Minoru Hirano

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004)

Cyborg detective Batou is assigned to investigate a series of murders committed by gynoids—doll-like cyborgs, which all malfunctioned, killed, then self-destructed afterwards. The brains of the gynoids initialize in order to protect their manufacturer's software, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mamoru Oshii
CAST:  Akio Otsuka  •  Koichi Yamadera  •  Tamio Ohki  •  Atsuko Tanaka

Cyborg detective Batou is assigned to investigate a series of murders committed by gynoids—doll-like cyborgs, which all malfunctioned, killed, then self-destructed afterwards. The brains of the gynoids initialize in order to protect their manufacturer's software, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mamoru Oshii
CAST:  Akio Otsuka  •  Koichi Yamadera  •  Tamio Ohki  •  Atsuko Tanaka

Madadayo (1993)

Based on the life of Hyakken Uchida, a Japanese author and academic. The film opens with Uchida resigning his job as a German professor at the onset of WWII. The story is told mostly in vignettes as he is cared for by former students in his old age.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akira Kurosawa
CAST:  Tatsuo Matsumura  •  Kyōko Kagawa  •  Hisashi Igawa  •  George Tokoro

Based on the life of Hyakken Uchida, a Japanese author and academic. The film opens with Uchida resigning his job as a German professor at the onset of WWII. The story is told mostly in vignettes as he is cared for by former students in his old age.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Akira Kurosawa
CAST:  Tatsuo Matsumura  •  Kyōko Kagawa  •  Hisashi Igawa  •  George Tokoro

Lifetime Insecurity (1994)

In the midst of a bad economy, Yokoyama, the vice president of Taiyo Real Estate, launches a plan to cut back on his labor force. Fifty employees are segregated into a special assignment division and given an ultimatum: meet a sales goal of 1.5 billion yen within ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shunichi Kajima
CAST:  Kyôhei Shibata  •  Atsuo Nakamura  •  Masahiko Tsugawa  •  Hisako Manda

In the midst of a bad economy, Yokoyama, the vice president of Taiyo Real Estate, launches a plan to cut back on his labor force. Fifty employees are segregated into a special assignment division and given an ultimatum: meet a sales goal of 1.5 billion yen within ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shunichi Kajima
CAST:  Kyôhei Shibata  •  Atsuo Nakamura  •  Masahiko Tsugawa  •  Hisako Manda

An Ocean to Cross (1980)

Set in Japan's Tenpyou era (729-749 CE), four young monks are sent to China to study Buddhism and bring a high priest back to Japan with them. The film tells the tale of the four monks' youth and the life and times of the high priest Ganjin.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kei Kumai
CAST:  Katsuo Nakamura  •  Masaaki Daimon  •  Mitsuo Hamada  •  Daigo Kusano

Set in Japan's Tenpyou era (729-749 CE), four young monks are sent to China to study Buddhism and bring a high priest back to Japan with them. The film tells the tale of the four monks' youth and the life and times of the high priest Ganjin.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kei Kumai
CAST:  Katsuo Nakamura  •  Masaaki Daimon  •  Mitsuo Hamada  •  Daigo Kusano

Willful Murder (1981)

The president of the Japanese National Railways is found dead during a period in which train service is plagued by numerous layoffs, strikes and shutdowns. The government says that the president was murdered; the police claim it was a suicide. A quizzical reporter ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kei Kumai
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Ichirō Nakatani  •  Mikijiro Hira  •  Hisashi Igawa

The president of the Japanese National Railways is found dead during a period in which train service is plagued by numerous layoffs, strikes and shutdowns. The government says that the president was murdered; the police claim it was a suicide. A quizzical reporter ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kei Kumai
CAST:  Tatsuya Nakadai  •  Ichirō Nakatani  •  Mikijiro Hira  •  Hisashi Igawa

Nasu: A Migratory Bird with Suitcase (2007)

Legendary bycicle racer Marco Rondanini dies as team Pao Pao Beer is set to race in Japan. Team member Ciocci, close friend of Marco, starts to think about quitting. Under heavy rain, Ciocci and Pepe must put that aside as Team Pao Pao struggles to reach another ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kitarou Kousaka
CAST:  Koichi Yamadera  •  Daisuke Imanaka  •  Maaya Sakamoto  •  Yuushi Sato

Legendary bycicle racer Marco Rondanini dies as team Pao Pao Beer is set to race in Japan. Team member Ciocci, close friend of Marco, starts to think about quitting. Under heavy rain, Ciocci and Pepe must put that aside as Team Pao Pao struggles to reach another ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kitarou Kousaka
CAST:  Koichi Yamadera  •  Daisuke Imanaka  •  Maaya Sakamoto  •  Yuushi Sato

Nasu: Summer in Andalusia (2003)

Pepe Benengeli is a second-class cyclist, only there to support the star member of the team. This summer he is participating in the Tour of Spain, which passes through the streets of his hometown of Andalusia. In a coincidence, his brother and ex-girlfriend are ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kitarou Kousaka
CAST:  Yo Oizumi  •  Eiko Koike  •  Minoru Hirano  •  Toshio Kakei

