Photo: Yasu (talk) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Kiyoshi Sasabe is the kind of filmmaker who never chased the spotlight, and that's exactly what makes him worth knowing about. Born in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, he made his way to Meiji University and eventually carved out a quiet but respected career directing human-drama films rooted in ordinary people and regional life — the stories that don't get flashy marketing but somehow stick with you. Winning the Japan Directors Guild New Directors Award in 2004 tells you the industry took him seriously, even if mainstream audiences might not have caught his name. He died in March 2020 at 62, and that's genuinely too soon — you could feel there were more patient, careful films still in him. The world has plenty of directors who shout; Sasabe was one who listened, and we could always use more of those.
Overview
Kiyoshi Sasabe was a Japanese film director and screenwriter born on January 8, 1958, in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture. He studied at Meiji University and went on to build a career in Japanese cinema known for human-interest and regional storytelling. In 2004 he received the Japan Directors Guild New Director Award, recognizing his contribution to the industry. He passed away on March 31, 2020, at the age of 62.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Kiyoshi Sasabe
- Name (Japanese)
- 佐々部清
- Reading
- ささべ きよし
- Born
- January 8, 1958 – March 31, 2020
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Capricorn / Dog (戌)
- Origin
- Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan
- Occupation
- Film Director / Screenwriter
2. Background
- University
- Meiji University
Awards & achievements
- 2004 — Japan Directors Guild New Director Award
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
- Official sitehttp://sasabe-2.net/
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BD%90%E3%80%85%E9%83%A8%E6%B8%85
Frequently asked questions
When was Kiyoshi Sasabe born?
January 8, 1958 – March 31, 2020.
Where is Kiyoshi Sasabe from?
Kiyoshi Sasabe is from Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
What does Kiyoshi Sasabe do?
Kiyoshi Sasabe works as Film Director, Screenwriter.
Film Director — see all → · Screenwriter — see all → · More people from Japan →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
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.