Koizumi Hajime

Born in Tokyo, Koizumi Hajime graduated from the Japanese Film School in 1945 and immediately joined Toho's Cinematography Center. After serving as an assistant cameraman for over a decade, he was promoted to cinematographer in 1956, making his debut on the color film The Legend of the White Serpent.

Koizumi is best remembered for his prolific and visually distinct collaboration with director Honda Ishirô. Between 1957 and 1967, he served as the director of photography on 17 of Honda's films, helping to define the colorful, widescreen aesthetic of Toho's Golden Age tokusatsu. His credits include genre landmarks such as The Mysterians (1957), Mothra (1961), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), and the atmospheric horror film Matango (1963).

Following King Kong Escapes (1967), Koizumi left the film industry to work in television, joining Eiji Tsuburaya's company. He worked as a special effects director on Ultra Q and later as a cinematographer for Ultraman Ace in the early 1970s.