KAZUKI NAKASHIMA

He was born on August 19, 1959, in Fukuoka Prefecture. He joined the Gekidan☆Shinkansen company as a resident playwright in 1985 with The Flame’s Hyperstep. His scripts, including The Seven of the Skull Castle, Ashura-yo no Hitomi: BLOOD GETS IN YOUR EYES, and Goemon Rock, are often based on history and myth. They emphasize story construction and intricate plots based on small clues. Combined with energetic direction, these works have become emblematic of the company. Nakashima is also active outside the company, both on stage and on screen. He has received the 2nd Asahi Performing Arts Award, Matsuyo Akimoto Prize, and the 47th Kishida Kunio Drama Award. 

He has had a long and interesting career in anime. He wrote the screenplay for Promare (2019) and created and wrote the script of Kill la Kill (2013). He also wrote the series Nodame Cantabile: Finale (2010), Gurren Lagann (2007), Crayon Shin-chan: Intense Battle! Robo Dad Strikes Back (2014), and Batman Ninja. He was the head writer for the television series Kamen Rider Fourze (2011) and its films. He has also collaborated on other tokusatsu series, including Ultraman Max (2006), Juken Sentai Gekiranger (2007), and Kamen Rider W (2010). 

Selection of main scripts outside of Gekidan productions in recent years: 

Theater: Gekidan☆Shinkansen “Bakuretsu Chushingura” (2025); Kabuki NEXT “Oboro no Mori ni Sumu Oni” (2024–25); “No. 9 — The Immortal Melody —" (2015, 2018, 2020–21, 2024–25); Gekidan Suzaku “Sakura Fubuki Happyaku-Yachicho” (2023); and “Sanson — The Man Who Beheaded Louis XVI —" (2021, 2023).