Tadashi Sawashima
An image from Three Yakuza, one of the productions that also features Tadashi Sawashima.
Tadashi Sawashima

Tadashi Sawashima

May 19, 1926 — Shiga Prefecture, Japan

Tadashi Sawashima (沢島 忠, Sawashima Tadashi) (19 May 1926 – 27 January 2018) was a Japanese film director and theatre director. He directed films from the 1950s to the 1970s. He died on 27 January 2018 of multiple organ failure at the age of 91.

Sawashima was born in Kotō, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. He joined the Toei Studio in 1950 and worked as an assistant director under Masahiro Makino and Kunio Watanabe before debuting as a director in 1957 with Torawakamaru the Koga Ninja. He is most known for his work in Toei's ninkyo eiga series, but he also directed entertainment jidaigeki featuring Hibari Misora, Chiemi Eri, and Kinnosuke Nakamura. He directed his last film in 1977, and mostly directed stage productions after that. In his final years, he had been attempting to film a version of the Chushingura story, but did not succeed.

He was given a Special Award at the 40th Japan Academy Prize ceremony in 2017 for his career in cinema. He directed 49 films and wrote nine screenplays.

Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor

Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor

1969

One-Eyed Wolf

One-Eyed Wolf

1959

Three Yakuza

Three Yakuza

1965

The Pirates

The Pirates

1960

Torawakamaru, the Koga Ninja

Torawakamaru, the Koga Ninja

1957

Isshin Tasuke: A World in Danger

Isshin Tasuke: A World in Danger

1958

The Shogun and the Fishmonger

The Shogun and the Fishmonger

1961

Travels of Hibari and Chiemi

Travels of Hibari and Chiemi

1962