Jushiro Kobayashi

No description available.

This anthology film consists of nine incidents in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when assassins changed the course of Japanese history.

Eikichi Yamashiro, who is a former contender for the boxing title, works as a manager at a Club Champion owned by his fiancé Natsuko’s father. He lost a title match five years ago as he was besotted by Natsuko, but Eikichi actually cannot give up the dream of the championship. One day, he meets Shuntaro Fuma, who is a punk kid but a promising boxer, and realizes the dream that he himself could never fulfill. Then, they together start to train with the aim of the title. Mari Shiraki is an up-and-coming ballerina under the patronage of Eikichi as well. Eikichi forbids Shuntaro and Mari to be romantically involved with someone during their training, however, they start to go on a date.

Made after Takechi had won an obscenity trial over Black Snow (1965), the film has been called "Takechi's personal message to Eirin."

A romantic adventure tale about a young guy working on a whale-hunting vessel and his love for a childhood sweetheart.

Oryu the Red Peony, a wandering female yakuza on a soul-searching journey after the death of her father. After collecting her sickly follower from jail, she is taken in by a fishing village. Feeling indebted to their generosity, she stays to work for the village and promises to leave her yakuza ways behind. When a dispute breaks out for the gambling rights to a local festival, the villagers are harassed by a gang of thugs. When the harassment turns violent, Oryu must decide wither to keep her promise or protect the villagers.

In a warehouse area at night, a drunk chief engineer is stabbed to death by someone who whistles. After the break of dawn, two seamen join the crew of a rusty cargo ship Kaiyo Maru. One is a troublemaker with bad attitudes, Senkichi Nomura, who pursues an enemy in order to take revenge for his father's death. The other is Keizo Sasaki, a buff, eagle-eyed man on board for a certain mission.

No description available.

Writer Jippensha Ikku hears Tsutaya Juzaburo, a wholesaler of picture books, mutter on his deathbed, "Where has Sharaku gone?" He begins to figure out the true identity of Sharaku, who disappeared after about 150 portraits of actors he created came out.

Five years have passed since the three comrades who saved their lives in the Burma Campaign, namely Kenichiro Kishi, Eiji Shiga, and Daizo Kobayashi, promised to meet again five years later at the platform of Tokyo Station. Meanwhile, Shinagawa Station's crowded with repatriates. Upon returning to their homeland, their lives have changed dramatically. Daizo works as a railway construction worker. Eiji has established himself as a boxer. Kenichiro's become a gangster. In 1955, the day of their reunion is approaching. Now it is a matter of whether the three will be able to meet each other at the platform of Tokyo Station, as they had agreed on back in 1950.

Ise, a successful entrepreneur, accidentally murders his lunatic wife after he is spotted having an affair with his secretary, Harumi. In his attempt to perfect his crime, he drives to a remote quarry to bury his wife’s body, but along the way, he finds another dead body in the back of his car! Given no choice, Ise dumps both bodies. Meanwhile, Yoshie begins her search for her missing brother, Yoshihiko. After surprising twists and turns, Ise faces his fate.

Japanese drama film.

In 1941, overpopulated Japan faces an economic boycott and its armed forces push further to the south. And despite negotiations between Japan and the U. S. A. war is declared with the attack on Pearl Harbour. Victories follow for Japan on land and sea and her forces push forward to the borders of India. But gradually the tide turns in favour of the Allies and after the atom bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan is compelled to accept the Potsdam Declaration and by the order of the Emperor agrees to unconditional surrender. Under the supervision of the occupation forces the International Military Tribunal opens in Tokyo to try the Japanese war leaders. Established in the cause of justice, and to prevent future aggressive wars the trials drag on for two and a half years. And on December 23, 1948, General Tojo and six other war leaders mount the thirteen steps to the gallows at Tokyo's Sugamo prison.

No description available.

A historical film that portrays the fervent and violent actions of young Army and Navy officers, such as the February 26 and May 15 incidents, in a semi-documentary style.

A Tokugawa Daimyo rebels against an his lord after the battle of Sekigahara. Samurai Matabei, a famous spear fighter and warrior, is a vassal of lord Honjo. One of Honjo's most trusted under-lords is Sanzaemon. He has designs on Matabei's fief, and he plots to kill Matabei. He finally convinces Lord Honjo of Matabei's guilt. Now Matabei must fight to survive.

A group of pirates led by the evil Gondaiyu and his wizard, Genkuro, capture the Golden Peacock Castle and massacre the peaceful clan that lives there. The few survivors that manage to escape plot their revenge and wait for the right timing for an attack. The struggles of the Golden Peacock Clan continue as they seek to reclaim their home and prevent the evil Gondaiyu from taking their most prized treasures.

