Akira Hamada

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Kill! (1968)

A pair of down-on-their-luck swordsmen arrive in a dusty, windblown town, where they become involved in a local clan dispute. One, previously a farmer, longs to become a noble samurai. The other, a former samurai haunted by his past, prefers living anonymously with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kihachi Okamoto
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Etsushi Takahashi  •  Yuriko Hoshi  •  Tadao Nakamaru

A pair of down-on-their-luck swordsmen arrive in a dusty, windblown town, where they become involved in a local clan dispute. One, previously a farmer, longs to become a noble samurai. The other, a former samurai haunted by his past, prefers living anonymously with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kihachi Okamoto
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Etsushi Takahashi  •  Yuriko Hoshi  •  Tadao Nakamaru

Legend of the Eight Samurai (1983)

The evil Hikita clan rises from the dead to fulfill a curse on the Satomi clan by restoring the face of their warlord by using the skin of Princess Shizu. In the process of trying to capture her, the clan murders her entire family, but Princess Shizu escapes their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kinji Fukasaku
CAST:  Hiroko Yakushimaru  •  Hiroyuki Sanada  •  Sonny Chiba  •  Mari Natsuki

The evil Hikita clan rises from the dead to fulfill a curse on the Satomi clan by restoring the face of their warlord by using the skin of Princess Shizu. In the process of trying to capture her, the clan murders her entire family, but Princess Shizu escapes their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kinji Fukasaku
CAST:  Hiroko Yakushimaru  •  Hiroyuki Sanada  •  Sonny Chiba  •  Mari Natsuki

Bayside Shakedown (1998)

Aoshima, a police detective working in the Bayside Precinct, is continually frustrated by the hierarchy and red tape that plague the system. His friend Muroi is climbing the ladder of the police bureaucracy. Muroi has made a pact with Aoshima that while Aoshima ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuyuki Motohiro
CAST:  Yuji Oda  •  Eri Fukatsu  •  Toshiro Yanagiba  •  Miki Mizuno

Aoshima, a police detective working in the Bayside Precinct, is continually frustrated by the hierarchy and red tape that plague the system. His friend Muroi is climbing the ladder of the police bureaucracy. Muroi has made a pact with Aoshima that while Aoshima ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuyuki Motohiro
CAST:  Yuji Oda  •  Eri Fukatsu  •  Toshiro Yanagiba  •  Miki Mizuno

Heaven and Earth (1990)

Warlords Kagetora and Takeda each wish to prevent the other from gaining hegemony in feudal Japan. The two samurai leaders pursue one another across the countryside, engaging in massive battles of cavalry and infantry. Younger and less brutal, Kagetora must find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Haruki Kadokawa
CAST:  Takaaki Enoki  •  Masahiko Tsugawa  •  Atsuko Asano  •  Hironobu Nomura

Warlords Kagetora and Takeda each wish to prevent the other from gaining hegemony in feudal Japan. The two samurai leaders pursue one another across the countryside, engaging in massive battles of cavalry and infantry. Younger and less brutal, Kagetora must find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Haruki Kadokawa
CAST:  Takaaki Enoki  •  Masahiko Tsugawa  •  Atsuko Asano  •  Hironobu Nomura

Vengeance Is Mine (1979)

A thief, a murderer, and a charming lady-killer, Iwao Enokizu is on the run from the police.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shōhei Imamura
CAST:  Ken Ogata  •  Rentaro Mikuni  •  Chōchō Miyako  •  Mitsuko Baisho

A thief, a murderer, and a charming lady-killer, Iwao Enokizu is on the run from the police.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shōhei Imamura
CAST:  Ken Ogata  •  Rentaro Mikuni  •  Chōchō Miyako  •  Mitsuko Baisho

Rain Fall (2009)

A hit man looks to protect the daughter of one of his victims against CIA assassins.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Max Mannix
CAST:  Kippei Shiina  •  Gary Oldman  •  Kyoko Hasegawa  •  Misa Shimizu

A hit man looks to protect the daughter of one of his victims against CIA assassins.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Max Mannix
CAST:  Kippei Shiina  •  Gary Oldman  •  Kyoko Hasegawa  •  Misa Shimizu

About Love, Tokyo (1992)

Looks at the lives of Chinese people in Japan.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mitsuo Yanagimachi
CAST:  Asuka Okasaka  •  Hiroshi Fujioka  •  Qian Po  •  Akira Hamada

Looks at the lives of Chinese people in Japan.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mitsuo Yanagimachi
CAST:  Asuka Okasaka  •  Hiroshi Fujioka  •  Qian Po  •  Akira Hamada

