

  • The Funeral Racket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Cinematographer

  • Zatoichi and the Fugitives(1968)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • A Killer's Key (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Cinematographer

  • Zatoichi the Outlaw(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • A Certain Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Cinematographer

  • The Little Runaway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Cinematographer

  • Zatoichi's Vengeance(1966)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Irezumi(1966)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Tokyo Olympics (International Version) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Cinematographer

  • Tokyo Olympiad(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Bloody Shuriken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Cinematographer

  • The Life of a Chivalrous Man in Suruga: Broken Swords (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Cinematographer

  • The Money Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Cinematographer

  • Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Bamboo Doll of Echizen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Cinematographer

  • Rabble Tactics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Cinematographer

  • The Third Will (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Cinematographer

  • The Broken Commandment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Cinematographer

  • Bad Reputation Returns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Cinematographer

  • Tough Guy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Cinematographer

  • The Gambler's Code (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Cinematographer

  • Yojimbo(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Marriageable Age (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Cinematographer

  • Her Brother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • Scarred Yosaburo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • Bonchi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • A Woman's Testament (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • Floating Weeds(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Key(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Woman and the Pirate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Cinematographer

  • The Gay Masquerade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • Conflagration (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • Akado Suzunosuke vs. the Birdman with 3 Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • Princess Tsuki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • Night Butterflies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • Love of the Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • New Tale of Genji: Shizuka and Yoshitsune (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Cinematographer

  • Undercurrent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Cinematographer

  • Street of Shame(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • I Was Tokichiro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Cinematographer

  • Taira Clan Saga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Cinematographer

  • Tenka o nerau bishōnen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Cinematographer

  • The Second Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Cinematographer

  • A Story from Chikamatsu(1954)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Woman in the Rumor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Cinematographer

  • Sansho the Bailiff(1954)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • A Geisha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Ugetsu(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Reminiscence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Suttobi kago (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • Sisters of Nishijin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • Duel at Omagatsuji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Cinematographer

  • Miss Oyu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Cinematographer

  • A Spectacular Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Cinematographer

  • Rashomon(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Rain on Jogashima (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Cinematographer

  • Song of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Cinematographer

  • Hebi hime dōchū (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Additional Director of Photography

  • Onna goroshi abura jigoku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Cinematographer

  • New Wives’ Meeting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Cinematographer

  • Black Cloud Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • That Night's Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • A Woman Who Convicts Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • Five Women Who Loved Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • Children Hand in Hand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • The Devil's toast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Cinematographer

  • Yari-odori gojūsantsugi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Cinematographer

  • Tebukuro o nugasu otoko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Cinematographer

  • The Woman Who Opens the Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Cinematographer

  • Thus the Divine Wind Blows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Cinematographer

  • Kodachi o tsukau onna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Cinematographer

  • Wrestling-Ring Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Cinematographer

  • The Life of Matsu the Untamed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Cinematographer

  • Singing Lovebirds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • Taiko's Rising in the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Miyamoto Musashi: Dai-san-bu - Kenshin ichiro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

  • Zoku hebi hime dōchū (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Additional Director of Photography

Career shape

A full career of 96 titles, 94 of them dated from 1938 to 1989.

Biggest box office

Rashomon (1950)

$147K worldwide

Highest rated

Yojimbo (1961)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Rashomon (1950)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography96 of 96: 96 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score92nd

By decade

1930s2 · crew1940s16 · crew1950s31 · crew1960s30 · crew1970s10 · crew1980s5 · 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 Kazuo Miyagawa's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 92nd percentile, the median of all 18; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 88th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

89thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 18 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th1

Shape of the crowd

None of their 18 titles divides audiences: 9 are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Crowd Pleaser9

Most loved · cinematographer

Yojimbo (1961)

Midcredits 99th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 85/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 88, detractors 67. The element that speaks to their work as a cinematographer.

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 Kazuo Miyagawa'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
Sex & Nudity5 titles9–57 · median 20 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 56 · moderateMedian 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 Kazuo Miyagawa work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kazuo Miyagawa's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Masaichi Nagata shares the most, 10.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles