Photo: Karta24 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Seijun Suzuki

Seijun Suzuki was born May 24, 1923 and died February 13, 2017 (aged 93). From Tokyo Prefecture, Nihonbashi, Japan. Film Director / Television Director / Actor.

Avant-garde Japanese film director known for his bold, stylized cinema

Born in Tokyo Prefecture
Film Director
Television Director
Actor

My Take

I love that Seijun Suzuki basically dared cinema to stop making sense, and somehow made that feel like freedom rather than chaos. Born in old Tokyo back in 1923, he came up grinding out studio pictures and then started smuggling in these jolts of color, abstraction, and gleeful nonsense that left logic in the dust. When I first caught his work, the way he'd toss out continuity just to chase a single gorgeous image honestly knocked me sideways. He directed, wrote, even acted, and clearly had a brain that refused to sit still. There's a stubborn, playful "I'll shoot what I want" energy I find irresistible, and the fact that Japan eventually pinned a Medal of Honor on its own troublemaker makes me grin. He's gone now, but those one-of-a-kind frames still glow. The guy did beautiful, weird, lasting work.

This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.

Overview

Seijun Suzuki (1923–2017) was a Japanese film director, television director, actor, author, and screenwriter born in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. Known for his unconventional visual style and genre-defying approach, he left a distinctive mark on Japanese cinema over several decades. He received the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Director in 1981 and was honored with the Medal with Purple Ribbon (Shiju-hosho) in 1990. His film Zigeunerweisen (Tsugoineru Waizen) stands as one of his most celebrated works.

1. Profile

Name (English): Seijun Suzuki
Name (Japanese): 鈴木清順
Reading: すずきせいじゅん
Born: May 24, 1923 – February 13, 2017
Origin: Tokyo Prefecture, Nihonbashi, Japan
Occupation: Film Director / Television Director / Actor / Author / Screenwriter
Zodiac / Chinese zodiac: Gemini / Boar
Active years: 1956 - 2017

2. Background

High school: Hirosaki High School (pre-war system)

Awards & achievements

1981: Blue Ribbon Award for Best Director
1990: Medal with Purple Ribbon (Shiju-hosho)

3. Works & records

Works summary

Appearances: 119 (1956–2017)
By year (titles with a known year): 1956: 3, 1957: 3, 1958: 4, 1959: 3, 1960: 5, 1961: 6, 1962: 2, 1963: 4, 1964: 3, 1965: 3, 1966: 3, 1967: 1, 1968: 1, 1969: 1, 1973: 1, 1975: 1, 1977: 3, 1978: 1, 1979: 1, 1980: 4, 1981: 3, 1982: 1, 1983: 5, 1984: 1, 1985: 3, 1986: 3, 1988: 4, 1989: 1, 1990: 2, 1991: 3, 1992: 2, 1993: 3, 1994: 2, 1995: 3, 1996: 6, 1997: 2, 1998: 2, 1999: 3, 2000: 1, 2001: 1, 2003: 1, 2005: 2, 2006: 1, 2007: 1, 2012: 1, 2015: 1, 2017: 1, year unknown: 7
Debut work: 港の乾杯勝利をわが手に / en / Victory Is Mine

Filmography / notable works

Category	Title
Notable Work	Zigeunerweisen

4. Links

Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%88%B4%E6%9C%A8%E6%B8%85%E9%A0%86
Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2296663

5. About this entry

Frequently asked questions

When was Seijun Suzuki born?

Seijun Suzuki was born on May 24, 1923.

When did Seijun Suzuki die?

Seijun Suzuki died on February 13, 2017, aged 93.

Where was Seijun Suzuki from?

Seijun Suzuki was from Tokyo Prefecture, Nihonbashi, Japan.

What did Seijun Suzuki do?

Seijun Suzuki worked as Film Director, Television Director, Actor, Author, Screenwriter.

Which high school did Seijun Suzuki attend?

Seijun Suzuki attended Hirosaki High School.

When was Seijun Suzuki active?

Seijun Suzuki was active from 1956 to 2017.

What was Seijun Suzuki known for?

Seijun Suzuki's notable works include Zigeunerweisen.

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