Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Kenji Mizoguchi was credited as a film director and screenwriter. Kenji Mizoguchi was born in Tokyo, Japan on May 16, 1898. Death is recorded on August 24, 1956, at the age of 58. Awards on record include Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Director (1955), Silver Lion (1953) and Golden Lion (1952, 1954). Notable works include Osaka Elegy, Ugetsu and The Life of Oharu.
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
- みぞぐち けんじ
- Born
- May 16, 1898 – August 24, 1956
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Dog
- Origin
- Tokyo, Japan
- Occupation
- film director / screenwriter / director
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 1955 Blue Ribbon Awards for Best Director
- 1953 Silver Lion
- 1954 Golden Lion
- 1952 Golden Lion
3. 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 | — |
4. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenji%20Mizoguchi
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%BA%9D%E5%8F%A3%E5%81%A5%E4%BA%8C
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55401
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Kenji Mizoguchi born?
Born May 16, 1898.
When did Kenji Mizoguchi die?
Died August 24, 1956, aged 58.
Where was Kenji Mizoguchi from?
Kenji Mizoguchi was from Tokyo, Japan.
What did Kenji Mizoguchi do?
Kenji Mizoguchi worked as film director, screenwriter, director.
What was 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 →