Kenji Misumi
Japanese film director
- Born
- 2 March 1921, Kyoto
- Died
- 24 September 1975
- Citizenship
- Japan, Empire of Japan
- Occupation
- film director
- Films here
- 15
Kenji Misumi (三隅 研次, Misumi Kenji) (2 March 1921 – 24 September 1975) was a Japanese film director. He created film series such as Lone Wolf and Cub and the initial film in the long-running Zatoichi series, and also directed Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice, starring Shintaro Katsu. He died at age 54.
In 2012, his 1973 film Sakura no Daimon was voted for by Makoto Shinozaki at the BFI The Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time.
Filmography (martial arts films)
| Year | Film | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Gonpachi | Director |
| 1957 | Freelance Samurai | Director |
| 1958 | Travels of Lord Mito | Director |
| 1962 | The Tale of Zatoichi | Director |
| 1964 | On the Road Forever | Director |
| 1964 | Sleepy Eyes of Death: Sword of Adventure | Director |
| 1964 | Ken | Director |
| 1965 | Sword Devil | Director |
| 1965 | Sleepy Eyes of Death: Sword of Fire | Director |
| 1969 | The Magoichi Saga | Director |
| 1972 | Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance | Director |
| 1972 | Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades | Director |
| 1972 | Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx | Director |
| 1973 | Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons | Director |
| 1980 | Shogun Assassin | Director |
Frequent collaborators
- Ichikawa Raizō VIII
- Tomisaburō Wakayama
- Shintarō Katsu
- Tokiko Mita
- Toshio Chiba
- Kayo Matsuo
- Akiji Kobayashi
- Shin Kishida
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q3028216 (CC0); quoted introduction from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.