Yukio Ninagawa dead: Internationally renowned Japanese stage director dies aged 80

Best known for his interpretations of Shakespeare plays, Ninagawa directed Hamlet differently eight times over the course of his life

First debuting as a director in 1969 Ninagawa gained international recognition at the 1985 Edinburgh festival with a samurai version of Macbeth

Internationally acclaimed Japanese director, Yukio Ninagawa, has died at a hospital in Tokyo at the age of 80.

Ninagawa died of complications caused by pneumonia, an official at the theatre he led told AFP.

Known for his interpretations of plays by William Shakespeare and Greek tragedies, Ninagawa first debuted as a director in 1969. He went on to gain international recognition at the 1985 Edinburgh festival with a samurai version of Macbeth - his first production to travel overseas.

Ninagawa has directed Hamlet differently a grand total of eight times. Speaking to The Independent ahead of his May 2015 production of the Shakespeare classic, he explained, “Eight times is not enough. A play that means different things to me, depending on my age.“

The world-renowned director became a member of the Shakespeare Globe Council at London’s Globe Theatre and in 2002 was granted the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He has also won myriad awards in Japan, including the Medal with Purple Ribbon given for contributions to the arts and academia in 2001 and then Japan’s highest cultural award, the Order of Culture, in 2010.

Tributes to Ninagawa have poured in on social media.

"Very sad to hear of the passing of master Japanese director Yukio Ninagawa - many inspiring visits to Barbican Centre in my time there ," wrote one Twitter user.

While another added, "So sad to hear about #YukioNinagawa. Seeing the chorus of his Medea changed my whole outlook on Greek drama".

In international terms, he is most famous for his European classics but he has also directed works based on contemporary writing from Japan, including the Modern Noh plays of Yukio Mishima and several others. Ninagawa also produced experimental productions with young group members in his theatrical company “Ninagawa Studio”.