Houka Kinoshita

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Get Up! (2003)

A James Brown fanatic gangster decided to disband his own gang and see his long lost daughter before entering prison. Hoping to change his mind, his underlings planned to kidnap James Brown to convince him to perform privately for their boss.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kazuyuki Izutsu
CAST:  Toshiyuki Nishida  •  Takako Tokiwa  •  Taro Yamamoto  •  Ittoku Kishibe

A James Brown fanatic gangster decided to disband his own gang and see his long lost daughter before entering prison. Hoping to change his mind, his underlings planned to kidnap James Brown to convince him to perform privately for their boss.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kazuyuki Izutsu
CAST:  Toshiyuki Nishida  •  Takako Tokiwa  •  Taro Yamamoto  •  Ittoku Kishibe

Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994)

A mysterious extraterrestrial being resembling Godzilla rapidly approaches Earth. The monster, dubbed SpaceGodzilla, lands to challenge the King of the Monsters.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kensho Yamashita
CAST:  Megumi Odaka  •  Jun Hashizume  •  Zenkichi Yoneyama  •  Akira Emoto

A mysterious extraterrestrial being resembling Godzilla rapidly approaches Earth. The monster, dubbed SpaceGodzilla, lands to challenge the King of the Monsters.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kensho Yamashita
CAST:  Megumi Odaka  •  Jun Hashizume  •  Zenkichi Yoneyama  •  Akira Emoto

Ichi the Killer (2001)

As sadomasochistic yakuza enforcer Kakihara searches for his missing boss he comes across Ichi, a repressed and psychotic killer who may be able to inflict levels of pain that Kakihara has only dreamed of.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Miike
CAST:  Tadanobu Asano  •  Nao Omori  •  Shinya Tsukamoto  •  Paulyn Sun

As sadomasochistic yakuza enforcer Kakihara searches for his missing boss he comes across Ichi, a repressed and psychotic killer who may be able to inflict levels of pain that Kakihara has only dreamed of.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Miike
CAST:  Tadanobu Asano  •  Nao Omori  •  Shinya Tsukamoto  •  Paulyn Sun

Onmyoji: The Yin Yang Master (2001)

During a dark time in the Heian period, when evil forces threaten the kingdom, the emperor relies on the Onmyoji to keep the supernatural forces in line. But as political events become highly charged, friction within the order leads to betrayal. Now, Seimei (Mansai ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yojiro Takita
CAST:  Sachiko Kokubu  •  Mansai Nomura  •  Hideaki Ito  •  Eriko Imai

During a dark time in the Heian period, when evil forces threaten the kingdom, the emperor relies on the Onmyoji to keep the supernatural forces in line. But as political events become highly charged, friction within the order leads to betrayal. Now, Seimei (Mansai ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yojiro Takita
CAST:  Sachiko Kokubu  •  Mansai Nomura  •  Hideaki Ito  •  Eriko Imai

Shinobi: Heart Under Blade (2005)

Even though Gennosuke and Oboro are from rival ninja villages, they are secretly in love. At an annual conference with the Lord, it is dictated that a competition--a fight to the death--will take place between the five best shinobi from each village. Gennosuke and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ten Shimoyama
CAST:  Yukie Nakama  •  Erika Sawajiri  •  Tomoka Kurotani  •  Joe Odagiri

Even though Gennosuke and Oboro are from rival ninja villages, they are secretly in love. At an annual conference with the Lord, it is dictated that a competition--a fight to the death--will take place between the five best shinobi from each village. Gennosuke and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ten Shimoyama
CAST:  Yukie Nakama  •  Erika Sawajiri  •  Tomoka Kurotani  •  Joe Odagiri

Sonatine (1993)

Murakawa, a Tokyo yakuza tiring of gangster life, is sent by his boss to Okinawa along with a few of his henchmen to help end a gang war, supposedly to mediate between two warring clans. He finds that the dispute between the clans is insignificant and whilst ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takeshi Kitano
CAST:  Takeshi Kitano  •  Aya Kokumai  •  Tetsu Watanabe  •  Masanobu Katsumura

Murakawa, a Tokyo yakuza tiring of gangster life, is sent by his boss to Okinawa along with a few of his henchmen to help end a gang war, supposedly to mediate between two warring clans. He finds that the dispute between the clans is insignificant and whilst ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takeshi Kitano
CAST:  Takeshi Kitano  •  Aya Kokumai  •  Tetsu Watanabe  •  Masanobu Katsumura

Woman in Witness Protection (1997)

