Ryu Morioka

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Suspect X (2008)

Fast pacedGrippingBrainyBrilliant

A male corpse is discovered with a smashed face and burned hands. Strangely, the cause of death is determined to be strangulation. When Detective Kaoru Utsumi attempts to corroborate the victim’s ex-wife’s alibi she discovers the mysterious neighbor and only a few ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Nishitani
CAST:  Masaharu Fukuyama  •  Kazuki Kitamura  •  Yasuko Matsuyuki  •  Shinichi Tsutsumi

A male corpse is discovered with a smashed face and burned hands. Strangely, the cause of death is determined to be strangulation. When Detective Kaoru Utsumi attempts to corroborate the victim’s ex-wife’s alibi she discovers the mysterious neighbor and only a few ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Nishitani
CAST:  Masaharu Fukuyama  •  Kazuki Kitamura  •  Yasuko Matsuyuki  •  Shinichi Tsutsumi

Sawako Decides (2010)

After 5 years in Tokyo, 5 part-time jobs, 5 boyfriends, Sawako's life is going nowhere. When her father gets seriously ill, she has to take over his struggling factory. Gradually she becomes the decider of her own life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yuya Ishii
CAST:  Hikari Mitsushima  •  Kotaro Shiga  •  Ryo Iwamatsu  •  Kira Aihara

After 5 years in Tokyo, 5 part-time jobs, 5 boyfriends, Sawako's life is going nowhere. When her father gets seriously ill, she has to take over his struggling factory. Gradually she becomes the decider of her own life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yuya Ishii
CAST:  Hikari Mitsushima  •  Kotaro Shiga  •  Ryo Iwamatsu  •  Kira Aihara

Aegis (2005)

The Isokaze, an Aegis-class escort vessel, sets sail on a routine training exercise, playing host to a platoon from the Fleet Training Group. No sooner is the Isokaze on open water, however, then the FTG reveal themselves to be terrorist stowaways who kill the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Junji Sakamoto
CAST:  Hiroyuki Sanada  •  Akira Terao  •  Koichi Sato  •  Kiichi Nakai

The Isokaze, an Aegis-class escort vessel, sets sail on a routine training exercise, playing host to a platoon from the Fleet Training Group. No sooner is the Isokaze on open water, however, then the FTG reveal themselves to be terrorist stowaways who kill the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Junji Sakamoto
CAST:  Hiroyuki Sanada  •  Akira Terao  •  Koichi Sato  •  Kiichi Nakai

The Tale of Iya (2013)

As a tunnel construction project threatens the natural order of one of Japan's last untouched regions, an old man and his granddaughter Haruna's humble lifestyle begins to influence the outlook of a man from Tokyo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tetsuichirô Tsuta
CAST:  Rina Takeda  •  Shima Onishi  •  Naomi Kawase  •  Ren Kido

As a tunnel construction project threatens the natural order of one of Japan's last untouched regions, an old man and his granddaughter Haruna's humble lifestyle begins to influence the outlook of a man from Tokyo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tetsuichirô Tsuta
CAST:  Rina Takeda  •  Shima Onishi  •  Naomi Kawase  •  Ren Kido

The Warped Forest (2011)

Settle into your chair and be transported to a place both familiar and alien; where a giant shop-girl can barely fit in her store, there's a weird green pod in every bedroom, and terrifying wood nymphs provide a heartbroken woman with the anatomically correct fruit ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shunichiro Miki
CAST:  Rinko Kikuchi  •  Yoshiyuki Morishita  •  Fumi Nikaido  •  Yoji Tanaka

Settle into your chair and be transported to a place both familiar and alien; where a giant shop-girl can barely fit in her store, there's a weird green pod in every bedroom, and terrifying wood nymphs provide a heartbroken woman with the anatomically correct fruit ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shunichiro Miki
CAST:  Rinko Kikuchi  •  Yoshiyuki Morishita  •  Fumi Nikaido  •  Yoji Tanaka

The Great Passage (2013)

Majime, an eccentric man in publishing company, who has unique ability of words, joins the team that will compile a new dictionary, ‘The Great Passage.’ In the eclectic team, he becomes immersed in the world of dictionaries. But the team is overwhelmed with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yuya Ishii
CAST:  Ryuhei Matsuda  •  Aoi Miyazaki  •  Joe Odagiri  •  Haru Kuroki

Majime, an eccentric man in publishing company, who has unique ability of words, joins the team that will compile a new dictionary, ‘The Great Passage.’ In the eclectic team, he becomes immersed in the world of dictionaries. But the team is overwhelmed with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yuya Ishii
CAST:  Ryuhei Matsuda  •  Aoi Miyazaki  •  Joe Odagiri  •  Haru Kuroki

Shodo Girls (2010)

Based on a true story, Shodo Girls tells a tale of hope and community spirit where youth and vigour meet age and wisdom to overcome the towns struggle to remain on the map.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryuichi Inomata
CAST:  Riko Narumi  •  Tomohiro Ichikawa  •  Rio Yamashita  •  Nanami Sakuraba

