Yashiro Seiichi was a Japanese playwright, screenwriter, and director born in Ginza, Tokyo. He was a member of the Japan Writers' Association (日本文芸家協会) and the Japan Theatre Association (日本演劇協会).

He came from the third generation of the founding family of Ginza Yoshinoya (銀座ヨシノヤ). Yashiro attended Hibiya Kindergarten (日比谷幼稚園), Taimei Elementary School (泰明小学校), Tokyo Prefectural Fifth Junior High School (東京府立第五中学校), and Waseda University High School (早稲田高等学院), later graduating from Waseda University’s (早稲田大学) Faculty of Letters, Department of French Literature in 1950.

While at Waseda High School, he falsified a medical certificate to take a leave of absence and became a trainee at the Actor's Studio (俳優座). He later joined a traveling theater troupe during World War II. As a university student, Yashiro worked with the Actor’s Studio's Literary Department. In 1950, he moved to the Bungaku-za Theatre Company (文学座), where he began his career as a playwright and director.

Between December 1950 and April 1952, he was hospitalized for tuberculosis and had seven ribs removed. In 1963, after the Bungaku-za decided to cancel the performance of "The Joyful Koto" (喜びの琴), Yashiro left the company and helped form the NLT Group (グループNLT). He also served on the NHK Broadcasting Terminology Committee (NHK放送用語委員会).

Yashiro's family included his wife, former actress Yamamoto Kazuko (山本和子), and his daughters: actress Yashiro Asako (矢代朝子) and former actress Mariya Tomoko (毬谷友子). His niece was former actress Emao Yu (えまおゆう). Yashiro passed away from heart failure in January 1998, found dead in his home study.

(Source: MyDramaList) Edit Biography