Masako Motai

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BECK (2010)

Yukio is your average high school student who spends his days going to class and avoiding bullies. That is until he meets Ryusuke, a guitar prodigy. Together with Taira, Chiba, and Saku they form the rock band BECK. As their popularity increases so does the danger ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yukihiko Tsutsumi
CAST:  Hiro Mizushima  •  Kenta Kiritani  •  Aoi Nakamura  •  Osamu Mukai

Yukio is your average high school student who spends his days going to class and avoiding bullies. That is until he meets Ryusuke, a guitar prodigy. Together with Taira, Chiba, and Saku they form the rock band BECK. As their popularity increases so does the danger ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yukihiko Tsutsumi
CAST:  Hiro Mizushima  •  Kenta Kiritani  •  Aoi Nakamura  •  Osamu Mukai

Yoshino's Barber Shop (2004)

In a small town on the countryside, every young boy is forced to have the same bowl-head haircut known as the "Yoshino-gari" hairstyle. Then one day, a drastic change occurs when a transfer student with bleached hair comes from Tokyo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Naoko Ogigami
CAST:  Masako Motai  •  Kazuyuki Asano  •  Hoshi Ishida  •  Senri Sakurai

In a small town on the countryside, every young boy is forced to have the same bowl-head haircut known as the "Yoshino-gari" hairstyle. Then one day, a drastic change occurs when a transfer student with bleached hair comes from Tokyo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Naoko Ogigami
CAST:  Masako Motai  •  Kazuyuki Asano  •  Hoshi Ishida  •  Senri Sakurai

Four Days of Snow and Blood (1989)

Based on the "2.26 Incident", an attempted coup d'état in Japan 1936, launched by radical ultra-nationalist parts of the military. Several leading politicians were killed and the center of Tokyo was briefly held by the insurgents before the coup was suppressed.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hideo Gosha
CAST:  Kenichi Hagiwara  •  Tomokazu Miura  •  Masahiro Motoki  •  Hiroshi Katsuno

Based on the "2.26 Incident", an attempted coup d'état in Japan 1936, launched by radical ultra-nationalist parts of the military. Several leading politicians were killed and the center of Tokyo was briefly held by the insurgents before the coup was suppressed.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hideo Gosha
CAST:  Kenichi Hagiwara  •  Tomokazu Miura  •  Masahiro Motoki  •  Hiroshi Katsuno

Last Friends (1995)

Following the lives of three college rugby players drafted to serve in the military during WWII. Though they believe their service will help to benefit their loved ones back home, they are unprepared for the hardships of war. Through their shared trials and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masanobu Deme
CAST:  Yuji Oda  •  Naoto Ogata  •  Toru Nakamura  •  Kenzō Kawarasaki

Following the lives of three college rugby players drafted to serve in the military during WWII. Though they believe their service will help to benefit their loved ones back home, they are unprepared for the hardships of war. Through their shared trials and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masanobu Deme
CAST:  Yuji Oda  •  Naoto Ogata  •  Toru Nakamura  •  Kenzō Kawarasaki

Always: Sunset on Third Street '64 (2012)

The Tokyo Olympics are about to open, and Rynosuke Chagawa is excited to receive a new TV set to watch the upcoming events. His wife Hiromi is pregnant and he has built a second level on his shop to provide his adopted son Junnosuke with a private space to study ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Yamazaki
CAST:  Koyuki  •  Shinichi Tsutsumi  •  Maki Horikita  •  Shota Sometani

The Tokyo Olympics are about to open, and Rynosuke Chagawa is excited to receive a new TV set to watch the upcoming events. His wife Hiromi is pregnant and he has built a second level on his shop to provide his adopted son Junnosuke with a private space to study ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Yamazaki
CAST:  Koyuki  •  Shinichi Tsutsumi  •  Maki Horikita  •  Shota Sometani

Toilet (2010)

Ray is a 30 something engineer obsessed with Gundam toys. He has a motto not to become close to anyone. During his mother's funeral he showed no emotions. His life is further turned upside when he is forced to live with his older brother Maury and younger sister ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Naoko Ogigami
CAST:  Alex House  •  Tatiana Maslany  •  David Rendall  •  Masako Motai

Ray is a 30 something engineer obsessed with Gundam toys. He has a motto not to become close to anyone. During his mother's funeral he showed no emotions. His life is further turned upside when he is forced to live with his older brother Maury and younger sister ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Naoko Ogigami
CAST:  Alex House  •  Tatiana Maslany  •  David Rendall  •  Masako Motai

Nekonade (2008)

Ren Osugi plays a middle-aged salaryman whose life falls apart when he’s laid off from his job, but finds solace in adopting a stray cat.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mika Ohmori
CAST:  Ren Osugi  •  Noriko Aoyama  •  Mei Kurokawa  •  Masako Motai

