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Junichi Suzuki
Director, Writer, Producer
Having over 34 years of experience as a Motion picture director, writer and producer; seminar lecturer, volunteer of making educational films, Junichi Suzuki is credited with 13 feature films as a producer and 16 feature films as a screenwriter and 27feature films as a director.
He is also credited with numerous television documentaries as a screen writer and director.
He is a member of the Directors Guild of Japan.
Founder of Eleven Arts, Inc., a global distributor of Japanese movies in Santa Monica, California and also founder of Film Voice Inc., a film production and distribution company in Tokyo.
Husband of actress Rumi Sakakibara.
1952
Born in Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo.1975
Obtained a B.A. in Ethics from Tokyo University and entered Nikkatsu Studio Corporation, the oldest of four major film studios in Japan as an assistant director.1981
Debuted as a director with Nikkatsu Studio Corporation.1982
Director contracted with Nikkatsu Studio Corporation.1984
Freelance director.1986
Went to Morocco as a volunteer film director of a Japanese Peace Corp.1990
Sent to the U.S. by the Japanese Cultural Affair as a visiting scholar to NYU Graduate School Film Program.1991
In The Soup. (Co-Executive Producer)
This film won the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize, an official selection of the Venice International Film Festival, the Chicago Film Festival Grand Prize Winner, and an official selection of the New York Film Festival.1994
Film Voice Inc. Tokyo, Japan. Founder/President
Attended the Japan-China Scenario Symposium in China as a member of the delegation.1998
Invited by the Ministry of Indonesian Information and taught all aspects of film
production to 18 young Indonesian directors.1999
Instructor at Rikkyou University and Tokyo Kougei University, both nationally
renowned institutions in Japan. Retired as President and became the Director of
Film Voice, Inc.2001
received the Green Card from the USA Government and started living in Los Angeles.2004
Founded Eleven Arts, Inc., a global distributor of Japanese movies in Santa Monica.2007
Freelance director from Eleven Arts Inc.
Direct comedy series “LA Blue,” produced by United Television Broadcasting Systems, Inc. in Hollywood (broadcasting on KSCI Ch.18)2008
Started making the Japanese American History Trilogy Documentary Feature film.2011
Had a fatal car accident and sent by the emergency chop to Las Vegas University Hospital.
2012
Completed the trilogy films and won the “Fumiko Yamaji Cultural Award” and “Japanese Film Critics Award” and finished the l1 years life in the US and returned to Japan.
2014
Produced the first feature documentary film about Tea Ceremony “The Head of the School of Tea Ceremony - My Father is the Grand Master – “ .
2015
Directed three feature films “Washoku -Beyond Sushi- “, “Miyako-jima Triathlon” and “Crossroads” and they were released in a year. It’s very rare now.
Main Films
Trilogy Films of Japanese American history during WWII:2008
Director and writer of the feature documentary “Toyo’s Camera-Japanese American history during WWII –“
Part I of the trilogy on Japanese American history during WWII. It was released in Japan and the U.S. and was favorably received by the Japanese American community in Los Angeles. The number of audience at Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo on March 15th, 2009 broke the theater’s records in 20 years.
2010 Director and writer of the feature documentary” 442-Live with Honor, Die with Dignity-“
This film is Part II of the trilogy on Japanese American history during WWII: it was awarded the "Special Audience Award for Courage and Commitment" at the 2010 Maui Film Festival and officially invited by Tokyo International Film Festival 2010.
It became the big hit in Japan and USA of 2010 and the critical claim.
2012 Director and writer of the feature documentary “MIS – Human Secret Weapon –“
This film is the last of the trilogy on Japanese American
history during WWII: it was awarded the Japanese Film
Critics Award and Fumiko Yamaji Cultural Award and
officially invited by Tokyo International Film Festival.
