Ataru Oikawa

Background

Ataru Oikawa was born in Tokyo, Japan, on September 5, 1957. He is professionally known in Japan by the name 及川中, written in English as Ataru Oikawa.

Career

Oikawa began in publishing as an editor at Magazine House, a Japanese company known for magazines and books in popular culture, lifestyle, and current affairs. While working there, he wrote the original screenplay for DOOR, a 1988 horror thriller directed by Banmei Takahashi. The film marked his early entry into Japanese cinema as a screenwriter.

He later left magazine editing and developed a career as a film director and screenwriter. His directing work includes Tomie, a 1999 adaptation of Junji Ito's horror manga; Tamagawa Girl War, Samurai Girl 21, Lovers' Kiss, and a series of suspense and horror productions made during the 2000s. He also directed and wrote Tomie: Beginning, Tomie: Revenge, Einstein Girl, Apartment 1303, 9+1, and the live-action Higurashi films.

Oikawa's filmography includes adaptations of manga and other popular genres, particularly horror, psychological suspense, youth drama, and action. His credits also include television direction, editing, cinematography, supervision, and composition on selected productions, demonstrating a role that extended beyond directing alone.

Achievements

• Oikawa established a sustained career as a director and screenwriter in Japanese cinema, working across horror, suspense, action, and youth-oriented films.

• He directed and co-wrote the live-action films Tomie, Tomie: Beginning, Tomie: Revenge, Apartment 1303, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, and Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Chikai.

Works

• film

  • Tomie

    (Oikawa directed and co-wrote this film adaptation of Junj...)

    1999

  • Lovers' Kiss

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this adaptation of Akimi Yoshid...)

    2002
  • Apartment 1303

    (Oikawa directed and co-wrote this horror feature about a ...)

    2007

  • DOOR

    (Oikawa co-wrote the screenplay for Banmei Takahashi's Jap...)

    1988

  • Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this live-action horror film ba...)

    2007

  • Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Chikai

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this sequel to the live-action ...)

    2009

  • Tomie: Beginning

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this prequel in the Tomie horro...)

    2005

  • Tamagawa Girl War

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this Japanese youth-oriented ac...)

    2001

  • Gattubi: Bokura wa Kono Natsu Nekutai wo Suru!

    (Oikawa contributed screenplay work to this Japanese youth...)

    1990

  • Tomie: Revenge

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this sequel in the Tomie film s...)

    2005

  • Kissho Tennyo

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this adaptation of a Japanese m...)

    2006

  • Dangerous Stories

    (Oikawa wrote the screenplay for this Japanese anthology f...)

    1989

  • The Groaning Drain

    (Oikawa directed, wrote, and edited this Japanese horror f...)

    2004

  • Maison: Temptation

    (Oikawa directed, wrote, and photographed this Japanese film.)

    2009

  • Chateau: Confinement

    (Oikawa directed, wrote, and photographed this Japanese film.)

    2009

  • Romantic Mania

    (Oikawa was credited as screenwriter for this Japanese film.)

    1997

  • Guren: Gang

    (Oikawa directed, wrote, and appeared in this Japanese film.)

    2001

  • 9+1

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this Japanese suspense film.)

    2008

  • Tokyo Night Wars: Kenka no Hanamichi Tokyo Bangai-hen

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this Japanese action film.)

    1998

  • Guren: Gang 2

    (Oikawa directed, wrote, and appeared in this sequel.)

    2001

  • Fight Girls

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this Japanese action film.)

    2003

  • Tokyo Psycho

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this Japanese horror film.)

    2004

  • Girl's War

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this Japanese action film.)

    2010

  • Shin・82 Bunsyo

    (Oikawa wrote the screenplay for this Japanese film.)

    1997

  • dead BEAT

    (Oikawa wrote the screenplay for this Japanese film.)

    1999

  • Einstein Girl

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this Japanese drama.)

    2005

  • Leona

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this Japanese film.)

    2000

  • 地獄のお夜食

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this Japanese film.)

    2003

  • Menotto

    (Oikawa directed and wrote this Japanese film.)

    2005

  • Samurai Girl 21

    (Oikawa directed this Japanese action film.)

    2001

References

• Crank-in! profile of Ataru Oikawa Provides Oikawa's birth date, Japanese name, and professional profile.
• Fashion Press profile of Ataru Oikawa Summarizes Oikawa's career as a film director and screenwriter and lists selected film credits.
• AllCinema filmography for Ataru Oikawa Documents Oikawa's directing, screenwriting, editing, cinematography, supervision, and television credits.
• Japan Film Database: 1303 Documents Oikawa's direction and screenplay credit for the 2007 horror feature Apartment 1303.