Hiroshi Shimizu

• Name — Hiroshi Shimizu • Born — 28 March 1903 • Birthplace — Yamaka, Shizuoka, Japan • Died — 23 June 1966 • Place of death — Kyoto, Japan • Other Names — Takahiko Minamoto, Umihiko Yuhara • Occupation — film director, screenwriter, editor • Years Active — 1924–1959

Shimizu was born in Shizuoka Prefecture and attended Hokkaidō University, but left before graduating. He joined the Shochiku film studio in Tokyo in 1921, making his directorial debut in 1924 at the age of just 21.

Shimizu specialised in melodramas and comedies. In his most distinguished silent films like Fue no Shiratama (1929) and Japanese Girls at the Harbor (1933), he explored a Japan poised between native and Western ideas, traditionalism and liberalism, while stylistically relying on modernist and avant-garde techniques. The majority of his silent films are now considered lost. In the 1930s, Shimizu increasingly took advantage of shooting on location and with non-professional actors, and was praised at the time by film critics such as Matsuo Kishi and fellow directors as Kenji Mizoguchi. Mr. Thank You (1936), The Masseurs and a Woman (1938) and Ornamental Hairpin (1941) portrayed small groups and communities of travelers or spa residents which, as film historian Alexander Jacoby points out, "concentrated more on the delineation of character than on plot". For critic Chris Fujiwara, this "unpredictability and plotlessness", in combination with the extensive use of a mobile camera, gives Shimizu's films of this era a "strikingly modern quality". Shimizu also explored themes of maternal self-sacrifice and fallen female roles, common themes in Japanese cinema at the time. In films like Forget Love for Now (1937) and Notes of an Itinerant Performer (1941), his heroine was accepting the burden of supporting a male dependent or relative to afford him the opportunity to go to school or become successful in life. Forget Love for Now in particular was "critical of the double standard which expects women to sacrifice everything for the sake of their male dependents, while indulging in moralistic condemnation of the methods they are required to adopt to do so" (Jacoby). Shimizu's reputation as a director has often been associated with films about children, especially Children in the Wind (1937) and Four Seasons of Childhood (1939). His experiences with child orphans after World War II led to the film Children of the Beehive (1948), independently produced by the director himself, which Jacoby calls a "masterpiece of neo-realism". Shimizu's films featured children who do not love or are unloved by their parents, children that are rejected by their peers or become social outcasts, or ones that suffer from illness and disability. While the premise of the stories differed, a common theme often persisted: Shimizu utilised individuals who are excluded from a group as a social commentary and criticism of society through the group themselves. Films like Children in the Wind and Ornamental Hairpin have also, in retrospect, been interpreted as Shimizu's attempts to escape the realities of wartime Japan (one critic even attacked Ornamental Hairpin for wasting valuable film stock). The pressure put on Shimizu by the authorities to contribute to the war effort resulted in films like Introspection Tower (also titled The Inspection Tower, 1941) and Sayon's Bell (1943). After the war, having left Shochiku, Shimizu directed films for his own production company and the Shintoho and Daiei studios. Notable works of this era, in addition to Children of the Beehive, are Children of the Great Buddha (1952) and The Shiinomi School (1955). Shimizu lived with actress Kinuyo Tanaka from 1927 to 1929 after she appeared in a number of his films. They separated in 1929, although she starred in some of his later films. Shimizu died of a heart attack on 23 June 1966 at the age of 63, seven years after directing his last film.

