He collaborated with producer Genjiro Arato in 1980 and made the first part of what would become his Taishō trilogy, "Zigeunerweisen", a psychological, period, ghost story, named after a gramophone record of gypsy violin music by Pablo de Sarasate featured prominently in the film. When exhibitors declined to show the film, Arato screened it himself in an inflatable mobile dome to great success. It won Honourable Mention at the 31st Berlin International Film Festival, was nominated for 9 Japanese Academy Awards and won four, including best director and best film, and was voted the no. 1 Japanese film of the 1980s by Japanese critics. He followed the film with "Kagero-za", made the following year, and completed the trilogy ten years later with "Yumeji". Suzuki commented on working outside of the studio system: