Inudō Isshin

Born in Tokyo. Began making and directing independent films as a high school student. After graduating from Tokyo Zōkei University, moved into advertising, directing several award-winning TV commercials. Made his feature-length directorial debut in 1997 with Futari ga shabette iru (Two Are Talking). Went on to win the Japan Academy Film Prize for Director of the Year three times for Bizan (Bizan Mountain, 2007), Zero no shōten (Zero Focus, 2009), and Nobō no shiro (The Floating Castle, 2012). Other notable works include Josse to tora to sakanatachi (Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish, 2003), Mezon do Himiko (House of Himiko, 2005), Gū-Gū datte neko de aru (Cher Gou-Gou . . . mon petit chat, mon petit ami, 2008), Neko wa daku mono (The Cat in His Arms, 2018), Hikkoshi daimyō (Samurai Shifters, 2019), and Saikō no jinsei no mitsukekata (The Bucket List, 2019).