Toshiaki Toyoda (豊田利晃, Toyoda Toshiaki, born March 10, 1969, in Osaka)[1] is a Japanese film director and screenwriter.
Born in Osaka Prefecture, Toyoda was first a prodigy in the game of shogi or Japanese chess.
He attended the Japan Shogi Association's apprenticeship (Shōreikai) from age 9 with the aim of becoming a professional player.
[1] Moving to Tokyo at age 21, he began working with producer Genjirō Arato and director Junji Sakamoto, assisting the latter on the shogi-related film Ōte, for which he helped pen the script.
[2] His career continued to rise through films like Blue Spring and 9 Souls, but he suffered a setback when he was arrested on drug charges just before Hanging Garden was released in 2005.