Junya Satō

• Name — Junya Satō • Native Name — 佐藤 純彌 • Born — 6 November 1932 • Birthplace — Tokyo, Japan • Died — 9 February 2019 • Place of death — Tokyo, Japan • Occupation — Film director, screenwriter • Parents — Kanichi Satō (father) • Children — Tōya Satō

Born in Tokyo, Satō graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1956 with a degree in French literature. He joined the Toei studio and worked as an assistant to such directors as Tadashi Imai and Miyoji Ieki. He debuted as a director in 1963 with Rikugun Zangyaku Monogatari, for which he won a best newcomer's award at the Blue Ribbon Awards. While starting in mostly yakuza film, Satō eventually became known for big budget spectaculars. The Go Masters, a China-Japan co-production he co-directed with Duan Jishun, won the grand prize at the Montreal World Film Festival in 1983. He won the Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year in 1989 for The Silk Road. Sato died in Tokyo on 9 February 2019.

• Year — Japanese Title — English Title — Notes • 1963 — 陸軍残虐物語 Rikugun Zangyaku Monogatari — Tale of Army Brutality • 続・王将 Zoku Ōshō — The King 2 • 1964 — 廓育ち Kuruwa Sodachi — Raised in a Palace • 1966 — 愛欲 Aiyoku — Thirst for Love • 1967 — 組織暴力 Soshiki Bōryoku — Organized Violence • 続組織暴力 Zoku Soshiki Bōryoku — Organized Violence 2 • 1968 — 荒野の渡世人 Kōya no Toseinin — The Drifting Avenger • 1969 — 日本暴力団 組長と刺客 Nihon Bōryokudan: Kumichō to Shikaku — Japan's Most Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killer — also co-wrote screenplay • 組織暴力 兄弟盃 Soshiki Bōryoku: Kyōdai Sakazuki — The Private Police • 旅に出た極道 Tabi ni Deta Gokudō — Yakuza on Foot • 1970 — 日本ダービー 勝負 Nihon Derby Shōbu — The Japan Derby Race — also co-wrote screenplay • 最後の特攻隊 Saigo no Tokkōtai — The Last Kamikaze • 1971 — 博徒斬り込み隊 Bakuto Kirikomitai — The Gambler’s Counterattack — also co-wrote screenplay • 暴力団再武装 Bōryokudan Sai Busō — The Armed Organization • 1972 — ギャング対ギャング 赤と黒のブルース Gang tai Gang: Aka to Kuro no Blues — Gang vs. Gang: The Red and Black Blues — also wrote screenplay • やくざと抗争 実録安藤組 Yakuza to Kōsō: Jitsuroku Andō-gumi — Quarreling with Yakuza — also co-wrote screenplay • 1973 — 実録 私設銀座警察 Jitsuroku: Shisetsu Ginza Keisatsu — A True Story of the Private Ginza Police • ゴルゴ13 Gorugo Sātīn — Golgo 13 • 実録安藤組 襲撃篇 Jitsuroku Andō-gumi: Shūgekihen — The Ando File • 1974 — ルバング島の奇跡 陸軍中野学校 Rubangu-tō no Kiseki: Rikugun Nakano Gakkō — Miracle on Lubang Island: Army Nakano School • 1975 — 新幹線大爆破 Shinkansen Daibakuha — The Bullet Train — also co-wrote screenplay • 1976 — 君よ噴怒の河を渉れ Kimi yo Fundo no Kawa o Watare — Manhunt • 1977 — 人間の証明 Ningen no Shōmei — Proof of the Man • 1978 — 野性の証明 Yasei no Shōmei — Never Give Up • 1980 — 遙かなる走路 Haru Kanaru Sōro — Drive for the Future • 甦れ魔女 Yomigaere Majo — The Way to The Gold Medals • 1982 — 未完の対局 Mikan no Taikyoku — The Go Masters • 1983 — 人生劇場 Jinsei Gekijō — Theater of Life ("Youth" segment) — also co-wrote screenplay • 1984 — 空海 Kūkai • 1986 — 植村直己物語 Uemura Naomi Monogatari — Lost in the Wilderness — also co-wrote screenplay • 1988 — 敦煌 Tonkō — The Silk Road — also co-wrote screenplay • 1992 — 私を抱いてそしてキスして Watashi o Daite Soshite Kiss Shite — Hold Me and Kiss Me • おろしや国酔夢譚 Oroshiyakoku Suimutan Сны о России Sny o Rossii — Kodayu or Dreams of Russia — also co-wrote screenplay • 1994 — 超能力者 未知への旅人 Chōnōryokusha - Michi e no Tabibito — Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown • 1997 — 北京原人 Who Are You? Pekin Genjin Who Are You? — The Peking Man • |2005 — 男たちの大和 Otoko-tachi no Yamato — Yamato — also wrote screenplay • |2010 — 桜田門外ノ変 Sakuradamon-gai no Hen — The Sakurada Gate Incident — also co-wrote screenplay