For the poor, Edo is Hell on Earth, starving under the rule of Tanuma Okitsugi, corrupt councilor to the shogun. But the courageous vagabond called “Kageboshi” (Shadow Avenger), will fight for the common folk, robbing the rich so the people will have rice. Tanuma’s henchmen will hire an evil swordsman to pose as Kageboshi, starting a wave of murder, kidnapping and robbery, searching for two antique sword-guards that will reveal the hiding place of a fortune in buried gold. But who will claim the gold? The poor of Edo, or the conniving Tanuma? Only Kageboshi’s flashing sword, tearing through Tanuma’s bloodthirsty minions, can forestall his wicked schemes.

A hard-working section chief, fast approaching retirement and beset by stress from all directions, joins a jazz band and reignites his youthful passion for the music, giving him a chance to set things right in his life.

Two rival gangs of gangsters clash for dominance of a neighborhood.

No description available.

The second film in the "Suruga yukyoden" series, in which Shintaro Katsu plays Jirocho Shimizu. The film features Omasa, Komasa, Ocho, who will become Jirocho's wife, as well as other members of his future family. There is a particularly great swordfight near the end where Katsu and cronies attack the rival villainous yakuza clan to rescue their ailing, elderly boss. The action choreography, cinematography and editing of this sequence is quite brilliant, treading a difficult tightrope act between genuinely goofy antics and exhilirating, bloody violence.

Aboard a ship connecting Kyoto and Osaka, Osan was pickpocketed by a sham blind biwa player. A man who looked like a merchant retrieved the wallet for her. Osan was a woman being sold off for the sake of her yakuza-like brother, Nin'kichi. The man in the guise of a merchant turned out to be the Rat Thief, Jirokichi, the infamous thief of Edo. Due to this chance encounter, the two ended up staying at the same hot spring inn. However, one morning, as Jirokichi was about to leave alone, Osan, with the intuition of a smitten woman, confessed she knew he was the famed Rat Thief.

Masked avenger Kurama Tengu and his young sidekick try to stop a mysterious adversary from assassinating a group of young warriors who want to bring down the Shogunate...

At a tavern in Shimoda, Ronin Tadakazu Yamakawa saved a samurai girl named Mino from the clutches of the Benten family. When Mino's father, Kyohei Tsuchihashi, is murdered by unknown assailants, Tadakazu is summoned to Akane-ya, the landlord of this area. He promises to ensure the safety of Mino for three days, during which the Benten family must not harm her...

No description available.

International agents have failed to track down the high-level source of government top-security leaks. Japanese officials suspect the involvement of a group of cold-blooded Ninja Warriors, the fierce, EGA clan . But they are powerless against this tight, efficient killing machine. Desperately, the police seek the help of the one man who can destroy the Ninjutsa murderers and restore the governmental secrets. Ken Sacaki, the last descendant of the Koga leaders and a Ninjutsu champion himself, must accept the ultimate challenge against his bitter rivals. It's all up to Ken to defeat his oldest enemies and avenge his ancestors... or die trying. Hong Kong, Japanese and US co production.

No description available.

This 1932 adaptation is the earliest sound version of the ever-popular and much-filmed Chushingura story of the loyal 47 retainers who avenged their feudal lord after he was obliged to commit hara-kiri due to the machinations of a villainous courtier. As the first sound version of the classic narrative, the film was something of an event, and employed a stellar cast, who give a roster of memorable performances. Director Teinosuke Kinugasa was primarily a specialist in jidai-geki (period films), such as the internationally celebrated Gate of Hell (Jigokumon, 1953), and although he is now most famous as the maker of the avant-garde silent films A Page of Madness (Kurutta ichipeji, 1926) and Crossroads (Jujiro, 1928), Chushingura is in fact more typical of his output than those experimental works. The film ranked third in that year’s Kinema Junpo critics’ poll, and Joseph Anderson and Donald Richie noted that 'not only the sound but the quick cutting was admired by many critics.

It is a historical drama that follows Katsu Kaishu's efforts to surrender Edo Castle bloodlessly in the first year of the Meiji period.

Japanese film.

The story of three brothers who struggle to shake free of the father's ties to the yakuza underworld. A star vehicle for the popular singer/actor Yūjirō Ishihara.

This is the second film in the popular black and white series about the master swordsman, Yagyu Jubei. When the Yagyu clan falls victim to rival Kasumi spies, Yagyu Jubei is called to action to protect them. But in performing his duty, he becomes the target of those who wish to destroy his clan.

A former samurai, whose lover had died while he was traveling, was returning to Edo when he met a woman at Shinagawa-juku.

1961 Japanese movie

No description available.

A young doctor discovers that the city hall of records has a record of his death. He and some friends try to seek out the person who reported it, and uncover a shady group of criminals with a sinister plot.

The last fight put up by remaining forces and a special volunteer nursing corps in 1944-5.

A disgraced yakuza member, framed for the murder of his boss, emerges from prison eight years later with revenge on his mind.

No description available.

An early fantasy film starring Tomisaburô Wakayama.

The first half of the movie depicts a man's jealousy of his best friend and the woman he love. The second part depicts a hero who is ready to put the past behind him and risk his life for his friend.

