# Shinya Tsukamoto

Shinya Tsukamoto (塚本 晋也, Tsukamoto Shin'ya, born January 1, 1960) is a Japanese filmmaker and actor. With a considerable cult following both domestically and abroad, Tsukamoto is best known for his body horror/cyberpunk film Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989), which is considered the defining film of the Japanese Cyberpunk movement, as well as for its companion pieces Tetsuo II: Body Hammer (1992) and Tetsuo: The Bullet Man (2009). His other films include Tokyo Fist (1995), Bullet Ballet (1998), A Snake of June (2002), Vital (2004), Kotoko (2011) and Killing (2018).
In addition to starring in almost all his films, Tsukamoto has also appeared as an actor in films by other directors, including Martin Scorsese, Takashi Miike and Hideaki Anno. He has been cited as an influence on popular western filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, David Fincher, Darren Aronofsky and The Wachowskis.

## Biography

Tsukamoto began making films at age 14, when his father gave him a Super 8 camera. His cinematic influences include David Lynch, David Cronenberg, and Akira Kurosawa. He made a number of films, ranging from 10-minute shorts to 2-hour features, until his first year at college when he temporarily lost interest in filmmaking. Tsukamoto then started up a theatre group, which soon included Kei Fujiwara, Nobu Kanaoka and Tomorowo Taguchi, all of whom would continue to work with Tsukamoto up through the filming of Tetsuo: The Iron Man. One of their theatre productions at this time was The Adventures of Electric Rod Boy. At the end of production, Tsukamoto did not want to waste all the effort they had put into building the set, so he decided to shoot a film version.
Tsukamoto's early films, The Phantom of Regular Size (1986) and The Adventures Of Electric Rod Boy (1987), were short subject science fiction films shot on colour 8 mm film that led to his black & white 16 mm feature Tetsuo: The Iron Man. Tsukamoto has stated he has a love-hate relationship with Tokyo, and in the end the characters (Tsukamoto and Taguchi) set out to destroy it. Tetsuo is considered one of the prime examples of Japanese cyberpunk.
Tsukamoto's next film, Hiruko the Goblin, was a more conventional horror film, about demons being unleashed from the gates of hell. He then created a follow-up to Tetsuo, Tetsuo II: Body Hammer (1992), which revisited many of the same themes as the first but with a bigger budget and shot in colour on 35 mm film. As a result, the film is often interpreted more as a companion piece than a true sequel. In Body Hammer, the son of a salaryman (Taguchi) is kidnapped by a group of thugs, who then force the man's nascent rage to make him mutate into a gigantic human weapon. Tokyo Fist (1995) again dealt with the idea of rage as a transformative force (similar to David Cronenberg's The Brood [1979]). Here, a meek insurance salesman (Tsukamoto) discovers that an old friend of his, now a semi-professional boxer, may be having an affair with his fiancée. The salesman then enters into a rigorous and self-destructive boxing training program to get even.
In Bullet Ballet (1998), a man (Tsukamoto) discovers that his longtime girlfriend committed suicide with a gun, and becomes obsessed with getting a gun just like that one. His single minded behaviour causes him to run afoul of a gang of thugs, especially when he shows interest in the young girl who is one of their compatriots. Gemini (1999) was an adaptation of an Edogawa Rampo story, in which a country doctor with pretensions of superiority has his life torn apart when another man who appears to be his exact duplicate enters his life. Things are complicated further by the twin taking control of his wife, an amnesiac with a criminal background. A Snake of June (2002) once again found Tsukamoto employing the formula of two men in competition for one woman, as a young lady is blackmailed into perverse sexual behaviour against her husband's will—until her husband finds that he enjoys the blackmail more than the blackmailer does.
Vital (2004) again features a love triangle, this time consisting of two women and one man. The story concerns a young man whose girlfriend is killed in a car crash whilst being driven by him. He is a medical student and is given her body to dissect in class (whether by coincidence or intentionally is not clear). Tsukamoto also acted in and directed the short film Haze in 2005. In 2006, Tsukamoto directed the horror thriller Nightmare Detective (2006). The film centres around a vagrant with the supernatural ability to enter the dreams of others and a police officer who pleads with him to help her solve a series of bizarre murders committed by a serial killer (Tsukamoto) with a similar ability.
Tsukamoto acts in nearly all of his films, with the exception of those that he worked on as a "director for hire" (namely Hiruko the Goblin and Gemini). Tsukamoto has appeared in many other directors' films as well, such as Takashi Miike's Dead or Alive 2: Birds (2000) and Ichi the Killer (2001), as well as Teruo Ishii's Blind Beast vs. Dwarf (2001). He was the lead actor in Takashi Shimizu's Marebito (2004), and appeared more recently in Welcome to the Quiet Room (2007), Martin Scorsese's Silence (2016), and Hideaki Anno's Shin Godzilla (2016) and Shin Kamen Rider (2023).
He is also a successful voiceover artist for TV advertising in Japan. He also provided the Japanese voice of Vamp in the 2008 PlayStation 3 game Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Tsukamoto was originally set to play the character in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (after Hideo Kojima's first choice, Kaneto Shiozawa, died before casting began) but was unavailable due to scheduling conflicts, so Ryōtarō Okiayu was assigned the role instead.
Tsukamoto was a member of the jury at the Venice International Film Festival in 1997 and 2019.

