Masaharu Arikawa

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A Scarred Life 2: Blood Will Tell (1972)

President of the territorial yakuza organization is being manipulated by a crooked leader in the military and some capitalists Ishikiri. The plan is to get multiple family of the organized crime groups based in Osaka to war it out and order the Shima to the Onishi ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shigehiro Ozawa
CAST:  Koji Tsuruta  •  Tomisaburō Wakayama  •  Yuko Hama  •  Hiroyuki Nagato

President of the territorial yakuza organization is being manipulated by a crooked leader in the military and some capitalists Ishikiri. The plan is to get multiple family of the organized crime groups based in Osaka to war it out and order the Shima to the Onishi ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shigehiro Ozawa
CAST:  Koji Tsuruta  •  Tomisaburō Wakayama  •  Yuko Hama  •  Hiroyuki Nagato

Gate of Youth (1981)

The story of Shinsuke, a young man who lives through a stormy life as a poverty-stricken coal miner. Ranging from Shinsuke's infanthood to his mid-teens. Coal workers and the mines dominate nearly every aspect of his life. Shinsuke's father a group leader at the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kinji Fukasaku  •  Koreyoshi Kurahara
CAST:  Bunta Sugawara  •  Keiko Matsuzaka  •  Koichi Sato  •  Kaoru Sugita

The story of Shinsuke, a young man who lives through a stormy life as a poverty-stricken coal miner. Ranging from Shinsuke's infanthood to his mid-teens. Coal workers and the mines dominate nearly every aspect of his life. Shinsuke's father a group leader at the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kinji Fukasaku  •  Koreyoshi Kurahara
CAST:  Bunta Sugawara  •  Keiko Matsuzaka  •  Koichi Sato  •  Kaoru Sugita

Three Yakuza (1965)

A tale of three Yakuza gamblers who traveled Japan during the samurai era living by their wits and sword skills. Told in 3 separate vignettes, each part tells the story of a different drifter’s life. Part 1: A man is on the run after killing two Hasshu Officials to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tadashi Sawashima
CAST:  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Hiroki Matsukata  •  Hiroko Sakuramachi

A tale of three Yakuza gamblers who traveled Japan during the samurai era living by their wits and sword skills. Told in 3 separate vignettes, each part tells the story of a different drifter’s life. Part 1: A man is on the run after killing two Hasshu Officials to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tadashi Sawashima
CAST:  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Hiroki Matsukata  •  Hiroko Sakuramachi

Withered Tree, the Adventures of Monjiro (1972)

Kogarashi Monjiro is a lone samurai who agrees to take responsibility for a murder that his friend committed so that he can stay with his dying mother, with the expectation that his friend will confess and get him pardoned once she dies. Monjiro is sentenced to an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sadao Nakajima
CAST:  Bunta Sugawara  •  Gorō Ibuki  •  Tsunehiko Watase  •  Takayuki Akutagawa

Kogarashi Monjiro is a lone samurai who agrees to take responsibility for a murder that his friend committed so that he can stay with his dying mother, with the expectation that his friend will confess and get him pardoned once she dies. Monjiro is sentenced to an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sadao Nakajima
CAST:  Bunta Sugawara  •  Gorō Ibuki  •  Tsunehiko Watase  •  Takayuki Akutagawa

Yakuza Ladies (1986)

Romantic

While her husband is in prison doing time, Tamaki, the wife of a yakuza capo, runs her spouse’s gang with an iron hand. Meanwhile, Makoto, her younger sister, marries a member of a rival band after being raped by him. The two sisters, united by blood ties but ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hideo Gosha
CAST:  Shima Iwashita  •  Rino Katase  •  Akiko Kana  •  Riki Takeuchi

