Nobuhiko Obayashi

Biography

Nobuhiko Obayashi (January 9, 1938 – April 10, 2020) was a Japanese director, screenwriter and editor of films and television advertisements who is well known for his surreal visual style. He began his career as a pioneering figure in Japanese experimental film during the 1960s before transitioning to directing more mainstream works such as television and feature films. Though he remains mostly unknown outside of Japan, he has made a prolific number of films in his 50 years of working with the medium.

Directed

1. House (1977) — Director
2. His Motorbike, Her Island (1986) — Director
3. Emotion (1966) — Director
4. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (1983) — Director
5. Hanagatami (2017) — Director
6. Labyrinth of Cinema (2020) — Director
7. Lonely Heart (1985) — Director
8. School in the Crosshairs (1981) — Director
9. Sada (1998) — Director
10. The Discarnates (1988) — Director
11. Chizuko's Younger Sister (1991) — Director
12. Casting Blossoms to the Sky (2012) — Director
13. I Are You, You Am Me (1982) — Director
14. Switching – Goodbye Me (2007) — Director
15. The Island Closest to Heaven (1984) — Director
16. An Eater (1963) — Director
17. The Drifting Classroom (1987) — Director
18. Kenya Boy (1984) — Director
19. The Motive (2004) — Director
20. The Rocking Horsemen (1992) — Director
21. The Deserted City (1984) — Director
22. Seven Weeks (2014) — Director
23. Remembrance (1963) — Director
24. Cute Devil (1982) — Director
25. Bound for the Fields, the Mountains, and the Seacoast (1986) — Director
26. Dandanko (1960) — Director
27. Complexe (1964) — Director
28. The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi (1979) — Director
29. Thursday (1961) — Director
30. Confession (1968) — Director
31. Beijing Watermelon (1989) — Director
32. Black Jack: The Visitor in the Eye (1977) — Director
33. Four Sisters (1985) — Director
34. Onomichi (1963) — Director
35. The Girl in the Picture (1958) — Director
36. Nakasendo (1963) — Director
37. Haruka, Nostalgia (1993) — Director
38. April Fish (1986) — Director
39. Take Me Away! (1978) — Director
40. The Strange Pair (1988) — Director

Also appeared in

1. House (1977) — Husband (uncredited)
2. Labyrinth of Cinema (2020) — The Mysterious Old Pianist / The Director John
3. The Unspoiled Diamond (1982) — Meeting Host
4. The Adventures of Kosuke Kindaichi (1979) — Film Director
5. The Girl in the Picture (1958)
6. Black Jack: The Visitor in the Eye (1977) — Tennis Referee
7. Confession (1968)
8. Extro (2019) — Self
9. Making of 'Dreams' (1990) — Self
10. Pink Lady's Motion Picture (1978) — Saloon piano player
11. MOMENT (1981)
12. Constructing a House (2010) — Self
13. The Stupid Teacher (2000) — The Director John
14. Foreign Correspondent - The Case of a Filmmaker (1968) — Himself
15. Completely... With That Air! (1981)
16. Golden Partners (1979) — Self
17. What's a Director? (2006)
18. From the theme of Mahoroba "Doi Koinouta" (2001)
19. Obayashi Nobuhiko's Special Message (2001)
20. Making of いい旅チャレンジ20,000 km 清水港線・旅の表情 (1980)
21. I Can't Pay Back (1994)
22. Russian Lullabies (1993) — Self
23. Zokubutsu zukan (1982)
24. Seijo Story: 60 Years of Making Films (2019) — Self
25. Film Director Nobuhiko Obayashi: His Promise (2019) — Self
26. Virgin Girl's Story: The Lady is in Danger! (1990)
27. Notes from the Labyrinth (2021) — Self
28. New Caledonia 28 Days (1985)
29. Kalina's Apple: Forest of Chernobyl (2011) — Narration
30. Inside the Storm of Love (1978)