In Memoriam: Donald Richie, Japan expert, author, 88

Written by Associated Press

Wednesday, 20 February 2013 10:41

Donald Richie. Image by Urashimataro, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

TOKYO (AP) – Donald Richie, a Tokyo-based expert on Japanese cinema who wrote dozens of books and articles about the country's people and culture, has died at age 88.

The Japan Times newspaper, where Richie was a longtime contributor, said he died Tuesday in Tokyo. It gave no other details. Richie reviewed Japanese films and the arts for the newspaper for more than 50 years.

Richie wrote books on two of Japan's best-known filmmakers, Yasujiro Ozu and Akira Kurosawa, as well as general guides to Japanese cinema. He also wrote about his travels in Japan.

Richie, from Lima, Ohio, came to Japan in 1947 during the American occupation. He also served for several years as a film curator at the New York Museum of Modern Art.

AP-WF-02-19-13 1328GMT

ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE

Donald Richie. Image by Urashimataro, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 February 2013 10:55