Based on a true story, Shodo Girls tells a tale of hope and community spirit where youth and vigour meet age and wisdom to overcome the towns struggle to remain on the map.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryuichi Inomata
CAST:  Riko Narumi  •  Tomohiro Ichikawa  •  Rio Yamashita  •  Nanami Sakuraba

Kakera: A Piece of Our Life (2009)

The story of the relationship between a college student whose relationship with her boyfriend is going nowhere and a bisexual medical artist who makes prosthetic body parts. Haru is a college student ignored by her boyfriend yet believes she is still in love with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Momoko Ando
CAST:  Hikari Mitsushima  •  Ken Mitsuishi  •  Tasuku Nagaoka  •  Eriko Nakamura

The story of the relationship between a college student whose relationship with her boyfriend is going nowhere and a bisexual medical artist who makes prosthetic body parts. Haru is a college student ignored by her boyfriend yet believes she is still in love with ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Momoko Ando
CAST:  Hikari Mitsushima  •  Ken Mitsuishi  •  Tasuku Nagaoka  •  Eriko Nakamura

Mitsuko Delivers (2011)

Mitsuko is 24, heavily pregnant and estranged from the American father of her child. Her parents believe she is happy and successful in America and are unaware that she has secretly returned to Tokyo. Making the biggest decisions on the slightest whim, she moves ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yuya Ishii
CAST:  Riisa Naka  •  Aoi Nakamura  •  Ryo Ishibashi  •  Miyoko Inagawa

Mitsuko is 24, heavily pregnant and estranged from the American father of her child. Her parents believe she is happy and successful in America and are unaware that she has secretly returned to Tokyo. Making the biggest decisions on the slightest whim, she moves ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yuya Ishii
CAST:  Riisa Naka  •  Aoi Nakamura  •  Ryo Ishibashi  •  Miyoko Inagawa

Tokyo Playboy Club (2011)

Katsutoshi is forced to flee his hometown and ends up at a rundown nightclub called "Tokyo Playboy Club." His hot-headedness gets him into further trouble, and the club's waiter Takahiro and his girlfriend Eriko also get caught up in it as their underworld ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yôsuke Okuda
CAST:  Nao Omori  •  Ken Mitsuishi  •  Asami Usuda  •  Masaaki Akahori

Katsutoshi is forced to flee his hometown and ends up at a rundown nightclub called "Tokyo Playboy Club." His hot-headedness gets him into further trouble, and the club's waiter Takahiro and his girlfriend Eriko also get caught up in it as their underworld ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yôsuke Okuda
CAST:  Nao Omori  •  Ken Mitsuishi  •  Asami Usuda  •  Masaaki Akahori

My Darling of the Mountains (2008)

In the mountain hot springs of Izu, Japan, a love triangle is waiting to happen. It is the late 1930s when the paths of a stunning woman fleeing Tokyo, a handsome bachelor and a blind masseur cross.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuhito Ishii
CAST:  Ryo Kase  •  Maiko  •  Tsuyoshi Kusanagi  •  Ryohei Hirota

In the mountain hot springs of Izu, Japan, a love triangle is waiting to happen. It is the late 1930s when the paths of a stunning woman fleeing Tokyo, a handsome bachelor and a blind masseur cross.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuhito Ishii
CAST:  Ryo Kase  •  Maiko  •  Tsuyoshi Kusanagi  •  Ryohei Hirota

Happy Flight (2008)

A variety of aviation professionals such as pilots, flight attendants, the ground crew, mechanics, dispatchers, controllers, and the bird patrol crew all support a single flight. They have only one mission: to secure the safety of the passengers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shinobu Yaguchi
CAST:  Seiichi Tanabe  •  Haruka Ayase  •  Kazue Fukiishi  •  Shinobu Terajima

A variety of aviation professionals such as pilots, flight attendants, the ground crew, mechanics, dispatchers, controllers, and the bird patrol crew all support a single flight. They have only one mission: to secure the safety of the passengers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shinobu Yaguchi
CAST:  Seiichi Tanabe  •  Haruka Ayase  •  Kazue Fukiishi  •  Shinobu Terajima

Funky Forest: The First Contact (2005)

An outrageous collection of surreal, short attention span non-sequiturs largely revolving around Guitar Brother, his randy older sibling, and the pair's portly Caucasian brother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuhito Ishii  •  Shunichiro Miki  •  Hajime Ishimine
CAST:  Tadanobu Asano  •  Ryo Kase  •  Rinko Kikuchi  •  Yoshiyuki Morishita

An outrageous collection of surreal, short attention span non-sequiturs largely revolving around Guitar Brother, his randy older sibling, and the pair's portly Caucasian brother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuhito Ishii  •  Shunichiro Miki  •  Hajime Ishimine
CAST:  Tadanobu Asano  •  Ryo Kase  •  Rinko Kikuchi  •  Yoshiyuki Morishita

The Taste of Tea (2004)

A spell of time in the life of a family in rural Tochigi prefecture. Yoshiko is not an ordinary housewife, instead working on an animated film project. Uncle Ayano, a successful music producer, is looking to get his head together after living in Tokyo. Meanwhile, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuhito Ishii
CAST:  Anna Tsuchiya  •  Tadanobu Asano  •  Maya Banno  •  Satomi Tezuka