2006
Feature film, “Haunted Highway” (Director, Screenplay, Producer)
Released by Lions Gate Films Home entertainment
2005
Feature documentary, “Yukio Mishima” (Producer)
2002
Feature film, “The Lonely Affair of the Heart” (Director, Producer)
Documentary movie, Rokurobyoue was officially selected to screen at international film festivals (Producer)2001
Feature film, “Go Rascals! “ (Director, Screenplay, Executive Producer)
Recommended film by the Japan Cultural Affairs1997
Feature film “Remembering the Cosmos Flower “(Director, Producer, Screenplay)
Awarded Best Feature Film at the Idyllwild International film Festival1996
TV documentary, The Frontiers of N.P.O. in Cambodia (Director, Producer, Scriptwriter)
Japanese and American co-production feature film Surrogate Mother (Screenplay)
1995
Feature film Sukiyaki (Director, Producer, Screenwriter) was officially selected to screen at international film festivals
1991
Feature film “ IN THE SOUP” won a Grand Jury Prize and Special Jury Prize in Sundance Film Festival and also officially selected to screen at Venice International Film Festival and released in the world. (Co- Executive Producer)1990
Feature film “Sand Castle” was officially selected to screen at several International Film Festivals.
The Best Actor in the Asia Oceania International Film Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Director, Screenplay)1988
Feature film “Shiro and Marilyn” was big hit, its box office was No.10, including Hollywood films in that year. (Director)
1987
Feature film “Akainawa Hateru Made” won a Director Prize in Romantic Film Festival. (Director)Rumi Sakakibara
March 5, 1951 Date of Birth
Hometown Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
43 kg 159 cm Weight Height
Specialist cleaning.
夫は映画監督のすずきじゅんいち。
娘は、女優の松下恵。
3歳より雑誌のモデルとして活躍する。
特にテイーンの時、少女雑誌の表紙のモデルとして皆に知られる。
17歳の時「台風とざくろ」でテレビに初出演。
1971年、20歳の時「帰ってきたウルトラマン」（ＴＢＳ）においてウルトラマンの恋人役で注目される。
「気になる嫁さん」（日本テレビ）の主演で「お嫁さんにしたい女優ナンバーワン」と言われた。
その後、松竹と専属契約を交わし｢望郷｣(監督 大嶺俊順)で映画初主演。
続いて｢男はつらいよ 奮闘編｣（監督 山田洋次）に7代目マドンナとして出演する。
この年の活躍で、日本映画テレビ製作者協会の新人賞を受賞する。
その後、40年に渡り、映画、舞台、テレビ、コマーシャル、講演、など様々な分野で活動を続けてきた。
2001年にはグリーンカードを取得し、カリフォルニアに住み始めたが、2012年帰国した。
著書に、「熱情 天使の反撃」(96年一葉社)、｢榊原るみの お掃除しましょ｣(99年講談社)、「榊原るみの お片づけしましょ」（01年講談社）がある。特に前書は｢お掃除本｣としては１０万部以上の売行きを示し、台湾でも中国語翻訳版が出版された。
また、夫との共作で「東洋おじさんのカメラ」（09年小学館）を作った。
またボランテア活動として｢絵本の読み聞かせ｣を、小学生対象に10年ほど続けてきた。
Jupiter
May 15, 2008 Date of Birth
Boy, such a girl like
Megumi Matsushita
January 16, 1981 Date of Birth
Hometown Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Special skill / qualification piano, calligraphy, Japanese dance, vocal music usually driver's license
11歳の時、母親である榊原るみと共に出演した旅番組をきっかけに、ホリプロにスカウトされる。
1993年、東芝日曜劇場「課長さんの厄年」TBSにて 萩原健一さんの娘役でドラマデビュー（12歳）。
その後「３年B組金八先生第４シリーズ」（95）の学級委員長 伊丸岡ルミ役。「暴れん坊将軍」（00）で大岡越前の姪役。映画「秋桜COSMOS」（97）（すずきじゅんいち監督）に主演。舞台「ピーターパン」（親子共演．97）ウエンディ役。
「にごり江」（98）で「たけくらべ」美登利の役（蜷川幸雄演出）。CM「日本生命」「大正製薬パブロン鼻炎カプセル」など。
その他、母娘でのバラエティ番組や旅番組に多数出演。
2015
“Washoku – Beyond Sushi – ”
Directed, written and planned by Junichi Suzuki.
Chief Producer : Shigeto
Terasaka, Music : Akihiko Matsumoto
107 min. / DCP / Color / 16:9 / 5.1ch / 2015
Documentary film about Washoku which is selected as World Heritage and filmed in all over Ametrica and Japan.
