Born in 1937 in Tokyo, graduated from Keio University. Before getting involved in filmmaking he presented numerous works of contemporary art at shows including the “Japan Indépendant Exhibition” (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, 1964) and a solo exhibition at Naiqua Gallery, Tokyo, 1965. His debut cinematic work Tenchi Sozosetsu (1967) won an award at an experimental film festival held at Sogetsu Hall, and he garnered the grand prix for A Taste For Boys (1973) at EXPRMNTL (Le festival international du cinéma expérimental de Knokke-le-Zoute) in Belgium. Okabe is a pioneer of Japanese avant-garde cinema. Besides filmmaking, he has written many short stories for radio, and also writes fantasy novels for magazine publication.