# Tokuzō Tanaka

Tokuzō Tanaka (田中徳三, Tanaka Tokuzō, September 15, 1920 – December 20, 2007) was a Japanese film director. He is well known for directing the Zatoichi and Nemuri Kyōshirō film series.

## Biography

Tanaka graduated from Kwansei Gakuin University. In 1948, he joined the Daiei studio and started working as an assistant director under Kon Ichikawa, Kenji Mizoguchi and Kazuo Mori etc. In 1958, Tanaka was promoted to director and debuted with Bakeneko Goyōda. Tanaka received the Japan Directors Guild Special award for his Akumyō series films. In 1971, he was released from his contract with Daiei and become a freelance director when the studio shut down film production. As a freelance director he directed a lot of jidaigeki television dramas such as Hissatsu series.
His final work was in the 2007 short film Shonen Kawachiondotori Monogatari. In December 2007, he died of Intracranial hemorrhage.

## Selected filmography

| Title | Release date | Notes |
| Rashomon 羅生門 | 1950 | Assistant director |
| The Tales of the Wave after the Rain Moon 雨月物語 | 1953 | Assistant director |
| Sansho the Bailiff 山椒大夫 | 1954 | Assistant director |
| The Crucified Lovers 近松物語 | 1954 | Assistant director |
| Bakeneko Goyōda 化け猫御用だ | 1958 | |
| Ukare Sandogasa 浮かれ三度笠 | 1959 | |
| The Demon of Mount Oe 大江山酒天童子 Oe-yama Shutendōshi | 1960 | |
| Nuregami Botan 濡れ髪牡丹 | 1961 | |
| Akumyō 悪名 | 1961 | |
| Hanakurabe Tanuki Dōchu 花くらべ狸道中 | 1961 | |
| Ken ni Kakeru 剣に賭ける | 1962 | |
| Kujira Gami 鯨神 | 1962 | |
| Enter Kyōshirō Nemuri the Swordman 眠狂四郎殺法帖 Nemuri Kyōshirō Sappōjō | 1963 | |
| New Tale of Zatoichi 新・座頭市物語 Shin Zatōichi Monogatari | 1963 | |
| Shutō 手討 | 1963 | |
| Zatoichi the Fugitive 座頭市兇状旅 Zatōichi Kyōjōtabi | 1963 | |
| Shinobi no Mono 4 Siege 忍びの者　霧隠才蔵 Shinobi no Mono Kirigakure Saizō | 1963 | |
| Yadonashi Inu 宿無し犬 | 1964 | |
| Kojiki Taishō 乞食大将 | 1964 | |
| Hoodlum Soldier and the C.O. 続・兵隊やくざ | 1965 | |
| Akai Shuriken 赤い手裏剣 | 1965 | |
| Ootate Orochi 大殺陣 雄呂血 | 1965 | |
| Zatoichi's Vengeance 座頭市の歌が聞える | 1966 | |
| Assignment Dragon No.3 陸軍中野学校　竜三号指令 | 1966 | |
| Hoodlum Soldier on the Attack 兵隊やくざ殴り込み Heitai Yakuza Nagurikomi | 1967 | |
| Heitai Yakuza Ore ni Makasero 兵隊やくざ　俺にまかせろ | 1967 | |
| The Night Flying ひき裂かれた盛装 Hikisakareta Shōsō | 1967 | |
| Sleepy Eyes of Death 10: Hell Is a Woman 眠狂四郎女地獄 Nemuri Kyōshirō Jorōjigoku | 1967 | |
| The Snow Woman 怪談雪女郎 Kaidan Yukijorō | 1968 | |
| Secrets of a Women's Temple 秘録おんな寺 Hiroku Onnadera | 1969 | |
| Tejō Muyō 手錠無用 | 1969 | |
| Haunted Castle 秘録怪猫伝 Hiroku Kaibōden | 1969 | |
| Tobira wa Hirakareta 扉はひらかれた | 1975 | |
| Shōnen Kawachiond Monogatari 少年河内音頭取り物語 | 2007 | |

### Television

* Ronin of the Wilderness (1972-74)
* Nemuri Kyōshirō(1972) (ep.2,4,13,14,19 and 20)
* Hissatsu Shiokinin (1973) (ep.20)
* Tasukenin Hashiru (1973-74) (ep.18,19,23,24,28,31 and 34)
* Kurayami Shitomenin (1974) (ep.5,6,15 and 20)
* Kenkaku Shōbai (ep.2,4,12 and 13)
* Amigasa Jūbei (1974-75) (ep.1,2,16,17 and 18)
* Nagasaki Hangachōu (1975) (ep.9,10 and 16)
* Hissatsu Shiokiya Kagyō (1975) (ep.24)
* Zatoichi (1974-78) Season One Episode 6,7,and 10 (1974) S2 Episode 9, 12 (1976) S4 Episode 20 (1979)
* Akō Rōshi (1979) (ep.3,4,9,10 and 11)
* Hissatsu Shigotonin (1979-81) (ep.19,21,28, 42,43,47,48,52,53,58,59,66,69,70,75,77 and 80)
* Shin Hissatsu Shigotonin (1981-82) (ep.3,9,10,14,15,20,29,30,35,37,43,47,52 and 53)
* Hissatsu Shigotonin III (1982-83) (ep.1,3,6,12,16,24,25 and 32)
* Hissatsu Watashinin (1983) (ep.1,2 and 6)
* Hissatsu Shigotonin IV (1983-84) (ep.1,2,4,8,9,15,21,29,32 and 38)
* Hissatsu Shikirinin (1984) (ep.13 and 15)
* Hissatsu Shigotonin V (1985) (ep.3,6 and 11)
* Hissatsu Shigotonin V Gekitouhen (ep.5)
* Hissatsu Shigotonin V Senpuhen (1986-87) (ep. 3,6 and 9)
* Nemuri Kyōshirō (1989) (TV Movie)
* Abare Hasshū Goyō Tabi (1990-91) (Season1, ep.1,3 and 6), (Season2, ep.10,12,22 and 23)