【Epoch Times News December 14, 2025】Famous Japanese director Shinjin Harada has recently passed away. The film company he has collaborated with for many years confirmed on December 13 that Shinjin Harada passed away on December 8 at the age of 76.
On December 13, the film company issued a public statement: “Mr. Shinjin Harada has been active in the Japanese film industry for many years, serving various roles such as director, screenwriter, producer, novelist, actor, and film critic, creating numerous works for the world. He passed away on December 8, 2025, at 12:39 a.m. in a hospital in Tokyo.” The statement also mentioned that in accordance with Shinjin Harada’s wishes, the funeral will be held privately without external disclosure, with specific details yet to be finalized, and a separate farewell ceremony is being planned by his family for a later date.
Shinjin Harada, who had studied in the United States and the United Kingdom, began his career as a film critic in Los Angeles in 1973, translating Japanese subtitles for American films. In 1976, he married journalist Mizuho Fukuda, with whom he had a son and a daughter. His eldest son, Yuuto Harada, following in his father’s footsteps, debuted in the industry as a second-generation star and acted in the film “Return” directed by his father.
Shinjin Harada’s versatile identity not only included roles as a director, screenwriter, and film critic but also as an actor in Hollywood films such as “The Last Samurai” starring Tom Cruise and Chinese films like “Fearless” starring Jet Li, leaving a profound impact on global audiences. His film “Beyond the Peak” received accolades in 10 categories at the Japan Academy Film Prize, establishing his prestigious position in the Japanese film industry.
In recent years, Shinjin Harada continued to release works such as “The Sinner of the Prosecutor” and “Japan’s Longest Day” starring Takuya Kimura, collaborated with Junichi Okada in films like “Battle of Sekigahara” and “Burn, Sword,” and his final directorial work was “Land of Evil” starring Sakura Ando and Ryosuke Yamada, leaving a lasting imprint on the Japanese film industry.
Co-star Hiroshi Tamotsu, who had collaborated with Shinjin Harada several times, expressed his condolences through his agency: “The first time I worked with Director Harada was in ’72 Hours of Kamikaze,’ and we worked together on 8 movies.” In his tribute, Hiroshi Tamotsu mentioned receiving a call from the director’s family on the 1st of this month and visiting him the next day, reminiscing on past memories, and bidding farewell after Harada expressed his desire to collaborate again.
Actress Hitomi Sato, who starred in “24 Hours in Shibuya,” posted on social media, where she mentioned how her first leading role in a film at 18 was directed by Shinjin Harada, stating, “This film won me numerous awards and marked a significant turning point in my acting career. I was honored and grateful to have appeared in his film. May he rest in peace.”
In his later years, Shinjin Harada remained deeply passionate about films, balancing his directing commitments with updating film reviews on social platforms. His passing has left fans and the industry deeply saddened, with the cause of death pending confirmation. The funeral was held discreetly by the family, restricted to close friends and relatives, with any plans for a memorial service yet to be announced.