• Filmography of Hiroshi Shimizu • Year — English Title — Japanese Title — Rōmaji Title • 1920s • 1924 — Beyond the Pass — 峠の彼方 — Tōge no kanata • The Love of a Mountain Man — 山男の恋 — Yamaotoko no koi • Theater Before Love — 恋より舞台 — Koi yori butai e • Song of the White Chrysanthemum — 白菊の歌 — Shiragiku no uta • Love-Crazed Blade — 恋に狂ふ刃 — Koi ni kuruu yaiba • The Village Pasture — 村の牧場 — Mura no bokujo • 1925 — The Little Traveling Player — 小さき旅芸人 — Chiisaki tabi geinin • Bonfire Night — 篝火の夜 — Kagaribi no yoru • The Pink Thorn — 桃色の棘 — Momoiro no toge • Roar of the Torrent — 激流の叫び — Gekiryū no sakebi • Blade of a Righteous Man — 義人の刃 — Gijin no yaiba • The Outdated Man — すたれ者 — Sutaremono • The Killing of a Hundred Men at Isshinji Temple — 一心寺の百人斬 — Isshin-ji no hyakuningiri • Sharpness of the Blade — 虎徹の斬れ味 — Kotetsu no kireaji • The Fleeing Warrior — 落武者 — Ochimusha • Snare of Love — 恋の捕縄 — Koi no honawa • 1926 — Lovelorn Times — 悩ましき頃 — Nayamashiki koro • The Beauty and the Ronin — 美人と浪人 — Bijin to rōnin • Song of a Double Suicide in Satsuma — 心中薩摩歌 — Shinjū Satsuma uta • Crimson Passion — 真紅の情熱 — Shinku no jōnetsu • Kyoko and Shizuko — 京子と倭文子 — Kyōko to Shizuko • The Betrayed Man — 裏切られ者 — Uragiraremono • The Amorous Blade — 妖刀 — Yōtō • Feelings in Turmoil — 狂怒乱心 — Kyōdoranshin • Roses of Grief — 嘆きの薔薇 — Nageki no bara • 1927 — Three Daughters — 三人の娘 — Sannin no musume • Oteru and Oyuki — お照とお雪 — Oteru to Oyuki • He and the Widow — 彼と未亡人 — Kare to mibōjin • Love-Crazed Madonna — 狂恋のマリア — Kyōren no Maria • Spring Rain — 春の雨 — Haru no ame • Idol of Love — 恋慕夜叉 — Renbo yasha • Love is Tricky — 恋は曲者 — Koi wa kusemono • Flaming Sky — 炎の空 — Honoo no sora • Tears of Life — 人生の涙 — Jinsei no namida • Victory over the Depression — 不景気征伐 — Fukeiki seibatsu • Shortcut to Success — 出世の近道 — Shusse no chikamichi • A Country Dandy — 田舎の伊達男 — Inaka no dateotoko • 1928 — A Portrait of Changing Love — 愛欲変相図 — Aiyoku hensōzu • The Woman Who Calls to the Sea — 海に叫ぶ女 — Umi ni sakebu onna • A Couple's Pilgrimage of Love — 恋愛二人行脚 — Ren’ai futari angya • Dance, Young People — 踊れ若者 — Odore wakamono • A Woman of the Showa Period — 昭和の女 — Shōwa no onna • Childhood Friends — 幼なじみ — Osananajimi • A Picked-Up Bride — 拾った花嫁 — Hirotta hanayome • Mountain Echo — 山彦 — Yamabiko • Beautiful Best friends — 美しき朋輩達 — Utsukushiki hōhaitachi • 1929 — The Village Blacksmith — 森の鍛冶屋 — Mori no kajiya • Duck Woman — あひる女 — Ahiru onna • Magic of Tokyo — 東京の魔術 — Tōkyō no majutsu • Escort Girls — ステッキガール — Sutteki gāru • Travel Manners of a Vagrant Girl — 浮草娘旅風俗 — Ukikusa musume tabifūzoku • The Village Champion — 村の王者 — Mura no ōja • Cheerful Song — 陽気な唄 — Yōkina uta • Parent — 親 — Oya • Proud of My Son — 自慢の倅 — Jiman no segare • Fue no Shiratama — 不壊の白珠 — Fue no shiratama • Father's Desire — 父の願ひ — Chichi no negai • Short Song of Love — 恋慕小唄 — Renbo kouta • Love: Part One — 恋愛第一課 — Ren’ai: Daiikka • 1930s • 1930 — Sin on Red Lips — 紅唇罪あり — Kōshin tsumi ari • True Love — 真実の愛 — Shinjitsu no ai • Standing at a Crossroads — 岐路に立ちて — Kiro ni tachite • Embrace — 抱擁 — Hōyō • March of the Sea — 海の行進曲 — Umi no kōshinkyoku • Filtration Is Another Thing — 浮気ばかりは別者だ — Uwaki bakari wa betsumono da • Youthful Blood Dances — 青春の血は躍る — Seishun no chi wa odoru • Daybreak in the Mist — 霧の中の曙 — Kiri no naka no akebono • Living in a New Era — 新時代に生きる — Shin jidai ni ikiru • 1931 — Bully — 餓鬼大将 — Gaki daishō • The Milky Way — 銀河 — Ginga • Crossed Line Between Husband and Wife — 混線ニタ夫婦 — Konsen nita fūfu • Follower of Grief — 有憂華 — Ureibana • Chalk It Up to Experience — そりゃ実感よ — Sorya jikkan yo • Shining Love — かがやく愛 — Kagayaku ai • This Mother Has Sinned — この母に罪ありや — Kono haha ni tsumi ari ya • Windmill of Life — 人生の風車 — Jinsei no fūsha • An Illustrated Guide to Youth — 青春図会 — Seishunzue • Seven Seas: Part One: Virginity Chapter — 七つの海 前篇 処女篇 — Nanatsu no umi: Zenpen: Shojo hen • 1932 — Passion — 情熱 — Jōnetsu • Seven Seas: Part Two: Chastity Chapter — 七つの海 後篇 貞操篇 — Nanatsu no umi: Kōhen: Teisō hen • Manchurian Marching Song — 満州行進曲 — Manshū kōshinkyoku • The Army's Big March — 陸軍大行進 — Rikugun daikōshin • King of the Sea — 海の王者 — Umi no ōja • Love's Windbreak — 愛の防風林 — Ai no bōfūrin • Dawn after the Midnight Sun — 白夜は明くる — Byakuya wa akuru • The Star of the Student Quarter — 学生街の花形 — Gakuseigai no hanagata • Stormy Region — 暴風帯 — Bōfūtai • 1933 — Sleep, at Mother's Breast — 眠れ母の胸に — Nemure haha no mune ni • The Lady Who Wept in Spring — 泣き濡れた春の女よ — Nakinureta haru no onna yo • Japanese Girls at the Harbor — 港の日本娘 — Minato no Nihon musume • Dexterity in Love — 恋愛一刀流 — Ren’ai ittōryū • A Traveler's Dream — 旅寝の夢 — Tabine no yume • The Boss's Son at College — 大学の若旦那 — Daigaku no wakadanna • 1934 — Mother from the Far East — 東洋の母 — Tōyō no haha • Want to Know about Love — 恋を知りそめ申し候 — Koi o shirisome mōshisōrō • The Boss's Son at College: Record of Valor — 大学の若旦那・武勇伝 — Daigaku no wakadanna: Buyūden • Gion Festival Music — 祇園囃子 — Gion bayashi • The Boss's Son at College: Shooting the Breeze — 大学の若旦那・太平楽 — Daigaku no wakadanna: Taiheiraku • Eclipse — 金環蝕 — Kinkanshoku • Love on a School Excursion — 恋愛修学旅行 — Ren’ai shūgaku ryokō • The Boss's Son: Cloudless Skies — 大学の若旦那・日本晴れ — Daigaku no wakadanna: Nihonbare • 1935 — A Hero of Tokyo — 東京の英雄 — Tōkyō no eiyū • The Boss's Son's Youthful Innocence — 若旦那 春爛漫 — Wakadanna haruranman • The Man and the Woman and the Boys — 彼と彼女と少年達 — Kare to kanojo to shōnentachi • Double Heart — 双心臓 — Sōshinzō • Love in Luxury — 恋愛豪華版 — Ren’ai gōka ban • 1936 — The Boss's Son Is a Millionaire — 若旦那 百万石 — Wakadanna hyakumangoku • Mountain Range of Emotion — 感情山脈 — Kanjō sanmyaku • Mr. Thank You — 有りがたうさん — Arigatō-san • Law of Love — 愛の法則 — Ai no hōsoku • Heaven and Earth Are Free — 自由の天地 — Jiyū no tenchi • Sing in a Loud Voice — 