Known for his social realist films, the Japanese director Tadashi Imai was mostly interested in depicting the tragedies of human life. Often described as 'nakanai realism', or 'a realism without tears', Imai's films show the hard struggles of the poor. Among his most appreciated films are Nigorie (1953), focusing on women in the Meiji era, Yoru no tsuzumi (1958), co-scripted by Kaneto Shindô, and Szamurájhűség (1963), the latter two condemning the Samurai honor codex. Having similar choices of subject matter, Imai admired his contemporary Keisuke Kinoshita. Although lauded for his directorial skills, film historians criticize Imai's lack of a consistent style, and his tendency to focus more on consequences than analysis of his themes. Still, Imai remains a highly celebrated exponent of the Golden Age of Japanese cinema.
