Mitsuru Hongo ( 本郷みつる, Hongō Mitsuru) (born 12 October 1959) is a Japanese anime director of film and television. Hongo originally worked at Ajiado as an animator but moved to Shin-Ei Animation where he directed Crayon Shin-chan. He left in 1996 and went on to direct Immortal Grand Prix, Outlaw Star, Reideen, Shamanic Princess, and The Candidate for Goddess.