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Kazuo Yamada

Cinematographer · Died January 29, 2006, aged 86 · Tokyo, Japan

Born
March 25, 1919
Died
January 29, 2006 (aged 86)
From
Tokyo, Japan
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
9 on MovieCove · 73 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 31% in 30 days

What are Kazuo Yamada's films like?

Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 93rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action 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
Bonds
33%
Morality
22%
Survival
14%
Self
9%
Society
9%
Ideas
9%
Power
6%
Family bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 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 3 · Serious 1 · Dark 3

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 1 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 4 · Intense 3

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

Steady 0 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 1 · Relentless 1

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

A split, not a type: Casual 3 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 4 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 2

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

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
5
Melancholic
3
Triumphant
2
Absurd
1
Manic
1
Other
4

How their films linger

Bittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet3
  • 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 Yamada's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 5 of their 9 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kazuo Yamada'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

73 credits, 9 with a MovieCove page.

  • Living for the Day After Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Lost in Translation(2003)

    as Hospital Receptionist

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Onmitsu Doshin: The Edo Secret Police (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Cinematographer

  • Onna no hanamichi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Cinematographer

  • It's a Man's Way of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Cinematographer

  • The Militarists (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Cinematographer

  • Incident at Blood Pass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Cinematographer

  • Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Cinematographer

  • Portrait of Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Cinematographer

  • Samurai Banners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Cinematographer

  • Motta, the Flying Dracula Monster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Cinematographer

  • Admiral Yamamoto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Cinematographer

  • Golden Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Cinematographer

  • Son of Godzilla(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Samurai Rebellion(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Ebirah, Horror of the Deep(1966)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • What's Up, Tiger Lily?(1966)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Zero Fighter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Cinematographer

  • Adventure in Kigan Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Cinematographer

  • Rise Against the Sword (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Cinematographer

  • Key of Keys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Cinematographer

  • A Keg of Powder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Cinematographer

  • Youth Season Continued (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Cinematographer

  • Whirlwind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Cinematographer

  • Young Swordsman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Cinematographer

  • Outpost of Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Cinematographer

  • Chushingura(1962)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Youth and His Amulet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Cinematographer

  • Blood on the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Cinematographer

  • Daredevil in the Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Cinematographer

  • Life of a Country Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • The Storm of the Pacific (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • The Secret of the Telegian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • The Last Gunfight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • The Three Treasures(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Samurai Saga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Cinematographer

  • The Lighthouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Cinematographer

  • Female Detective Story: S.O.S Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • Chakkiri Kinta Sequel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • Chakkiri Kinta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • The Rickshaw Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • Faraway Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • The Men of Toho-ku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • The Lonely Swordsman (Part 2) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • A Man in the Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • Love on Rainbow Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Cinematographer

  • Will-o'-the-Wisp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Cinematographer

  • The Wicked Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Cinematographer

  • Settlement of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Cinematographer

  • Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Image of Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Cinematographer

  • Three Brides for Three Sons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Cinematographer

  • No Response from Car 33 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Cinematographer

  • A Man Among Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Cinematographer

  • Ghost Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Cinematographer

  • Daikichi Konomura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Cinematographer

  • Jirocho in Disgrace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Cinematographer

  • Farewell Rabaul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Cinematographer

  • The Eagle of the Pacific (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Kisan Detective Story: The Mysterious Doll-Maker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Jirocho's Home-Coming (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Her Captive Gamblers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • The End of the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Sunflower Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Jirocho Begins His Roving Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Jirocho Rises in Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • Swift Current (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • Forbidden Path (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • Okuni and Gohei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • Sekidô matsuri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Cinematographer

  • Wakôdo no uta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Cinematographer

  • The White Orchid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Cinematographer

  • Stray Dog(1949)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 73 titles from 1949 to 2006.

Biggest box office

Son of Godzilla (1967)

$255 worldwide

Highest rated

Samurai Rebellion (1967)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 73: 1 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting1 of 73: 1 only directing, 0 with another roleCinematography70 of 73: 70 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thOther crew1 of 73: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1940s1 · crew1950s38 · crew1960s27 · crew1970s5 · crew2000s2 · 1 acting · 1 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 Yamada's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 92nd percentile, the median of all 9; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

83rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 9 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th1
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

None of their 9 titles divides audiences: 5 are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser1
  • Mixed3

Most loved · cinematographer

Samurai Rebellion (1967)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 71/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 54. 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.

Who does Kazuo Yamada work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kazuo Yamada's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tomoyuki Tanaka shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers