Film director Toshio Masuda, who directed several Space Battleship Yamato films, has died at the age of 98.
In an obituary published by the Yomiuri Shimbun yesterday, 24 September, Japanese film director Toshio Masuda died of natural causes on 26 August, 2026 at the age of 98.
Masuda was best known for his work during Nikkatsu's golden age, where he directed films starring Yujiro Ishihara, including Rusty Knife, Red Quay, and Red Handkerchief.
His career later expanded into large-scale productions across several genres, including the 1970 American-Japanese war film Tora! Tora! Tora! and the 1974 disaster film The Prophecies of Nostradamus, before jumping into anime with Space Battleship Yamato.
Toshio Masuda's work on Space Battleship Yamato
Masuda entered the anime industry through producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki, who wanted to bring elements of live-action filmmaking into the Space Battleship Yamato franchise. A fan of Masuda's Nikkatsu action films with Yujiro Ishihara, Nishizaki invited him to work on the anime adaptation of Leiji Matsumoto's science fiction series.
Between 1977 and 1983, Masuda directed or co-directed all five Space Battleship Yamato films.
The first Space Battleship Yamato film became a major hit in Japan and is often credited as one of the works that helped usher in the golden age of anime.
Masuda later returned to the franchise as a producer on Space Battleship Yamato: Resurrection in 2009.
A career spanning film and anime
Masuda joined Shintoho in 1950, where he worked as a screenwriter and assistant director before moving to Nikkatsu. He made his directorial debut in 1958. His third film, Rusty Knife, became his first major hit and began his long collaboration with Yujiro Ishihara. Masuda directed 25 films starring Ishihara, more than any other director at Nikkatsu.
He left Nikkatsu in 1968 to work as a freelance director, going on to helm major productions including Tora! Tora! Tora! after Akira Kurosawa's departure from the project.
Masuda received the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon in 1993 and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in 1999.
He is survived by his eldest daughter, Noriko. His funeral was held privately with close family members.