Léona Hirota

Japanese actress. She won the Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 13th Yokohama Film Festival for Ōte and Yumeji. In 1994, she married the actor Mitsuru Fukikoshi. They divorced in 2005 after having one child but seven years later remarried.

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Pornostar (1998)

A young man decides one day to start killing yakuza. After he kills his first two he gets roped into helping a wannabe gangster and his bumbling underlings to perform a hit. While things work out in the beginning, this young psychopath quickly becomes more trouble ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshiaki Toyoda
CAST:  Chihara Junia  •  Rin Ozawa  •  Onimaru  •  Tetta Sugimoto

A young man decides one day to start killing yakuza. After he kills his first two he gets roped into helping a wannabe gangster and his bumbling underlings to perform a hit. While things work out in the beginning, this young psychopath quickly becomes more trouble ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshiaki Toyoda
CAST:  Chihara Junia  •  Rin Ozawa  •  Onimaru  •  Tetta Sugimoto

Organ (1996)

Two police detectives Numata and Tosaka infiltrate a group of underground black market human organ dealers. Things go haywire during a raid on the group's surgical headquarters. Numata barely escapes, while a wounded Tosaka gets left behind. Through a series of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kei Fujiwara
CAST:  Kei Fujiwara  •  Kimihiko Hasegawa  •  Natsuyo Kanahama  •  Kenji Nasa

Two police detectives Numata and Tosaka infiltrate a group of underground black market human organ dealers. Things go haywire during a raid on the group's surgical headquarters. Numata barely escapes, while a wounded Tosaka gets left behind. Through a series of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kei Fujiwara
CAST:  Kei Fujiwara  •  Kimihiko Hasegawa  •  Natsuyo Kanahama  •  Kenji Nasa

Endless Waltz (1995)

Biopic about jazz saxophonist Kaoru Abe (Ko Machida) and his wife, noted writer Izumi Suzuki (Reona Hirota).  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kōji Wakamatsu
CAST:  Kou Machida  •  Léona Hirota  •  Haruko Sagara  •  Masato Furuoya

Biopic about jazz saxophonist Kaoru Abe (Ko Machida) and his wife, noted writer Izumi Suzuki (Reona Hirota).  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kōji Wakamatsu
CAST:  Kou Machida  •  Léona Hirota  •  Haruko Sagara  •  Masato Furuoya

Milestones (1999)

Following the death of their best friend, four guys and the dead men's sister steal his body and burn it on a beach in Italy to fulfill his last wish.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alain Beigel
CAST:  Emma de Caunes  •  Pierre Berriau  •  Raphaël Krepser  •  Nicolas Abraham

Following the death of their best friend, four guys and the dead men's sister steal his body and burn it on a beach in Italy to fulfill his last wish.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alain Beigel
CAST:  Emma de Caunes  •  Pierre Berriau  •  Raphaël Krepser  •  Nicolas Abraham

Yamagata Scream (2009)

High school seniors Mikayo, Chuko and Kei are forced to join a historical research club to fulfill a graduation requirement. Their teacher, Mr. Kachi, plans a mandatory club trip to a small village called Oshakabe in Yamagata prefecture to study remnants of an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Naoto Takenaka
CAST:  Riko Narumi  •  Akira  •  Naoto Takenaka  •  Maiko

High school seniors Mikayo, Chuko and Kei are forced to join a historical research club to fulfill a graduation requirement. Their teacher, Mr. Kachi, plans a mandatory club trip to a small village called Oshakabe in Yamagata prefecture to study remnants of an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Naoto Takenaka
CAST:  Riko Narumi  •  Akira  •  Naoto Takenaka  •  Maiko

The Whispering of the Gods (2005)

Rou has returned to the monastery he was raised in. As he listens to the whispering of the Gods through his germanium radio, Rou defies God in every which way and puts religion to the test.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tatsushi Ōmori
CAST:  Hirofumi Arai  •  Léona Hirota  •  Keita Kimura  •  Nao Omori

Rou has returned to the monastery he was raised in. As he listens to the whispering of the Gods through his germanium radio, Rou defies God in every which way and puts religion to the test.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tatsushi Ōmori
CAST:  Hirofumi Arai  •  Léona Hirota  •  Keita Kimura  •  Nao Omori

Princess in an Iron Helmet (2006)

Tamako is 20 years old, lives at home with her mother (Kishimoto Kayoko) and teenaged brother, and simply refuses to grow up. Ever since her father left the family, she's stopped trusting people, and now lounges around in her own small, claustrophobic world. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kaze Shindo
CAST:  Maiko Yamada  •  Naoto Takenaka  •  Kayoko Kishimoto  •  Mickey Curtis

