Yoji Yamada (山田 洋次 Yamada Yōji, born September 13, 1931 in Toyonaka City, Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese film director best known for his Otoko wa Tsurai yo series of films. He was born in Osaka. But because of the work of his father, who was an engineer for the South Manchuria Railway, from the age of 2 he was brought up in Manchuria. Following the end of World War II, he came back to Japan and subsequently he lived in Ube in Yamaguchi Prefecture. After receiving his degree from Tokyo University in 1954, he entered Shochiku and worked under Yoshitaro Nomura as a scriptwriter or as an assistant director. He has won many awards throughout his lengthy career and is well respected in Japan and by critics throughout the world. He wrote his first screenplay in 1958, and directed his first movie in 1961. Yamada continues to make movies to this day. He once served as president of the Directors Guild of Japan, and is currently a guest professor of Ritsumeikan University.
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Biography from TMDB.
- September 13, 1931 (95)
- Osaka, Japan
- Writer and director
- 14 on MovieCove · 163 credits in all
What are Yōji Yamada's films like?
Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.
Genres
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
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 13
Light 4 · Serious 6 · Dark 3
Grounded 12 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0
Gentle 3 · Charged 9 · Intense 1
Steady 13 · Shifting 0 · Whiplash 0
A split, not a type: Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 2
Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 0
Casual 6 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 1
Easy watch 3 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 5
Resolved 11 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0
Moods and endings
- Happy3
- Bittersweet8
- 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 Yōji Yamada's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 2 of their 14 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.
Subscription and free streaming for Yōji 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
163 credits, 14 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
Tokyo Taxi(2025)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Home Sweet Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)
55th anniversary performance of Tora-San: Rakugo, Talk and Tora Jiro Returns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)
Mom, Is That You?! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)
The Call of a Faraway Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)
It's a Flickering Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)
戦争童画集 ～75年目のショートストーリー～ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)
Tora-san, Welcome Back!(2019)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Shounen Torajirou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)
A Distant Cry from Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)
Older Brother, Younger Sister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)
What a Wonderful Family! 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)
What a Wonderful Family(2017)
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
Ken San (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
What a Wonderful Family!(2016)
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
Nagasaki: Memories of My Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
The Little House(2014)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
Tokyo Family(2013)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
The Yellow Handkerchief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)
Kyoto Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
About Her Brother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
Shinema Kabuki: Renjishi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
Free and Easy 20: Final (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)
The Yellow Handkerchief(2008)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
Kabei: Our Mother(2008)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
Love and Honor(2006)
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
Sea Without Exit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)
Free and Easy 17 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)
Free and Easy 16 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
The Hidden Blade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)
Free and Easy 14 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
The Twilight Samurai(2002)
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
Free and Easy 13 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)
Free and Easy 12: Big Holiday Bonus Project (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)
Free and Easy: Samurai Edition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
A Class to Remember III: The New Voyage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
Free and Easy 10 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
Otoko wa Tsurai yo: Torajirou Wasurenagusa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
The Rainbow Seeker 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Shin Salaryman Senka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Tora-san's Tropical Fever Special Version (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Salaryman Senka: Tanshin Funin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
The Rainbow Seeker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
A Class to Remember II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Free and Easy 8 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Salaryman Senka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Tora-san to the Rescue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Toki no kagayaki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Free and Easy 7 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
Tora-san's Easy Advice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
Free and Easy Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
Free and Easy 6 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
Tora-san's Matchmaker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
A Class to Remember (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
Free and Easy 5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
Tora-san Makes Excuses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
Free and Easy 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
Tora-san Confesses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
My Sons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
Tora-san Takes a Vacation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Tora-san, My Uncle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Tsuribaka nisshi 2(1989)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Days with Harasu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Tora-san Goes to Vienna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Free and Easy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Tora-san's Salad-Day Memorial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Downtown Heroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Lady Camellia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Tora-san Plays Daddy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
Tora-san Goes North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
Tora-san's Bluebird Fantasy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
Final Take: The Golden Age of Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
Tora-san's Island Encounter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
Tora-san, the Go-Between (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
Marriage Counselor Tora-san (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)
Tora-san Goes Religious? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
Itoshi no Lahaina (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
Tora-san's Song of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)
Tora-san, the Expert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)
Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)
Tora-san's Promise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)
Xiongmao Monogatari TaoTao (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)
Tora-san's Love in Osaka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)
Fuusen no Doratarou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)
Foster Daddy, Tora! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
Tora-san's Tropical Fever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
A Distant Cry from Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
Tora-san's Dream of Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Tora-san, the Matchmaker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Our Symphony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Ore wa Ueno no puresurī (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Talk of the Town Tora-san (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Ore wa inaka no puresurī (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Stage-Struck Tora-san (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Tora-san Plays Cupid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)
The Yellow Handkerchief(1977)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
Tora-san Meets His Lordship (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)
Tora-san's Pure Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Oretachi no toki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Two Iida (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Tora-san's Sunrise and Sunset (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)
Tora-san, the Intellectual (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
The Village (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
Tora-san Meets the Songstress Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)
Tora-san's Lullaby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)
The Castle of Sand(1974)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
Tora-san's Lovesick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)
Center of Tokyo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)
Tora-san Loves an Artist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
Tora-san's Forget Me Not (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)
Tora-san's Dream-Come-True (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)
Home from the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)
Tora-san's Dear Old Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)
Tora-san's Love Call (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
Follow the Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
Tora-san, the Good Samaritan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
Tora-san's Shattered Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
Where Spring Comes Late (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)
Tora-san's Runaway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)
Tora-san's Grand Scheme (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)
Tora-san, His Tender Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)
Tora-san's Cherished Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Women Can't Be Beaten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Tora-san, Our Lovable Tramp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Vagabond Schemer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
It's Tough Being a Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
It's Tough Being a Man (Television Drama DVD Edit Edition) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
The Shy Deceiver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
I, the Executioner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
The Million Dollar Pursuit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)
Onna no issho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
The Greatest Challenge of All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
Song of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
Let's Have A Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)
The Lovable Tramp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
Ohana han: Dai ni bu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
Ohana han (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
Warm Current (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
Gamblers' Luck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)
A Trap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)
The Donkey Comes on a Tank (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
The Irresponsible Fool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
The Honest Fool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
To Your Majesty, The Emperor 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
At the Side of the Bridge 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
The Sunshine Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
At the Side of the Bridge 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)
At the Side of the Bridge 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
At the Side of the Bridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Kyū-chan ondo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Kanbi no ware koso wa ittō shain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
The Strangers Upstairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
Koi no gashū (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
Zero Focus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)
One-Way Ticket to Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
Yellow Cherries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
Akatsuki no chiheisen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)
The Girl Who Creates Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)
Modan dôchû: Sono koi matta nashi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)
Monthly Salary: 13,000 Yen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)
Hachi no ko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)
Career shape
A full career of 163 titles from 1957 to 2025.
