Chieko Matsubara

Chieko Matsubara (born 6 January 1945) is a Japanese actress. She is best known for her roles in Tokyo Drifter (1966) and the Outlaw series. Spotted at a beauty contest sponsored by the Nikkatsu studio, Matsubara made her debut in 1961 at age 16 in Yoru no chōsensha. Matsubara won popularity and became one of the representative actresses of the Nikkatsu. She appeared in over 100 films at Nikkatsu.

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Dolls (2002)

Dolls takes puppeteering as its overriding motif, which relates thematically to the action provided by the live characters. Chief among those tales is the story of Matsumoto and Sawako, a young couple whose relationship is about to be broken apart by the former's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takeshi Kitano
CAST:  Miho Kanno  •  Hidetoshi Nishijima  •  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Chieko Matsubara

Dolls takes puppeteering as its overriding motif, which relates thematically to the action provided by the live characters. Chief among those tales is the story of Matsumoto and Sawako, a young couple whose relationship is about to be broken apart by the former's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takeshi Kitano
CAST:  Miho Kanno  •  Hidetoshi Nishijima  •  Tatsuya Mihashi  •  Chieko Matsubara

Black Tight Killers (1966)

Daisuke Honda, a war photographer in Vietnam, meets Yuriko Sawanouchi, a stewardess on his plane back to Japan. After drinking with her at a Tokyo bar, he becomes involved in saving Yuriko from assassination by stylish, female ninjas. When trying to rescue Yuriko ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yasuharu Hasebe
CAST:  Akemi Kita  •  Mieko Nishio  •  Bokuzen Hidari  •  Akira Kobayashi

Daisuke Honda, a war photographer in Vietnam, meets Yuriko Sawanouchi, a stewardess on his plane back to Japan. After drinking with her at a Tokyo bar, he becomes involved in saving Yuriko from assassination by stylish, female ninjas. When trying to rescue Yuriko ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yasuharu Hasebe
CAST:  Akemi Kita  •  Mieko Nishio  •  Bokuzen Hidari  •  Akira Kobayashi

Tokyo Drifter (1966)

After yakuza boss Kurata dissolves his own criminal empire, a rival kingpin offers a position to Kurata's top operative, Tetsuya "Phoenix Tetsu" Hondo. When the fiercely loyal Tetsu declines, Otsuka taps unstoppable Tatsuzo the "Viper", a ruthless gun-for-hire, to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Seijun Suzuki
CAST:  Tetsuya Watari  •  Chieko Matsubara  •  Hideaki Nitani  •  Ryuji Kita

After yakuza boss Kurata dissolves his own criminal empire, a rival kingpin offers a position to Kurata's top operative, Tetsuya "Phoenix Tetsu" Hondo. When the fiercely loyal Tetsu declines, Otsuka taps unstoppable Tatsuzo the "Viper", a ruthless gun-for-hire, to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Seijun Suzuki
CAST:  Tetsuya Watari  •  Chieko Matsubara  •  Hideaki Nitani  •  Ryuji Kita

Yellow Tears (2007)

The movie is centered around five friends as they end up spending the summer of 1962 shackled up together in a tiny studio apartment in Tokyo. The five friends are Eisuke - the manga artist, Shoichi - the singer, Ryuzo - the novelist, Kei - the painter and Yuji – ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Isshin Inudo
CAST:  Masaki Aiba  •  Kazunari Ninomiya  •  Jun Matsumoto  •  Yuu Kashii

The movie is centered around five friends as they end up spending the summer of 1962 shackled up together in a tiny studio apartment in Tokyo. The five friends are Eisuke - the manga artist, Shoichi - the singer, Ryuzo - the novelist, Kei - the painter and Yuji – ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Isshin Inudo
CAST:  Masaki Aiba  •  Kazunari Ninomiya  •  Jun Matsumoto  •  Yuu Kashii

To Love (1997)

Mitsu works in a factory and has a crush on Tsutomu, a young man she met on the Tokyo streets. One day the two go out, and after some deception, Tsutomu manages to have his way with her. Coming from a broken home, he is frightened by love, so he cruelly allows her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kei Kumai
CAST:  Miki Sakai  •  Atsuro Watabe  •  Jō Shishido  •  Chieko Matsubara

Mitsu works in a factory and has a crush on Tsutomu, a young man she met on the Tokyo streets. One day the two go out, and after some deception, Tsutomu manages to have his way with her. Coming from a broken home, he is frightened by love, so he cruelly allows her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kei Kumai
CAST:  Miki Sakai  •  Atsuro Watabe  •  Jō Shishido  •  Chieko Matsubara

Gu Gu, the Cat (2008)

Asako, a comic book artist in her early forties, is devastated by the death of her precious cat, Saba, which kept her company for over 15 years, as her assistant Naomi watches on with concern. Naomi is a young woman in her early twenties, who has her set of worries ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Isshin Inudo
CAST:  Kyoko Koizumi  •  Juri Ueno  •  Ryo Kase  •  Naojiro Hayashi

