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Katsumi Yanagijima

Katsumi Yanagijima

Cinematographer · Born August 13, 1950 (76) · Gifu, Japan

Katsumi Yanagishima (柳島 克巳, Yanagishima Katsumi; born 1950, Gifu Prefecture), also credited as Katsumi Yanagijima, is a Japanese cinematographer. Yanagishima has worked with Takeshi Kitano in many of his films, including A Scene at the Sea, Sonatine, Zatoichi, Kids Return, Kikujiro and Dolls. He won the Japan Academy Prize for best cinematography for Go! in 2002 and for Zatoichi in 2004. Battle Royale and The Grudge 2 are some of his other known films. Description above from the Wikipedia article Katsumi Yanagishima, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 13, 1950 (76)
From
Gifu, Japan
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
28 on MovieCove · 52 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 156 days to Oct 27Down 12% in 30 days

What are Katsumi Yanagijima's films like?

Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Action10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 91st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 17th percentile
: browse their Horror 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
Self
28%
Bonds
23%
Morality
19%
Survival
13%
Power
9%
Society
6%
Ideas
3%
Purpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence4 titles, browse their movies with this themePower3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 25 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 7 · Serious 8 · Dark 10

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

Grounded 5 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 5

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 10 · Intense 10

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 6

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 5

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 14 · 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 7 · Engaged 16 · 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 9 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 13 · Ambiguous 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Melancholic
9
Joyful
7
Warm
8
Contemplative
6
Other
25

How their films linger

Bittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous4
  • Cyclical1

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 Katsumi Yanagijima's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 28 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Katsumi Yanagijima'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

52 credits, 28 with a MovieCove page.

  • Haha no Matsu Sato (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 4 episodes · Camera Technician

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

    Cinematographer

  • Let's Go Karaoke!(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Three Sisters of Tenmasou Inn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Cinematographer

  • Tokyo Vice(2022)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Watch Sumo Do, Sumo Don't(2022)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Ito (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Cinematographer

  • Caution, Hazardous Wife: The Movie(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Maki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Cinematographer

  • Eating Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Cinematographer

  • Tokyo Capsule (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Cinematographer

  • Outrage Coda(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Black Widow Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Cinematographer

  • Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Buy Bling, Get One Free (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Cinematographer

  • Midsummer's Equation(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Like Someone in Love(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Dreams for Sale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Cinematographer

  • Beyond Outrage(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Robo-G(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Girls' Compass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Cinematographer

  • Outrage(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Osamu Dazai Short Story Collection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

  • Kaiji: The Ultimate Gambler(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Dear Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Cinematographer

  • Achilles and the Tortoise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Cinematographer

  • God's Puzzle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Cinematographer

  • Shutter(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Glory to the Filmmaker! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Cinematographer

  • The Grudge 2(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Sea Without Exit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Cinematographer

  • Takeshis'(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Blood Gets in Your Eyes(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Samurai Resurrection(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Dolls(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Go(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Run Ichiro Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Cinematographer

  • Battle Royale(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Brother(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Kikujiro(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Suicide Bus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Cinematographer

  • 18-Year-old Call Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Still Photographer

  • Kids Return(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Getting Any?(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Sonatine(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

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

    Cinematographer

  • A Scene at the Sea(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Kinpira (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • Boiling Point(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Roppongi Banana Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Mottomo Abunai Deka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Camera Operator

Career shape

A full career of 51 titles from 1989 to 2024.

Biggest box office

The Grudge 2 (2006)

$71M worldwide

Highest rated

Kikujiro (1999)

Midcredits 95th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography48 of 51: 48 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score76thOther crew3 of 51: 3 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1980s2 · crew1990s10 · crew2000s18 · crew2010s14 · crew2020s7 · 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 Katsumi Yanagijima's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 75th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 25 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 78th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Approval · how many liked their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Reach · how many have seen their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Midcredits score across 28 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 28 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · cinematographer

Ryuzo and the Seven Henchmen (2015)

82nd percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Kikujiro (1999)

Midcredits 95th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 73/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 56. 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 Katsumi Yanagijima's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles73–88 · median 87 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles26–61 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 46 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 77 · 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 Katsumi Yanagijima work with?

People who share at least 2 of Katsumi Yanagijima's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Takeshi Kitano shares the most, 14.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers