Tadashi Sawashima

He died on 27 January 2018 of multiple organ failure at the age of 91.

He joined the Toei Studio in 1950 and worked as an assistant director under Masahiro Makino and Kunio Watanabe before debuting as a director in 1957 with Torawakamaru the Koga Ninja.

[1] He is most known for his work in Toei's ninkyo eiga series, but he also directed entertainment jidaigeki featuring Hibari Misora, Chiemi Eri, and Kinnosuke Nakamura.

[1] In his final years, he had been attempting to film a version of the Chushingura story, but did not succeed.

[1] He was given a Special Award at the 40th Japan Academy Prize ceremony in 2017 for his career in cinema.