Yukiko Takayama

Japanese screenwriter (1939/1940–2023)

The native form of this personal name is Takayama Yukiko. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

Yukiko Takayama

Died| (2023-06-02)2 June 2023

Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan

Occupations|

* Screenwriter
* film director

Years active| 1974–2011
Notable work| Terror of Mechagodzilla
Hoshi no Ko Chobin
Monarch: The Big Bear of Tallac
Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo

Yukiko Takayama (Japanese: 高山 由紀子, Hepburn: Takayama Yukiko, between 1939 and 4 April 1945 – 2 June 2023) was a Japanese screenwriter and director known for Terror of Mechagodzilla, Hoshi no Ko Chobin, Monarch: The Big Bear of Tallac, Hissatsu Shigotonin, and Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo.

## Biography

[edit]

Yukiko Takayama, a native of Tokyo, was born between 1939 and 4 April 1945.[1][a] She was the daughter of Nihonga painter Tatsuo Takayama [ja].[3] After graduating from the Keio University Faculty of Letters, she studied film screenwriting at the Scenario Center (a vocational school for screenwriters) while working as a housewife.[1][5]

After writing for the 1974 anime Hoshi no Ko Chobin,[6] Takayama made her debut as a screenwriter with Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975), the fifteenth film in the Godzilla franchise, after being selected for Ishirō Honda's Godzilla screenplay contest for screenwriting school students.[5] She was the franchise's first female main staff member.[5] She was later a screenwriter for the 1977 anime Monarch: The Big Bear of Tallac.[7] She also wrote for the Hissatsu television series, writing three episodes each for Hissatsu Shigotonin (1981–1982) and Hissatsu Shigotonin Gekitotsu (1991–1992).[8][9]

Takayama also worked as a film director, starting with Kaze no Katami (1996) and later Musume Dojoji: Jaen no Koi.[1][4] In 2011, Takayama released the novel Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo.[10] The book later had a film adaptation,[1] and she was credited as one of the film's screenwriters.[11] She also worked at the Scenario Center as a lecturer.[12]

Takayama died at home in Setagaya at 11:16, on 2 June 2023, at age 83.[1][4] Her funeral took place on 12 June at Koyasan Tokyo Betsuin.[1]

## Works

[edit]

### Film screenplays

[edit]

* Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)[5]
* Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo (2011)[11]

### Television screenplays

[edit]

* Hoshi no Ko Chobin (1974)[6]
* Tokubetsu Kidō Sōsa-tai (1976; episodes 719 and 747)[13][14]
* Monarch: The Big Bear of Tallac (1977)[7]
* Hissatsu Shigotonin (1981–1982; episodes 9, 15, 17)[8]
* Kūhaku Meiro (1982)[15]
* Shigotonin Daishugō (1982)[16]
* Natsu no Arashi (1989; ep 11 to 15)[17]
* Tsukikage Hyōgo Abare Tabi (1989; season 1 episodes 4 and 10)[18]
* Tsuki Umaya Oen Jiken-chō (1990; season 1 episode 5)[19]
* Makeup (1990)[20]
* Tsukikage Hyōgo Abare Tabi (1990; season 2 episodes 4 and 9)[21]
* Hissatsu Shigotonin Gekitotsu (1991–1992; episodes 5, 11, and 18)[9]
* Tsuki Umaya Oen Jiken-chō (1993; season 2 episode 7)[22]
* Tsuki Umaya Oen Jiken-chō Special: Onna no Sono ni Chiru Hanasaku Hana! Yoshiwara to Ōoku no Hikari to Kage! (1993)[23]

### Films directed

[edit]

* Kaze no Katami (1996)[1]
* Musume Dojoji: Jaen no Koi[4]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Gendai Nihon Jinmeiroku gives a birth date of 4 April 1945,[2] but the obituaries give a death age of 83.[3][4][1]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h "「メカゴジラの逆襲」「必殺仕事人」シリーズ...脚本家の高山由紀子さん死去、83歳". Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
2. ^ 現代日本人名錄 98 (in Japanese). Nichigai Associates. 1998. p. 200\. ISBN 978-4-8169-1468-3.
3. ^ a b "高山由紀子さん死去（脚本家）". Jiji Press (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 June 2023.
4. ^ a b c d "脚本家高山由紀子さん死去、83歳 映画「メカゴジラの逆襲」テレビ時代劇「必殺」シリーズなど – 社会 : 日刊スポーツ". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Kyodo News. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
5. ^ a b c d "東宝チャンピオンまつりスタッフインタビュー5 髙山由紀子". ゴジラ 東宝チャンピオンまつり パーフェクション (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. 2014. pp. 116–117. ISBN 978-4-04-866999-3.
6. ^ a b "星の子チョビン". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
7. ^ a b "くまの子ジャッキー". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 June 2023.
8. ^ a b "新必殺仕事人". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
9. ^ a b "必殺仕事人(9)激突！". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
10. ^ "源氏物語 千年の謎". KADOKAWAオフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
11. ^ a b "映画「源氏物語 千年の謎」". Tokyo Broadcasting System (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 June 2023.
12. ^ "シナリオ・脚本、小説も！プロの技術が学べる学校". Scenario Center (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 June 2023.
13. ^ "特別機動捜査隊（第719回）瞼の母が憎い". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
14. ^ "特別機動捜査隊（第747回）人質の女". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
15. ^ "空白迷路". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
16. ^ "仕事人大集合". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
17. ^ "夏の嵐". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
18. ^ "月影兵庫あばれ旅(1)". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
19. ^ "付き馬屋おえん事件帳(1)". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
20. ^ "メイクアップ". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
21. ^ "月影兵庫あばれ旅(2)". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
22. ^ "付き馬屋おえん事件帳(2)". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
23. ^ "付き馬屋おえん事件帳スペシャル". TV Drama Database (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 June 2023.

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* Japan

Academics|

* CiNii