Mondai no Nai Watashitachi (2004)

Mio Sasaoka hears of a middle school student that was a victim of bullying and then committed suicide. Mio thinks the girl should have confronted her tormentors rather than committing suicide. Mio herself is the leader of a group of students at her school. She is a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshiyuki Morioka
CAST:  Mei Kurokawa  •  Erika Sawajiri  •  Minami  •  Erika Mori

Mio Sasaoka hears of a middle school student that was a victim of bullying and then committed suicide. Mio thinks the girl should have confronted her tormentors rather than committing suicide. Mio herself is the leader of a group of students at her school. She is a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshiyuki Morioka
CAST:  Mei Kurokawa  •  Erika Sawajiri  •  Minami  •  Erika Mori

The Land of Hope (2012)

An old couple, their only son, the son's wife, a young man and his lover live peacefully in a village. Then, a terrifying earthquake strikes that causes a nearby nuclear station to explode. The residents must evacuate, but the family lives on a farm, with only half ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sion Sono
CAST:  Isao Natsuyagi  •  Naoko Ohtani  •  Jun Murakami  •  Megumi Kagurazaka

An old couple, their only son, the son's wife, a young man and his lover live peacefully in a village. Then, a terrifying earthquake strikes that causes a nearby nuclear station to explode. The residents must evacuate, but the family lives on a farm, with only half ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sion Sono
CAST:  Isao Natsuyagi  •  Naoko Ohtani  •  Jun Murakami  •  Megumi Kagurazaka

Eden (2012)

When Miro's transsexual friend Noripee dies, Miro and his friends from the gay bar 'Eden' are once again reminded of the discrimination they are constantly facing from society. They decide to convince Noripee's parents, who disowned her, to bury Noripee's body.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masaharu Take
CAST:  Taro Yamamoto  •  Yuri Nakamura  •  Kazuya Takahashi  •  Houka Kinoshita

When Miro's transsexual friend Noripee dies, Miro and his friends from the gay bar 'Eden' are once again reminded of the discrimination they are constantly facing from society. They decide to convince Noripee's parents, who disowned her, to bury Noripee's body.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masaharu Take
CAST:  Taro Yamamoto  •  Yuri Nakamura  •  Kazuya Takahashi  •  Houka Kinoshita

Yakuza Ladies: The Final Battle (1990)

A Yakuza boss's wife and the widow of a rival crime syndicate's murdered leader bond over a common purpose: to seek vengeance.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kōsaku Yamashita
CAST:  Shima Iwashita  •  Show Aikawa  •  Rino Katase  •  Yuriko Ishida

A Yakuza boss's wife and the widow of a rival crime syndicate's murdered leader bond over a common purpose: to seek vengeance.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kōsaku Yamashita
CAST:  Shima Iwashita  •  Show Aikawa  •  Rino Katase  •  Yuriko Ishida

Village of Doom (1983)

An emotionally distraught young man goes on a violent killing spree after his tuberculosis keeps him from serving in World War II and is frowned upon by his fellow villagers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Noboru Tanaka
CAST:  Masato Furuoya  •  Misako Tanaka  •  Shino Ikenami  •  Izumi Hara

An emotionally distraught young man goes on a violent killing spree after his tuberculosis keeps him from serving in World War II and is frowned upon by his fellow villagers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Noboru Tanaka
CAST:  Masato Furuoya  •  Misako Tanaka  •  Shino Ikenami  •  Izumi Hara

Lifetime Insecurity (1994)

In the midst of a bad economy, Yokoyama, the vice president of Taiyo Real Estate, launches a plan to cut back on his labor force. Fifty employees are segregated into a special assignment division and given an ultimatum: meet a sales goal of 1.5 billion yen within ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shunichi Kajima
CAST:  Kyôhei Shibata  •  Atsuo Nakamura  •  Masahiko Tsugawa  •  Hisako Manda

In the midst of a bad economy, Yokoyama, the vice president of Taiyo Real Estate, launches a plan to cut back on his labor force. Fifty employees are segregated into a special assignment division and given an ultimatum: meet a sales goal of 1.5 billion yen within ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shunichi Kajima
CAST:  Kyôhei Shibata  •  Atsuo Nakamura  •  Masahiko Tsugawa  •  Hisako Manda

Yakuza Ladies 3 (1989)

Upon the passing of the Sakanishi Clan’s boss, a fierce battle between his wife Hazuki and his disciple Terada breaks out. Will Hazuki be able to assume her husband’s position as the head of the established yakuza clan?  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yasuo Furuhata
CAST:  Yoshiko Mita  •  Rino Katase  •  Shinobu Sakagami  •  Kenichi Hagiwara

