Tatsumi Kumashiro (神代 辰巳, Kumashiro Tatsumi) was a Japanese
film director known for his critically acclaimed, award-winning Roman
Porno films, such as Ichijo's Wet Lust (1972) and The Woman with Red
Hair (1979). He was the most highly acclaimed director of the early
Nikkatsu Roman Porno era, with many box-office successes, and films
regularly appearing on the yearly Best Ten lists of the mainstream
Kinema Junpo and Eiga Geijutsu film journals. Kumashiro has been
called, "the most consistently successful director in Japan's
cinematic history," and Allmovie calls him, "arguably the most
important Japanese director to emerge during the 1970s."Tatsumi
Kumashiro was born on April 24, 1927 in Saga, on KyÅ«shÅ«â€"the
southernmost of Japan's four main islands. His father was a
pharmaceuticals merchant and judo master descended from the samurai
class. A strict disciplinarian, Kumashiro's father believed in the
warrior philosophy of Yamamoto Tsunetomo as written in Hagakure and
supported Japan's military exploits of the 1930s and 1940s. Early in
life Kumashiro rebelled against this upbringing by immersing himself
in film and Western literature. During World War II, Kumashiro entered
medical school as a means of avoiding the draft, but dropped out as
soon as the war ended in Japan's defeat. He studied English literature
at Waseda University, but, deciding he could not make a living writing
novels, entered Shochiku studio as an assistant director in 1952, and
moved to Nikkatsu in 1955.Kumashiro worked as an assistant director
and screenwriter until he was finally given a chance to direct in
1968. His debut film, Front Row Life, told the story of a stripper and
her daughter who wished to join her mother's profession. The star of
the movie, Hatsue Tonooka, became Kumashiro's wife later in the year,
though the marriage ended in divorce within a few months. Front Row
Life anticipated Kumashiro's later career in its focus on striptease
performers. The film was a critical success, but because it failed at
the box-office Nikkatsu put Kumashiro's directing career on hold
again.In 1971, facing bankruptcy due to a loss of their audience to
television, Nikkatsu decided to devote its facilities almost
exclusively to theatrical soft-core pornography. Several directors,
not wishing to work in pornography, left the studio, opening up vacant
positions.
film director known for his critically acclaimed, award-winning Roman
Porno films, such as Ichijo's Wet Lust (1972) and The Woman with Red
Hair (1979). He was the most highly acclaimed director of the early
Nikkatsu Roman Porno era, with many box-office successes, and films
regularly appearing on the yearly Best Ten lists of the mainstream
Kinema Junpo and Eiga Geijutsu film journals. Kumashiro has been
called, "the most consistently successful director in Japan's
cinematic history," and Allmovie calls him, "arguably the most
important Japanese director to emerge during the 1970s."Tatsumi
Kumashiro was born on April 24, 1927 in Saga, on KyÅ«shÅ«â€"the
southernmost of Japan's four main islands. His father was a
pharmaceuticals merchant and judo master descended from the samurai
class. A strict disciplinarian, Kumashiro's father believed in the
warrior philosophy of Yamamoto Tsunetomo as written in Hagakure and
supported Japan's military exploits of the 1930s and 1940s. Early in
life Kumashiro rebelled against this upbringing by immersing himself
in film and Western literature. During World War II, Kumashiro entered
medical school as a means of avoiding the draft, but dropped out as
soon as the war ended in Japan's defeat. He studied English literature
at Waseda University, but, deciding he could not make a living writing
novels, entered Shochiku studio as an assistant director in 1952, and
moved to Nikkatsu in 1955.Kumashiro worked as an assistant director
and screenwriter until he was finally given a chance to direct in
1968. His debut film, Front Row Life, told the story of a stripper and
her daughter who wished to join her mother's profession. The star of
the movie, Hatsue Tonooka, became Kumashiro's wife later in the year,
though the marriage ended in divorce within a few months. Front Row
Life anticipated Kumashiro's later career in its focus on striptease
performers. The film was a critical success, but because it failed at
the box-office Nikkatsu put Kumashiro's directing career on hold
again.In 1971, facing bankruptcy due to a loss of their audience to
television, Nikkatsu decided to devote its facilities almost
exclusively to theatrical soft-core pornography. Several directors,
not wishing to work in pornography, left the studio, opening up vacant
positions.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.