Director Tokuzo Tanaka died of a cerebral hemorrhage at a Nara hospital on Thursday night. He was 87. A funeral service will be held for family members only.

Tanaka was famous for his work as part of the golden era of the Daiei Motion Picture Company, directing film series such as "Zatoichi," "Nemuri Kyoshiro," "Heitai Yakuza," and "Akumyo," all during the 1960s. After Daiei's bankruptcy in 1971, he worked on television dramas such as the "Hissatsu" series.