Acting
No biography available.
101 movies sorted by popularity
A samurai answers a village's request for protection after he falls on hard times. The town needs protection from bandits, so the samurai gathers six others to help him teach the people how to defend themselves, and the villagers provide the soldiers with food.
A Japanese bullet train is threatened with a bomb that will explode automatically if the train slows below 80 km/h, unless a ransom is paid. Police race to find the bombers so the train crew can learn how to defuse the bomb.
A passionate teacher, Kumiko Yamaguchi, a.k.a. Yankumi, is now overseeing the new students of Class 3D of Akado High School, who still have not opened up to her and are giving her a hard time. Current and former Class 3D students collide in this epic finale to the Japanese TV series.
The touching and dramatic tale of the relationship between a Japanese family, their dog and her three puppies, set against the backdrop of a devastating earthquake and the ensuing chaos, rescues and heroism.
Inside a bustling postwar Tokyo beer hall, a diverse group of patrons, performers, and workers spend a single evening navigating their personal frustrations and social anxieties. A disillusioned professor, a struggling artist, and various laborers find their lives intersecting through chance encounters and heated arguments fueled by drink.
A Christmas Eve power outage provides a collection of troubled Tokyo denizens the opportunity to come clean on the misdeeds of their past.
Three stories about the relationship between men and women: "Playgirl" (Masumura/Shirasaka), "Company No. 2" (Yoshimura/Kasahara), and "San Nyotai" (Kinugasa/Shindô).
A omnibus movie consisting of the three parts: "Kechinbo", "Yowak" and "Kōshoku".
Three apparently unrelated suicides occur on the same day in Tokyo. One involves a young athlete, one a groom at his wedding reception, and the third an elderly man celebrating his wife's birthday. A middle aged detective investigating one of the cases begins to suspect a connection between the three when he discovers that each person mentioned a "green monkey" before they died. With the help of a young psychiatrist he formulates the theory that hypnosis is somehow involved. In the mean time other bizarre "suicides" are reported and the mystery intensifies. Who will be next? What is the truth? Can more deaths be prevented?
Meiji Tenno portrays the buildup to the Russo-Japan War. In addition to showing the political events that led to war, it also shows the era from the story of a farm family in rural Japan that sends their son off to war. As such, it could be considered an anti-war movie, showing how, while war is devised by governments, the people do not really understand what war is, and its combatants often do not know what they are fighting for.
In 221 BC, Qin Shihuangdi conquered the rest of China. Qin's great accomplishments and also his serious faults are showed in this film. Qin adopted autocratic dictatorship and led a luxurious life: abolition of feudalism and the centralization of power in the form of a now-hereditary bureaucracy loyal to himself; burning books and burying scholars; the construction of a sumptuous palace for his concubines and also the Great Wall.
A young man leaves his widowed mother on her improverished farm and makes his career in the Japanese navy.
A motorcycle courier (Ken Utsui) is recruited to test a new high-speed motorboat but another company is willing to kill to win the competition to bring it to market.
A talent scout who had his eyes set on a star left-handed pitcher in the high school baseball world falls to his death at his hotel. Was it a homicide or suicide? His junior colleague pursues the mystery of his death.
1962 Japanese movie
Tired of everyday life, the 8th Shogun Yoshimune flees Edo Castle and asks Ooka Echizen to become his personal assistant. In a rice shop, Yoshimune meets a simple ronin Ohashi Kenshiro, and receives permission to stay at his house, but a mysterious corpse awaits him in the house... And then the second, third and fourth murders occur...
No description available.
The biopic of Shigenobu Ōkuma, one of the main Japanese leaders at the turn of the 20th century, a supporter of rapprochement with the United Kingdom, and who brought his country into the Triple Entente against the German Empire.
After serving a jail sentence, a former leading yakuza (Takaaki Ishibashi) has gone straight. He has married and is now holding a regular job. However, he is continually harrassed by a police inspector who cannot forgive his past. Meanwhile a major gang war erupts. With his former gang in danger of being exterminated, will his loyalties draw him back in?
Kayo, a zookeeper, dreams of raising a panda one day. However, she soon decided to study abroad in China, and her dream came true. As soon as Kayo arrived in Sichuan Province, she met a boy named Ryuryu, and together they helped save an injured panda cub. The panda cub regained his strength and was named Hua Hua, but one day he went missing…
What happens when young people meet amidst the warmth, soft breezes and gentle waves of Okinawa? This is a romantic love story about a young college student on break from Tokyo who meets a handsome dive employee on the beach. --groink
At sixteen, due to illness, Tsuruko goes blind, and has no choice but to become a massage therapist. One day, stumbling on a staircase, she meets a businessman and falls in love with him.
War drama about army nurses.
A reporter is sent through time and space to document the lives of Japanese people at various times in history. This time, he is sent to unwrap the mystery of Azuchi castle which was built by Oda Nobunaga, one of the most famous shogun of all times, and lost within merely three years after its completion.
Tsunamune Date, the young lord of Sendai Domain, was ordered by the shogunate to stand down after being spotted in a brothel. Shortly after, four advisors from his entourage were assassinated, calling into question the possessions of the Date family.
