Toshiaki Toyoda

Born in Osaka Prefecture, Toyoda was first a prodigy in the game of shogi or Japanese chess. He attended the Japan Shogi Association's school (Shōreikai) from age 9 with the aim of becoming a professional player. But his interest turned to film and he quit when he was 17.[1] Moving to Tokyo at age 21, he began working with producer Genjirō Arato and director Junji Sakamoto, assisting the latter on the shogi-related film Ōte, for which he helped pen the script.[1] He debuted as a director with the film Pornostar in 1999, a film that earned him the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award.[2] His career continued to rise through films like Blue Spring and 9 Souls, but he suffered a setback when he was arrested on drug charges just before Hanging Garden was released in 2005.[3][4] He resumed directing with the 2009 film The Blood of Rebirth.[5]