Shimazu Yasujiro was a Japanese director. He was one of the major creators of the Shoshimingeki genre (films depicting the lower middle classes) at the Shochiku studios in pre-World War II Japan.

Born in Kanda, Tokyo, Shimazu entered the Shochiku studio in 1920 after answering an advertisement and began training under Kaoru Osanai. He was recognized as a director in 1923 and began specializing in films about the middle class that were favoured at Shochiku's Kamata studio. He especially came into his own in the sound era but eventually moved to the Toho studio. There, he made some films in cooperation with the Manchuria Film Association.

Many famous directors, such as Heinosuke Gosho, Shiro Toyoda, Kozaburo Yoshimura, and Keisuke Kinoshita, trained under him.

He died of lung cancer just after the war ended.

(Source: Wikipedia) Edit Biography