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Hello. Hello and welcome to the History of Japan podcast, Episode 236, Never Look Away.

Today I want to do an episode I've been thinking about for a good while now, because it's the story of someone whose work I really admire. But I feel like now is a particularly good time for it,

for reasons that are entirely selfish on my part. You see, in my day job, I've gotten roped into

a hugely enjoyable role as the coordinator of the school film club,

which is awesome, but also means I've had to learn things about film

in order to not sound like a total moron.

And that, in turn, has given me a renewed appreciation for the work of easily the greatest

director in the entire history of Japanese cinema and arguably one of the

best in the entire world, Kurosawa Akira. And before any of you come at me with something

about Ozu Yasu Jiro being a better director, know that your opinions are valued on this podcast,

but that that specific one is categorically wrong. So, Kurosawa Akiro is born in Tokyo,

specifically the Omori district to the south of Shinagawa in 1910.

...