Photo: Gorup de Besanez / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Juzo Itami is, to me, proof that a late start can be the most explosive. Already accomplished as an actor, essayist and designer, he didn't direct until his fifties, then unleashed The Funeral, A Taxing Woman and Minbo, films that aimed their satire straight at taxes, funerals and organized crime, subjects most filmmakers avoid. He turned society's sore spots into sharp, funny, fearless entertainment, and the wit of his essays runs right through them. He died in 1997, but the award bearing his name still champions new talent. I regard him as a genuine treasure of Japanese cinema.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Jūzō Itami
- Name (Japanese)
- 伊丹十三
- Reading
- 不明
- Born
- May 15, 1933 – December 20, 1997
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Rooster
- Origin
- Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- 180 cm
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- actor / film director / essayist / graphic designer / illustrator
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- 1988 Mainichi Film Award for Best Screenplay
- 1985 Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Director
- Mainichi Film Award for Best Director
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | The Funeral | — | |
| Notable work | A Taxing Woman | — | |
| Notable work | Minbo | — | |
| Notable work | Supermarket Woman | — | |
| Notable work | Woman in Witness Protection | — |
6. Links
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BC%8A%E4%B8%B9%E5%8D%81%E4%B8%89
Frequently asked questions
When was Jūzō Itami born?
May 15, 1933 – December 20, 1997.
Where is Jūzō Itami from?
Jūzō Itami is from Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.
What does Jūzō Itami do?
Jūzō Itami works as actor, film director, essayist, graphic designer, illustrator.
How tall is Jūzō Itami?
Jūzō Itami is 180 cm.
What is Jūzō Itami known for?
Notable works include The Funeral, A Taxing Woman, Minbo.
Actor — see all → · Film director — see all → · More people from Japan →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.