New Book Announcement: This is the True Posthumous Work. Yoichi Sai, the Man Who Shook the Japanese Film Industry, Tells His 'Fight-Ready' Film Life in One Volume
DU BOOKS will publish "Film Director Yoichi Sai: Film is Struggle!", a book reconstructing the late director Yoichi Sai's final conversations, on June 9, 2026. This volume, a powerful testament in his own words, traces his tumultuous life from his upbringing as a Zainichi Korean to his achievements as a film director and his activities with the Japan Film Directors Association.
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DU BOOKS, the publishing division of Disk Union Co., Ltd. (Chiyoda-ku / Representative Director: Masahiko Hirohata), will release "Film Director Yoichi Sai: Film is Struggle!" (Authored by Yoichi Sai, Edited by Naofumi Higuchi + Masaaki Nomura + Noriki Ishitobi) on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
Director Yoichi Sai, who radically led the Japanese film industry. This book, reconstructed from his conversations totaling 12 hours in his final years, with film critic and director Naofumi Higuchi ("The Demon of the Film Suna no Utsuwa") and others serving as interviewers, traces his journey through Director Sai's own lighthearted yet intense narrative, truly a "testament of his whole being."
■ Highlights of This Book
- Youth/Adolescence: His father was an activist from the Korean Peninsula. As a second-generation Zainichi Korean, he spent his childhood in a home monitored by public security. From Korean high school, where revolutionaries and yakuza mingled, to the "Red Photography School," he was engrossed in student movements.
- Assistant Director Era: After dropping out of photography school, he entered the film industry as a lighting assistant. Later, he became an assistant director. He was discovered by director Nagisa Oshima in "In the Realm of the Senses" ('76) and also studied under renowned directors like Toru Murakawa.
- Director Era: He made his feature film directorial debut with "Jukkai no Mosquito" ('83), starring and written by Yuya Uchida. After collaborating with his close friend Yusaku Matsuda and working on Kadokawa films, he swept film awards with "All Under the Moon" ('93). His shocking work "Blood and Bones" ('04), starring Takeshi Kitano, won the Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Director. As the 8th chairman of the Japan Film Directors Association, he also dedicated himself to activities advocating for copyright attribution to directors.
■ Author Biography
Yoichi Sai
Born in 1949. After dropping out of photography school, he entered the film industry as a lighting assistant. He served as an assistant director under renowned directors such as Nagisa Oshima and Toru Murakawa, and made his theatrical film directorial debut in 1983 with "Jukkai no Mosquito," starring and written by Yuya Uchida, which was also screened at the Venice Film Festival.
In 1993, he received numerous film awards for "All Under the Moon," suddenly gaining prominence.
In 1996, he studied abroad at Yonsei University in Korea. After returning to Japan, he resumed his directorial activities, releasing acclaimed works such as "Blood and Bones" starring Takeshi Kitano in 2004, for which he received the Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Director.
As the 8th chairman of the Japan Film Directors Association, he also dedicated himself to activities advocating for copyright attribution to directors.
After publicly announcing his battle with cancer in January 2022, he continued to actively participate in talk shows and "DOMMUNE" until his passing on November 27, 2022.
■ Editor Biographies
*Interviews and media appearances are welcome at any time. Please feel free to contact us.
Naofumi Higuchi
Born in 1962. Graduated from Waseda University, Faculty of Political Science and Economics. Author of numerous works re-examining post-war Japanese film history. Film critic and director. His major works include "Nagisa Oshima Complete Film Secret Document Collection" (Kokushokankokai / Kinema Junpo Film Book Grand Prize 2021 First Place), "All About Nagisa Oshima" (Kinema Junpo-sha), "Akira Kurosawa's Film Techniques" (Chikuma Shobo), "Akio Jissoji: The Genius's Cathedral" (Alpha Beta), "Good Morning, Godzilla: Director Ishiro Honda and the Studio Era" (Chikuma Shobo / reprinted by Kokushokankokai), "The Demon of the Film Suna no Utsuwa: Director Yoshitaro Nomura and Seicho Matsumoto Films" (Chikuma Shobo), "Kumiho Akemi's Interrogation Record" (Chikuma Shobo), "Roman Porno and Real Yakuza Films: Forbidden 70s Japanese Cinema" (Heibonsha), and "Suna no Utsuwa and Japan Sinks: Super Productions of 70s Japan" (Chikuma Shobo).
Masaaki Nomura
Film critic. Born in 1954 in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
After working in film promotion at Toei Western Film Publicity Department, and then at an advertising agency, he became a film critic. He has served on selection committees for Kinema Junpo Best Ten, Mainichi Film Awards, and the Minister of Education's Art Encouragement Prizes.
His recent works include interviewing for "Chusei Sone's Autobiography" and "Akira Araki on the Stage" (both from Bunyusha), and "Film Director Junya Sato: Film, Cross the River of Fury" (DU BOOKS).
Noriki Ishitobi
Film critic. Born in 1960 in Osaka. Graduated from Kobe University. Joined Asahi Shimbun in 1984. From 1999, he covered international film festivals such as Cannes, Venice, and Berlin as a film reporter for the culture department. He will retire in 2025. His books include "150 Film Reviews Written in Nagoya" (Tokuma Shoten), "Once More to You: Remembering Ken Takakura" (Asahi Shimbun Publications), and he was involved in editing "The Joy of Living This World to the Fullest" by Kirin Kiki (Asahi Shinsho) and "Lessons in Seeing" by Shigeko Hasumi (Kobunsha Shinsho).
《Bibliographic Information》
Title: Film Director Yoichi Sai: Film is Struggle!
