Naomi Kawase
Directing
Biography
Naomi Kawase (河瀨直美 Kawase Naomi, born May 30, 1969) is a Japanese film director. She graduated from Visual Arts Osaka in 1989. Many of her works have been documentaries, including Embracing, about her search for the father who abandoned her as a child, and Katatsumori, about the grandmother who raised her. Aside from being a filmmaker, she is the founder and Executive Director for the Nara International Film Festival.
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring Naomi Kawase
Filmography
Acting (23)
2026
The Wolf, the Fox, and the Leopardas Tanaka
6.5
2025
4.0
2020
It Stopped Rainingas Koyomi's Mother
7.5
2016
Amamias Self
6.5
2014
6.5
2013
The Tale of Iyaas Dr. Amamiya
6.9
2012
Traceas Self
6.5
2011
2008
Rien ne s'effaceas elle-même
8.0
2006
Birth/Motheras Self
6.6
2004
Women Make Filmsas Self
2003
Sharaas Reiko
6.4
2002
6.3
2001
6.4
1999
Kaleidoscopeas Self
5.0
1998
Love & Popas Woman speaking to Hiromi (voice)
7.7
1996
Sun on the Horizonas Self
7.0
1995
Memory of the Windas Herself
3.0
1995
See Heavenas Self
5.4
1994
Katatsumorias Self
7.7
1992
Embracingas Self
6.5
Production & Directing (124)
2026
Transit in FlamingoExecutive Producer
2025
Yakushima's IllusionDirector
7.6
2025
Yakushima's IllusionWriter
7.6
2023
Beyond the FogProducer
8.0
2023
echoDirector
2.5
6.0
6.0
2021
To The FutureDirector
2021
To The FutureEditor
2021
To The FutureDirector of Photography
2021
Tracing Her ShadowExecutive Producer
6.6
2020
True MothersDirector
7.4
2020
True MothersScreenplay
7.4
2020
True MothersDirector of Photography
7.4
2019
The Nikaidos' FallExecutive Producer
4.7
2018
The MoonDirector
2018
The MoonWriter
2018
VisionDirector
4.9
2018
VisionWriter
4.9
2018
VisionProducer
4.9
2018
Cinema FightersDirector
2018
Cinema FightersWriter
2018
Parallel WorldDirector
2017
Where Does the Sand Go?Director
2017
Where Does the Sand Go?Writer
2017
RadianceDirector
6.5
2017
RadianceScreenplay
6.5
2016
AmamiDirector
6.5
2016
LiesDirector
10.0
2016
SeedDirector
3.0
2016
SeedWriter
3.0
2015
A Midsummer's FantasiaProducer
7.4
2015
Sweet BeanScreenplay
7.5
2015
Sweet BeanDirector
7.5
2015
Sweet BeanAssociate Producer
7.5
2014
Still the WaterDirector
6.7
2014
Still the WaterScreenplay
6.7
2014
Still the WaterEditor
6.7
2014
Still the WaterProducer
6.7
2012
Hikaru Utada: Sakura NagashiDirector
8.0
2012
TraceDirector
6.5
2012
TraceWriter
6.5
2012
TraceEditor
6.5
2012
TraceDirector of Photography
6.5
2012
InoriProducer
2.8
2012
HanezuDirector
6.0
2012
HanezuScreenplay
6.0
2012
HanezuProducer
6.0
2012
HanezuDirector of Photography
6.0
2012
HanezuEditor
6.0
2011
4.2
2011
3.11 A Sense of Home FilmsDirector
6.5
2010
GenpinDirector
5.0
2010
GenpinWriter
5.0
2010
GenpinProducer
5.0
2009
KomaDirector
6.0
2009
어떤 방문Director
5.0
2009
HaikuDirector
3.5
6.7
2009
Cinematic Correspondences: Isaki Lacuesta - Naomi KawaseCinematography
6.7
2008
NanayoDirector
7.0
2008
NanayoScreenplay
7.0
2008
NanayoProducer
7.0
2008
NanayoEditor
7.0
2007
The Mourning ForestDirector
6.8
2007
The Mourning ForestScreenplay
6.8
2007
The Mourning ForestProducer
6.8
2006
Birth/MotherDirector
6.6
2006
Birth/MotherDirector of Photography
6.6
2003
SharaDirector
6.4
2003
SharaWriter
6.4
2002
6.3
2002
6.3
2002
6.3
2002
Letter from a Yellow Cherry BlossomDirector of Photography
6.3
2001
Sky, Wind, Fire, Water, EarthDirector
6.4
2001
6.4
2001
6.4
2001
Sky, Wind, Fire, Water, EarthDirector of Photography
6.4
2001
FireflyDirector
7.0
2001
FireflyWriter
7.0
2001
FireflyMusic
7.0
2001
FireflyEditor
7.0
1999
KaleidoscopeDirector
5.0
1999
KaleidoscopeDirector of Photography
5.0
1999
KaleidoscopeEditor
5.0
1999
KaleidoscopeWriter
5.0
1998
The WealdDirector
5.7
1998
The WealdWriter
5.7
1998
The WealdProducer
5.7
1998
The WealdEditor
5.7
1998
The WealdDirector of Photography
5.7
1997
SuzakuDirector
7.3
1997
SuzakuWriter
7.3
1996
Sun on the HorizonDirector
7.0
1996
Sun on the HorizonWriter
7.0
1996
Sun on the HorizonCamera Operator
7.0
1995
Memory of the WindDirector
3.0
1995
1995
See HeavenDirector
5.4
1994
KatatsumoriDirector
7.7
1994
KatatsumoriProducer
7.7
1994
KatatsumoriDirector of Photography
7.7
1994
KatatsumoriEditor
7.7
1994
KatatsumoriWriter
7.7
1993
White MoonDirector
1992
EmbracingDirector
6.5
1992
EmbracingDirector of Photography
6.5
1992
EmbracingEditor
6.5
1992
EmbracingSound Recordist
6.5
1992
EmbracingProducer
6.5
1992
EmbracingWriter
6.5
1991
Like HappinessDirector
1990
The Girls' Daily BreadDirector
1989
My Sole FamilyDirector
1989
A Small LargenessDirector
1989
Presently,Director
1988
Papa's Ice CreamDirector
1988
My J-W-FDirector
1988
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Untitled Naomi Kawase FilmDirector