Began working in the Japanese movie industry when he was 22. He was
best known for his suspense thrillers and his pioneering work in
Japanese film noir, but he also made samurai dramas and musicals. His
1974 thriller, "Castle of Sand" (
Suna no utsuwa (1974)), is considered one of the
best Japanese movies ever made. He adapted novels by
Agatha Christie and other
authors for the screen. After retiring from directing in 1985, he
continued to work as a movie and TV producer, as well as mentoring
other Japanese directors.