Author: Yoichi Sai
Editors: Naofumi Higuchi + Masaaki Nomura + Noriki Ishitobi
Specifications: Shiroku / Softcover / 408 pages
Price: 3,000 yen + tax
ISBN: 978-4-86647-208-9
Release Date: June 9, 2026
Publisher: Disk Union Co., Ltd.
Distributor: DU BOOKS
Main sales outlets include Disk Union, bookstores nationwide, record stores, and online bookstores.
Product Page: https://diskunion.net/dubooks/ct/detail/DU
Keywords:
Director Yoichi Sai, who radically led the Japanese film industry. This book, reconstructed from his conversations totaling 12 hours in his final years, with film critic and director Naofumi Higuchi ("The Demon of the Film Suna no Utsuwa") and others serving as interviewers, traces his journey through Director Sai's own lighthearted yet intense narrative, truly a "testament of his whole being."
■ Highlights of This Book
- Youth/Adolescence: His father was an activist from the Korean Peninsula. As a second-generation Zainichi Korean, he spent his childhood in a home monitored by public security. From Korean high school, where revolutionaries and yakuza mingled, to the "Red Photography School," he was engrossed in student movements.
- Assistant Director Era: After dropping out of photography school, he entered the film industry as a lighting assistant. Later, he became an assistant director. He was discovered by director Nagisa Oshima in "In the Realm of the Senses" ('76) and also studied under renowned directors like Toru Murakawa.
- Director Era: He made his feature film directorial debut with "Jukkai no Mosquito" ('83), starring and written by Yuya Uchida. After collaborating with his close friend Yusaku Matsuda and working on Kadokawa films, he swept film awards with "All Under the Moon" ('93). His shocking work "Blood and Bones" ('04), starring Takeshi Kitano, won the Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Director. As the 8th chairman of the Japan Film Directors Association, he also dedicated himself to activities advocating for copyright attribution to directors.
■ Author Biography
Yoichi Sai
Born in 1949. After dropping out of photography school, he entered the film industry as a lighting assistant. He served as an assistant director under renowned directors such as Nagisa Oshima and Toru Murakawa, and made his theatrical film directorial debut in 1983 with "Jukkai no Mosquito," starring and written by Yuya Uchida, which was also screened at the Venice Film Festival.
In 1993, he received numerous film awards for "All Under the Moon," suddenly gaining prominence.
In 1996, he studied abroad at Yonsei University in Korea. After returning to Japan, he resumed his directorial activities, releasing acclaimed works such as "Blood and Bones" starring Takeshi Kitano in 2004, for which he received the Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Director.
As the 8th chairman of the Japan Film Directors Association, he also dedicated himself to activities advocating for copyright attribution to directors.
After publicly announcing his battle with cancer in January 2022, he continued to actively participate in talk shows and "DOMMUNE" until his passing on November 27, 2022.
■ Editor Biographies
*Interviews and media appearances are welcome at any time. Please feel free to contact us.
Naofumi Higuchi
Born in 1962. Graduated from Waseda University, Faculty of Political Science and Economics. Author of numerous works re-examining post-war Japanese film history. Film critic and director. His major works include "Nagisa Oshima Complete Film Secret Document Collection" (Kokushokankokai / Kinema Junpo Film Book Grand Prize 2021 First Place), "All About Nagisa Oshima" (Kinema Junpo-sha), "Akira Kurosawa's Film Techniques" (Chikuma Shobo), "Akio Jissoji: The Genius's Cathedral" (Alpha Beta), "Good Morning, Godzilla: Director Ishiro Honda and the Studio Era" (Chikuma Shobo / reprinted by Kokushokankokai), "The Demon of the Film Suna no Utsuwa: Director Yoshitaro Nomura and Seicho Matsumoto Films" (Chikuma Shobo), "Kumiho Akemi's Interrogation Record" (Chikuma Shobo), "Roman Porno and Real Yakuza Films: Forbidden 70s Japanese Cinema" (Heibonsha), and "Suna no Utsuwa and Japan Sinks: Super Productions of 70s Japan" (Chikuma Shobo).
Masaaki Nomura
Film critic. Born in 1954 in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
After working in film promotion at Toei Western Film Publicity Department, and then at an advertising agency, he became a film critic. He has served on selection committees for Kinema Junpo Best Ten, Mainichi Film Awards, and the Minister of Education's Art Encouragement Prizes.
His recent works include interviewing for "Chusei Sone's Autobiography" and "Akira Araki on the Stage" (both from Bunyusha), and "Film Director Junya Sato: Film, Cross the River of Fury" (DU BOOKS).
Noriki Ishitobi
Film critic. Born in 1960 in Osaka. Graduated from Kobe University. Joined Asahi Shimbun in 1984. From 1999, he covered international film festivals such as Cannes, Venice, and Berlin as a film reporter for the culture department. He will retire in 2025. His books include "150 Film Reviews Written in Nagoya" (Tokuma Shoten), "Once More to You: Remembering Ken Takakura" (Asahi Shimbun Publications), and he was involved in editing "The Joy of Living This World to the Fullest" by Kirin Kiki (Asahi Shinsho) and "Lessons in Seeing" by Shigeko Hasumi (Kobunsha Shinsho).
《Bibliographic Information》
Title: Film Director Yoichi Sai: Film is Struggle!
Author: Yoichi Sai
Editors: Naofumi Higuchi + Masaaki Nomura + Noriki Ishitobi
Specifications: Shiroku / Softcover / 408 pages
Price: 3,000 yen + tax
ISBN: 978-4-86647-208-9
Release Date: June 9, 2026
Publisher: Disk Union Co., Ltd.
Distributor: DU BOOKS
Main sales outlets include Disk Union, bookstores nationwide, record stores, and online bookstores.
Product Page: https://diskunion.net/dubooks/ct/detail/DU
Keywords: