Kazuaki Kiriya, a Japanese creative polymath, entered the world on April 20, 1968, marking the beginning of an illustrious journey that would span decades and traverse continents. His odyssey commenced in 1983, when, in his second year of junior high school, he made the bold decision to relocate to the United States, embarking on a new chapter in his life. Subsequently, he attended the esteemed Northfield Mount Hermon School, followed by the Cambridge School in Weston, Massachusetts, where he honed his academic skills. Undeterred by the challenges of adapting to a foreign culture, Kiriya's thirst for knowledge and artistic expression continued to drive him forward. He eventually enrolled at the prestigious School of Constructed Environments at Parsons The New School for Design in New York, a testament to his unwavering dedication to his craft.
From a young age, Kiriya's aspirations lay in the realm of business, with a clear intention to carve out a successful career in this field. However, a significant turning point occurred when he discovered the joy of expressing himself through drawing, a creative outlet that allowed him to communicate effectively despite the limitations of his English language skills at the time. This newfound passion for art gradually began to overshadow his initial ambitions, and by the mid-1990s, Kiriya had evolved into a multifaceted creative force, establishing himself as a talented designer, photographer, and music video director. His impressive portfolio boasted collaborations with some of Japan's most renowned artists, including Hikaru Utada, SMAP, The Back Horn, Mr. Children, Misia, Southern All Stars, Glay, and Ayumi Hamasaki.
Kiriya's cinematic journey commenced in 2004 with the release of his inaugural feature film, a live-action adaptation of the iconic Casshan, a project that garnered attention for being one of the pioneering films to utilize a digital backlot for its production.
Seven years subsequently elapsed, during which time Kiriya honed his skills and refined his artistic vision, ultimately culminating in the creation of his sophomore film, Goemon, a fantastical epic that drew inspiration from the remarkable life of the legendary Ishikawa Goemon.
Kiriya's directorial pursuits continued to unfold and mature, as in 2015, he embarked on a new and exciting venture into the realm of English-language filmmaking, specifically with the reimagining of the renowned and timeless legend of the forty-seven ronin, Last Knights.
