**Masaki Kobayashi (1916-1996)** was an influential Japanese director known for his epic and morally engaged films. His work often explores human alienation, social criticism, and the disastrous consequences of war.

His masterpiece is the *Human Condition* trilogy (Ningen no jōken, 1959-1961), a monumental analysis of the atrocities of war and the struggle for moral integrity. Other key films include the *jidaigeki* (historical) dramas *Harakiri* (Seppuku, 1962) and *The Last Samurai* (Jōi-uchi: Hairyō tsuma shimatsu, 1967), which deconstruct samurai ethics and denounce hypocrisy. His filmography also includes the dreamlike *Kwaidan* (Kaidan, 1964), a visually sumptuous anthology of ghost stories.

Kobayashi's style is characterized by rigorous composition, dramatic intensity, and a deep humanism. He is remembered as a master of epic storytelling and a sharp critic of social injustice.