In the rein of Ozu Yasujiro and Kinoshita Keisuke, two of his precursors at the Shochiku Studio, Yamada Yoji has been particularly keen on portraying the lives of Japanese families.

• 与小津安二郎、木下惠介同属松竹片厂的山田，跟两位前辈大师一样，对日本家庭的描写最感兴趣。