While her husband is in prison doing time, Tamaki, the wife of a yakuza capo, runs her spouse’s gang with an iron hand. Meanwhile, Makoto, her younger sister, marries a member of a rival band after being raped by him. The two sisters, united by blood ties but ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hideo Gosha
CAST:  Shima Iwashita  •  Rino Katase  •  Akiko Kana  •  Riki Takeuchi

Appassionata (1984)

This story is based on the novel "Jo no mai" by Tomiko Miyao which is based on the life of painter Shōen Uemura (1875–1949), the first woman to be awarded the Order of Culture. The title refers to the masterpiece bijinga ("picture of a beautiful woman") that Uemura ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sadao Nakajima
CAST:  Mariko Okada  •  Yûko Natori  •  Morio Kazama  •  Kunihiko Mitamura

This story is based on the novel "Jo no mai" by Tomiko Miyao which is based on the life of painter Shōen Uemura (1875–1949), the first woman to be awarded the Order of Culture. The title refers to the masterpiece bijinga ("picture of a beautiful woman") that Uemura ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sadao Nakajima
CAST:  Mariko Okada  •  Yûko Natori  •  Morio Kazama  •  Kunihiko Mitamura

Aftermath of Battles Without Honor and Humanity (1979)

Two Kyushu based yakuza groups are desperate for domaination of the area. When more powerful yakuza groups get involved in their power struggle, a group of childhood friends, belonging to different yakuza families, are caught in the middle. Lies, deceit, and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eiichi Kudo
CAST:  Jinpachi Nezu  •  Mieko Harada  •  Ryudo Uzaki  •  Shigeru Matsuzaki

Two Kyushu based yakuza groups are desperate for domaination of the area. When more powerful yakuza groups get involved in their power struggle, a group of childhood friends, belonging to different yakuza families, are caught in the middle. Lies, deceit, and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eiichi Kudo
CAST:  Jinpachi Nezu  •  Mieko Harada  •  Ryudo Uzaki  •  Shigeru Matsuzaki

Fireflies in the North (1984)

Set in the icy wilderness of Hokkaido during the early days of the Meiji era, where the brutal warden of Kabato Prison terrorizes convicts sentenced to forced labor to build the roads needed to open up the territory.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hideo Gosha
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Shima Iwashita  •  Koichi Sato  •  Ai Saotome

Set in the icy wilderness of Hokkaido during the early days of the Meiji era, where the brutal warden of Kabato Prison terrorizes convicts sentenced to forced labor to build the roads needed to open up the territory.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hideo Gosha
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Shima Iwashita  •  Koichi Sato  •  Ai Saotome

13 Assassins (1963)

A sadistic Daimyo (feudal lord) rapes a woman and murders both her and her husband, but even when one of his own vassals commits suicide to bring attention to the crime, the matter is quickly hushed up. Not only will there be no punishment, but because the Daimyo ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eiichi Kudo
CAST:  Chiezō Kataoka  •  Kō Nishimura  •  Ryôhei Uchida  •  Kanjūrō Arashi

A sadistic Daimyo (feudal lord) rapes a woman and murders both her and her husband, but even when one of his own vassals commits suicide to bring attention to the crime, the matter is quickly hushed up. Not only will there be no punishment, but because the Daimyo ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eiichi Kudo
CAST:  Chiezō Kataoka  •  Kō Nishimura  •  Ryôhei Uchida  •  Kanjūrō Arashi

Red Peony Gambler: Flower Cards Game (1969)

The third chapter of the ‘Red Peony Gambler’ saga depicts the happiness and sadness of Red Peony Oryu’s life as she seals her femininity with a red peony tattoo and lives in world of chivalry and honor of the yakuza. This story takes place in the middle of the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tai Katō
CAST:  Sumiko Fuji  •  Ken Takakura  •  Kanjūrō Arashi  •  Teruo Ishiyama

