Yasujirō Ozu 1903 – 1963

Biography

Yasujirō Ozu was born on December 12, 1903, in Fukagawa-ku, beginning a life that would profoundly shape Japanese cinema. As a film director and screenwriter, Ozu dedicated himself to the craft of storytelling through motion pictures, becoming one of his nation’s most accomplished artists in the medium. His work would leave an indelible mark on film history, establishing him as a master of his discipline.

On December 12, 1963, exactly sixty years after his birth, Ozu passed away at the Institute of Science Tokyo Hospital. He died from laryngeal cancer, ending a creative life that had spanned decades. His final resting place was chosen with care: Engaku-ji Temple in Kamakura, Japan, a serene Buddhist sanctuary where his memory continues to be honored. The coincidence of his birth and death dates—both falling on December 12—adds a poignant symmetry to his life story, marking both beginning and end with the same date across two different decades.