Izuru Narushima

Izuru Narushima was born on 16 April 1961 in Kofu, the capital of Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. He grew up in Kofu and attended Yamanashi Prefectural Kofu Higashi High School. Little has been made public about his parents or childhood.

After high school Narushima entered the Faculty of Letters at Komazawa University in Tokyo. He began making films in the university film club, which set the direction of his life, but he left the university before graduating. In 1986 his film Midori Onna was selected for the PIA Film Festival, where Kazuhiko Hasegawa and Nagisa Oshima urged him to become a director. He then spent about five years learning under Hasegawa, joined the circle of the production company Director's Company, studied screenwriting with Azuma Morisaki and Hasegawa, and worked as an assistant director to Shinji Somai and Hideyuki Hirayama.

Narushima first made his name as a screenwriter. He debuted with Osaka Gokudo Senso: Shinoidare in 1994 and went on to write or adapt Shabu Gokudo (1996), Koi Gokudo (1997), The Boy Who Saw the Wind (2000), Shojo: An Adolescent (2001), The Laughing Frog (2002), T.R.Y. (2003), Shin Jingi Naki Tatakai: Bosatsu (2003), Runin (2004), Japan Sinks (2006), Tsukiji Uogashi Sandaime (2008), Climber's High (2008, co-written) and No-Otoko (2013, co-written).

He moved into directing with The Hunter and the Hunted (Yudan Taiteki, 2004), followed by Fly, Daddy, Fly (2005), Midnight Eagle (2007), Love Fight (2008) and The Lone Scalpel (2010). Rebirth (2011) became his best known film and swept the Japan Academy Film Prize. He then directed Isoroku (2011), A Chair on the Plains (2013), Cape Nostalgia (2014), Solomon's Perjury parts one and two (2015), To Each His Own (2017), Good-Bye (2020), A Morning of Farewell (2021), Familia (2023), Father of the Milky Way Railroad (2023) and 52-Hertz Whales (2024). He was represented by the agencies Jingumae Produce and Uncut.

Narushima kept his private life out of the public eye, and the names of his family members have not been made public. His agency asked the media not to contact his bereaved family directly. A Nikkan Sports reporter recalled that he greeted people with a broad smile. Koji Yakusho, who starred in several of his films, said the two had exchanged letters about the summer heat as recently as mid-July 2026.

Critics and colleagues credited Narushima with a precise sense of structure from his years as a screenwriter, and with the ability to turn popular novels into entertaining films without losing the shape of the original story. Sports Hochi wrote that he portrayed the delicate movements of the human heart with great care. His later films often dealt with families, illness, care and second chances, themes that also touched his own life after his cancer diagnosis.

Rebirth remains one of the most decorated films in Japan Academy Film Prize history, with ten awards including Picture of the Year. Solomon's Perjury and Cape Nostalgia brought him wide audiences and international recognition, and his collaborations with Koji Yakusho and Sayuri Yoshinaga became an important part of both actors' later careers. After his death tributes came from across Japanese cinema, and his agency said it would continue to protect and pass on the works he poured his passion into.

Fujimoto Prize, newcomer award (The Hunter and the Hunted, 2004). Yokohama Film Festival, best new director (The Hunter and the Hunted). Takasaki Film Festival, young director grand prix (Fly, Daddy, Fly). Japan Academy Film Prize, Excellent Screenplay (Climber's High, 32nd awards). Japan Academy Film Prize, Excellent Director (The Lone Scalpel, 34th; Cape Nostalgia, 38th; A Morning of Farewell, 45th). Japan Academy Film Prize, Director of the Year (Rebirth, 35th), with the film winning ten awards including Picture of the Year. Art Encouragement Prize from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, film category (Rebirth). Hochi Film Award for Best Picture for Rebirth and again for Solomon's Perjury. Montreal World Film Festival, Special Grand Prix of the Jury and Ecumenical Jury prize (Cape Nostalgia, 2014). KINOTAYO Japanese film festival, jury prize (Father of the Milky Way Railroad, 2023).

As director: The Hunter and the Hunted (2004); Fly, Daddy, Fly (2005); Midnight Eagle (2007); Love Fight (2008); The Lone Scalpel (2010); Rebirth (2011); Isoroku (2011); A Chair on the Plains (2013); Cape Nostalgia (2014); Solomon's Perjury 1: Suspicion and Solomon's Perjury 2: Judgment (2015); To Each His Own (2017); Good-Bye (2020); A Morning of Farewell (2021); Familia (2023); Father of the Milky Way Railroad (2023); 52-Hertz Whales (2024).

As screenwriter: Osaka Gokudo Senso: Shinoidare (1994); Shabu Gokudo (1996); Koi Gokudo (1997); The Boy Who Saw the Wind (2000); Shojo: An Adolescent (2001); The Laughing Frog (2002); T.R.Y. (2003); Japan Sinks (2006); Climber's High (2008); No-Otoko (2013). Television: Keiji Ou! (1996) and Saiaku (2001).

Izuru Narushima died of lung cancer at a hospital in Tokyo on 24 August 2026, aged 65. According to people close to him, he had been fighting cancer for several years while continuing to work. His agency announced his death on 28 August 2026. The funeral was held privately with relatives only, in line with his strong wishes, and no farewell gathering was planned. His agency said condolence money, flowers and offerings were respectfully declined.