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Welcome to our 16th week of movie-themed exploration here at Freddy's Cine It! 


After growing weary of the repeated offerings from Luc Besson, I've decided to journey far from the familiar scenes of France and Hollywood. This week, we're venturing into Japan to celebrate the works of Yoshihiro Nakamura. I chose Nakamura because his film "Fish Story" stands as one of my all-time favorites, despite it being the only film of his I've seen.

Yoshihiro Nakamura, born on August 25, 1970, in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, is a highly regarded film director and screenwriter. He was deeply influenced by the film "Marusa no Onna," which he watched repeatedly during his high school years. This experience sparked his interest in filmmaking, leading him to pursue film studies at Seijo University where he joined the Film Research Club and began making 8mm films. His early experiences in university were formative, helping him to cultivate his skills in filmmaking and storytelling.

Nakamura's professional journey began as an assistant director, where he worked with established directors such as Yōichi Sai, Hideyuki Hirayama, and Jūzō Itami, gaining invaluable experience. He made his directorial debut in 1999 with the film "Local News." Over the years, Nakamura has developed a versatile filmmaking style, often writing the scripts for his films, which include notable works like "The Booth," "Fish Story," and "The Foreign Duck, the Native Duck and God in a Coin Locker."

His work has been recognized with several awards, notably the Kaneto Shindō Prize in 2007, which acknowledged him as a promising new director. Nakamura's career is characterized by a diverse range of themes and storytelling techniques, reflecting his deep engagement with the craft of cinema.


"If I were to send a message based on my experiences as a film director, it would be 'don’t brush off what you find interesting.' When I was actively seeking awards and recognition, I couldn’t make good films at all. It wasn’t until I changed my mindset in college to ‘just do what I like’ that I started receiving evaluations."

- Yoshihiro Nakamura

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