Pepe Benengeli is a second-class cyclist, only there to support the star member of the team. This summer he is participating in the Tour of Spain, which passes through the streets of his hometown of Andalusia. In a coincidence, his brother and ex-girlfriend are ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kitarou Kousaka
CAST:  Yo Oizumi  •  Eiko Koike  •  Minoru Hirano  •  Toshio Kakei

Living Skeleton (1968)

A ship is attacked at sea for its cargo by a group of thieves who murder a newlywed doctor and rape his wife. Three years later her twin sister is kidnapped by the same pirates, who begin to die strange deaths...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Matsuno
CAST:  Yasunori Irikawa  •  Nobuo Kaneko  •  Kikko Matsuoka  •  Kō Nishimura

A ship is attacked at sea for its cargo by a group of thieves who murder a newlywed doctor and rape his wife. Three years later her twin sister is kidnapped by the same pirates, who begin to die strange deaths...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hiroshi Matsuno
CAST:  Yasunori Irikawa  •  Nobuo Kaneko  •  Kikko Matsuoka  •  Kō Nishimura

Barefoot Gen Part 3: Battle of Hiroshima (1980)

Second live action "Barefoot Gen" sequel.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tengo Yamada
CAST:  Jun Harada  •  Satomi Oka  •  Jun Fubuki  •  Akira Nishikino

Second live action "Barefoot Gen" sequel.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tengo Yamada
CAST:  Jun Harada  •  Satomi Oka  •  Jun Fubuki  •  Akira Nishikino

Deluxe Salon Car Engagement Tour Murders (1987)

Fukami, a secretary engaged to company president Kaido, her employer, is invited by his close friends, the Nogis, to a three-day-two-night tour. The tour group is traveling in a luxurious coach to Lake Megami in the Tateshina Plains. On the way, they are disturbed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Minoru Matsushima
CAST:  Wakiko Kano  •  Yûki Meguro  •  Rumi Matsumoto  •  Yasuhiro Arai

Fukami, a secretary engaged to company president Kaido, her employer, is invited by his close friends, the Nogis, to a three-day-two-night tour. The tour group is traveling in a luxurious coach to Lake Megami in the Tateshina Plains. On the way, they are disturbed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Minoru Matsushima
CAST:  Wakiko Kano  •  Yûki Meguro  •  Rumi Matsumoto  •  Yasuhiro Arai

Gemini (1999)

When his mother's untimely death quickly follows his father's, a doctor begins to believe a killer may be targeting him and his amnesiac wife.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shinya Tsukamoto
CAST:  Masahiro Motoki  •  Yasutaka Tsutsui  •  Masako Motai  •  Renji Ishibashi

When his mother's untimely death quickly follows his father's, a doctor begins to believe a killer may be targeting him and his amnesiac wife.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shinya Tsukamoto
CAST:  Masahiro Motoki  •  Yasutaka Tsutsui  •  Masako Motai  •  Renji Ishibashi

Murder on Raicho 9 (1987)

Haneda, the president of a company dealing in gold, is shot to death on the Raicho 9 limited express from Osaka to Kanazawa. Detective Kamei begins an investigation in cooperation with the Fukui Prefectural Police. In the Green Car, Detective Nishimoto had noticed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Nomura
CAST:  Kin'ya Aikawa  •  Azusa Mano  •  Leo Morimoto  •  Yūki Mizuhara

Haneda, the president of a company dealing in gold, is shot to death on the Raicho 9 limited express from Osaka to Kanazawa. Detective Kamei begins an investigation in cooperation with the Fukui Prefectural Police. In the Green Car, Detective Nishimoto had noticed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Nomura
CAST:  Kin'ya Aikawa  •  Azusa Mano  •  Leo Morimoto  •  Yūki Mizuhara

西村京太郎スペシャル 日本一周「旅号」殺人事件 (2003)

Hiroshi Hamano, a professor at a medical university, is found dead. Going by the results of the autopsy, it appears he committed suicide by jumping off a roof, but going by eyewitness testimony and physical evidence at the scene, Detective Kamei suspects murder. A ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hideo Nanbu
CAST:  Nenji Kobayashi  •  Sayuri Kokusho  •  Shinobu Sakagami  •  Ken Mitsuishi

Hiroshi Hamano, a professor at a medical university, is found dead. Going by the results of the autopsy, it appears he committed suicide by jumping off a roof, but going by eyewitness testimony and physical evidence at the scene, Detective Kamei suspects murder. A ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hideo Nanbu
CAST:  Nenji Kobayashi  •  Sayuri Kokusho  •  Shinobu Sakagami  •  Ken Mitsuishi

Angel to Be Sacrificed (1988)

Nikkatsu Roman Porno  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuhiko Fujii
CAST:  Mayako Katsuragi  •  Minoru Hirano  •  Mitsutaka Ikeda  •  Mitsuru Kandabashi

Nikkatsu Roman Porno  (more)

DIRECTION:  Katsuhiko Fujii
CAST:  Mayako Katsuragi  •  Minoru Hirano  •  Mitsutaka Ikeda  •  Mitsuru Kandabashi