Surprised that this hasn't been posted already. Kon Ichikawa died of pneumonia yesterday in Tokyo at age 92. He was essentially the last surviving major director from the "golden age" of postwar Japanese cinema, and as such his passing signals the end of an era.

AP obit

I recently picked up used VHS copies at a Japanese video store of his films, ODD OBSESSION and a two-tape set of TOKYO OLYMPIAD. I think I paid $5 for each. Now I've gotta watch them.

Here's the NYT obit.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/movies/1...ies&oref=slogin

FIRES ON THE PLAIN is my favorite Ichikawa film.

I also think THE TEMPLE OF THE GOLDEN PAVILLION, ODD OBSESSION and THE BURMES HARP are great films.

RIP, Kon

FIRES ON THE PLAIN is a terrific film from a terrific book, one of the very best adaptations. That he kept working till age 90 is an admirable feat.

Some notes on various Ichikawa films:

Goodbye, Hello (1959):
http://rozmon.blogspot.com/2007/12/watched...7-ichikawa.html

Makioka Sisters (1983):
http://rozmon.blogspot.com/2007/07/sasamey...-two-tales.html

The Hole (1957):
http://rozmon.blogspot.com/2007/07/watched...ai-j-and-k.html

The Crowded Street Car / The Full-Up Train (1957):
http://rozmon.blogspot.com/2007/07/watched...-2007-imai.html

Ten Dark Women (1961):
http://rozmon.blogspot.com/2007/04/watched...16-22-2007.html

Burmese Harp (1956):
http://rozmon.blogspot.com/2007/04/watched...l-2-8-2007.html

MEK