Kōji Shimizu

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Kagemusha (1980)

Akira Kurosawa's lauded feudal epic presents the tale of a petty thief who is recruited to impersonate Shingen, an aging warlord, in order to avoid attacks by competing clans. When Shingen dies, his generals reluctantly agree to have the impostor take over as the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akira Kurosawa
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Tsutomu Yamazaki  •  Jinpachi Nezu  •  Takashi Shimura

Akira Kurosawa's lauded feudal epic presents the tale of a petty thief who is recruited to impersonate Shingen, an aging warlord, in order to avoid attacks by competing clans. When Shingen dies, his generals reluctantly agree to have the impostor take over as the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akira Kurosawa
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Tsutomu Yamazaki  •  Jinpachi Nezu  •  Takashi Shimura

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DIRECTION:  Shirō Moritani
CAST:  Yūzō Kayama  •  Tatsuyoshi Ehara  •  Yōko Naitō  •  Keiji Higashiyama

Heavenly Sin (1992)

Elite lawyer Ryoko enlists the help of a foreign mafia in rescuing her son from a criminal who holds grudge against her.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshio Masuda
CAST:  Sayuri Yoshinaga  •  Omar Sharif  •  Hiroki Matsukata  •  Toshiyuki Nishida

Elite lawyer Ryoko enlists the help of a foreign mafia in rescuing her son from a criminal who holds grudge against her.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshio Masuda
CAST:  Sayuri Yoshinaga  •  Omar Sharif  •  Hiroki Matsukata  •  Toshiyuki Nishida

Shinran: Path to Purity (1987)

In the 12th century, Buddhism was still a relatively new religion in Japan. At that time, one school (Shingon) offered extensive training in complex and very demanding practices which might eventually bring about spiritual purification and realization. Various Zen ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rentaro Mikuni
CAST:  Junkyu Moriyama  •  Michiyo Yasuda  •  Ako  •  Izumi Hara

In the 12th century, Buddhism was still a relatively new religion in Japan. At that time, one school (Shingon) offered extensive training in complex and very demanding practices which might eventually bring about spiritual purification and realization. Various Zen ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rentaro Mikuni
CAST:  Junkyu Moriyama  •  Michiyo Yasuda  •  Ako  •  Izumi Hara

Love Tomato (2006)

Middle-aged farmer Noda Masao (Daichi Yasuo) is a good, honest man, but his attempts for marriage have all met with failure. Through a friend, Masao meets Liberty (Ruby Moreno), a Filipino woman working in Japan. When they decide to get married, Masao borrows money ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hideo Nanbu
CAST:  Yasuo Daichi  •  Alice Dixson  •  Denden  •  Izumi Imamura

Middle-aged farmer Noda Masao (Daichi Yasuo) is a good, honest man, but his attempts for marriage have all met with failure. Through a friend, Masao meets Liberty (Ruby Moreno), a Filipino woman working in Japan. When they decide to get married, Masao borrows money ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hideo Nanbu
CAST:  Yasuo Daichi  •  Alice Dixson  •  Denden  •  Izumi Imamura

In Blazing Love (1994)

An illustration of the tragic lives of geishas at a popular geisha house, Shinonomero. Shortly after being sold to a geisha house at age 5, Shizu is befriended by a fellow older geisha, Tsuru. After years of living and working together, Tsuru and Shizu manage to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ikuo Sekimoto
CAST:  Rino Katase  •  Keiko Saitô  •  Yoko Minamino  •  Miyoko Akaza

An illustration of the tragic lives of geishas at a popular geisha house, Shinonomero. Shortly after being sold to a geisha house at age 5, Shizu is befriended by a fellow older geisha, Tsuru. After years of living and working together, Tsuru and Shizu manage to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ikuo Sekimoto
CAST:  Rino Katase  •  Keiko Saitô  •  Yoko Minamino  •  Miyoko Akaza

Like a Savage (1985)

Young writer Tamako, who is wrongfully accused of killing the head yakuza, must find a way out of trouble.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tōru Kawashima
CAST:  Hiroko Yakushimaru  •  Kyôhei Shibata  •  Michiko Kawai  •  Yosuke Tagawa

Young writer Tamako, who is wrongfully accused of killing the head yakuza, must find a way out of trouble.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tōru Kawashima
CAST:  Hiroko Yakushimaru  •  Kyôhei Shibata  •  Michiko Kawai  •  Yosuke Tagawa

Marquis de Sade’s Prosperities of Vice (1988)

A decadent count in 1920′s Japan becomes obsessed with the life and works of the Marquis de Sade. He creates a theatre to show plays adapted from the notorious writer’s novels and recruits thieves, prostitutes and low lives to act out his fantasies on stage for the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akio Jissoji
CAST:  Yasumi Hara  •  Renji Ishibashi  •  Seiran Li  •  Kimiaki Makino