2015
“Miyako-jima Triathlon”
Total director = Junichi Suzuki
90 min. / DCP / Color / 16:9 / 5.1ch / 2015
Documentary film about Triathlon.
2014
“The Head of the School of Tea Ceremony ~ My Father is the Grand Master~”
Produced by Junichi Suzuki
Directed, written and edited by Hiroki Takano
Narration: Yuko Kobori (Daughter of the Grand Master)
91 min. / DCP / Color / 16：9 / 5.1 ch / 2013
The first feature documentary movie in the world about the Grand Master of Tea Ceremony portraits the Japanese Leonardo da Vinci, Enshu Kobori’s 13th-generation Mr. Sojitsu Kobori’s everyday life from his daughter’s eye.
2012
“MIS ~ Human Secret Weapon ~”
Directed, written and planned by Junichi Suzuki
Supported by Dr. Paul Terasaki
Chief Producer: Shigeto Terasaka
Theme Music by Jake Shimabukuro
100 min / Color and B&W / 16:9 / DCP / 2012
The unknown stories of these men who shut their mouth up for several decades. Their duties were so much critical for the U.S. Army.
In 2012, the time has set to reveal the whole story of the Military Intelligence Service. During World War II, six thousand Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) served in the Military Intelligence Service, performing secret intelligence work against the Japanese military. Their work dispelled any doubt that as Americans the Nisei were willing to fight an enemy with whom they share a similar ancestral background. This film was awarded “Yamaji Fukiko Award” and “Japanese Movie Critical Award in the feature documentary films”.2010
“442 ~ Live with Honor, Die with Dignity ~”
Directed, written and planned by Junichi Suzuki
Cooperated by Yuma Asakura
Camera by Masashi Kobuchi
Editor: Toru Mihara
Narration: Lane Nishikawa
Music by Kitaro
97 min / Blu-ray /Color and B&W/ 16:9/ 2010
During WWII, soldiers of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, composed mainly of Japanese Americans, fought not only the enemy, but fought prejudice, facing severe racial discrimination in their homeland.
The 442nd was in an ironic predicament, fighting for a country that had branded them as enemies. However, these young men volunteered to fight and prove their loyalty as patriotic Americans, which defined their identity as they risked their lives for the cause.
This film won the Special Audience Award of Maui Film Festival.2008
“Toyo’s Camera ~ Japanese American History during WWII ~”
Directed, Written and Planned by Junichi Suzuki
Supported by Japan Arts Fund and The Japan Foundation
Music by Kitaro
Theme music: Mike Shinoda
Interviewee & Narration: George Takei
98 min / Blu-ray /Color and B&W/ 16:9 / 2008
First movie of the Japanese American history trilogy and the biggest hit at the Japanese American Theater in a day in its 20 years history. More than 2500 audience came to see this movie there in a day.
Toyo Miyatake smuggled in his own camera lens and built a camera to take photographs of life behind the barbed wires.
This movie portraits the Japanese American people’s life in the interment camp from his photographs during WW2.
2001
“The Lonely Affair of the Heart”
Directed and Produced by Junichi Suzuki
Script and Original Story by Masaru Baba
Camera by Yuichi Nagata
Editor: Tsuyoshi Imai
Starring: Rumi Sakakibara, Masakane Yonekura, Kazuya Takahashi, Kimiko Yo, Megumi Sakakibara
89 min / 35mm / B&W / Vista / 2001
Through the middle-aged woman, this movie portraits the solitude, sex, old age and wander about love.
Monochrome beautiful camera drew the middle aged woman’s subconscious.
This movie released both Japan and USA.
Suzuki’s wife Rumi Sakakibara plays the leading role.
1997
“Remembering the Cosmos Flower”
Directed, Produced and written by Junichi Suzuki
Camera by Kaz Tanaka
Art Director: Hisao Inagaki
Sound: Yukio Kubota
Starring: Akane Oda, Megumi Matsushita, Mari Natsuki, Hisano Yamaoka, Joe Shishido, Kai Shishido, Senichi Ishii, Binpachi Fujita, Rumi Sakakibara
104 min / 35mm / Color / Vista / Dolby / 1997
A small town with stereotype about HIV.