A spell of time in the life of a family in rural Tochigi prefecture. Yoshiko is not an ordinary housewife, instead working on an animated film project. Uncle Ayano, a successful music producer, is looking to get his head together after living in Tokyo. Meanwhile, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuhito Ishii
CAST:  Anna Tsuchiya  •  Tadanobu Asano  •  Maya Banno  •  Satomi Tezuka

Hello! Junichi (2014)

An elementary student named Junichi is having trouble returning an eraser he borrowed from his secret crush, Maeda. With the support and encouragement of rookie teacher Anna, Junichi gets over his shyness and starts a band with his classmates.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuhito Ishii  •  Kanoko Kawaguchi  •  Atsushi Yoshioka
CAST:  Hikari Mitsushima  •  Amon Kabe  •  Ryushin Tei  •  Chizuru Ikewaki

An elementary student named Junichi is having trouble returning an eraser he borrowed from his secret crush, Maeda. With the support and encouragement of rookie teacher Anna, Junichi gets over his shyness and starts a band with his classmates.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuhito Ishii  •  Kanoko Kawaguchi  •  Atsushi Yoshioka
CAST:  Hikari Mitsushima  •  Amon Kabe  •  Ryushin Tei  •  Chizuru Ikewaki

Emi-Abi (2016)

Up-and-coming manzai stand-up comedy duo Emi-Abi has lost consummate funny man Unno (a surprisingly touching Tomoya Maeno) to an accident, leaving conceited straight man Jitsudo (Ryu Morioka) to contend with his diminished career prospects as a bland, pretty face ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kensaku Watanabe
CAST:  Ryu Morioka  •  Tomoya Maeno  •  Haru Kuroki  •  Hirofumi Arai

Up-and-coming manzai stand-up comedy duo Emi-Abi has lost consummate funny man Unno (a surprisingly touching Tomoya Maeno) to an accident, leaving conceited straight man Jitsudo (Ryu Morioka) to contend with his diminished career prospects as a bland, pretty face ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kensaku Watanabe
CAST:  Ryu Morioka  •  Tomoya Maeno  •  Haru Kuroki  •  Hirofumi Arai

Kagura Me (2015)

A woman bears a 13 year grudge with her father over the traditional dance he was performing that caused him to be absent from her mother's death, until they reconnect over the very same dance.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yasuo Okuaki
CAST:  Ren Osugi  •  Mariko Tsutsui  •  Ryoko Takizawa  •  Mei Kurokawa

A woman bears a 13 year grudge with her father over the traditional dance he was performing that caused him to be absent from her mother's death, until they reconnect over the very same dance.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yasuo Okuaki
CAST:  Ren Osugi  •  Mariko Tsutsui  •  Ryoko Takizawa  •  Mei Kurokawa

Piece of Cake (2015)

Shino Umemiya readily dates guys interested in her, because she believes that's better than being alone. She breaks up with her violent boyfriend after he discovered that she cheated on him. She moves to a new area to get a fresh new start on her life. There, Shino ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tomorowo Taguchi
CAST:  Mikako Tabe  •  Go Ayano  •  Tori Matsuzaka  •  Fumino Kimura

Shino Umemiya readily dates guys interested in her, because she believes that's better than being alone. She breaks up with her violent boyfriend after he discovered that she cheated on him. She moves to a new area to get a fresh new start on her life. There, Shino ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tomorowo Taguchi
CAST:  Mikako Tabe  •  Go Ayano  •  Tori Matsuzaka  •  Fumino Kimura

Initiation Love (2015)

Set in Shizuoka and Tokyo, Japan in the late 1980's. Takkun is a university student in Shizuoka attempting to find a job. Mayu is a dental hygienist. They meet through a blind date and begin to date, but Takkun finds a job in Tokyo and goes there. They begin a long ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yukihiko Tsutsumi
CAST:  Shota Matsuda  •  Atsuko Maeda  •  Fumino Kimura  •  Takahiro Miura

Set in Shizuoka and Tokyo, Japan in the late 1980's. Takkun is a university student in Shizuoka attempting to find a job. Mayu is a dental hygienist. They meet through a blind date and begin to date, but Takkun finds a job in Tokyo and goes there. They begin a long ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yukihiko Tsutsumi
CAST:  Shota Matsuda  •  Atsuko Maeda  •  Fumino Kimura  •  Takahiro Miura

A Man with Style (2011)

Miyata lost his wife early on and single-handedly raised their two children. One day he notices a change in his physical condition, and decides that it must be stomach cancer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yuya Ishii
CAST:  Tomorowo Taguchi  •  Tatsuya Fujiwara  •  Ken Mitsuishi  •  Shota Sometani

Miyata lost his wife early on and single-handedly raised their two children. One day he notices a change in his physical condition, and decides that it must be stomach cancer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yuya Ishii
CAST:  Tomorowo Taguchi  •  Tatsuya Fujiwara  •  Ken Mitsuishi  •  Shota Sometani
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