Who is Nobuhiko Obayashi?

Nobuhiko Obayashi was born on January 9th, 1938, and died on April 10th, 2020 at 82. He was known for his avante-garde, psychedelic film style in the horror genre. This Japanese filmmaker takes on an unusual triple threat that involves screenwriting, directing, and editing. His filmmaking debut started with “House” (1977), about a group of schoolgirls who enter a haunted home and find themselves trapped in the deadly clutch of mind-boggling circumstances. Some other well-known Obayashi films are “I Are You, You Are Me (1982)”, “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” (1983), “Lonely Heart” (1985), etc… Obayashi’s playful personality never fails to evoke the distinct magic in Japanese horror. He makes sure his surreal horror comedy has a childish sense of humor that is considered out of the ordinary. His first eye-opening experience with film started at 3 years old. Just like children who take on toys, Obayashi’s toy was the choo choo train…or should I say, a film projector. This train-like form started to move its engine, creating a chugga-chugga noise that layered image after image, resulting in the Japanese construct that would change East Asian cinema forever: Animation. These moving images took on a life form that appealed to Obayashi’s 3-year-old mind. 

The use of Obayashi’s style isn’t an easy feat. The genre’s oxymoron makes it difficult to make a story that isn’t too horrific or comical. Pixelation in “House” (1970) is an example of a technique that helped support the film’s style. When a teacher falls into a bucket in the film, it brings out nerves and laughs. 

Most importantly, Obayashi attempts to change irony from an unfortunate opportunity to a blessed one. To battle restrictions or limitations in a film, you must transform unluckiness into luckiness. To continue an idolized path of positive filmmaking, he avoided the major film industry. With attitudes and stringent measures, Obayashi’s opposite perspective proposes accidents on set as a secret for greatness. Failures can be inopportune, yet form the best of us. When you fail to think of a marvelous story, Obayashi says our creative source of power is not action but reaction. Thus, isolation prevents one from being an artist. Talk to a truck, flower, or anything that allows you to encounter an idea. 

Ultimately, Obayashi has made a profound impact on Japanese cinema. Even though he passed away, his legacy continues through his daughter, Chigumi Obayashi, who he previously credits for her passion and impact on his works. “Ultimately, what is important is that a person's life is the one life that the person has to live.”-Nobuhiko Obayashi

“An Ode to Nobuhiko Obayashi - the Frida Cinema.” The Frida Cinema, 23 Nov. 2021, thefridacinema.org/featured-highlight/an-ode-to-nobuhiko-obayashi/.

“Almost like a Horror Film. The Cinema of Nobuhiko Obayashi.” Harvard Film Archive, 15 Nov. 2015, harvardfilmarchive.org/programs/almost-like-a-horror-film-the-cinema-of-nobuhiko-obayashi. Accessed 14 June 2024.

JapanSocietyNYC. “House - Q&a with Director Nobuhiko Obayashi.” YouTube, 2 Dec. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI4RsT89cz8.