[Photo: Akira Kurosawa ] Akira Kurosawa (23 March 1910 – 6 September 1998) was a prominent Japanese film director, film producer, and screenwriter. His first credited film (Sanshiro Sugata) was released in 1943; his last (Madadayo) in 1993. His many awards include the Légion d'Honneur and an Oscar for Lifetime Achievement.