The Unlikely Rise of a Japanese Cinematic Genius Ashizawa Akiko's recent masterclass at Cannes served as a timely reminder that talent can break down even the most entrenched barriers in an industry notoriously hostile to women.
In a career spanning over 70 features, Ashizawa has collaborated with prominent directors such as Kurosawa Kiyoshi and Harada Masato, producing critically acclaimed films like "Tokyo Sonata" and "Journey to the Shore," which earned her the 2012 Mainichi Film Award for Best Cinematography.
Ashizawa's unorthodox entry into the industry in the early 1970s was marked by her reliance on a side door – finding an ally in cinematographer Ito Hideo, who took her on as his assistant despite the male dominated hierarchy.