Award-winning director Takeshi Kitano will teach filmmaking at a graduate school of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music beginning in April, university sources said Thursday.
Kitano, who captured the Open 2003 special award at the Venice Film Festival for his samurai drama "Zatoichi," will also assume the post of faculty chief in the screen production department, which will be newly established in Yokohama, the sources said.
The new department is aimed at fostering directors, scriptwriters and producers who will be able to play active roles in the international film industry. It will provide them with expert knowledge about artistic expression and computer graphics.
Kitano, 57, originally made his name as a comedian. He also won the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion award in 1997 for "Hana-bi."