Upon the passing of the Sakanishi Clan’s boss, a fierce battle between his wife Hazuki and his disciple Terada breaks out. Will Hazuki be able to assume her husband’s position as the head of the established yakuza clan?  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yasuo Furuhata
CAST:  Yoshiko Mita  •  Rino Katase  •  Shinobu Sakagami  •  Kenichi Hagiwara

The Revolt (1980)

When a young soldier is killed while trying to prevent his younger sister, Kaoru, from being sold into a life of prostitution, his commander, Col. Miyagi, tries to honor his dying wish to rescue his sister. Upon finding Kaoru at a party working as a geisha and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shirō Moritani
CAST:  Ken Takakura  •  Sayuri Yoshinaga  •  Masakane Yonekura  •  Junko Sakurada

When a young soldier is killed while trying to prevent his younger sister, Kaoru, from being sold into a life of prostitution, his commander, Col. Miyagi, tries to honor his dying wish to rescue his sister. Upon finding Kaoru at a party working as a geisha and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shirō Moritani
CAST:  Ken Takakura  •  Sayuri Yoshinaga  •  Masakane Yonekura  •  Junko Sakurada

The Brutal Insanity of Love (1993)

A policewoman (Megumi Yokoyama) investigates the apparent suicide of a college coed. The prime suspects include the girl's professor, who may have been having an affair with her, and the professor's wife, who frequents lesbian bars. Gruesome axe murders and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshiharu Ikeda
CAST:  Shirō Sano  •  Megumi Yokoyama  •  Kimiko Yo  •  Tatsuo Yamada

A policewoman (Megumi Yokoyama) investigates the apparent suicide of a college coed. The prime suspects include the girl's professor, who may have been having an affair with her, and the professor's wife, who frequents lesbian bars. Gruesome axe murders and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshiharu Ikeda
CAST:  Shirō Sano  •  Megumi Yokoyama  •  Kimiko Yo  •  Tatsuo Yamada

Zero Woman: Final Mission (1995)

A famous businessman's links with organized crime are looked into by the Zero Division of the Tokyo Police, with the investigation being headed by a highly trained, extremely violent and very beautiful female officer. When not having shoot-outs with the crime ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Koji Enokido
CAST:  Misayo Haruki  •  Naoko Iijima  •  Miho Suzuki  •  Takako Kitagawa

A famous businessman's links with organized crime are looked into by the Zero Division of the Tokyo Police, with the investigation being headed by a highly trained, extremely violent and very beautiful female officer. When not having shoot-outs with the crime ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Koji Enokido
CAST:  Misayo Haruki  •  Naoko Iijima  •  Miho Suzuki  •  Takako Kitagawa

Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance (1974)

Lady Snowblood is caught by the police and sentenced to death for her crimes. As she is sent to the gallows she is rescued by the secret police who offer her a deal to assassinate some revolutionaries.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshiya Fujita
CAST:  Meiko Kaji  •  Jūzō Itami  •  Kazuko Yoshiyuki  •  Yoshio Harada

Lady Snowblood is caught by the police and sentenced to death for her crimes. As she is sent to the gallows she is rescued by the secret police who offer her a deal to assassinate some revolutionaries.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshiya Fujita
CAST:  Meiko Kaji  •  Jūzō Itami  •  Kazuko Yoshiyuki  •  Yoshio Harada

Station (1981)

A detective goes out of his way to crack the case of a serial killer who specialises in murdering police officers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yasuo Furuhata
CAST:  Ken Takakura  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Ayumi Ishida  •  Setsuko Karasuma

A detective goes out of his way to crack the case of a serial killer who specialises in murdering police officers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yasuo Furuhata
CAST:  Ken Takakura  •  Chieko Baisho  •  Ayumi Ishida  •  Setsuko Karasuma

Port Arthur (1980)

Depicts the bloody siege of the fortress of Port Arthur, one of the most strongly fortified positions in the world, during the Russo-Japanese War of (1904 - 1905). In the story dominated the character Lt Takeshi Kogyo (Teruhiko Aoi), teachers, and a reserve officer ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshio Masuda
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Teruhiko Aoi  •  Kenji Niinuma  •  Toshirō Mifune

Depicts the bloody siege of the fortress of Port Arthur, one of the most strongly fortified positions in the world, during the Russo-Japanese War of (1904 - 1905). In the story dominated the character Lt Takeshi Kogyo (Teruhiko Aoi), teachers, and a reserve officer ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshio Masuda
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Teruhiko Aoi  •  Kenji Niinuma  •  Toshirō Mifune
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