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Naomi Kawase

Known For
Directing

Known Credits
25

Gender
Female

Birthday
May 30, 1969 (57 years old)

Place of Birth
Nara, Japan

Naomi Kawase

Biography

Naomi Kawase (河瀨直美 Kawase Naomi, born May 30, 1969) is a Japanese film director. She graduated from Visual Arts Osaka in 1989. Many of her works have been documentaries, including Embracing, about her search for the father who abandoned her as a child, and Katatsumori, about the grandmother who raised her. Aside from being a filmmaker, she is the founder and Executive Director for the Nara International Film Festival.

Known For

Production

2026Transit in Flamingo...Executive Producer
2023Beyond the Fog...Producer
2021Tracing Her Shadow...Executive Producer
2019The Nikaidos' Fall...Executive Producer
2018Vision...Producer
2015A Midsummer's Fantasia...Producer
2015Sweet Bean...Associate Producer
2014Still the Water...Producer
2012Inori...Producer
2012Hanezu...Producer
2010Genpin...Producer
2008Nanayo...Producer
2007The Mourning Forest...Producer
1998The Weald...Producer
1994Katatsumori...Producer
1992Embracing...Producer

Directing

2025Yakushima's Illusion...Director
2023echo...Director
2022Official Film of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Side B...Director
2022Official Film of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Side A...Director
2021To The Future...Director
2020True Mothers...Director
2020Homemade...Director
2018The Moon...Director
2018Vision...Director
2018Parallel World...Director
2018Cinema Fighters...Director
2017Where Does the Sand Go?...Director
2017Radiance...Director
2016Amami...Director
2016Lies...Director
2016Seed...Director
2015Sweet Bean...Director
2014Still the Water...Director
2012Hikaru Utada: Sakura Nagashi...Director
2012Trace...Director
2012Hanezu...Director
201160 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero...Director
20113.11 A Sense of Home Films...Director
2010Genpin...Director
2009Koma...Director
2009Haiku...Director
2009Cinematic Correspondences: Isaki Lacuesta - Naomi Kawase...Director
2008Nanayo...Director
2007The Mourning Forest...Director
2006Birth/Mother...Director
2003Shara...Director
2002Letter from a Yellow Cherry Blossom...Director
2001Sky, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth...Director
2001Firefly...Director
1999Kaleidoscope...Director
1998The Weald...Director
1997Suzaku...Director
1996Sun on the Horizon...Director
1996This World (A Correspondence Between Naomi Kawase and Hirokazu Koreeda)...Director
1995Memory of the Wind...Director
1995Kaze no kioku: Shibuya ni te 1995.12.26...Director
1995See Heaven...Director
1994Katatsumori...Director
1993White Moon...Director
1992Embracing...Director
1991Like Happiness...Director
1990The Girls' Daily Bread...Director
1989My Sole Family...Director
1989A Small Largeness...Director
1989Presently,...Director
1988The Concretization of These Things Flying Around Me...Director
1988Papa's Ice Cream...Director
1988My J-W-F...Director
1988I Focus on That Which Interests Me...Director
Untitled Naomi Kawase Film...Director

Writing

2025Yakushima's Illusion...Writer
2020True Mothers...Screenplay
2018The Moon...Writer
2018Vision...Writer
2018Cinema Fighters...Writer
2017Where Does the Sand Go?...Writer
2017Radiance...Screenplay
2016Seed...Writer
2015Sweet Bean...Screenplay
2014Still the Water...Screenplay
2012Trace...Writer
2012Hanezu...Screenplay
2010Genpin...Writer
2008Nanayo...Screenplay
2007The Mourning Forest...Screenplay
2003Shara...Writer
2002Letter from a Yellow Cherry Blossom...Writer
2001Sky, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth...Writer
2001Firefly...Writer
1999Kaleidoscope...Writer
1998The Weald...Writer
1997Suzaku...Writer
1996Sun on the Horizon...Writer
1994Katatsumori...Writer
1992Embracing...Writer

Editing

2021To The Future...Editor
2014Still the Water...Editor
2012Trace...Editor
2012Hanezu...Editor
2009Cinematic Correspondences: Isaki Lacuesta - Naomi Kawase...Editor
2008Nanayo...Editor
2002Letter from a Yellow Cherry Blossom...Editor
2001Sky, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth...Editor
2001Firefly...Editor
1999Kaleidoscope...Editor
1998The Weald...Editor
1994Katatsumori...Editor
1992Embracing...Editor

Camera

2021To The Future...Director of Photography
2020True Mothers...Director of Photography
2012Trace...Director of Photography
2012Hanezu...Director of Photography
2006Birth/Mother...Director of Photography
2002Letter from a Yellow Cherry Blossom...Director of Photography
2001Sky, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth...Director of Photography
1999Kaleidoscope...Director of Photography
1998The Weald...Director of Photography
1996Sun on the Horizon...Camera Operator
1994Katatsumori...Director of Photography
1992Embracing...Director of Photography

Crew

2009Cinematic Correspondences: Isaki Lacuesta - Naomi Kawase...Cinematography

Sound

2001Firefly...Music
1992Embracing...Sound Recordist

Acting

2026The Wolf, the Fox, and the Leopardas
2025Emergency Exitas
2025Echoes of Motherhoodas
2021What Kento Nakajima Wants to Know About Movies Nowas
2020It Stopped Rainingas Koyomi's Mother
2016Amamias Self
2014Reel Herstory: The Real Story of Reel Womenas Self
2013The Tale of Iyaas Dr. Amamiya
2013Shining Besides Funny Moonas
2012Traceas Self
2011Destroy Viciousas
2008Rien ne s'effaceas elle-même
2006Birth/Motheras Self
2004Women Make Filmsas Self
2003Sharaas Reiko
2002Letter from a Yellow Cherry Blossomas Self
2001Sky, Wind, Fire, Water, Earthas Self
1999Kaleidoscopeas Self
1998Welcome Back For An Extracurricular Lesson, Sempaias Self
1998Love & Popas Woman speaking to Hiromi (voice)
1996Sun on the Horizonas Self
1995Memory of the Windas Herself
1995See Heavenas Self
1994Katatsumorias Self
1992Embracingas Self