Tai Katō

was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. He was best known for making yakuza films at Toei Company in the 1960s.

Biography Tai Kato was born in Kobe, Japan on August 24, 1916. His father was an importer and his mother was the sister of film director Sadao Yamanaka. When his father's business went bankrupt, Kato was sent to live with his grandparents in Nagoya at the age of five. In middle school, he became interested in film, particularly period dramas by Daisuke Itō. He dropped out of school in his second year, and worked at a trading house in Kyoto before receiving an invitation from his uncle to move to Tokyo. Kato joined Toho studio and became an assistant director to Mikio Naruse on The Whole Family Works (1939) and other films. Kato was drafted into military service; however, this happened one week before World War II ended. Paul Schrader compared Kato's Theater of Life: Youth, Lust and Spirit (1972) to Sergio Leone's best work. Bubble (1943) - documentary under the pseudonym "Yoshio Nishio" Lice Are Scary (1944) - documentary under a pseudonym Military Academy (1944) - documentary under a pseudonym Troubles with Swords and Women, Part 1: Change of a Woman's Heart (1951) Troubles with Swords and Women, Part 2: The Blade Reflecting the Light of a Fallen Star (1951) Shimizu Port is Scarier Than a Demon (1952) Book of Birds (1952) Ninjutsu Jiraiya, Part 1 (1955) Ninjutsu Jiraiya, Part 2 (1955) Ronin in Love (1957) Tales of Young Genji Kuro, Part 1 (1957) The Tattooed Lord (1958) Tales of Young Genji Kuro, Part 2 (1958) Wind, Women, and Hobo (1958) Eight Views of Samurai (1958) Genghis Khan and His Mongols (1959) Gallant Youth of Edo (1960) Throne of Flame (1960) Asagiri Highway (1961) The Tale of Oiwa's Ghost (1961) In Search of Mother (1962) Sazen Tange: The Masterpiece Blade (1962) Brave Records of the Sanada Clan (1963) Warrior of the Wind (Kaze no Bushi) (1964) Fighting Tatsu, the Rickshaw Man (1964) Cruel Story of the Shogunate's Downfall (1964) Blood of Revenge (1965) Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza (1966) Drained to the Bone (1966) By a Man's Face Shall You Know Him (1966) Opium Hills: The Hell Squad (1966) Eighteen Years in Prison (1967) I, the Executioner (1968) Red Peony Gambler 3: The Flower Cards Game (1969) Red Peony Gambler 6: Red Peony Gambles Her Life (1970) Red Peony Gambler 7: Death to the Wicked (1971) Modern Lady Gambler (1972) Theater of Life: Youth, Lust and Spirit (1972) Flower and Dragon (1973) Musashi Miyamoto: Sword of Fury (1973) Blossom and Sword (1973) The Beast in the Shadows (1977) Flames of Blood (1981) Ondekoza (1994) - documentary