## Awards

As per references:
* The Adventures of Electric Rod Boy – PIA Film Fest (Japan) – Grand Prize
* Tetsuo: The Iron Man – Fantafestival (Italy) – Grand Prize
* Tetsuo: The Iron Man – Sweden Fantastic Film Festival – Audience Award Best Feature
* Hiruko the Goblin – Fantasporto – Best Film
* Tetsuo II: Body Hammer – Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film – Silver Raven
* Tetsuo II: Body Hammer – Fantasporto – International Fantasy Film Special Jury Award
* Tetsuo II: Body Hammer – 3rd Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival (1992)
* Tokyo Fist – Sundance (Tokyo) – Grand Prize
* Bullet Ballet – Sweden Fantastic Film Festival – Jury Grand Prize
* Gemini – Neuchatel International Fantasy Film Festival – Best International Film
* A Snake of June – Venice Film Festival – Kinematrix Film Award Feature Films
* A Snake of June – Venice Film Festival – San Marco Special Jury Award
* Vital – Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film – Silver Raven
* Vital – Sitges – Catalan International Film Festival – New Visions Award
* Vital – Fantasporto – Orient Express Section Special Jury Award
* Kotoko – The Orizzonti prize at the 68th Venice International Film Festival (2011)

## Filmography

Early student films
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | DoP | Editor | Visual effects | Art director |
| 1974 | Genshi-san | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1975 | Story of a Giant Cockroach | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1975 | Wings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1976 | Cloudy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1977 | It flew in hell | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1978 | New Wings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1979 | Flying Lotus Flower | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Short film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | DoP | Editor | Notes |
| 1985 | Terry 100 Channels | Yes | No | No | No | No | Animated short |
| 1986 | The Phantom of Regular Size | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 1987 | The Adventure of Denchu-Kozo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also art director, lighting and special effects |
| 2005 | Haze | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Segment of Jeonju Digital Project; Two existing versions (25 mins, 49 mins) Also art director |
| 2005 | Tamamushi | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Segment of Female |
| 2013 | Abandoned Monster | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Segment for the film "Venice 70: Future Reloaded"; Co-directed with Kounsuke Tsukamoto |
Feature film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | DoP | Editor | Notes |
| 1989 | Tetsuo: The Iron Man | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also art director, lighting and special effects |
| 1991 | Hiruko The Goblin | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | |
| 1992 | Tetsuo II: Body Hammer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also art director |
| 1995 | Tokyo Fist | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also art director |
| 1998 | Sunday Drive | No | No | Yes | No | No | |
| 1998 | Bullet Ballet | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also art director |
| 1999 | Gemini | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 2002 | A Snake of June | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also production designer |
| 2004 | Vital | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also production designer |
| 2006 | Nightmare Detective | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also art director |
| 2008 | Nightmare Detective 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2009 | Tetsuo: The Bullet Man | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also uncredited production designer and gaffer |
| 2011 | Kotoko | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also production designer |
| 2014 | Fires on the Plain | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also production designer |
| 2018 | Killing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2023 | Shadow of Fire | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | DoP | Editor | Notes |
| 2003 | Kiko Rodoku: Meisekai of Japan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Episode "Lizard" |
| 2013 | Kaidan Horror Classics | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Episode "Hazakura and Maube" |
Commercials
* MTV Japan Station - Nine Inch Nails (1993)
* Ca'Foscari Cinema (2011)

