Yukiko Takayama (Japanese: 高山 由紀子, Hepburn: Takayama Yukiko, between 1939 and 4 April 1945 – 2 June 2023) was a Japanese screenwriter and director known for Terror of Mechagodzilla, Hoshi no Ko Chobin, Monarch: The Big Bear of Tallac, Hissatsu Shigotonin, and Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo.

Yukiko Takayama
Died(2023-06-02)2 June 2023
Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • film director
Years active1974–2011
Notable workTerror of Mechagodzilla
Hoshi no Ko Chobin
Monarch: The Big Bear of Tallac
Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo

Biography

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Yukiko Takayama, a native of Tokyo, was born between 1939 and 4 April 1945.[1][a] She was the daughter of Nihonga painter Tatsuo Takayama [ja].[3] After graduating from the Keio University Faculty of Letters, she studied film screenwriting at the Scenario Center (a vocational school for screenwriters) while working as a housewife.[1][5]

After writing for the 1974 anime Hoshi no Ko Chobin,[6] Takayama made her debut as a screenwriter with Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975), the fifteenth film in the Godzilla franchise, after being selected for Ishirō Honda's Godzilla screenplay contest for screenwriting school students.[5] She was the franchise's first female main staff member.[5] She was later a screenwriter for the 1977 anime Monarch: The Big Bear of Tallac.[7] She also wrote for the Hissatsu television series, writing three episodes each for Hissatsu Shigotonin (1981–1982) and Hissatsu Shigotonin Gekitotsu (1991–1992).[8][9]

Takayama also worked as a film director, starting with Kaze no Katami (1996) and later Musume Dojoji: Jaen no Koi.[1][4] In 2011, Takayama released the novel Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo.[10] The book later had a film adaptation,[1] and she was credited as one of the film's screenwriters.[11] She also worked at the Scenario Center as a lecturer.[12]

Takayama died at home in Setagaya at 11:16, on 2 June 2023, at age 83.[1][4] Her funeral took place on 12 June at Koyasan Tokyo Betsuin.[1]

Works

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Film screenplays

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Television screenplays

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Films directed

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  • Kaze no Katami (1996)[1]
  • Musume Dojoji: Jaen no Koi[4]

Notes

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  1. ^ Gendai Nihon Jinmeiroku gives a birth date of 4 April 1945,[2] but the obituaries give a death age of 83.[3][4][1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "「メカゴジラの逆襲」「必殺仕事人」シリーズ...脚本家の高山由紀子さん死去、83歳". Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  2. ^ 現代日本人名錄 98 (in Japanese). Nichigai Associates. 1998. p. 200. ISBN 978-4-8169-1468-3.
  3. ^ a b "高山由紀子さん死去(脚本家)". Jiji Press (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "脚本家高山由紀子さん死去、83歳 映画「メカゴジラの逆襲」テレビ時代劇「必殺」シリーズなど – 社会 : 日刊スポーツ". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Kyodo News. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d "東宝チャンピオンまつりスタッフインタビュー5 髙山由紀子". ゴジラ 東宝チャンピオンまつり パーフェクション (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. 2014. pp. 116–117. ISBN 978-4-04-866999-3.
  6. ^ a b "星の子チョビン". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  7. ^ a b "くまの子ジャッキー". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  8. ^ a b "新必殺仕事人". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  9. ^ a b "必殺仕事人(9)激突!". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  10. ^ "源氏物語 千年の謎". KADOKAWAオフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  11. ^ a b "映画「源氏物語 千年の謎」". Tokyo Broadcasting System (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  12. ^ "シナリオ・脚本、小説も!プロの技術が学べる学校". Scenario Center (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  13. ^ "特別機動捜査隊(第719回)瞼の母が憎い". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  14. ^ "特別機動捜査隊(第747回)人質の女". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  15. ^ "空白迷路". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  16. ^ "仕事人大集合". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  17. ^ "夏の嵐". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  18. ^ "月影兵庫あばれ旅(1)". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  19. ^ "付き馬屋おえん事件帳(1)". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  20. ^ "メイクアップ". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  21. ^ "月影兵庫あばれ旅(2)". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  22. ^ "付き馬屋おえん事件帳(2)". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  23. ^ "付き馬屋おえん事件帳スペシャル". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.