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.
An evil brain from outer space unleashes monsters with deadly diseases on Earth with trying to conquer the universe. Superhero Starman must battle them all to save his planet.
After the death of a man in their nursing home, a group of residents find his notebook titled "Shinibana" containing a plan to tunnel into and steal 1.7 billion yen from a bank.
Third and last "Maboroshi tantei" film, based on the manga by Jiro Kuwata.
During the naval battle of Midway in WWII, the battleship Mutsu was in its home port in Japan. The ship's officers and crew were frustrated at not being able to take part in the fighting. They had been held back by orders from the Naval Ministry, but there was also a plot by saboteurs, who were trying to prevent the sailing of the Mutsu. Director Komori developed a suspenseful plot by including a fictional adaptation of the Russian spy Richard Sorge, who had been captured in Japan and subsequently executed. Komori brings a fictional Russian spy to the screen by portraying him as a military attaché at the German embassy. As Germany was an ally of Japan in WWII, a secret agent being a mole in the German embassy is a perfect cover. The interaction of the saboteurs and the officers and crew of the Mutsu make an exciting story.
During a Soviet circus tour in Japan, a small street musician, Ken, meets a clown, Yuri Nikulin. Upon learning that his sick father is being treated in the Soviet Union, Ken sets off in search of him. The friendship of the great clown and the boy continues in Moscow.
Drama which shows the struggle of Fumiko, a female teacher, at work and at home.
A 2003 version of the 1962 original. Shuhei Hirayama is a widower with a 24-year-old daughter. Gradually, he comes to realize that she should not be obliged to look after him for the rest of his life, so he arranges a marriage for her.
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto leads the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy to defeat the American Fleet.
In May 1945, Japan's defeat was imminent after the attacks on Saipan, Iwo Jima, and the Philippines, and Tokyo was reduced to a sea of fire by another massive air raid. However, within the Ministry of the Army, there were still officers who were enthusiastic about a decisive battle on the mainland. Eventually, the Okinawa garrison was annihilated, and the US military was approaching the mainland, but on July 27th, the Potsdam Conference between the US, Britain, and the Soviet Union broadcast the Triple Joint Declaration, which set out the final terms of surrender for Japan.
First film in Teruo Ishii's Line series.
In the prewar days leading up to the Second Sino-Japanese War of 1937, head flight instructor Lt. Katō Tateo of the Imperial Japanese Army-Air Corps trains new volunteers from the Army's Infantry to become Japan's next generation of fighter pilots at the Tokorozawa Flying School. Flying Kawasaki Ko-4 biplanes, Lt. Katō will train both friend and future foe alike. But as war in China breaks out, Katō now in command of the 5th Rentai will take his untested men flying antiquated planes into aerial combat against the Chinese Air Force who is now headed by Lt. Cho who Katō both earlier befriended and personally trained himself. While Katō's squadron ultimately achieves air superiority over the skies of Manchuria, it comes at a high price in men to which each loss carries a heavy burden that he alone must carry. As the war widens into the Second World War, Captain Katō must battle an ever advancing array of deadlier new enemies flying ever more modern fighter planes.
After a businessman is murdered, an investigation identifies a suspect who is then put on trial for that crime.
Kazuko Matsuo sings the theme song to this drama film.
A spectacular comedy with a star-studded cast that depicts unusual trials and unexpected verdicts regarding the five deadly sins: the crime of beauty, the crime of a terrifying wife, the crime of taking the wrong course, the crime of seducing, and the crime of killing with laughter.
A story about Sayoko Kano, a junior high school student, who is believed to be a descendent of an Indian goddess. Sayoko is a kind of femme fatale, who uses her supernatural power to control people, especially men.
Satsuo Yamamoto's filmic depiction of the famous 1949 Matsukawa Incident.
Super criminals are planning to infiltrate Earth with mass nuclear destruction! Only Starman can defend civilization by thwarting evil!
Chairman of the Shin Nihon Kaihatsu company Fukazawa, using clever ways to circumvent the law, rose to the top of the economic backstage. Three people are sacrificed to his greed. The president of a small company who committed suicide, a Yakuza who died during the destruction of his territory, and a former viscount whose wife and property were stolen by Fukazawa. Their sons vowed to hunt down Fukazawa and take revenge.
Set around Ginza’s neon billboard boom, the movie is a drama of romance, corporate intrigue and tragic crime. A reporter (Ken Utsui) investigates a homicide in Tokyo’s bustling construction scene, meanwhile a super typhoon is brewing in the Pacific, and Ginza is square in its sights!
The daughter of a wealthy family goes missing at the same time a mysterious dwarf is running around town scattering body parts in public areas.
A five year old boy leaves his mother and grandparents to see his father who has gone to work in Osaka.
A poor rickshaw driver finds himself helping a young woman and her son after the woman's husband dies suddenly.
A bunch of pernicious salamander men from the planet Kulimon in the Moffit Galaxy plan on taking over Earth by unleashing a lethal plague on mankind. It's up to valiant superhero Starman from the Emerald Planet to save the human race before it's too late.