Tamako is 20 years old, lives at home with her mother (Kishimoto Kayoko) and teenaged brother, and simply refuses to grow up. Ever since her father left the family, she's stopped trusting people, and now lounges around in her own small, claustrophobic world. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kaze Shindo
CAST:  Maiko Yamada  •  Naoto Takenaka  •  Kayoko Kishimoto  •  Mickey Curtis

Via Okinawa (1989)

During the Vietnam War era, the influx of American soldiers to Okinawa boosted the local economy and introduced many bars and nightclubs. With exhausting displays of energy, Sai presents a whirlwind romance between a local rocker and the daughter of a mixed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoichi Sai
CAST:  Anna Nakagawa  •  Ryo Ishibashi  •  Léona Hirota  •  Yasuo Daichi

During the Vietnam War era, the influx of American soldiers to Okinawa boosted the local economy and introduced many bars and nightclubs. With exhausting displays of energy, Sai presents a whirlwind romance between a local rocker and the daughter of a mixed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yoichi Sai
CAST:  Anna Nakagawa  •  Ryo Ishibashi  •  Léona Hirota  •  Yasuo Daichi

Adrift in Tokyo (2007)

A thug offers to pay a law student's gambling debt if the student will accompany him on a trip across Tokyo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Satoshi Miki
CAST:  Joe Odagiri  •  Tomokazu Miura  •  Kyoko Koizumi  •  Yuriko Yoshitaka

A thug offers to pay a law student's gambling debt if the student will accompany him on a trip across Tokyo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Satoshi Miki
CAST:  Joe Odagiri  •  Tomokazu Miura  •  Kyoko Koizumi  •  Yuriko Yoshitaka

Echo of Silence (2008)

In a small town of Hokkaido, Yunni, Fusako Kurokawa (Saki Takaoka), lives a quiet life with her father. Life here is very simple, but it is good enough and she is happy enough. Days go on as usual. with some coincidence, she meets this man one day, Wataru Kadokura ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Atsuro Watabe
CAST:  Saki Takaoka  •  Atsuro Watabe  •  Miki  •  Léona Hirota

In a small town of Hokkaido, Yunni, Fusako Kurokawa (Saki Takaoka), lives a quiet life with her father. Life here is very simple, but it is good enough and she is happy enough. Days go on as usual. with some coincidence, she meets this man one day, Wataru Kadokura ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Atsuro Watabe
CAST:  Saki Takaoka  •  Atsuro Watabe  •  Miki  •  Léona Hirota

Kaidan (2007)

Japan, 250 years ago. Soetsu is a moneylender who is killed by the cruel samurai Shinzaemon. His body is dumped in the Kasenega-Fuchi river. According to legend, all who drown in the river will never surface again. 20 Years later, Shinkichi, the handsome son of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hideo Nakata
CAST:  Kumiko Aso  •  Takaaki Enoki  •  Léona Hirota  •  Hitomi Kuroki

Japan, 250 years ago. Soetsu is a moneylender who is killed by the cruel samurai Shinzaemon. His body is dumped in the Kasenega-Fuchi river. According to legend, all who drown in the river will never surface again. 20 Years later, Shinkichi, the handsome son of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hideo Nakata
CAST:  Kumiko Aso  •  Takaaki Enoki  •  Léona Hirota  •  Hitomi Kuroki

Yumeji (1991)

Following the life of Japanese artist and poet Yumeji Takehisa through the imagining of an encounter with a beautiful widow with a dark past.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Seijun Suzuki
CAST:  Kenji Sawada  •  Tomoko Mariya  •  Masumi Miyazaki  •  Tamasaburo Bando

Following the life of Japanese artist and poet Yumeji Takehisa through the imagining of an encounter with a beautiful widow with a dark past.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Seijun Suzuki
CAST:  Kenji Sawada  •  Tomoko Mariya  •  Masumi Miyazaki  •  Tamasaburo Bando

Between Calmness and Passion (2001)

An appassionato art student and a dispassionate college girl make a vow, saying they would meet each other again in the Florence Cathedral after 10 years.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Isamu Nakae
CAST:  Yutaka Takenouchi  •  Kelly Chen  •  Roberto Brunetti  •  Yusuke Santamaria

An appassionato art student and a dispassionate college girl make a vow, saying they would meet each other again in the Florence Cathedral after 10 years.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Isamu Nakae
CAST:  Yutaka Takenouchi  •  Kelly Chen  •  Roberto Brunetti  •  Yusuke Santamaria

Humanoid Monster, Bem (2012)

Bem, Bela and Belo arrive at a new town plagued by a series of mysterious, unsolved cases which, as they discover, are caused by another youkai, one more powerful than they have ever encountered. The story will also focus on Belo's first love, and his increasing ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shunsuke Kariyama
CAST:  Kazuya Kamenashi  •  Anne Watanabe  •  Kazuki Kitamura  •  Hana Sugisaki

