
Yōzō Tanaka
Personal Info
Known for
Writing
Gender
Male
Birthday
1939-05-17 (85 years old)
Place of Birth
Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan
Yōzō Tanaka
Biography
Yōzō Tanaka is a Japanese screenwriter. He was born in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. After joining the production department of Nichigeki Music Hall, he started writing radio scripts. While he was a student at Waseda University, he met Atsushi Yamatoya and Kaname Kawachi. Before becoming a screenwriter, Tanaka worked as a reporter, conducting a series of interviews with eccentrics in the magazine Weekly Sankei. After joining Nikkatsu, he joined a screenwriting team led by director Seijun Suzuki. Individuals in this group such as Tanaka, Yamatoya, and Chūsei Sone also contributed to various projects at Wakamatsu Productions during this period of the 1960s.
He is also a driving force behind the heyday of Nikkatsu Roman Porno, writing numerous screenplays. He continued to collaborate with fellow veterans of the aforementioned series such as Shinji Sōmai and Kichitaro Negishi.
His disciples include Haruhiko Arai and Miho Nakazono.
In 2005, he worked as an associate professor at the Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts.
In 2017, a book of Yōzō Tanaka's essays and other archival materials such as interviews and screenplays was published.
Known For
Crew
(2025)
Yasuko, Songs of Days Past
Screenplay
(2010)
The Last Ronin
Screenplay
(2009)
Villon's Wife
Screenplay
(2004)
Translucent Tree
Writer
(1996)
New Ghost Pub
Screenplay
(1994)
The Friends
Screenplay
(1994)
Ghost Pub
Screenplay
(1991)
Yumeji
Screenplay
(1987)
Luminous Woman
Screenplay
(1987)
The Lady in a Black Dress
Screenplay
(1986)
(1986)
Cabaret
Screenplay
(1985)
Moment of Demon
Screenplay
(1985)
Lost Chapter of Snow: Passion
Screenplay
(1984)
Shanghai Rhapsody
Screenplay
(1984)
Make-Up
Screenplay
(1983)
The Catch
Screenplay
(1981)
Baian the Assassin
Screenplay
(1981)
Female Teacher: Dirty Afternoon
Screenplay
(1981)
Sailor Suit and Machine Gun
Screenplay
(1981)
Love Letter
Screenplay
(1981)
Kagero-za
Screenplay
(1980)
Woman's Trail: Wet Path
Screenplay
(1980)
Zigeunerweisen
Screenplay
(1979)
Forbidden Ordeal
Screenplay
(1979)
The Rivals
Screenplay
(1979)
The Inferno
Screenplay
(1979)
Secret of One Summer
Screenplay
(1979)
The Shogun Assassins
Screenplay
(1979)
No Grave for Us
Screenplay
(1978)
Young Beast: Secret Pleasures
Screenplay
(1978)
(1978)
Mrs. Muremure
Screenplay
(1977)
(1977)
Case of the Disjointed Murder
Screenplay
(1977)
Hell's Angels: Crimson Roar
Screenplay
(1977)
In the Realm of Sex
Screenplay
(1977)
Ah! That Pep Squad 3 -Tears of a Man-
Screenplay
(1977)
Gate of Flesh
Screenplay
(1976)
Violent Panic: The Big Crash
Screenplay
(1976)
Tsumatachi no gogo wa yori: kannō no ori
Screenplay
(1976)
(1976)
Ah! That Pep Squad
Screenplay
(1976)
Ah! That Pep Squad 2 -Put on a Good Act-
Screenplay
(1975)
Virgin Breaker Yuki
Screenplay
(1975)
Story of a Nymphomaniac
Screenplay
(1975)
Hanjiro, A Great Philanderer
Screenplay
(1975)
(1975)
Housewife's Experience: Tenement
Screenplay
(1974)
Zoku tameiki
Screenplay
(1974)
(1974)
Morning Frenzy
Screenplay
(1974)
Hihon: Sode to sode
Screenplay
(1974)
Flower & Snake
Screenplay
(1974)
Wife to Be Sacrificed
Screenplay
(1974)
(1973)
Trapped in Lust
Screenplay
(1973)
Yakuza Justice: Erotic Code of Honor
Screenplay
(1973)
A Mummy’s Love
Screenplay
(1973)
College Girls: Sex Equation
Screenplay
(1973)
Handbook on Love
Screenplay
(1973)
Sigh
Screenplay
(1973)
The Hell-Fated Courtesan
Screenplay
(1973)
(1973)
(1972)
Secret Chronicle: Prostitution Market
Screenplay
(1972)
(1972)
Maruhi: Benten gokaichō
Screenplay
(1967)
Branded to Kill
Screenplay
(1966)
Season of Betrayal
Assistant Director, Screenplay