Hajime Tsuburaya (Japanese: 円谷 一, Hepburn: Tsuburaya Hajime, April 28, 1931 – February 9, 1973[1]) was a Japanese film and television director, producer, and cinematographer. The eldest son of Eiji Tsuburaya, he began his career on the 1954 film, Godzilla and its sequel, Godzilla Raids Again as an assistant special effects cinematographer.[2]

Hajime Tsuburaya
円谷 一
Tsuburaya in 1962
BornApril 28, 1931[a]
Tokyo, Japan
DiedFebruary 9, 1973 (aged 41)
Tokyo, Japan
Occupation(s)Director, screenwriter producer, cinematographer, lyricist, president of Tsuburaya Productions
Years active1954–1973
Children3, including Hiroshi
Parents
RelativesNoboru and Akira
(younger brothers)

Early career

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In 1959, Tsuburaya joined TBS Television as a production director.[3]

Tsuburaya Productions

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In 1970, Tsuburaya left TBS due to the death of his father and became president of Tsuburaya Productions. Having financial difficulties, the company was in a critical business situation. Declaring he couldn't serve as president and director at the same time, he became a producer. As a producer in 1970, he produced Ultra Fight. This popularity led to the demand for full-scale special effects programs in 1971 when he produced Return of Ultraman and Mirrorman, bringing about a second giant boom.[1]

Partial filmography

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Director

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Lyricist

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  • Return of Ultraman (1971) - "Return of Ultraman" / "Kaiju Ondo" [as Kyoichi Azuma]
  • Mirrorman (1971) - "Song of Mirrorman" / "Song of SGM" / "Fight! Mirrorman" [as Kyoichi Azuma]

Assistant director

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  • Cartero Carlos Fly to Japan (1963)

Special effects director

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Producer

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Assistant special effects cinematographer

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Interviewee

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References

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  1. ^ a b Tsuburaya, Hideaki; 円谷英明 (2013). Urutoraman ga naite iru : Tsuburaya Puro no shippai. Tōkyō-to Bunkyō-ku. ISBN 978-4-06-288215-6. OCLC 849874112.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b c "映画資料室". viewer.kintoneapp.com. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  3. ^ Tsuburaya purodakushon sono tanjō to seichō. Kōdansha, Tsuburaya Purodakushon, 講談社., 円谷プロダクション. Tōkyō: Kōdansha. 2020. ISBN 978-4-06-520743-7. OCLC 1193275636.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. ^ Galbraith IV 2008, p. 240.
  5. ^ a b c "円谷一". www.jmdb.ne.jp. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  6. ^ Galbraith IV 2008, p. 286.

Notes

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  1. ^ Some sources have cited Tsuburaya's birthdate as being on April 23.
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Preceded by President of Tsuburaya Productions
1969–1973
Succeeded by