Ichikawa Kon

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Japanese film director Kon Ichikawa dead at 92

TOKYO - Kon Ichikawa, the Japanese director of such films as "Harp of Burma" and "Tokyo Olympiad," has died. He was 92.

A spokeswoman says Ichikawa died of pneumonia in a Tokyo hospital on Wednesday.

He had been hospitalized since late January.

Ichikawa's eldest son, Tatsumi, is planning to hold a funeral for family and close friends, with a public memorial service to be held at a later date.

Known for his artistic technique and the wide range of genres in which he worked, Ichikawa won a jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his 1960 movie, "Kagi."

He also received a lifetime achievement award in 2001 from the World Film Festival of Montreal.


Ah man, just when I was getting cynical about all the people dying, they go and throw this at me. Okay, maybe Ichikawa wasn't one of the more famous Japanese directors, and hell, I haven't even seen any of his movies, but it's still that name recognition under the obituaries that's kind of depressing.

I came close to watching Enjo one time though.

[captainofbeef]

I enjoyed Fires on the Plain very much, its too bad I haven't seen more of his work. RIP.

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captainofbeef said:

I enjoyed Fires on the Plain very much, its too bad I haven't seen more of his work. RIP.

Well, there's still time to watch more of his movies.

It is unfortunate because he was still active even though "he had been hospitalized since late January," but fortunately, he wasn't cut down during the production of a movie.

I'm not really that great at name-dropping old Japanese directors anymore, but Suzuki Seijun is really the only other living one I can recall, and Twitchfilms is probably right when they said his last movie was Princess Raccoon. That's kind of sad to think about, I suppose.