University student Keisuke returns to his hometown during his summer holiday and takes a part-time job at a run-down movie theater. However, his boss Ruka, a projectionist who lives on the premises, has not set foot outside in three years, and always falls into a deep depression on Mondays. Keisuke feels himself becoming attracted to the mysterious Ruka, but...
Part of the Queen Bee series.
Akiko lives with her brother Toshio in suburban Tokyo working in different companies. One day, Toshio loses 500,000 yen which he was holding for his section chief, and as he is unable to return the money, tries to kill himself. Akiko determines to obtain the money by selling her chastity and soon becomes the mistress of Hasegawa, for 500,000 yen. Hasegawa gives her the money but does not make advances. Before she became Hasegawa's mistress Akiko was in love with Wake, who works in the same Company. Gradually Akiko begins to develop a liking for Hasegawa and in turn, her love for Wake gradually weakens...
At the end of the Greater East Asia War, young Amada Koichi and his father were wrongfully accused as spy suspects and his father died in prison after being tortured. Ten years later, Amada seeks for revenge on the three men responsible for his father death.
The kidnapping of some chiefs of police by a rogue ex-policeman is just the beginning for a much much bigger story that it seems at first sight.
The 3rd Super Giant film, in which he saves Earth from the threat of the reptile-like Kapia Aliens.
Adaptation of the novel by Bunroku Shishi.
1959 film directed by Teruo Ishii for Shintoho.
Part 2 of Holiday in Japan
Japanese war film based on the true story of Yoshiko Kawashima, played by actress Miyuki Takakura in her film debut.
Ide of the Kokusai Rayon Company visits a supermarket and finds cheap shirts being passed off as his company's products. But a closer look reveals that the last letter of "Kokusai" has been changed to "n" and reads "Kokusan." The buyers, however, are all under the impression that they are buying Kokusai shirts. Ide begins an investigation to find out where the shirts are being made, but before he is able to uncover anything, he is killed on a train and his little black book, filled with secret data, is stolen. Sugino then starts a one-man search for both the killer and the factory turning out the cheap shirts.
The long-awaited haymaking season has arrived on the island of Honshu. Work is in full swing in the fields, with young and old alike toiling away. For the young woman Moyoko and the young man Tokizo, it is more fun than work. Both are young, cheerful, excited by the shared anticipation of the harvest festival, and not yet aware that they are beginning to fall in love with each other. That is why the first timid hint of confession causes such turmoil in their souls and almost leads to a serious quarrel. Their quarrelsome aunts did the lovers a disservice...
Comedy-horror film by Masaki Môri.
The 5th Super Giant film. Super Giant pursues a Nazi-like army that operates on a huge satellite in space. The satellite is armed with weapons that could destroy whole cities on Earth from afar. (Part 1 of 2)
The superhero Starman is sent by the Emerald Planet to protect Earth from belligerent aliens from the Sapphire Galaxy. The Sapphireans (or "Spherions") kidnap Dr. Yamanaka and force him to use his spaceship against the Earth.
Japanese mystery film.
The 6th Super Giant film. Although he was believed to be destroyed by the Nazi-like army, Super Giant breaks into the satellite, and a long, riotous battle ensues. (Part 2 of 2)
Japanese mystery film directed by Michiyoshi Doi.
The 7th Super Giant film. Super Giant battles a marauding alien brain-like creature created by a mad scientist and an alien army. (stand-alone episode)
The 8th Super Giant film, in which he copes with a disfigured mad scientist, who turns his own daughter into an evil witch.
Detective Kenichi Itami from the The National Police Agency and Akira Iwatsuki from the cyber investigation team investigate a complex murder case. The victim was under investigation by the cyber investigation team. As Detective Kenichi Itami and Akira Iwatsuki delve deeper into the case, pressure from around makes their investigation even more difficult. Secretly, a national financial doomsday scenario is carried out under the plan of "X Day".
Goro Takano works while attending night school is branded a criminal and joins a gang of delinquents; after a benefactor is killed, he seeks revenge and ultimately loses his own life. A youth-oriented action drama.
Underaged war orphans earn money for the Yakuza as pimps and prostitutes and make plans for the future, but trying to escape means falling under the bullets of a hired killer (Shigeru Amachi)
The 4th Super Giant film, in which he continues his fight against the Kapia Aliens (Part 2 of 2)
Foreign terrorists threaten Japan with a nuclear attack.
Boxing film directed by Teruo Ishii in his directorial debut.
The 2nd Super Giant film. Super Giant continues his battle against the foreign terrorists. In return, they frame him for murder. (Part 2 of 2)
Shintoho crime film directed by Kyotaro Namiki.
Japanese comedy film.
Yukiko Shiba, a doctor, and Akira Sakai, a composer and musician, are lovers. Their love is a forbidden one. He is married, with children. She is a doctor with a bright career ahead of her.
Director Teruo Ishii's crime action follows the investigative adventures of an undercover cop working with a prostitution ring. It's done in an unique documentary style.
1961 Japanese movie
The 9th and final Super Giant film, in which he fights a group plotting to assassinate a Middle-Eastern prince for his country's treasure.