Tokuzō Tanaka

• Name — Tokuzo Tanaka

• Born — 1920 9 15

• Birthplace — Osaka, Japan

• Died — 2007 12 20

• Known for — Zatoichi series

Nemuri Kyōshirō series

• Occupation — Film director

• Years Active — 1959–2007

15 September 1920 – 20 December 2007 was a Japanese film director. He is well known for directing several installments of the Zatoichi and Nemuri Kyōshirō film series.

Tanaka graduated from Kwansei Gakuin University. In 1948, he joined the Daiei studio and started working as an assistant director under Kon Ichikawa, Kenji Mizoguchi and Kazuo Mori etc. In 1958, Tanaka was promoted to director and debuted with Bakeneko Goyōda. Tanaka received the Japan Directors Guild Special award for his Akumyō series films. In 1971, he was released from his contract with Daiei and become a freelance director when the studio shut down film production. As a freelance director he directed a lot of jidaigeki television dramas such as Hissatsu series.

His final work was in the 2007 short film Shonen Kawachiondotori Monogatari.

In December 2007, he died of Intracranial hemorrhage.

• Title — Release date — Notes

• Rashomon

— 1950 — Assistant director

• The Tales of the Wave after the Rain Moon

— 1953 — Assistant director

• Sansho the Bailiff

— 1954 — Assistant director

• The Crucified Lovers

— 1954 — Assistant director

• Bakeneko Goyōda

— 1958

• Ukare Sandogasa

— 1959

• The Demon of Mount Oe

Oe-yama Shutendōshi — 1960

• Nuregami Botan

— 1961

• Akumyō

— 1961

• Hanakurabe Tanuki Dōchu

— 1961

• Ken ni Kakeru

— 1962

• The Whale God

— 1962

• Enter Kyōshirō Nemuri the Swordman

Nemuri Kyōshirō Sappōjō — 1963

• New Tale of Zatoichi

Shin Zatōichi Monogatari — 1963

• Shutō

— 1963

• Zatoichi the Fugitive

Zatōichi Kyōjōtabi — 1963

• Shinobi no Mono 4: Siege

Shinobi no Mono Kirigakure Saizō — 1963

• Yadonashi Inu

— 1964

• Kojiki Taishō

— 1964

• Hoodlum Soldier and the C.O.

— 1965

• Akai Shuriken

— 1965

• The Betrayal

Daisatsujin Orochi — 1966 — Remake of the 1925 silent film Orochi

• Zatoichi's Vengeance

— 1966

• Assignment Dragon No.3

— 1966

• Hoodlum Soldier on the Attack

Heitai Yakuza Nagurikomi — 1967

• Heitai Yakuza Ore ni Makasero

— 1967

• The Night Flying

Hikisakareta Shōsō — 1967

• Sleepy Eyes of Death 10: Hell Is a Woman

Nemuri Kyōshirō Jorōjigoku — 1967

• The Snow Woman

Kaidan Yukijorō — 1968

• Secrets of a Women's Temple

Hiroku Onnadera — 1969

• Tejō Muyō

— 1969

• Haunted Castle

Hiroku Kaibōden — 1969

• Tobira wa Hirakareta

— 1975

• Shōnen Kawachiond Monogatari

— 2007

• Ronin of the Wilderness (1972–74)

• Nemuri Kyōshirō (1972) (ep. 2, 4, 13, 14, 19 and 20)

• Hissatsu Shiokinin (1973) (ep. 20)

• Tasukenin Hashiru (1973–74) (ep. 18, 19, 23, 24, 28, 31 and 34)

• Kurayami Shitomenin (1974) (ep. 5, 6, 15 and 20)

• Kenkaku Shōbai (ep. 2, 4, 12 and 13)

• Amigasa Jūbei (1974–75) (ep. 1, 2, 16, 17 and 18)

• Nagasaki Hangachōu (1975) (ep. 9, 10 and 16)

• Hissatsu Shiokiya Kagyō (1975) (ep. 24)

• Zatoichi (1974–78) Season 1 Episode 6, 7, and 10 (1974) S2 Episode 9, 12 (1976) S4 Episode 20 (1979)

• Akō Rōshi (1979) (ep. 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11)

• Hissatsu Shigotonin (1979–81) (ep. 19, 21, 28, 42, 43, 47, 48, 52, 53, 58, 59, 66, 69, 70, 75, 77 and 80)

• Shin Hissatsu Shigotonin (1981–82) (ep. 3, 9, 10, 14, 15, 20, 29, 30, 35, 37, 43, 47, 52 and 53)

• Hissatsu Shigotonin III (1982–83) (ep. 1, 3, 6, 12, 16, 24, 25 and 32)

• Hissatsu Watashinin (1983) (ep. 1, 2 and 6)

• Hissatsu Shigotonin IV (1983–84) (ep. 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 15, 21, 29, 32 and 38)

• Hissatsu Shikirinin (1984) (ep. 13 and 15)

• Hissatsu Shigotonin V (1985) (ep. 3, 6 and 11)

• Hissatsu Shigotonin V Gekitouhen (ep. 5)

• Hissatsu Shigotonin V Senpuhen (1986–87) (ep. 3, 6 and 9)

• Nemuri Kyōshirō (1989) (TV Movie)

• Abare Hasshū Goyō Tabi (1990–91) (Season 1 ep. 1, 3 and 6), (Season 2, ep. 10, 12, 22 and 23)