Wednesday, February 13, 2008

RIP: 市川 崑 (Ichikawa Kon) ~ 1915-2008


We're starting to run out of legendary Japanese directors...

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

shame, isn't it?

someone, get me the chance to shake shinoda's hand.

Nicholas Rucka said...

Definitely. And while he wasn't my favorite 'legendary' Japanese filmmaker, the sure volume of his output guaranteed that there were a few films I enjoyed enough.

Still, I agree with Jason Gray's assessment that Japanese filmmakers appear to be adverse to retiring; instead choosing to produce new works until keeling over from old age. I hope I can go that way.
(•_• )~!!

As for Shinoda Masahiro, I actually did shake his hand once: at the NYC Japan Society screening of FUKURO NO SHIRO (aka. Owl's Castle). Not the best Shinoda film, but it was nice meeting him. Alas, this was just before I started writing about Japanese film and so I missed a great opportunity to interview him. Ah well...

Anonymous said...

...it could end up like watching the opening credits to age-old sitcom (i use the phrase lightly) 'dads army' in asking to perhaps name those that have passed in recent years (ishii teruo, imamura shohei...) and name who's still alive and kicking.

Nicholas Rucka said...

You're right. I'm worried that any day now we're going to hear that Suzuki Seijun has passed. And you know what sucks is that when I was last in Tokyo I was out with my wife and some of her friends for a nice lunch and at this restaurant, I could've sworn Seijun Suzuki was eating there with his special care person (or son?).

I don't know why I didn't go up to him but I guess I didn't want to disturb an old man eating his lunch peacefully. Anyway, he looked frail... if indeed it was him.