Biography
Masato Harada (1949–2025) was a Japanese film director, screenwriter, critic and occasional actor. He made his directorial debut in 1979 and later studied at Tokyo Visual Arts College and Pepperdine University after spending time in London and Los Angeles, where he worked as a film critic.
Harada directed films including Bounce Ko Gals (1997), Climber's High (2008), Sekigahara (2017) and Hell Dogs (2022). He was also known internationally for acting roles as Omura in The Last Samurai (2003) and Mr Mita in Fearless (2006). He received multiple Japan Academy Film Prize nominations for Best Director.