君よ高らかに歌へ — Kimi yo takaraka ni utae • Youth in Full Dress — 青春満艦飾 — Seishun mankanshoku • 1937 — Loves of the Invincible Fleet — 恋愛無敵艦隊 — Ren’ai muteki kantai • The Golden Demon — 金色夜叉 — Konjiki yasha • Forget Love for Now — 恋も忘れて — Koi mo wasurete • Farewell, I Go to the Front — さらば戦線へ — Saraba sensen e • Children in the Wind — 風の中の子供 — Kaze no naka no kodomo • A Star Athlete — 花形選手 — Hanagata senshu • 1938 — New Domestic History — 新家庭暦 — Shin katei reki • Departure — 出発 — Shuppatsu • Cheerleaders’ Song — 応援歌 — Ōenka • The Masseurs and a Woman — 按摩と女 — Anma to onna • Family Diary — 家庭日記 — Katei nikki • 1939 — A Freeloader's Big Snore — 居候は高鼾 — Isōrō wa takaibiki • Four Seasons of Children — 子供の四季 — Kodomo no shiki • A Woman's Panners: Part One: Young Girl's Diary — 女の風俗 第一話お嬢さんの日記 — Onna no fūzoku: Daiichiwa: Ojōsan no nikki • Flowering Weed — 花のある雑草 — Hana no aru zassō • Mulberries Are Red — 桑の実は紅い — Kuwa no mi wa akai • 1940s • 1940 — I Have a Husband — 私には夫がある — Watashi ni wa otto ga aru • Nobuko — 信子 — Nobuko • Friends — ともだち — Tomodachi • Woman's Fickle Heart — 女人転心 — Nyonin tenshin • 1941 — Introspection Tower — みかへりの搭 — Mikaeri no tō • Notes of an Itinerant Performer — 歌女おぼえ書 — Utajo oboegaki • Acorns — 団栗と椎の実 — Donguri to shiinomi • Dawn Chorus — 暁の合唱 — Akatsuki no gasshō • Ornamental Hairpin — 簪 — Kanzashi • 1942 — Record of a Woman Doctor — 女医の記録 — Joi no kiroku • Meeting of a Brother and Sister — 兄妹会議 — Kyōdai kaigi • 1943 — Sayon's Bell — サヨンの鐘 — Sayon no kane • 1945 — Victory Song — 必勝歌 — Hisshōka • 1948 — Children of the Beehive — 蜂の巣の子供たち — Hachi no su no kodomotachi • Tomorrow There Will Be Fine Weather — 明日は日本晴れ — Asu wa nihonbare • 1949 — At Eighteen a Girl Tells Lies — 娘十八嘘つき時代 — Musume jūhachi usotsuki jidai • Ohara Shōsuke — 小原庄助さん — Ohara Shōsuke-san • 1950s • 1950 — A Mother's Love — 母情 — Bojō • 1951 — Children of the Beehive: What Happened Next — その後の蜂の巣の子供達 — Sono go no hachi no su no kodomotachi • Under the Blossoming Peach — 桃の花の咲く下で — Momo no hana no saku shita de • 1952 — Children of the Great Buddha — 大仏さまと子供たち — Daibutsu-sama to kodomotachi • 1953 — Mole Alley — もぐら横丁 — Mogura yokochō • Ancient Buddhas of Nara — 奈良には古き仏たち — Nara ni wa furuki hotoketachi • Profile of a City — 都会の横顔 — Tokai no yokogao • 1954 — The Second Kiss — 第二の接吻 — Daini no seppun • Old Woman and Children at Toshodai-ji — 唐招提寺にて お婆さんと子供たち — Tōshōdai-ji nite obāsan to kodomotachi • 1955 — The Shiinomi School — しいのみ学園 — Shiinomi gakuen • The Tale of Jiro — 次郎物語 — Jirō monogatari • 1956 — Why Did These Women Become Like This? — 何故彼女等はそうなったか — Naze kanojora wa sō natta ka • Stupid with Kindness — 人情馬鹿 — Ninjō baka • Children Seeking a Mother — 母を求める子等 — Haha o motomeru kora • Sound in the Mist — 霧の音 — Kiri no oto • 1957 — Dancing Girl — 踊子 — Odoriko • 1958 — A Mother's Journey — 母の旅路 — Haha no tabiji • 1959 — Image of a Mother — 母のおもかげ — Haha no omokage