Born in Takarazuka in Kobe on 13.9.1931. He joined Shochiku studios in 1954, where realistic comedies were to become hi speciality. From 1969-95 he wrote and directed almost all 48 films of a series featuring the scoundrel Tora-san. The series was to become one of the most successful in the history of cinema. BUSHI NO ICHIBUN is Yamada’s 78th film and, following the success of TASOGARE SEIBEI and KAKUSHI KEN – ONI NO TSUME, marks his third samurai film based on a short story by Shuhei Fujisawa.
