In 1968 he turned freelance after 'Nihon no seishun' (Hymn to a Tired Man), and in 1969 he formed 'Yonki no kai' (Team Four Riders) with Akira KUROSAWA, Keisuke KINOSHITA and Kon ICHIKAWA.
43年「日本の青春」のあとフリーとなり、44年には黒澤明、木下恵介、市川崑とともに四騎の会を結成。