A good young man accidentally joins a group of leg breakers

Jeom-yong Kim (Pyeong Wang) is a train conductor who wants to drive a military train. Won-jin (Eun-gi Dog) is his best friend and both live together. When a spy for the resistance approaches Won-jin for information on the Japanese military train in exchange for money, he puts the life of his best friend in danger.

A young man whose father is on death row discovers a terrifying underworld trap that was set up thirteen years ago. At seventeen years old, he risks his life and storms into a hell of violence!

1962 Japanese movie

Part 2 of Holiday in Japan

The masked avenger Kurama Tengu is linked to a plot to bring down the Tokugawa shogunate, but is it really our hero, or an imposter?

Drunken samurai Saito Magobei lives a reckless and irresponsible life. He’s not the man to volunteer for thrilling adventures. But when Magobei and Kurita Heishichiro meet two frightened women escorting Kotaro, child heir to the perishing Azama Clan, they feel honor bound to protect them from clan traitors and their ninja henchmen. With ruthless ninja dogging every step, Magobei will have to find his courage, restore his pride, and wager his life on his lightning sword and his karate skills in a bloody battle to save the young lord. Immerse yourself in this exhilarating adventure of samurai versus ninja, brought to life by an extraordinary cast. Seize the moment and don't miss it!

Hatamoto Akabane Tanaka once ruined his life with alcohol in his youth, leaving behind his wife and son, Hanji, to embark on a journey. He killed a man on the Shikoku route, but later returned to Edo, reforming his ways. Concerned about Hanji, he tracked down the wet nurse, O-Kane, to whom he had entrusted the boy. To his surprise, Hanji had become a respectable young man, now a subordinate of the gang leader, Tatsugorou. During a New Year visit to the Shiba Shinmei shrine, a minor altercation led Hanji to meet the geisha Koina, the wicked servant Miya-toku, and the sumo wrestler Naruto. Hanji and Naruto hit it off and formed a bond like brothers. However, Naruto's father was the very man Tanaka had killed. Naruto had been seeking vengeance against his father's killer. During a chance encounter at a restaurant, Naruto witnessed the reunion of Hanji and Tanaka, realizing Tanaka was his father's killer.

A poignant entertainment epic about a righteous mountain man, a young company director with new ideals, and a beautiful woman with wild charm, whose love and action unfold against the backdrop of a rice field in the middle of a vast forest.

After Ryusaku Nishikawa and his girlfriend Katsuko are attacked by a gang, he trains in karate to seek revenge. Years later, Ryusaku is a skilled martial artist preparing for an inter-school match, but his past resurfaces when Katsuko, now involved with the gang, brings tragedy. In a final confrontation, Ryusaku faces the gang and finds redemption through his karate, with the support of his friends.

No description available.

Around the Genroku era, there was a man named Saotome Shusui-no-Suke, nephew to the senior councilor Matsudaira Sakon Shogen. He was commonly known as the Bored Samurai of the Hatamoto rank. Just as he was engulfed in boredom, Tokugawa Jo-Kaibo, claiming to be the Shogun's illegitimate child, made a grand entrance into Edo. At the behest of Sakon Shogen, Shusui-no-Suke was tasked to investigate Jo-Kaibo's background and had his young page Kyoya disguise as a woman to infiltrate Jo-Kaibo's gun mansion.

Police detective Heiji is assigned to catch the masked Maboroshi gang of robbers who have terrorized all of Edo leaving few clues as to who their leader is.

During the Tenpo era, the peasants of the Kanto region were in dire straits due to successive natural disasters. Maebashi's boss, Shiroganeya Ginjiro, allied with the magistrate Yamaoka Jintayu, and, using his baton as a shield, he committed a series of evil acts, earning the peasants' animosity. At this time, Omaeda Eigoro, who had been on a long journey, returned with his horseman Kunisada Chuji. Eigoro was popular with yakuza all over the country, and the Shiroganeya family, whose territory had been disturbed until then, were alarmed by the news of Eigoro's return.

Bored Hatamoto movie #12

Japanese film.

No description available.

The day has come for recruits to enlist in the Japanese Marine Corps. The recruits, who have left the free world to enter this strict military life, look nervous. Monma Santaro (Frankie Sakai), who grew up in Edo and is small but smart, and Mamada Gosaku (Toshiyuki Ichimura), who was born in Tohoku and has a strong 'zuzu' dialect, have also been called up.

A mournful masterpiece by Kinugasa Teinosuke

During the end of the shogunate, there was a group of black-clothed masked samurai known as the "Crow Squad" who resisted the shogunate's oppression, taking down key figures one by one. During a Go game with a visitor named Seki Hikonoshin, the government inspector, Nozoe Minbu, was attacked and killed by what appeared to be the Crow Squad. The witness, Yoshi Goro, was also injured by their blade. Minbu's son, Katsuma, returning from a trip, learned of this and, along with his sister Sakura, vowed revenge.