Home>News Center>Life
         
 

Famed Japanese film director Yoshitaro Nomura dies
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-09 16:34

Yoshitaro Nomura, famed Japanese director of suspense thrillers such as "Castle of Sand", has died of pneumonia at a Tokyo hospital. He was 85.

He had been in hospital since March 22 and passed away on Friday, news reports said.

Undated file picture made available 09 April 2005, shows Yoshitaro Nomura famed director of suspense thrillers such as 'Castle of Sand'. Nomura, 85, died of pneumonia at a Tokyo hospital 08 April 2005. AFP PHOTO/JIJI PRESS(AFP/STR
Undated file picture made available 09 April 2005, shows Yoshitaro Nomura, famed director of suspense thrillers such as 'Castle of Sand'. Nomura, 85, died of pneumonia at a Tokyo hospital 08 April 2005. [AFP/file]
Nomura, born to a film director, served in World War II and entered the cinema world in 1946, becoming an assistant director working under late Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa and others.

He made his debut as director in 1952 with "Pigeon". His 1974 suspense thriller "Castle of Sand" was widely praised and won the special prize from juries at the Moscow International Film festival the following year.

Nomura was prolific, shooting 88 films also including blockbusters "Village Of Eight Gravestones" (1977) amd "The Demon" (1978).

His disciples included Yoji Yamada, who directed the long-running "Tora-san" movie series that starred late Japanese comedian Kiyoshi Atsumi as a bumbling hawker.

"I deeply feel the death of this man (Nomura) marked an end to the great era of the Japanese films," Yamada was quoted saying in Japanese media.



Has the deceased Pope been embalmed?
Cameron Diaz takes a tumble
Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton boozing again
  Today's Top News     Top Life News
 

US, China to hold regular senior-level talks

 

   
 

Sri Lanka visit to upgrade partnership

 

   
 

Britain admits Iraq intelligence was wrong

 

   
 

People stage anti-Japanese rally in Beijing

 

   
 

Lien Chan expected to visit mainland in May

 

   
 

Nation steels itself against further price hikes

 

   
  Charles, Camilla finally tie knot after 35 years
   
  Man says Jackson improperly touched Culkin
   
  High carb diets may raise breast cancer risk
   
  Abortion trial in Portugal suspended
   
  Beijing women most confident about bodies: survey
   
  Gay US soldier wants to serve openly
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Feature  
  1/3 Chinese youth condone premarital sex  
Advertisement