Kihachi Okamoto
Yamazaki graduated from Haiyuza Theatre Company and joined Bungakuza in 1959. He made his film debut in Kihachi Okamoto`s "Daigaku no sanzôkutachi" in 1960. In 1961, he received the Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year.In 1963, he appeared in Akira Kurosawa's "High and Low". He worked with Kurosawa twice more: in the director's next film, 1965's "Red Beard", then fifteen years later, in "Kagemusha".