{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "@id": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/239551/nobuo-nakagawa",
  "name": "Nobuo Nakagawa",
  "url": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/239551/nobuo-nakagawa",
  "knownForDepartment": "Directing",
  "description": "Nobuo Nakagawa (中川 信夫, Nakagawa Nobuo, April 18, 1905 – June 17, 1984) was a Japanese film director, most famous for the stylized, folk tale-influenced horror films he made in the 1950s and 1960s.\n\nBorn in Kyoto, Nakagawa was early on influenced by proletarian literature and wrote amateur film reviews for the Kinema Junpō film magazine. He joined Makino Film Productions in 1929 as an assistant director and worked under Masahiro Makino. When that studio went bankrupt in 1932, he switched to Utaemon Ichikawa's production company and made his debut as a director in 1934 with Yumiya Hachiman Ken. He later moved to Toho, where he made comedies starring Enoken and even documentaries during the war. It was at Shintoho after the war that he became known for his cinematic adaptations of Japanese Kaidan, especially his masterful version of Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan in 1959.\n\nTo Western audiences, his most famous film is Jigoku (1960), which he also co-wrote. The film was released on DVD by the Criterion Collection in 2006.\n\nHe also filmed many Kaidan for television. His last film was 1982's Kaidan: Ikiteiru Koheiji.",
  "birthDate": "1905-04-18",
  "deathDate": "1984-06-17",
  "birthPlace": "Kyōto, Kyōto Prefecture, Japan",
  "alternateName": [
    "Nakagawa Nobuo",
    "노부오 나카가와",
    "나카가와 노부오"
  ],
  "image": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/rIrLZ8N0nlclzEmY5qNKP6boO2R.jpg",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0619966"
  ],
  "lastVerified": "5 May 2026",
  "filmography": [
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 5157,
      "title": "Ultraman Leo",
      "year": "1974",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.8,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/h9oQemLAWQaGEKG5IrujpxUqoBM.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/5157/ultraman-leo-1974"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 33630,
      "title": "Playgirl",
      "year": "1969",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/w3gQ8HuMpwtETzryLd50avZnJhn.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/33630/playgirl-1969"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 195818,
      "title": "Japanese Masterpiece Ghost Story Theatre",
      "year": "1979",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/kAbFnW551QorTU5mmhD4o7HvoVh.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/195818/japanese-masterpiece-ghost-story-theatre-1979"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 390538,
      "title": "The Vampire Moth",
      "year": "1956",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 4.667,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/usw9Xd6wfm9IR9K1c5VxRPwWFwb.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/390538/the-vampire-moth-1956"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 431496,
      "title": "Stray Sheep",
      "year": "1955",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7,
      "posterUrl": null,
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/431496/stray-sheep-1955"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 64669,
      "title": "Quick-draw Okatsu",
      "year": "1969",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.179,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/AjxMB4hWf9qotfSn9eMkO9Qfyw.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/64669/quick-draw-okatsu-1969"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 916340,
      "title": "An Edoite Judge",
      "year": "1953",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/fGATdMs5hS3FwpwJg24a8YheooH.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/916340/an-edoite-judge-1953"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 415974,
      "title": "The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku",
      "year": "1961",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/zqxoRaQmkrpWez0UXHo2vBMzb0z.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/415974/the-man-who-challenged-8-000-000-koku-1961"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 50173,
      "title": "Jigoku",
      "year": "1960",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.4,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/ehiMOuKE7i9WHgvs7dSIZelsHwA.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/50173/jigoku-1960"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 367844,
      "title": "Samurai Hawk",
      "year": "1961",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.2,
      "posterUrl": null,
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/367844/samurai-hawk-1961"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 396220,
      "title": "The Phantom Goblin",
      "year": "1962",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/2ykSdRGDciKQ8hGBxiDZk9XF7pV.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/396220/the-phantom-goblin-1962"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 107413,
      "title": "Snake Woman's Curse",
      "year": "1968",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/hHypkJcUwqt5tGW25y0a4KZoAQM.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/107413/snake-woman-s-curse-1968"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 1099268,
      "title": "Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Coral Mansion",
      "year": "1962",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/bE9okuTCPztwag4lG5WBivh4ya9.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/1099268/bored-hatamoto-the-mysterious-coral-mansion-1962"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 391702,
      "title": "Chutaro of Banba",
      "year": "1955",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/t9zcHbImrSP6g0GaMYGBjgQta5h.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/391702/chutaro-of-banba-1955"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 100463,
      "title": "Black Cat Mansion",
      "year": "1958",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.526,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/8avPh20Tz1MdiqcRLz6HdYdt1X6.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/100463/black-cat-mansion-1958"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 491502,
      "title": "Showdown at Lightning Pass",
      "year": "1962",
      "role": "Screenplay",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 10,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/8aPbVO8m8hIvrbsbwd425QEGL9.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/491502/showdown-at-lightning-pass-1962"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 84508,
      "title": "The Ghost of Yotsuya",
      "year": "1959",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.475,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/ZMPk7bZo1YE6eStUebqkYio9xd.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/84508/the-ghost-of-yotsuya-1959"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 367534,
      "title": "Kaachan",
      "year": "1961",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 10,
      "posterUrl": null,
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/367534/kaachan-1961"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 399430,
      "title": "Late Night Confession",
      "year": "1949",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7,
      "posterUrl": null,
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/399430/late-night-confession-1949"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 90945,
      "title": "Okatsu the Fugitive",
      "year": "1969",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.438,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/mVVRXhtnTStOlz375ZEMQ8K7c81.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/90945/okatsu-the-fugitive-1969"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 916329,
      "title": "Sunset Over Mount Fuji",
      "year": "1952",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": null,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/zXyl2aqaflnh2TpzE6EohgotAck.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/916329/sunset-over-mount-fuji-1952"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 916309,
      "title": "Today is Payday",
      "year": "1952",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 9,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/gKRkGAy3vctq8YKiHilmcvgoaMD.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/916309/today-is-payday-1952"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 761952,
      "title": "Kisan Detective Story: The Mysterious Doll-Maker",
      "year": "1953",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 10,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/30T0NQ6f2hvWeIYIpDXLxmgCvln.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/761952/kisan-detective-story-the-mysterious-doll-maker-1953"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 399426,
      "title": "Kagebôshi: The Shadow Avenger",
      "year": "1959",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 10,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/vQYvsm3SLH4AYYieAYZAhEk7wt5.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/399426/kageboshi-the-shadow-avenger-1959"
    }
  ]
}