Film director Seijun Suzuki was born on May 24, 1923, in Tokyo.
He was drafted into military service during World War II at age 20 and returned to school after the war. After graduation, he joined Shochiku's Ofuna Studio. He transferred to Nikkatsu in 1956 and made his directorial debut with "Victory in My Hands: A Toast at the Port." He subsequently gained a cult following for his distinctive style in films such as "The Naked Age," "Gate of Flesh," and "Fighting Elegance."
In 1967, he released the film "Branded to Kill," but the then-president criticized it as too difficult to understand, leading to his dismissal from Nikkatsu. Fans and film industry insiders formed a protest group called the "Suzuki Seijun Issue Joint Struggle Council" and staged demonstrations, creating a major uproar that engulfed the entire film industry. As a result, Suzuki was forced to take a 10-year hiatus from directing. He returned to film directing in 1977 with "Hishuu Monogatari." His "Zigeunerweisen," released in 1980, won numerous awards, including the Special Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. This work, along with "Kagerouza" (1981) and "Yumeji" (1991), was highly acclaimed as part of the Taisho Roman trilogy. In 2005, he released "Operetta Tanuki Goten," which was selected for the Special Invitation at the Cannes Film Festival. He is also active as an actor, appearing in numerous works, including the TV drama "The Mu Clan" and the films "Hippocrates and the Nightless City." In recognition of these achievements, he received the Minister of Education's Art Encouragement Prize in 1981 and the Order of the Rising Sun, Fourth Class, in 2001.