Bem, Bela and Belo arrive at a new town plagued by a series of mysterious, unsolved cases which, as they discover, are caused by another youkai, one more powerful than they have ever encountered. The story will also focus on Belo's first love, and his increasing ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shunsuke Kariyama
CAST:  Kazuya Kamenashi  •  Anne Watanabe  •  Kazuki Kitamura  •  Hana Sugisaki

Love and Other Cults (2017)

Born in a small town in Japan, a young girl named Ai is sent to a cult commune by her religious maniac mother and lives there for seven long years. After the cult is exposed by the police, Ai starts a new stage of life, going to a normal school for the first time, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eiji Uchida
CAST:  Sairi Ito  •  Kenta Suga  •  Kaito Yoshimura  •  Hanae Kan

Born in a small town in Japan, a young girl named Ai is sent to a cult commune by her religious maniac mother and lives there for seven long years. After the cult is exposed by the police, Ai starts a new stage of life, going to a normal school for the first time, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eiji Uchida
CAST:  Sairi Ito  •  Kenta Suga  •  Kaito Yoshimura  •  Hanae Kan

Candy Boys (2015)

In EDO, the fabulous wonderland where only men exist, the most beautiful courtesan is Shiratori Dayū. His apprentice's suicide made him desolate, and he finds love when he meets the most popular and sexy candy boy, Furimatsu, at the "Candy Shop." However, the town ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Léona Hirota
CAST:  Akihiro Mayama  •  Hiromu Takahashi  •  Atsushi Hashimoto  •  Shohei Nanba

In EDO, the fabulous wonderland where only men exist, the most beautiful courtesan is Shiratori Dayū. His apprentice's suicide made him desolate, and he finds love when he meets the most popular and sexy candy boy, Furimatsu, at the "Candy Shop." However, the town ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Léona Hirota
CAST:  Akihiro Mayama  •  Hiromu Takahashi  •  Atsushi Hashimoto  •  Shohei Nanba

It's All Right, My Friend (1983)

An alien with super powers fallen from the sky is befriended by some people who help him stop an evil group out to get him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryū Murakami
CAST:  Peter Fonda  •  Léona Hirota  •  Kumi Aochi  •  Jiro Dan

An alien with super powers fallen from the sky is befriended by some people who help him stop an evil group out to get him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryū Murakami
CAST:  Peter Fonda  •  Léona Hirota  •  Kumi Aochi  •  Jiro Dan

Maohgai (1993)

Action-packed

Kishi is a 37-year-old personnel officer and fairly happy with work, wife and child. But he turns out to be susceptible to a more exciting life. Through his old schoolfriend Daimon he meets the attractive Yoshie and spends a sensational night of love with her. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryuichi Hiroki
CAST:  Tomorowo Taguchi  •  Léona Hirota  •  Kippei Shiina  •  Sakurako Akino

Kishi is a 37-year-old personnel officer and fairly happy with work, wife and child. But he turns out to be susceptible to a more exciting life. Through his old schoolfriend Daimon he meets the attractive Yoshie and spends a sensational night of love with her. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryuichi Hiroki
CAST:  Tomorowo Taguchi  •  Léona Hirota  •  Kippei Shiina  •  Sakurako Akino

Green (1996)

Midori is a coming-of-age drama set amongst the heady high school world of peer rivalry and sexual awakening, featuring an emotionally-detached high-school girl who, her parents dead, lives with her brother and his overprotective wife. After being sent out of class ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryuichi Hiroki
CAST:  Hiroko Shimada  •  Haruhiko Kato  •  Masato Irie  •  Hiroko Nakajima

Midori is a coming-of-age drama set amongst the heady high school world of peer rivalry and sexual awakening, featuring an emotionally-detached high-school girl who, her parents dead, lives with her brother and his overprotective wife. After being sent out of class ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ryuichi Hiroki
CAST:  Hiroko Shimada  •  Haruhiko Kato  •  Masato Irie  •  Hiroko Nakajima

Check (1991)

Set in Osaka's Shinsekai, the film depicts the lives of Ayumu Tobita (Hidekazu Akai), who makes a living as a shogi gambler (shinken-shi), and Ryuzo Kayama (Masaya Kato) who aims to become a professional player.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Junji Sakamoto
CAST:  Hidekazu Akai  •  Masaya Kato  •  Tomisaburō Wakayama  •  Nobuo Kaneko

Set in Osaka's Shinsekai, the film depicts the lives of Ayumu Tobita (Hidekazu Akai), who makes a living as a shogi gambler (shinken-shi), and Ryuzo Kayama (Masaya Kato) who aims to become a professional player.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Junji Sakamoto
CAST:  Hidekazu Akai  •  Masaya Kato  •  Tomisaburō Wakayama  •  Nobuo Kaneko
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