The third chapter of the ‘Red Peony Gambler’ saga depicts the happiness and sadness of Red Peony Oryu’s life as she seals her femininity with a red peony tattoo and lives in world of chivalry and honor of the yakuza. This story takes place in the middle of the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tai Katō
CAST:  Sumiko Fuji  •  Ken Takakura  •  Kanjūrō Arashi  •  Teruo Ishiyama

Pride (1998)

Based on the International Military Tribunal for the Far East of 1946–48, depicts Japanese prime minister Hideki Tojo as a family man who fought to defend Japan and Asia from western colonialism but was ultimately hanged by a vengeful United States.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shunya Ito
CAST:  Masahiko Tsugawa  •  Eiji Okuda  •  Gin Maeda  •  Takehiro Murata

Based on the International Military Tribunal for the Far East of 1946–48, depicts Japanese prime minister Hideki Tojo as a family man who fought to defend Japan and Asia from western colonialism but was ultimately hanged by a vengeful United States.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shunya Ito
CAST:  Masahiko Tsugawa  •  Eiji Okuda  •  Gin Maeda  •  Takehiro Murata

Miyamoto Musashi: Birth of Two Sword Style (1963)

In the third installment of Yoshikawa's novel Musashi, things continue from the 2nd film at the end of battle, where Miyamoto continues on a mission of learning; with the introduction of his arch-rival Sasaki Kojiro; and lastly the large cast of characters ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tomu Uchida
CAST:  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Wakaba Irie  •  Isao Kimura  •  Chieko Naniwa

In the third installment of Yoshikawa's novel Musashi, things continue from the 2nd film at the end of battle, where Miyamoto continues on a mission of learning; with the introduction of his arch-rival Sasaki Kojiro; and lastly the large cast of characters ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tomu Uchida
CAST:  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Wakaba Irie  •  Isao Kimura  •  Chieko Naniwa

Miyamoto Musashi: The Duel at Ichijo Temple (1964)

In the fourth installment, Musashi's potentially greatest opponent Kojiro jumps in and out of the story at the oddest and most coincidental moments. As his great love Otsu has succumbed to madness. Musashi then sets off to beat the functionaries of a treacherous ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tomu Uchida
CAST:  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Wakaba Irie  •  Isao Kimura  •  Chieko Naniwa

In the fourth installment, Musashi's potentially greatest opponent Kojiro jumps in and out of the story at the oddest and most coincidental moments. As his great love Otsu has succumbed to madness. Musashi then sets off to beat the functionaries of a treacherous ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tomu Uchida
CAST:  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Wakaba Irie  •  Isao Kimura  •  Chieko Naniwa

The Tattooed Hitman (1974)

The most dangerous hired gun in Tokyo's underworld has managed to trigger a vicious gang war, and now, there's a contract on his life. Though nobody is more skilled in the arts of dealing death, can the tattooed hitman fend off the entire Japanese mafia as he ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kōsaku Yamashita
CAST:  Bunta Sugawara  •  Mayumi Nagisa  •  Tsunehiko Watase  •  Tatsuo Umemiya

The most dangerous hired gun in Tokyo's underworld has managed to trigger a vicious gang war, and now, there's a contract on his life. Though nobody is more skilled in the arts of dealing death, can the tattooed hitman fend off the entire Japanese mafia as he ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kōsaku Yamashita
CAST:  Bunta Sugawara  •  Mayumi Nagisa  •  Tsunehiko Watase  •  Tatsuo Umemiya

Cops vs. Thugs (1975)

When a lucrative waterfront development becomes available, the Kawade gang quickly use their political connections to secure the land. However, the acting boss of the Ohara gang also has his eyes on the property and recruits crooked detective Tokumatsu Kuno to help ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kinji Fukasaku
CAST:  Bunta Sugawara  •  Tatsuo Umemiya  •  Mikio Narita  •  Hiroki Matsukata

