19 Facts About Masaichi Nagata

Masaichi Nagata was a Japanese businessman and served as president of Daiei Film.

Masaichi Nagata was known for his friendship with Walt Disney where Disney called him a "brother", and had associated in Disney-related businesses such as distributions of Disney films by Daiei Film, publication of Bambi, a Life in the Woods, construction of Nara Dreamland, and so on.

Masaichi Nagata joined the Nikkatsu studio in 1925 and, after working as a location manager, rose to become head of production at the Kyoto studio.

When Daiichi Eiga folded, Masaichi Nagata became head of the Kyoto studio of Shinko Kinema until the government reorganized the industry during World War Two.

Against a government plan to combine the fiction film companies into two studios, Masaichi Nagata fought hard for the alternative option of creating a third studio.

Masaichi Nagata's efforts resulted in the creation of the Daiei Motion Picture Company, where he first served as an executive.

Masaichi Nagata rose to become president in 1947 and, apart from a brief period when he was purged by Occupation authorities, remained in that position until 1971.

Masaichi Nagata spurred the production of Teinosuke Kinugasa's Gate of Hell, the first Japanese color film to be shown abroad, earning both an honorary Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Masaichi Nagata produced such renowned films as Mizoguchi's Ugetsu and Sansho the Bailiff, as well as Jokyo.

Masaichi Nagata produced more than 160 films during his career.

Masaichi Nagata promoted the two-league system, helped build Tokyo Stadium, and became the first president of the Pacific League in Japan.

Masaichi Nagata was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988.

Masaichi Nagata had engaged in various other businesses most notably the horse racing.

Masaichi Nagata became a horse owner in 1934, and owned several notable horses such as Yamaichi, a foal of Kurifuji, Toast, the mare of Lucky Ruler, Otemon, and Tokino Minoru; Masaichi later produced the 1955 drama film The Phantom Horse based on the episodes of Tokino Minoru.

Masaichi Nagata later became the vice-president of the Tokyo Racehorse Owners' Association, and contributed in the establishment of the Japan Racing Association as a commissioner.

Masaichi Nagata was a patronage of Schools of the Sacred Heart in Japan, and contributed in its expansion notably by contriving resources through managing the palace of the Kuni-no-miya house.

Masaichi Nagata became an influential figure on political circles and was regarded as a political fixer.

Masaichi Nagata used his connections with the political world to establish The Japanese Film Export Promotion Association, a governmental incorporated association to support declining Japanese film industries due to a recession of Japanese economy and the prosperity of television industries, however his position made him as one of 14 suspects for the corruption of the Bushu Railway, however five of them including Masaichi Nagata were eventually acquitted.

Masaichi Nagata declared it is his lifework to produce productions depicting the life of Nichiren, and Nichiren to Moko Daishurai and Nichiren were produced by Masaichi Nagata, and a number of worshippers of Nichiren-shu were appointed for the latter.