Asako, a comic book artist in her early forties, is devastated by the death of her precious cat, Saba, which kept her company for over 15 years, as her assistant Naomi watches on with concern. Naomi is a young woman in her early twenties, who has her set of worries ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Isshin Inudo
CAST:  Kyoko Koizumi  •  Juri Ueno  •  Ryo Kase  •  Naojiro Hayashi

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry: Forbidden Love (1971)

A story of lone wolf struggling with human compassion and duty.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kiyoshi Saeki
CAST:  Ken Takakura  •  Ryō Ikebe  •  Tamayo Mitsukawa  •  Chieko Matsubara

A story of lone wolf struggling with human compassion and duty.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kiyoshi Saeki
CAST:  Ken Takakura  •  Ryō Ikebe  •  Tamayo Mitsukawa  •  Chieko Matsubara

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DIRECTION:  Naoto Yamakawa  •  Tsutomu Kashima  •  Yasuo Hasegawa
CAST:  Mitsuru Hirata  •  Hideko Hara  •  Rikako Murakami  •  Katsunobu Ito

New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 3: Last Days of the Boss (1976)

The eighth sequel of the series by the successful “Fukasaku and Bunta” collaboration revolves around the men of a lesser organization that are constantly bullied by the upper organization and “bleed in vain” in gang wars.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kinji Fukasaku
CAST:  Bunta Sugawara  •  Takeo Chii  •  Takuya Fujioka  •  Seizō Fukumoto

The eighth sequel of the series by the successful “Fukasaku and Bunta” collaboration revolves around the men of a lesser organization that are constantly bullied by the upper organization and “bleed in vain” in gang wars.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kinji Fukasaku
CAST:  Bunta Sugawara  •  Takeo Chii  •  Takuya Fujioka  •  Seizō Fukumoto

Cruel Gun Story (1964)

Businessmen arrange the early release from prison of Togawa, serving time for taking revenge on the truck driver whose carelessness confined Togawa's sister, Rie, to a wheelchair. They want Togawa to hijack an armored truck loaded with 120 million yen; their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takumi Furukawa
CAST:  Jō Shishido  •  Chieko Matsubara  •  Tamio Kawachi  •  Yuji Odaka

Businessmen arrange the early release from prison of Togawa, serving time for taking revenge on the truck driver whose carelessness confined Togawa's sister, Rie, to a wheelchair. They want Togawa to hijack an armored truck loaded with 120 million yen; their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takumi Furukawa
CAST:  Jō Shishido  •  Chieko Matsubara  •  Tamio Kawachi  •  Yuji Odaka

The Call of Blood (1964)

Two brothers seek revenge on the yakuza responsible for the death of their father.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Seijun Suzuki
CAST:  Akira Kobayashi  •  Hideki Takahashi  •  Chieko Matsubara  •  Chikako Hosokawa

Two brothers seek revenge on the yakuza responsible for the death of their father.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Seijun Suzuki
CAST:  Akira Kobayashi  •  Hideki Takahashi  •  Chieko Matsubara  •  Chikako Hosokawa

Kanto Wanderer (1963)

Handsome young Katsuta tries to follow the yakuza code, but even his boss doesn't believe in it. Diamond Fuyu is less ethical, and allows the idiotic Tetsu to trick a schoolgirl he fancies, Hanako, into a type of bonded prostitution. Because of gang conflict, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Seijun Suzuki
CAST:  Akira Kobayashi  •  Chieko Matsubara  •  Daizaburo Hirata  •  Hiroko Itō

Handsome young Katsuta tries to follow the yakuza code, but even his boss doesn't believe in it. Diamond Fuyu is less ethical, and allows the idiotic Tetsu to trick a schoolgirl he fancies, Hanako, into a type of bonded prostitution. Because of gang conflict, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Seijun Suzuki
CAST:  Akira Kobayashi  •  Chieko Matsubara  •  Daizaburo Hirata  •  Hiroko Itō

Truck Rascals IV: Fully Licensed (1976)

The fourth film of the “Truck Yaro” series. A comical road movie of two long-distance truckers, “Momojiro” and “Kinzo,” who travel around Japan in highly decorated trucks. Momojiro goes to Shikoku this time, and he falls in love with a beautiful designer named ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Norifumi Suzuki
CAST:  Bunta Sugawara  •  Kin'ya Aikawa  •  Masumi Harukawa  •  Chieko Matsubara

The fourth film of the “Truck Yaro” series. A comical road movie of two long-distance truckers, “Momojiro” and “Kinzo,” who travel around Japan in highly decorated trucks. Momojiro goes to Shikoku this time, and he falls in love with a beautiful designer named ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Norifumi Suzuki
CAST:  Bunta Sugawara  •  Kin'ya Aikawa  •  Masumi Harukawa  •  Chieko Matsubara

Modern Children (1963)