A decadent count in 1920′s Japan becomes obsessed with the life and works of the Marquis de Sade. He creates a theatre to show plays adapted from the notorious writer’s novels and recruits thieves, prostitutes and low lives to act out his fantasies on stage for the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akio Jissoji
CAST:  Yasumi Hara  •  Renji Ishibashi  •  Seiran Li  •  Kimiaki Makino

Prisoner Maria: The Movie (1995)

Convicted of killing the drug dealer who murdered her husband, Maria is blackmailed into serving as a covert assassin. She must do the government's bidding if she is ever to regain her freedom, or her son. With each completed mission, her sentenced is further re- ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shūji Kataoka
CAST:  Noriko Aota  •  Tetsuo Kurata  •  Kōji Shimizu  •  Minako Ogawa

Convicted of killing the drug dealer who murdered her husband, Maria is blackmailed into serving as a covert assassin. She must do the government's bidding if she is ever to regain her freedom, or her son. With each completed mission, her sentenced is further re- ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shūji Kataoka
CAST:  Noriko Aota  •  Tetsuo Kurata  •  Kōji Shimizu  •  Minako Ogawa

XX: Beautiful Hunter (1994)

Shion, ruthless assassin for the Magnificat crime syndicate, is as beautiful as she is deadly. But when her latest target turns out to be the man she loves, Shion is torn between duty and her heart. Her reluctance marks her for death by Magnificat, and her decision ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masaru Konuma
CAST:  Makiko Kuno  •  Maiko Kazama  •  Johnny Ohkura  •  Katsuo Tokashiki

Shion, ruthless assassin for the Magnificat crime syndicate, is as beautiful as she is deadly. But when her latest target turns out to be the man she loves, Shion is torn between duty and her heart. Her reluctance marks her for death by Magnificat, and her decision ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masaru Konuma
CAST:  Makiko Kuno  •  Maiko Kazama  •  Johnny Ohkura  •  Katsuo Tokashiki

The Tragedy of “W” (1984)

A young girl is striving for stardom. In order to get a lead role in a new production, she agrees to stand-in for a famous star whose rich patron died in her arms one night. The real-life drama gradually comes to mirror the story of the play being performed by her.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shinichirô Sawai
CAST:  Hiroko Yakushimaru  •  Masanori Sera  •  Kunihiko Mitamura  •  Miho Takagi

A young girl is striving for stardom. In order to get a lead role in a new production, she agrees to stand-in for a famous star whose rich patron died in her arms one night. The real-life drama gradually comes to mirror the story of the play being performed by her.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shinichirô Sawai
CAST:  Hiroko Yakushimaru  •  Masanori Sera  •  Kunihiko Mitamura  •  Miho Takagi

Ring (1995)

In different parts of Tokyo, four young and seemingly healthy people suddenly die of heart failure at exactly the same moment. Reporter Kazuyuki Asakawa decides to investigate the deaths, and discovers that the four had stayed at a rural inn together just a week ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chisui Takigawa
CAST:  Ayane Miura  •  Maha Hamada  •  Katsunori Takahashi  •  Mai Tachihara

In different parts of Tokyo, four young and seemingly healthy people suddenly die of heart failure at exactly the same moment. Reporter Kazuyuki Asakawa decides to investigate the deaths, and discovers that the four had stayed at a rural inn together just a week ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chisui Takigawa
CAST:  Ayane Miura  •  Maha Hamada  •  Katsunori Takahashi  •  Mai Tachihara

Super Atragon (1995)

At the end of World War II, a top-secret Japanese submarine and an American submarine have a fatal encounter and both are lost. Fifty years later the descendants of the submarines' officers are sent by the United Nations in a new secret submarine to investigate ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kazuyoshi Katayama
CAST:  Tomokazu Seki  •  Kikuko Inoue  •  Junko Iwao  •  Tetsurō Sagawa

At the end of World War II, a top-secret Japanese submarine and an American submarine have a fatal encounter and both are lost. Fifty years later the descendants of the submarines' officers are sent by the United Nations in a new secret submarine to investigate ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kazuyoshi Katayama
CAST:  Tomokazu Seki  •  Kikuko Inoue  •  Junko Iwao  •  Tetsurō Sagawa

Gun Crazy: Episode 2: Beyond the Law (2002)

An idealistic young lawyer whose faith in the law is rocked when she is unable to prevent a rapist from walking free. Her disillusionment of the judicial system is complete when her next case goes disastrously wrong, her corrupt boss is killed by her disappointed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Atsushi Muroga
CAST:  Rei Kikukawa  •  Toshiya Nagasawa  •  Kōji Shimizu  •  Eugene Nomura