Ren Osugi plays a middle-aged salaryman whose life falls apart when he’s laid off from his job, but finds solace in adopting a stray cat.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mika Ohmori
CAST:  Ren Osugi  •  Noriko Aoyama  •  Mei Kurokawa  •  Masako Motai

Hanada Shonenshi the Movie: Spirits and the Secret Tunnel (2006)

Ichiro Hanada is a mischievous boy who gains the ability to see and talk to ghosts after a near-death experience. (live-action adaptation of the manga )  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nobuo Mizuta
CAST:  Kenta Suga  •  Ryoko Shinohara  •  Masahiko Nishimura  •  Masako Motai

Ichiro Hanada is a mischievous boy who gains the ability to see and talk to ghosts after a near-death experience. (live-action adaptation of the manga )  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nobuo Mizuta
CAST:  Kenta Suga  •  Ryoko Shinohara  •  Masahiko Nishimura  •  Masako Motai

The Exam (1999)

Togashi, an enthusiastic marathon runner and his wife are occupied with their daughter Mayumi's grade school entrance examinations, but he becomes jobless when his company folds. To regain his confidence Togashi decides to join the marathon that is taking place on ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yojiro Takita
CAST:  Eikichi Yazawa  •  Yûko Tanaka  •  Ren Osugi  •  Natsumi Ohira

Togashi, an enthusiastic marathon runner and his wife are occupied with their daughter Mayumi's grade school entrance examinations, but he becomes jobless when his company folds. To regain his confidence Togashi decides to join the marathon that is taking place on ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yojiro Takita
CAST:  Eikichi Yazawa  •  Yûko Tanaka  •  Ren Osugi  •  Natsumi Ohira

The Choice of Hercules (2002)

When radicals from Japan's Red Army took a woman hostage in the resort town of Karuizawa, Nagano in 1972, Officer Atsuyuki Sassa was put in charge of diffusing the situation. But the task had its challenges. Upon arriving in mountainous Nagano, Sassa had to compete ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masato Harada
CAST:  Koji Yakusho  •  Ryudo Uzaki  •  Yuki Amami  •  Masatô Ibu

When radicals from Japan's Red Army took a woman hostage in the resort town of Karuizawa, Nagano in 1972, Officer Atsuyuki Sassa was put in charge of diffusing the situation. But the task had its challenges. Upon arriving in mountainous Nagano, Sassa had to compete ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masato Harada
CAST:  Koji Yakusho  •  Ryudo Uzaki  •  Yuki Amami  •  Masatô Ibu

Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 (2007)

Would-be writer Ryunosuke Chagawa is still living across the street from Norifumi Suzuki and his auto repair shop, though now he shares his home with Junnosuke, an orphan he's taken under his wing at the urging of pretty Hiroi, who continues to manage a nearby ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Yamazaki
CAST:  Maki Horikita  •  Kazuki Koshimizu  •  Koyuki  •  Tomokazu Miura

Would-be writer Ryunosuke Chagawa is still living across the street from Norifumi Suzuki and his auto repair shop, though now he shares his home with Junnosuke, an orphan he's taken under his wing at the urging of pretty Hiroi, who continues to manage a nearby ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takashi Yamazaki
CAST:  Maki Horikita  •  Kazuki Koshimizu  •  Koyuki  •  Tomokazu Miura

Glasses (2007)

An overworked career woman leaves her life in the city for an island vacation only to encounter eccentric local inhabitants.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Naoko Ogigami
CAST:  Satomi Kobayashi  •  Mikako Ichikawa  •  Ryo Kase  •  Ken Mitsuishi

An overworked career woman leaves her life in the city for an island vacation only to encounter eccentric local inhabitants.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Naoko Ogigami
CAST:  Satomi Kobayashi  •  Mikako Ichikawa  •  Ryo Kase  •  Ken Mitsuishi

I Just Didn't Do It (2007)

A young man is falsely accused of molesting a high-school girl on a train. He is arrested and charged, and goes through endless court sessions, all the while insisting that he is innocent.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masayuki Suō
CAST:  Ryo Kase  •  Asaka Seto  •  Koji Yakusho  •  Koji Yamamoto

A young man is falsely accused of molesting a high-school girl on a train. He is arrested and charged, and goes through endless court sessions, all the while insisting that he is innocent.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masayuki Suō
CAST:  Ryo Kase  •  Asaka Seto  •  Koji Yakusho  •  Koji Yamamoto

Kamome Diner (2006)

On a quiet street in Helsinki, Sachie has opened a diner featuring rice balls. For a month she has no customers. Then, in short order, she has her first customer, meets Midori, a gangly Japanese tourist, and invites her to stay with her, and meets Masako, a formal ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Naoko Ogigami
CAST:  Satomi Kobayashi  •  Masako Motai  •  Hairi Katagiri  •  Tarja Markus

