Ryûsuke Hamaguchi

Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (f. 1978) from Kanagawa is one of the biggest names in Japanese cinema. With an education from Tokyo University of Arts, Hamaguchi has cited the films of John Cassavetes as being one of his greatest sources of inspiration. He is known for Happy Hour (2015) and Asako I&II (2018), and with his two 2021 films he won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the Berlinale and Best Screenplay at Cannes.