When a lucrative waterfront development becomes available, the Kawade gang quickly use their political connections to secure the land. However, the acting boss of the Ohara gang also has his eyes on the property and recruits crooked detective Tokumatsu Kuno to help ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kinji Fukasaku
CAST:  Bunta Sugawara  •  Tatsuo Umemiya  •  Mikio Narita  •  Hiroki Matsukata

Miyamoto Musashi V: Musashi vs Kojiro (1965)

The fifth and final installment with the build up of the epic battle between Sasaki Kojiro and Miyamoto Musashi. With all the familiar characters making appearances: Otsu (Musashi's great love), Akemi, Matahachi (his former fellow soldier), old lady Osugi (still ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tomu Uchida
CAST:  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Ken Takakura  •  Wakaba Irie  •  Isao Kimura

The fifth and final installment with the build up of the epic battle between Sasaki Kojiro and Miyamoto Musashi. With all the familiar characters making appearances: Otsu (Musashi's great love), Akemi, Matahachi (his former fellow soldier), old lady Osugi (still ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tomu Uchida
CAST:  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Ken Takakura  •  Wakaba Irie  •  Isao Kimura

Miyamoto Musashi: Showdown at Hannyazaka Heights (1962)

The remake of Yoshikawa's novel continues with the second installment in which Takezo, soon to be Miyamoto Musashi, emerges from the Himeji Castle after three years of intense contemplation and philosophical study and starting on his epic quest to complete his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tomu Uchida
CAST:  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Wakaba Irie  •  Isao Kimura  •  Chieko Naniwa

The remake of Yoshikawa's novel continues with the second installment in which Takezo, soon to be Miyamoto Musashi, emerges from the Himeji Castle after three years of intense contemplation and philosophical study and starting on his epic quest to complete his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tomu Uchida
CAST:  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Wakaba Irie  •  Isao Kimura  •  Chieko Naniwa

Warrior of the Wind (1964)

A suspenseful Ninja fantasy based on Shiba Ryotaro's novel, woven with the mysterious fate and romance of Shinzo and a beautiful Princess who find themselves at the center of an intrigue surrounding the legendary land of Yasurai in the mountains of Kumano. Hidden ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tai Katō
CAST:  Hashizo Okawa  •  Hiroko Sakuramachi  •  Naoko Kubo  •  Sanae Nakahara

A suspenseful Ninja fantasy based on Shiba Ryotaro's novel, woven with the mysterious fate and romance of Shinzo and a beautiful Princess who find themselves at the center of an intrigue surrounding the legendary land of Yasurai in the mountains of Kumano. Hidden ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tai Katō
CAST:  Hashizo Okawa  •  Hiroko Sakuramachi  •  Naoko Kubo  •  Sanae Nakahara

Legend of Dinosaurs and Monster Birds (1977)

A Japanese geologist discovers that dinosaurs still exist in caves beneath the surface of a volcanic lake.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Junji Kurata
CAST:  Shōtarō Hayashi  •  Tomoko Kiyoshima  •  Fuyukichi Maki  •  Tsunehiko Watase

A Japanese geologist discovers that dinosaurs still exist in caves beneath the surface of a volcanic lake.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Junji Kurata
CAST:  Shōtarō Hayashi  •  Tomoko Kiyoshima  •  Fuyukichi Maki  •  Tsunehiko Watase

Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Police Tactics (1974)

As Japan gears up for the 1964 Olympic games, the cops start to crack down on the gangs, under pressure from the public and the press, adding a new dimension in the war for power among the yakuza families of Hiroshima.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kinji Fukasaku
CAST:  Bunta Sugawara  •  Akira Kobayashi  •  Tatsuo Umemiya  •  Toshio Kurosawa

As Japan gears up for the 1964 Olympic games, the cops start to crack down on the gangs, under pressure from the public and the press, adding a new dimension in the war for power among the yakuza families of Hiroshima.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kinji Fukasaku
CAST:  Bunta Sugawara  •  Akira Kobayashi  •  Tatsuo Umemiya  •  Toshio Kurosawa
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