Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Kenji Mizoguchi sits, for me, at the very summit of Japanese cinema. Across roughly a hundred films he developed a gaze of extraordinary tenderness and severity, especially toward women caught in the cruelties of their time, as in The Life of Oharu and Ugetsu. Winning at Venice three years running was no accident; the world recognized something singular in his long, gliding takes that hold us at a distance and somehow make the emotion sharper. What moves me most is how unsentimental his compassion is. Decades after his death, his films feel unaged, which is the truest mark of a master.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Kenji Mizoguchi
- Name (Japanese)
- 溝口健二
- Reading
- 不明
- Born
- May 16, 1898 – August 24, 1956
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Dog
- Origin
- Tokyo, Japan
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- film director / screenwriter / director
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- 1955 Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Director
- 1953 Silver Lion
- 1954 Golden Lion
- 1952 Golden Lion
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Osaka Elegy | — | |
| Notable work | Ugetsu | — | |
| Notable work | The Life of Oharu | — | |
| Notable work | The Crucified Lovers | — | |
| Notable work | Street of Shame | — | |
| Notable work | Sisters of the Gion | — |
6. Links
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%BA%9D%E5%8F%A3%E5%81%A5%E4%BA%8C
Frequently asked questions
When was Kenji Mizoguchi born?
May 16, 1898 – August 24, 1956.
Where is Kenji Mizoguchi from?
Kenji Mizoguchi is from Tokyo, Japan.
What does Kenji Mizoguchi do?
Kenji Mizoguchi works as film director, screenwriter, director.
What is Kenji Mizoguchi known for?
Notable works include Osaka Elegy, Ugetsu, The Life of Oharu.
Film director — see all → · Screenwriter — 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.