On a quiet street in Helsinki, Sachie has opened a diner featuring rice balls. For a month she has no customers. Then, in short order, she has her first customer, meets Midori, a gangly Japanese tourist, and invites her to stay with her, and meets Masako, a formal ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Naoko Ogigami
CAST:  Satomi Kobayashi  •  Masako Motai  •  Hairi Katagiri  •  Tarja Markus

Many Happy Returns (1993)

Kazuo encounters a religious group travelling around Japan performing "miracles". He discovers they are fakes, but is intrigued by the showmanship of the group, and becomes involved with them. The group is split into two, some members concentrating on spiritual ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshihiro Tenma
CAST:  Masato Hagiwara  •  Koji Tamaki  •  Ittoku Kishibe  •  Takeshi Kitano

Kazuo encounters a religious group travelling around Japan performing "miracles". He discovers they are fakes, but is intrigued by the showmanship of the group, and becomes involved with them. The group is split into two, some members concentrating on spiritual ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshihiro Tenma
CAST:  Masato Hagiwara  •  Koji Tamaki  •  Ittoku Kishibe  •  Takeshi Kitano

Round About Midnight (1999)

Koji, a jazz musician, takes a cigarette break in between sets at a Tokyo nightclub. He witnesses a murder and runs into a girl, Linda, who is being pursued by the killers. For the next two hours, Koji and Linda are running from both the hitmen and the police. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Makoto Wada
CAST:  Hiroyuki Sanada  •  Michelle Reis  •  Akira Emoto  •  Jun'ichi Haruta

Koji, a jazz musician, takes a cigarette break in between sets at a Tokyo nightclub. He witnesses a murder and runs into a girl, Linda, who is being pursued by the killers. For the next two hours, Koji and Linda are running from both the hitmen and the police. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Makoto Wada
CAST:  Hiroyuki Sanada  •  Michelle Reis  •  Akira Emoto  •  Jun'ichi Haruta

The Mohican Comes Home (2016)

Eikichi left his hometown in Hiroshima for Tokyo. He tried to find success with his music band, but failed. Several years later, Eikichi goes home to tell his father, Osamu, that his girlfriend is pregnant. His father curses him out, but he is also excited to have ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shuichi Okita
CAST:  Ryuhei Matsuda  •  Atsuko Maeda  •  Akira Emoto  •  Masako Motai

Eikichi left his hometown in Hiroshima for Tokyo. He tried to find success with his music band, but failed. Several years later, Eikichi goes home to tell his father, Osamu, that his girlfriend is pregnant. His father curses him out, but he is also excited to have ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shuichi Okita
CAST:  Ryuhei Matsuda  •  Atsuko Maeda  •  Akira Emoto  •  Masako Motai

Teacher and Stray Cat (2015)

Following the death of his wife professor Kyoichi leads a solitary life by the sea. A stray cat called Mii, who was being fed by his wife, not only continues to drop by, but also seems to be visiting the altar Kyoichi has set up for his deceased wife. While ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoshihiro Fukagawa
CAST:  Issey Ogata  •  Shota Sometani  •  Kie Kitano  •  Pierre Taki

Following the death of his wife professor Kyoichi leads a solitary life by the sea. A stray cat called Mii, who was being fed by his wife, not only continues to drop by, but also seems to be visiting the altar Kyoichi has set up for his deceased wife. While ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoshihiro Fukagawa
CAST:  Issey Ogata  •  Shota Sometani  •  Kie Kitano  •  Pierre Taki

Akko's Secret (2012)

Young Atsuko Kagami comes into possession of a magical mirror that lets her transform into anything she wishes. Atsuko Kagami then attempts to save a company which is about to be sold by using her transformation abilities. She also falls in love as a 22-year-old ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taisuke Kawamura
CAST:  Haruka Ayase  •  Masaki Okada  •  Takeshi Kaga  •  Masako Motai

Young Atsuko Kagami comes into possession of a magical mirror that lets her transform into anything she wishes. Atsuko Kagami then attempts to save a company which is about to be sold by using her transformation abilities. She also falls in love as a 22-year-old ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Taisuke Kawamura
CAST:  Haruka Ayase  •  Masaki Okada  •  Takeshi Kaga  •  Masako Motai

Tokyo Oasis (2011)

In Tokyo, actress Touko leaves the filming set of her latest project and comes across three people by random chance: she gives a ride to a man named Nagano, whom she has never met before; at a small theater, runs into Kikuchi, a former screenwriter; lastly, meets ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kana Matsumoto  •  Kayo Nakamura
CAST:  Satomi Kobayashi  •  Ryo Kase  •  Haru Kuroki  •  Tomoyo Harada

In Tokyo, actress Touko leaves the filming set of her latest project and comes across three people by random chance: she gives a ride to a man named Nagano, whom she has never met before; at a small theater, runs into Kikuchi, a former screenwriter; lastly, meets ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kana Matsumoto  •  Kayo Nakamura
CAST:  Satomi Kobayashi  •  Ryo Kase  •  Haru Kuroki  •  Tomoyo Harada
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