Kazuo Mori photo

🎬 Director

Kazuo Mori

Lived · 78 Born · Jan 15, 1911 From · Matsuyama, Japan Films · 85

🎬 IMDb ▶ Watch movies

Biography

Kazuo Mori, also known as Issei Mori, got his start as a jidai-geki director in silent films of the 1930s. In postwar years he became a leading director at Daiei, working regularly with the studio's familiar stars like Shintaro Katsu and Raizo Ichikawa.

In the 1960s and '70s, Mori established himself alongside Kenji Misumi as one of the most dependable names in chambara franchise series, directing some of the best installments of Zatoichi, Kyoshiro Nemuri and Shinobi No Mono. Mori's work is marked by clear, intelligent storytelling and innovative camera techniques.

Known for

Zatoichi at Large poster

Zatoichi at Large

Mission: Iron Castle poster

Mission: Iron Castle

The Curse of the Ghost poster

The Curse of the Ghost

Secret Report From A House Of Women poster

Secret Report From A House Of Women

Career timeline

1983

Deadly Swords in Search of Hidden Gold

The Bored Samurai

1982

Kenkaku Shōbai: Tsujigiri

Messengers to Satsuma

The King and His Vassal 2 - The Great Riot of Edo

1981

The King and His Vassal

1972

Zatoichi at Large

1971

Wakaki hi no kōdōkan

1970

The Killer's Killer

Mission: Iron Castle

1969

Sleepy Eyes of Death 13: The Full Moon Swordsman

The Curse of the Ghost

Kanto Woman Infamy

1968

Secret Report From A House Of Women Notable

The Saga of Tanegashima

Bad Reputation: The Notorious Men and Their Specialty Notable

1967

A Killer's Key Notable

Young Boss, Fugitive Notable

A Certain Killer

1966

Wrath of Daimajin

Assignment Cloud

The Front Line Showdown Notable

1965

ほんだら剣法

Zatoichi and the Doomed Man

Shinobi No Mono 6: The Last Iga Spy

1964

The Gambling Samurai

Bad Reputation: The Big Drum Notable

Suruga Yūkyōden: Gambling Hall Robbery Notable

1963

Shinobi no Mono 3: Resurrection

Bad Reputation: The Notorious Harbor Notable

The Confusing Journey of Jirocho Notable

1962

Yôki na tono-sama

The Tale of Zatoichi Continues Notable

170 Leagues to Edo Notable

1961

The Radiant Prince Notable

Song of Sado Notable

The Old Temple Well Notable

1960

Lord Tadanao Notable

The Blind Menace

Mission Accomplished

1959

Samurai Vendetta Notable

Jirocho Fuji Notable

Lord Nobunaga's Early Days

1958

The Swishing Sword Notable

The 7th Secret Agent to Edo

Akado Suzunosuke vs. the Birdman with 3 Eyes Notable

1957

1956

Marathon Samurai

Frequently appears with

Shintarō Katsu

Hisaya Morishige

Constable Tobei

Etsushi Takahashi

Hiroki Matsukata

Kōjirō Hongō

Full filmography

Deadly Swords in Search of Hidden Gold poster

Deadly Swords in Search of Hidden Gold

The Bored Samurai poster

The Bored Samurai

Kenkaku Shōbai: Tsujigiri poster

Kenkaku Shōbai: Tsujigiri

Messengers to Satsuma poster

Messengers to Satsuma

The King and His Vassal 2 - The Great Riot of Edo poster

The King and His Vassal 2 - The Great Riot of Edo

The King and His Vassal poster

The King and His Vassal

Zatoichi at Large poster

Zatoichi at Large

Wakaki hi no kōdōkan poster

Wakaki hi no kōdōkan

The Killer's Killer poster

The Killer's Killer

Easy Money poster

Mission: Iron Castle poster

Mission: Iron Castle

Sleepy Eyes of Death 13: The Full Moon Swordsman poster

Sleepy Eyes of Death 13: The Full Moon Swordsman

The Curse of the Ghost poster

The Curse of the Ghost

Kanto Woman Infamy poster

Kanto Woman Infamy

Kanto Onna Gokudo poster

Kanto Onna Gokudo

出獄四十八時間 poster

出獄四十八時間

Secret Report From A House Of Women poster

Secret Report From A House Of Women

The Saga of Tanegashima poster

The Saga of Tanegashima

Bad Reputation: The Notorious Men and Their Specialty poster

Bad Reputation: The Notorious Men and Their Specialty

A Killer's Key poster

Continue exploring

🎯

Curated collectionsMovies by mood & theme

Zatoichi at LargeView movie page

Mission: Iron CastleView movie page