Yoshihiro Nakamura is a Japanese film director and screenwriter widely recognized for his unique storytelling and genre-blending works. He gained international attention with his 2009 film Fish Story, which premiered at the New York Asian Film Festival and became known for its inventive narrative that links a punk song to the saving of the world. Another notable success, A Boy and His Samurai (2010), a heartwarming time-travel comedy-drama, won the Audience Award at the 2011 New York Asian Film Festival, further solidifying his reputation abroad.
Born on August 25, 1970, in Ibaraki Prefecture, Nakamura studied arts and literature at Seijo University, where he joined the Film Research Club and began making 8 mm films. His early work, Summer Rain Kitchen, earned him the Grand Prix at the 1993 PIA Film Festival. He then honed his craft as an assistant director under renowned filmmakers such as Yoichi Sai, Hideyuki Hirayama, and Juzo Itami. In 1999, Nakamura made his directorial debut with Local News, marking the start of a diverse and prolific career. He also contributed to the popular It’s True! Cursed Films series and later served as its narrator.
In addition to his solo work, Nakamura has collaborated with screenwriter Ken’ichi Suzuki and editor Tooru Hosokawa, forming the conte unit “Assembly of Little Pigeons” in 2004. This collaborative approach has influenced the quirky and humanistic sensibility of many of his films. In 2007, he received the Kaneto Shindō Prize, awarded to Japan’s most promising new director, affirming his place as a vital voice in contemporary Japanese cinema.
