Yamazaki (born in Nagano, Japan, in 1964) is a Japanese director, screenwriter and special effects expert. He is a member of the animation and special effects studio Shirogumi. He made commercials and music videos and made his feature film debut in 2000 with the children’s sci-fi Jubunairu (Juvenile). Two years later he made another sci-fi Ritana (Returner, 2002). Afterwards he worked on an anime TV series Heat Guy J (2002) and a comedy Dôbutsu no oisha-san (The Animal Doctors, 2003). His third feature film from 2005 is Always san-chôme no yűhi (Always - Sunset on Third Street) and it won several awards from the Japanese Academy (Best Film, Director, Cinematography, Screenplay, Editor, Actor…). His last film is its sequel Always zoku san-chôme no yűhi (Always: Sunset on Third Street 2, 2007).