his projects, Okamoto formed Okamoto Productions. His wife, Mineko Okamoto, often worked as producer on his later works. He won the 1992 Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year for Rainbow Kids. Alongside Akira Kurosawa, Okamoto was also a candidate for directing the Japanese sequences for Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) but instead Kinji Fukasaku and Toshio Masuda were chosen. On February 19, 2005, just two days after his 81st birthday, Okamoto died at home from esophageal cancer. A photograph of Okamoto was used to portray the character of Goro Maki in the 2016 film Shin Godzilla, which was directed by Hideaki Anno, a self-professed fan of Okamoto. Selected filmography Appearance Shin Godzilla (2016) as Goro Maki (stock photo double) References External links 1924 births 2005 deaths Deaths from esophageal cancer People from Yonago, Tottori Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Year winners Japanese film directors Samurai film directors Deaths from cancer in Japan Japanese military personnel of World War II