Biwako is a vain, middle-aged actress who witnesses a brutal murder. Realizing that the very public life of the woman makes their sole witness vulnerable to the killers, the police assign two officers to safeguard her until the trial. In the interim, the lives of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jūzō Itami
CAST:  Nobuko Miyamoto  •  Masahiko Nishimura  •  Kazuya Takahashi  •  Masahiko Tsugawa

Biwako is a vain, middle-aged actress who witnesses a brutal murder. Realizing that the very public life of the woman makes their sole witness vulnerable to the killers, the police assign two officers to safeguard her until the trial. In the interim, the lives of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jūzō Itami
CAST:  Nobuko Miyamoto  •  Masahiko Nishimura  •  Kazuya Takahashi  •  Masahiko Tsugawa

Pacchigi! (2005)

Romeo, A.K.A. Kosuke Matsuyama, is a second-year high school student. A nice, normal, nonviolent type, he suddenly finds himself in the middle of a rampaging crowd of Korean boys, outraged by insults perpetrated by several of his idiotic class-mates on two Korean ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kazuyuki Izutsu
CAST:  Shun Shioya  •  Erika Sawajiri  •  Sousuke Takaoka  •  Hiroyuki Onoue

Romeo, A.K.A. Kosuke Matsuyama, is a second-year high school student. A nice, normal, nonviolent type, he suddenly finds himself in the middle of a rampaging crowd of Korean boys, outraged by insults perpetrated by several of his idiotic class-mates on two Korean ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kazuyuki Izutsu
CAST:  Shun Shioya  •  Erika Sawajiri  •  Sousuke Takaoka  •  Hiroyuki Onoue

Boys, Be Ambitious (1996)

Chunba and Kotetsu, grows up in the working class neighborhood of Kishiwada in Osaka in the mid-seventies. Their life in school is a never-ending series of fights and reprisals against rival gangs landing them in trouble with organised crime and in the juvenile court.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kazuyuki Izutsu
CAST:  Takashi Okamura  •  Hiroyuki Yabe  •  Nanako Okochi  •  Hiroyuki Miyasako

Chunba and Kotetsu, grows up in the working class neighborhood of Kishiwada in Osaka in the mid-seventies. Their life in school is a never-ending series of fights and reprisals against rival gangs landing them in trouble with organised crime and in the juvenile court.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kazuyuki Izutsu
CAST:  Takashi Okamura  •  Hiroyuki Yabe  •  Nanako Okochi  •  Hiroyuki Miyasako

Don't Look Back (1999)

The joys and sorrows of the little schoolboy, Akira, in a modern Japan. A story about friendship and loyalty.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akihiko Shiota
CAST:  Yusaku Suzuki  •  Shingo Mizuno  •  Yuria Haga  •  Hanako Onuki

The joys and sorrows of the little schoolboy, Akira, in a modern Japan. A story about friendship and loyalty.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akihiko Shiota
CAST:  Yusaku Suzuki  •  Shingo Mizuno  •  Yuria Haga  •  Hanako Onuki

In the Pool (2005)

A free-spirited psychiatrist exudes a magnetic attraction for patients with out-of-the-ordinary neuroses and odd conditions brought about by stress.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Satoshi Miki
CAST:  Suzuki Matsuo  •  Joe Odagiri  •  Miwako Ichikawa  •  Seiichi Tanabe

A free-spirited psychiatrist exudes a magnetic attraction for patients with out-of-the-ordinary neuroses and odd conditions brought about by stress.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Satoshi Miki
CAST:  Suzuki Matsuo  •  Joe Odagiri  •  Miwako Ichikawa  •  Seiichi Tanabe

Any And Every Which Way (2010)

Sexy Momoko turns tricks in her taxi to boost business, until she's finally discovered by her employer. Running from the authorities, Momoko abandons her cab to begin life as a fugitive, accompanied by her most recent customer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shoichiro Masumoto
CAST:  Yoshiki Kanahashi  •  Houka Kinoshita  •  Kotono  •  Shion Machida

Sexy Momoko turns tricks in her taxi to boost business, until she's finally discovered by her employer. Running from the authorities, Momoko abandons her cab to begin life as a fugitive, accompanied by her most recent customer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shoichiro Masumoto
CAST:  Yoshiki Kanahashi  •  Houka Kinoshita  •  Kotono  •  Shion Machida

Wait and See (1998)

A salaryman faces a major life change as his firm undergoes financial difficulties. To add to his troubles, a man claiming to be his long-estranged father shows up at his house requesting shelter. One of the best of Somai's seriocomic studies of the messiness of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shinji Sōmai
CAST:  Koichi Sato  •  Yuki Saito  •  Tsutomu Yamazaki  •  Shiho Fujimura

