Yoshihiro Nishimura, a distinctive voice in Japanese special effects and genre filmmaking, died Monday at the age of 59. Nishimura had been hospitalized for two weeks battling liver disease.
Born in Tokyo in 1967, Nishimura built a reputation for his intricate model-making and practical effects. His contributions were notable in major productions such as Shin Godzilla and the live-action Attack on Titan films, as well as Death Note: L, change the WorLd. He also lent his expertise to films like Sion Sono's Suicide Club.
Nishimura also carved out a niche as a director, helming cult favorites in the sci-fi horror and B-movie vein. His 2007 festival hit Tokyo Gore Police exemplified his signature style, followed by other directorial efforts including Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl, Helldriver, and Mutant Girls Squad. He also operated his own special effects company, Nishimura Eizo Co., Ltd., and served as a consultant on other projects.
At the time of his passing, Nishimura was serving as director and co-writer for the upcoming film Geisha War, which is currently in post-production.
Source: Variety (Payten Turkeltaub)
