Dec. 12, 1903: Yasujiro Ozu is born in Tokyo's Fukagawa district, the second of five siblings. His father is a prosperous fertilizer wholesaler from Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture. Ozu lives in Matsusaka with his brothers and sisters from 1913 to 1924.
Aug. 2, 1923: After failing university exams and working as a substitute teacher in Mie Prefecture, Ozu enters the Shochiku studio as an assistant cameraman.
September 1927: Ozu is promoted to director and makes his first film, the now-lost period drama "Zange no Yaiba (Sword of Penitence)."