### Acting roles

Film
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
| 1986 | The Phantom of Regular Size | | Himself | Short film |
| 1987 | The Adventure of Denchu-Kozo | Kondo | Himself | Medium-length film |
| 1989 | Tetsuo: The Iron Man | Metal Fetishist | Himself | |
| 1992 | Tetsuo II: Body Hammer | Yatsu (The Guy) | Himself | |
| 1994 | The Most Terrible Time in My Life | Yamaguchi | Kaizo Hayashi | |
| 1994 | 119 | Masaaki Tomita | Naoto Takenaka | |
| 1995 | The Stairway to the Distant Past | Yamaguchi | Kaizo Hayashi | |
| 1995 | Tokyo Fist | Tsuda Yoshiharu | Himself | |
| 1996 | Some Kinda Love | | Shunichi Nagasaki | |
| 1996 | Atlanta Boogie | | Masashi Yamamoto | |
| 1997 | Tōkyō Biyori | | Naoto Takenaka | |
| 1998 | Sunday Drive | | Hisashi Saito | |
| 1998 | Bullet Ballet | Goda | Himself | |
| 1998 | Wait and See | Doctor | Shinji Sōmai | |
| 1999 | Dogs | | Shunichi Nagasaki | |
| 1999 | The Perfect Education | Moriyama | Ben Wada | |
| 1999 | Sunday's Dream | | Yōichirō Takahashi | |
| 2000 | Dead or Alive 2: Birds | Magician Higashino | Takashi Miike | |
| 2000 | Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons | Wizard | Tomoo Haraguchi | |
| 2001 | Quartet for Two | Yuuenchi no otoko | Naoto Takenaka | |
| 2001 | Chloe | Eisuke | Gō Rijū | |
| 2001 | Blind Beast vs. Dwarf | Kogorō Akechi | Teruo Ishii | |
| 2001 | Ichi the Killer | Jijii | Takashi Miike | |
| 2001 | A Drowning Man | Tokio | Naoki Ichio | Lead role |
| 2002 | Travail | Kazuya Miyamae | Kentarō Ōtani | |
| 2002 | A Snake of June | Michiro Iguchi | Himself | |
| 2004 | Tracing Jake | | Isshin Inudo | |
| 2004 | Marebito | Masuoka | Takashi Shimizu | Lead role |
| 2004 | Otakus in Love | Noro | Suzuki Matsuo | |
| 2005 | Haze | | Himself | Medium-length film |
| 2006 | Nightmare Detective | "O" | Himself | |
| 2007 | Welcome to the Quiet Room | Asuka's ex-husband | Suzuki Matsuo | |
| 2009 | Tetsuo: The Bullet Man | Yatsu (The Guy) | Himself | |
| 2011 | Kotoko | Seitaro Tanaka | Himself | |
| 2013 | The Road Less Travelled | Sousuke Akiyama | Tomoyuki Furumaya | |
| 2014 | Fires on the Plain | Tamura | Himself | |
| 2016 | Shin Godzilla | Kunio Hazama | Hideaki Anno Shinji Higuchi | |
| 2016 | Over the Fence | Satoshi's Father | Nobuhiro Yamashita | Voice |
| 2016 | Scoop! | Taka | Hitoshi Ōne | |
| 2016 | Silence | Mokichi | Martin Scorsese | American film |
| 2018 | Killing | Jirozaemon Sawamura | Himself | |
| 2021 | Kiba: The Fangs of Fiction | Tamio Takano | Daihachi Yoshida | |
| 2021 | DIVOC-12 | Manager | Shin'ichiro Ueda | |
| 2023 | Shin Kamen Rider | Hiroshi Midorikawa | Hideaki Anno | |
| 2025 | The Brightest Sun | | Tetsuya Nakashima | |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2007 | Sexy Voice and Robo | | |
| 2009–2011 | Clouds Over the Hill | Akashi Motojiro | |
| 2010 | GeGeGe no Nyōbō | | Asadora |
| 2012 | Carnation | Takeshi Haraguchi | Asadora |
| 2016 | Tokyo Trial | Michio Takeyama | |
| 2018 | Half Blue Sky | Prof. Usakawa | Asadora |
| 2019 | Idaten | Michimasa Soejima | Taiga drama |
| 2021 | Welcome Home, Monet | Tomohisa "Tom-san" Tanaka | |
| 2022 | Lost Man Found | Himself | |
| 2023 | A Day-Off of Hana Sugisaki | | Episode 2 |

### Japanese dub

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2024 | Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman | Katagiri | | |