After their father dies, his children try to get by on a house boat.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kō Nakahira
CAST:  Yasushi Suzuki  •  Chinatsu Nakayama  •  Yoshiro Ichikawa  •  Kin Sugai

After their father dies, his children try to get by on a house boat.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kō Nakahira
CAST:  Yasushi Suzuki  •  Chinatsu Nakayama  •  Yoshiro Ichikawa  •  Kin Sugai

Yellow Elephant (2013)

Married couple Aiko Tsumari and Ayumu Muko live a happy and peaceful life. Aiko is bit naive, while Ayumu works as a not so popular novelist. One day, a letter arrives for Ayumu. Because of this letter, the couple become estranged...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryuichi Hiroki
CAST:  Osamu Mukai  •  Sakura Ando  •  Akira Emoto  •  Tasuku Emoto

Married couple Aiko Tsumari and Ayumu Muko live a happy and peaceful life. Aiko is bit naive, while Ayumu works as a not so popular novelist. One day, a letter arrives for Ayumu. Because of this letter, the couple become estranged...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryuichi Hiroki
CAST:  Osamu Mukai  •  Sakura Ando  •  Akira Emoto  •  Tasuku Emoto

At River's Edge (2011)

A samurai Sakunosuke gets an order from clan chamberlain to kill another samurai who is married with his own younger sister. As a loyal samurai he has to accept the mission even though he has inner conflicts.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tetsuo Shinohara
CAST:  Noriyuki Higashiyama  •  Rinko Kikuchi  •  Ryo Katsuji  •  Ainosuke Kataoka

A samurai Sakunosuke gets an order from clan chamberlain to kill another samurai who is married with his own younger sister. As a loyal samurai he has to accept the mission even though he has inner conflicts.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tetsuo Shinohara
CAST:  Noriyuki Higashiyama  •  Rinko Kikuchi  •  Ryo Katsuji  •  Ainosuke Kataoka

Pikanchi Half: Life is Hard Tabun Happy (2014)

Pikanchi Half is a spin-off of the two previous movies in the Pikanchi series, showing the five friends, now in their 30s, having a reunion as they are running into problems with family and work  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yukihiko Tsutsumi  •  Hisashi Kimura
CAST:  Jun Matsumoto  •  Masaki Aiba  •  Kazunari Ninomiya  •  Satoshi Ohno

Pikanchi Half is a spin-off of the two previous movies in the Pikanchi series, showing the five friends, now in their 30s, having a reunion as they are running into problems with family and work  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yukihiko Tsutsumi  •  Hisashi Kimura
CAST:  Jun Matsumoto  •  Masaki Aiba  •  Kazunari Ninomiya  •  Satoshi Ohno

Our Meal for Tomorrow (2017)

A 7 year love story between Ryota Hayama and Koharu Uemura from their first date to eventual marriage. Ryota and Koharu are high school students. Ryota is indifferent to people and says very little. Koharu is not afraid of to speak her mind and she has a bright ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahide Ichii
CAST:  Yuto Nakajima  •  Yuko Araki  •  Karen Miyama  •  Amane Okayama

A 7 year love story between Ryota Hayama and Koharu Uemura from their first date to eventual marriage. Ryota and Koharu are high school students. Ryota is indifferent to people and says very little. Koharu is not afraid of to speak her mind and she has a bright ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahide Ichii
CAST:  Yuto Nakajima  •  Yuko Araki  •  Karen Miyama  •  Amane Okayama

A Long Goodbye (2019)

A seventy-year-old retired school headmaster informs his wife and daughters that he has Alzheimer’s disease. They are all concerned, but react differently due to their individual situations. The family watches as the husband and father regresses due to the disease ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryota Nakano
CAST:  Yu Aoi  •  Yûko Takeuchi  •  Chieko Matsubara  •  Tsutomu Yamazaki

A seventy-year-old retired school headmaster informs his wife and daughters that he has Alzheimer’s disease. They are all concerned, but react differently due to their individual situations. The family watches as the husband and father regresses due to the disease ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryota Nakano
CAST:  Yu Aoi  •  Yûko Takeuchi  •  Chieko Matsubara  •  Tsutomu Yamazaki

Smiles Leading To Happiness (2019)

Daichi (Mahiro Takasugi) is a young dental technician. He is called a prince due to his excellent skills at work and his handsome appearance. One day, he meets again his childhood friend Manatsu (Seia Yasuda). Manatsu has just began work as a dental hygienist at a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jiro Enomoto
CAST:  Kumiko Akiyoshi  •  Tomoko Fujita  •  Asami Kumakiri  •  Eri Hama

Daichi (Mahiro Takasugi) is a young dental technician. He is called a prince due to his excellent skills at work and his handsome appearance. One day, he meets again his childhood friend Manatsu (Seia Yasuda). Manatsu has just began work as a dental hygienist at a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jiro Enomoto
CAST:  Kumiko Akiyoshi  •  Tomoko Fujita  •  Asami Kumakiri  •  Eri Hama
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