Yukiko Takayama
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| Died | (2023-06-02)2 June 2023
Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
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| Years active | 1974–2011 |
| Notable work | Terror of Mechagodzilla Hoshi no Ko Chobin Monarch: The Big Bear of Tallac Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo |
Yukiko Takayama (Japanese: 高山 由紀子, Hepburn: Takayama Yukiko, between 1939 and 4 April 1945 – 2 June 2023) was a Japanese screenwriter and director known for Terror of Mechagodzilla, Hoshi no Ko Chobin, Monarch: The Big Bear of Tallac, Hissatsu Shigotonin, and Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo.
Yukiko Takayama, a native of Tokyo, was born between 1939 and 4 April 1945.[1][a] She was the daughter of Nihonga painter Tatsuo Takayama [ja].[3] After graduating from the Keio University Faculty of Letters, she studied film screenwriting at the Scenario Center (avocational school for screenwriters) while working as a housewife.[1][5]
After writing for the 1974 anime Hoshi no Ko Chobin,[6] Takayama made her debut as a screenwriter with Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975), the fifteenth film in the Godzilla franchise, after being selected for Ishirō Honda's Godzilla screenplay contest for screenwriting school students.[5] She was the franchise's first female main staff member.[5] She was later a screenwriter for the 1977 anime Monarch: The Big Bear of Tallac.[7] She also wrote for the Hissatsu television series, writing three episodes each for Hissatsu Shigotonin (1981–1982) and Hissatsu Shigotonin Gekitotsu (1991–1992).[8][9]
Takayama also worked as a film director, starting with Kaze no Katami (1996) and later Musume Dojoji: Jaen no Koi.[1][4] In 2011, Takayama released the novel Genji Monogatari: Sennen no Nazo.[10] The book later had a film adaptation,[1] and she was credited as one of the film's screenwriters.[11] She also worked at the Scenario Center as a lecturer.[12]
Takayama died at home in Setagaya at 11:16, on 2 June 2023, at age 83.[1][4] Her funeral took place on 12 June at Koyasan Tokyo Betsuin.[1]