A salaryman faces a major life change as his firm undergoes financial difficulties. To add to his troubles, a man claiming to be his long-estranged father shows up at his house requesting shelter. One of the best of Somai's seriocomic studies of the messiness of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shinji Sōmai
CAST:  Koichi Sato  •  Yuki Saito  •  Tsutomu Yamazaki  •  Shiho Fujimura

The Little Girl in Me (2012)

After Kensuke graduated from college, he began to work at a company. He didn't get along with his co-workers and six months later quit his job. Since that time he has stayed in his home for 5 years. One day, Kensuke learns about men who enjoy dressing up as women ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shoji Kubota
CAST:  Naoki Kawano  •  Kōta Kusano  •  Yuri Nakamura  •  Ryunosuke Kawai

After Kensuke graduated from college, he began to work at a company. He didn't get along with his co-workers and six months later quit his job. Since that time he has stayed in his home for 5 years. One day, Kensuke learns about men who enjoy dressing up as women ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shoji Kubota
CAST:  Naoki Kawano  •  Kōta Kusano  •  Yuri Nakamura  •  Ryunosuke Kawai

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

Nonmetal Night (2013)

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DIRECTION:  Kei Nakata
CAST:  Shintaro Akiyama  •  Yūya Asato  •  Ayame Misaki  •  Milla Chiba

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DIRECTION:  Kei Nakata
CAST:  Shintaro Akiyama  •  Yūya Asato  •  Ayame Misaki  •  Milla Chiba

Tenshin (2013)

Tenshin Okakura left the great achievement to the Japanese modern art. This is a story of Tenshin's life and conflict and teacher-student love between Tenshin, who rediscovered art of Japan and tried to produce new beauty in Meiji period, and his young pupils, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuya Matsumura
CAST:  Hiroyuki Hirayama  •  Naoto Takenaka  •  Houka Kinoshita  •  Ichiro Hashimoto

Tenshin Okakura left the great achievement to the Japanese modern art. This is a story of Tenshin's life and conflict and teacher-student love between Tenshin, who rediscovered art of Japan and tried to produce new beauty in Meiji period, and his young pupils, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuya Matsumura
CAST:  Hiroyuki Hirayama  •  Naoto Takenaka  •  Houka Kinoshita  •  Ichiro Hashimoto

Nobody's Perfect (2013)

"Daijobu 3 Kumi" depicts the interactions between new teacher Shinnosuke Akao, who was born without arms and legs, and the 28 students in his 5th grade class, told from the vantage point of school board member Yusaku Shiraishi  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryuichi Hiroki
CAST:  Taichi Kokubun  •  Nana Eikura  •  Hiroki Miyake  •  Kimiko Yo

"Daijobu 3 Kumi" depicts the interactions between new teacher Shinnosuke Akao, who was born without arms and legs, and the 28 students in his 5th grade class, told from the vantage point of school board member Yusaku Shiraishi  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryuichi Hiroki
CAST:  Taichi Kokubun  •  Nana Eikura  •  Hiroki Miyake  •  Kimiko Yo

Sukiyaki (2011)

Kenta Kurihara (Tasuku Nagaoka) is sent to prison for battery. In his cell he is referred to as the "newcomer." Meanwhile, Kenta is bummed out with simple meal offerred in prison. The four other prisoners in his jail cell have no problems eating his food. On lunar ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tetsu Maeda
CAST:  Tasuku Nagaoka  •  Masanobu Katsumura  •  Motoki Ochiai  •  Gitaro Ikeda

Kenta Kurihara (Tasuku Nagaoka) is sent to prison for battery. In his cell he is referred to as the "newcomer." Meanwhile, Kenta is bummed out with simple meal offerred in prison. The four other prisoners in his jail cell have no problems eating his food. On lunar ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tetsu Maeda
CAST:  Tasuku Nagaoka  •  Masanobu Katsumura  •  Motoki Ochiai  •  Gitaro Ikeda

Postcard (2010)

Toward the end of World War II, middle-aged soldier Keita is entrusted with a postcard from a comrade who is sure he will die in battle. After the war ends, Keita visits his comrade's wife Yuko and bears witness to the tragic life she has led.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kaneto Shindō
CAST:  Etsushi Toyokawa  •  Naomasa Musaka  •  Akira Emoto  •  Shinobu Otake

Toward the end of World War II, middle-aged soldier Keita is entrusted with a postcard from a comrade who is sure he will die in battle. After the war ends, Keita visits his comrade's wife Yuko and bears witness to the tragic life she has led.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kaneto Shindō
CAST:  Etsushi Toyokawa  •  Naomasa Musaka  •  Akira Emoto  •  Shinobu Otake
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