Junya Satō

Biography

Junya Satō (佐藤 純彌, Satō Jun'ya, 6 November 1932 – 9 February 2019) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter.

His son, Tōya Satō (佐藤 東弥, Satō Tōya), is also a film director.

Born in Tokyo, Satō graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1956 with a degree in French literature. He joined the Toei studio and worked as an assistant to such directors as Tadashi Imai and Miyoji Ieki. He debuted as a director in 1963 with Rikugun Zangyaku Monogatari, for which he won a best newcomer's award at the Blue Ribbon Awards. While starting in mostly yakuza film, Satō eventually became known for big budget spectaculars. The Go Masters, a China-Japan co-production he co-directed with Duan Jishun, won t...