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 Yōji Yamada's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 84th percentile, the median of all 14; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 83rd percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up8
- 50th to 74th6
Shape of the crowd
11 of their 14 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved1
- Crowd Pleaser11
- Broadly Agreed1
- Mixed1
Reviewers score the dialogue 62/100 and the plot and story 63/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.
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 Yōji Yamada work with?
People who share at least 2 of Yōji Yamada's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Iwao Ishii shares the most, 10.
Writers
- Emiko HiramatsuShared titles: What a Wonderful Family (2017), What a Wonderful Family! (2016), The Little House (2014), Tokyo Family (2013), Kabei: Our Mother (2008), Love and Honor (2006)See all 6 shared titles with Emiko Hiramatsu
- Yoshitaka AsamaShared titles: The Twilight Samurai (2002), Tora-san's Forbidden Love (1984), The Yellow Handkerchief (1977)See all 3 shared titles with Yoshitaka Asama
- Yûzô AsaharaShared titles: Tokyo Taxi (2025), Tora-san, Welcome Back! (2019)See all 2 shared titles with Yûzô Asahara
- Shûhei FujisawaShared titles: Love and Honor (2006), The Twilight Samurai (2002)See all 2 shared titles with Shûhei Fujisawa
Actors
- Chieko BaishōShared titles: Tokyo Taxi (2025), Tora-san, Welcome Back! (2019), The Little House (2014), Kabei: Our Mother (2008), Tora-san's Forbidden Love (1984), The Yellow Handkerchief (1977)See all 6 shared titles with Chieko Baishō
- Nenji KobayashiShared titles: Tora-san, Welcome Back! (2019), What a Wonderful Family (2017), What a Wonderful Family! (2016), Tokyo Family (2013), Love and Honor (2006), The Twilight Samurai (2002)See all 6 shared titles with Nenji Kobayashi
- Isao HashizumeShared titles: Tora-san, Welcome Back! (2019), What a Wonderful Family (2017), What a Wonderful Family! (2016), The Little House (2014), Tokyo Family (2013)See all 5 shared titles with Isao Hashizume
- Kazuko YoshiyukiShared titles: What a Wonderful Family (2017), What a Wonderful Family! (2016), The Little House (2014), Tokyo Family (2013)See all 4 shared titles with Kazuko Yoshiyuki
Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Iwao IshiiShared titles: Tora-san, Welcome Back! (2019), What a Wonderful Family (2017), What a Wonderful Family! (2016), The Little House (2014), Tokyo Family (2013), Kabei: Our Mother (2008), Love and Honor (2006), The Twilight Samurai (2002), Tora-san's Forbidden Love (1984), The Yellow Handkerchief (1977)See all 10 shared titles with Iwao Ishii
- Joe HisaishiShared titles: What a Wonderful Family (2017), What a Wonderful Family! (2016), The Little House (2014), Tokyo Family (2013), Tsuribaka nisshi 2 (1989)See all 5 shared titles with Joe Hisaishi
- Masashi ChikamoriShared titles: Tora-san, Welcome Back! (2019), What a Wonderful Family (2017), What a Wonderful Family! (2016), The Little House (2014)See all 4 shared titles with Masashi Chikamori
- Isao TomitaShared titles: Kabei: Our Mother (2008), Love and Honor (2006), The Twilight Samurai (2002)See all 3 shared titles with Isao Tomita
Producers
- Hiroshi FukazawaShared titles: What a Wonderful Family (2017), What a Wonderful Family! (2016), The Little House (2014), Tokyo Family (2013), Kabei: Our Mother (2008), Love and Honor (2006), The Twilight Samurai (2002)See all 7 shared titles with Hiroshi Fukazawa
- Jun'ichi SakomotoShared titles: What a Wonderful Family! (2016), The Little House (2014), Love and Honor (2006)See all 3 shared titles with Jun'ichi Sakomoto
- Hitoshi IwataShared titles: The Little House (2014), Tokyo Family (2013)See all 2 shared titles with Hitoshi Iwata
- Tomohiko SaitôShared titles: The Little House (2014), Tokyo Family (2013)See all 2 shared titles with Tomohiko Saitô