Asakazu Nakai (中井朝一, Nakai Asakazu, 29 August 1901 – 28 February 1988) was a Japanese cinematographer born in Hyōgo Prefecture. He worked on several films with director Akira Kurosawa.^[1] In 1950, he won the Mainichi Film Award for Best Cinematography for Stray Dog.^[2] He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on the film Ran (1985), being the oldest nominee ever in that category.^{[citation needed]}

Selected filmography

• 1943: The Song Lantern
• 1949: Stray Dog
• 1954: Seven Samurai
• 1957: Throne of Blood
• 1961: The End of Summer
• 1963: High and Low
• 1965: Red Beard
• 1975: Dersu Uzala
• 1985: Ran