Photo: Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Takashi Yamazaki is listed as a film director, special effects artist and screenwriter. Takashi Yamazaki was born in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan on June 12, 1964. The age as of 2026 is 62. Awards on record include Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year (2006), Japan Academy Prize for Screenplay of the Year (2006), Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year (2006) and 3 more. Notable works include Returner, Always Sanchōme no Yūhi and Always Zoku Sanchōme no Yūhi.
My Take
Yamazaki is one of the most interesting filmmakers working today because he refuses to let his technical mastery upstage his storytelling. He came up through visual effects, yet his best films, the Always Sanchome no Yuhi series and Stand by Me Doraemon, hit hardest on pure sentiment. Winning the 2024 Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for Godzilla Minus One confirmed what fans long knew: he can deliver spectacle on a fraction of a Hollywood budget. What I admire most is that his effects always serve human emotion. That rare blend of craftsman and storyteller makes him genuinely world-class.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Takashi Yamazaki
- Name (Japanese)
- 山崎貴
- Reading
- やまざき たかし
- Born
- June 12, 1964 (age 62)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Dragon
- Origin
- Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
- Occupation
- film director / special effects artist / screenwriter
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 2006 Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year
- 2006 Japan Academy Prize for Screenplay of the Year
- 2006 Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year
- 2014 Nikkan Sports Film Award for Best Director
- 2024 Academy Award for Best Visual Effects
- Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Returner | — | |
| Notable work | Always Sanchōme no Yūhi | — | |
| Notable work | Always Zoku Sanchōme no Yūhi | — | |
| Notable work | Friends: Mononoke Shima no Naki | — | |
| Notable work | Stand by Me Doraemon | — | |
| Notable work | Stand by Me Doraemon 2 | — |
4. Links
- Xhttps://x.com/nostoro
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takashi%20Yamazaki
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B1%B1%E5%B4%8E%E8%B2%B4
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1052320
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 Takashi Yamazaki born?
Born June 12, 1964 (age 62).
Where is Takashi Yamazaki from?
Takashi Yamazaki is from Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
What does Takashi Yamazaki do?
Takashi Yamazaki works as film director, special effects artist, screenwriter.
What is Takashi Yamazaki known for?
Notable works include Returner, Always Sanchōme no Yūhi, Always Zoku Sanchōme no Yūhi.