Shôzô Makino

Biography

Called the "father of Japanese film," Shozo Makino was a director during the pioneer days of Japanese film, and was also a producer and business executive. Makino was born in Kyoto on September 22, 1878. His mother ran a theater, and his association with movies began when the motion picture fan, Naganosuke Yokota, asked for his help when filming a drama. Shozo had an eye for talent and discovered Matsunosuke Onoe working in an itinerant kabuki troupe. He enlisted Onoe and made him into Japan's first film star, directing 60 to 80 Matsunosuke films a year. In addition to creating the unique genre of the Japanese period film, he applied trick camera techniques and a myriad of other cinematic methods of expression. In 1919, he started the Mikado Company and began to produce educational films. He founded an independent production company, Makino Film Productions, in 1923, where he continued his work as a director and also displayed his talents as a producer. Makino Film Productions turned out numerous outstanding movies made by excellent directors and actors. In 1928, he directed the epic, Jitsuroku Chushingura (True Record of the Forty-seven Ronin), released on the occasion of his 50th birthday. In 1929, Makino died of heart failure. Makino also directed Raiden in 1928, which was released posthumously.