An idealistic young lawyer whose faith in the law is rocked when she is unable to prevent a rapist from walking free. Her disillusionment of the judicial system is complete when her next case goes disastrously wrong, her corrupt boss is killed by her disappointed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Atsushi Muroga
CAST:  Rei Kikukawa  •  Toshiya Nagasawa  •  Kōji Shimizu  •  Eugene Nomura

Mandala (1971)

Two university students from Kyoto decide to swap partners and spend the night in an isolated motel. However, one of the couples is attacked. Desperate for answers, they search for the attackers and come across a cult that promotes sexual freedom.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akio Jissoji
CAST:  Shin Kishida  •  Kōji Shimizu  •  Hiroko Sakurai  •  Ryo Tamura

Two university students from Kyoto decide to swap partners and spend the night in an isolated motel. However, one of the couples is attacked. Desperate for answers, they search for the attackers and come across a cult that promotes sexual freedom.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akio Jissoji
CAST:  Shin Kishida  •  Kōji Shimizu  •  Hiroko Sakurai  •  Ryo Tamura

Samurai Cat 2: A Tropical Adventure (2015)

The Edo period. Once a famous swordsman, Kyutaro Madarame, aka “Madara the Devil,” is now a masterless samurai. When a white cat called Tamanojo appears before Kyutaro, the encounter changes him forever. Starring Kazuki Kitamura. This offbeat tale of samurai ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takeshi Watanabe
CAST:  Kazuki Kitamura  •  Hana Kino  •  Kaori Takahashi  •  Megumi Yokoyama

The Edo period. Once a famous swordsman, Kyutaro Madarame, aka “Madara the Devil,” is now a masterless samurai. When a white cat called Tamanojo appears before Kyutaro, the encounter changes him forever. Starring Kazuki Kitamura. This offbeat tale of samurai ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takeshi Watanabe
CAST:  Kazuki Kitamura  •  Hana Kino  •  Kaori Takahashi  •  Megumi Yokoyama

Hakuro no Shibijin (2004)

The wife of a famous resident of Kamakura awakens to carnal passion . . . And when her blood cools down it's because she's been murdered!  (more)

DIRECTION:  Atsushi Yamamoto
CAST:  Ikko Furuya  •  Toshinori Omi  •  Kōji Shimizu  •  Mariko Okada

The wife of a famous resident of Kamakura awakens to carnal passion . . . And when her blood cools down it's because she's been murdered!  (more)

DIRECTION:  Atsushi Yamamoto
CAST:  Ikko Furuya  •  Toshinori Omi  •  Kōji Shimizu  •  Mariko Okada

Musashi (2019)

Musashi returns Japan's legendary swordsman and philosopher to the screen once again. In an original period drama based on the historical facts of the life and travels of the famous Miyamoto Musashi we find an apprentice, an instructor and the account of a famous ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yasuo Mikami
CAST:  Kumiko Endo  •  Yoshihiko Hosoda  •  Ken Matsudaira  •  Yûki Meguro

Musashi returns Japan's legendary swordsman and philosopher to the screen once again. In an original period drama based on the historical facts of the life and travels of the famous Miyamoto Musashi we find an apprentice, an instructor and the account of a famous ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yasuo Mikami
CAST:  Kumiko Endo  •  Yoshihiko Hosoda  •  Ken Matsudaira  •  Yûki Meguro

Dark Room (1983)

Nakata, an author, resides utilizing the painful memory regarding the death of his partner, whoever life had been cut short a few many years earlier. Ended up being it a crash or ended up being it suicide? Doubt persists. In order to escape his guilty Nakata, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kirio Urayama
CAST:  Kōji Shimizu  •  Rie Kimura  •  Mayumi Miura  •  Yoshimi Ashikawa

Nakata, an author, resides utilizing the painful memory regarding the death of his partner, whoever life had been cut short a few many years earlier. Ended up being it a crash or ended up being it suicide? Doubt persists. In order to escape his guilty Nakata, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kirio Urayama
CAST:  Kōji Shimizu  •  Rie Kimura  •  Mayumi Miura  •  Yoshimi Ashikawa

奥飛騨二重心中 (1985)

A man who lost his wife and a woman whose husband died have a fateful meeting in connection with a double suicide and fall madly in love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tatsumi Kumashiro
CAST:  Masakazu Tamura  •  Kimie Shingyoji  •  Kōji Shimizu  •  Takashi Kanda

A man who lost his wife and a woman whose husband died have a fateful meeting in connection with a double suicide and fall madly in love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tatsumi Kumashiro
CAST:  Masakazu Tamura  •  Kimie Shingyoji  •  Kōji Shimizu  •  Takashi Kanda
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