Discrimination is a given! A young woman endures AIDS with the support of a strong mother and a good friend.
This movie portraits two high-school girls’ strong friendship and their strong heart beautifully and made many audience moving.
It won the Idyllwild International Film Festival Best Feature Film and was recommended by many organizations in Japan and released in both countries.1995
“Sukiyaki”
Directed, produced and written by Junichi Suzuki
Producer: Shohei Motonami
Camera by Kazuhiko Nara
Music by Masamichi Shigeno
Starring: Rika and Yuka Sekiya, Sachiko Hidari, Kai Shishido,
Tamio Kawachi, Mieharu
95min / 35mm / Color/ Vista / 1995
A heart-warming movie with the perfect ingredients!
Sukiyaki can be viewed two ways, a popular Japanese cuisine or a gathering of a family.
This hear-warming comedy takes places in Yokohama where the Mihara family owns a restaurant called “Boston Grill”.
Experience the up’s and down’s of this family and learn how they deal with the everyday problems they are faced with during difficult times.
This movie was invited by some international film festivals.
1991
“The Island Honeymoon”
Directed and written by Junichi Suzuki
Camera by Shinsaku Himeda
Art Director: Teru Yamazaki
Music by Haruhiko Tsuda
Starring: Anna Nakagawa, Norito Arai, Johnny Ohkura, Keiko Masuda, Noriko Sengoku
97min / 35mm / Color/ Vista / 1991
Based on the real story written by Ritsuko Minoda.
City girl Ritsuko got married with a wild boy Toshiharu and went to an uninhabited southern island as their honeymoon.
Romantic Ritsuko dreams her honeymoon as a totally natural romance but her husband Toshiharu intends to make her be acclimated to her new life in his ranch.
Day by day, their honeymoon becomes a battle…
Hit movie in Japan in 1991.
1992
“In the Soup”
Co-Executive producer: Junichi Suzuki
Directed and written by Alexander Rockwell
Producer: Jim Stark and Hank Blumenthal
Starring: Seymour Cassel, Steven Buscemi, Jennifer Beals, Will Patton, Stanley Tucci, Jim Jarmusch, Carol Kane
93 min / 35mm / Vista / B & W / 1992
In 1992, this film won Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize and Special Jury Prize.
Based on director Alex’s real experience.
A strange friendship between a young man who wants to be a filmmaker and an old gangster.
A funny new comedy.
This film was invited Venice Film Festival and other festivals.
1989
“Sand Castle”
Directed and Written by Junichi Suzuki
Music by Junichi Nihashi
Camera by Koichi Suzuki
Starring: Yasuo Daichi, Yoko Asaji, Shoichi Ozawa, Reo Morimoto, Hitomi Takahasi, Hiroyuki Nagato,
105 min / 35mm / Color / Vista / 1989
This film won the Asia Oceania Film Festival Leading Actor’s Award.
“If you live in our model house which is more than a million dollar as a model family in a year, you can get it after one year.” Kido family applies this offer by the developer and wins, the many things begin to happen with them.
In Japanese real tragic comedy situation at that time, the movie portraits the modern Japanese family ironically.
This was invited by a lot of international film festival.1988
“Shiro and Marilyn”
Directed by Junichi Suzuki
Executive Producer: Kazuyosi Okuyama
Script by Hisashi Nozawa
Camera by Tatsuo Suzuki
Art Director: Yuichi Maruyama
Starring: Masaya Kato, Narumi Yasuda, Tomokazu Miura, Masumi Harukawa, Choichiro Kawarazaki, Mako Ishino, Yoko Ishino
112 min / 35mm / Color / Vista / Dolby / 1988
Based on a real story.
Shiro is a male dog living in a small island Aka in Okinawa and go to see his lover dog Marilyn living in an other island Zamami that is two miles far from Aka.
The story proceeds with two love tales between Shiro and Marilyn and a Shiro’s owner and a beautiful girl. This movie was a big hit in Japan and about three million audience went to see this movie in 1988 and won several awards including Japanese Academy Awards.
Recommended by Japanese Ministry of Education.
[MIS] Military Intelligence Servicehttp://mis-film.com/
Rumi Sakakibara 
Jupiter
Megumi Matsushita