Eiji Minakata

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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

Getting Any? (1995)

While pursuing his dream of having car sex, a goofy middle-aged man makes all the wrong moves and ends up enrolling in a number of crazy escapades.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takeshi Kitano
CAST:  Dankan  •  Moeko Ezawa  •  Hakuryu  •  Hideo Higashikokubaru

While pursuing his dream of having car sex, a goofy middle-aged man makes all the wrong moves and ends up enrolling in a number of crazy escapades.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Takeshi Kitano
CAST:  Dankan  •  Moeko Ezawa  •  Hakuryu  •  Hideo Higashikokubaru

My House (2003)

A young Japanese boy's life is changed when his sister returns to the small island, full of eccentric characters, where he lives.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Junji Sakamoto
CAST:  Arisa Mizuki  •  Claude Maki  •  Koji Imada  •  Eiko Shinya

A young Japanese boy's life is changed when his sister returns to the small island, full of eccentric characters, where he lives.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Junji Sakamoto
CAST:  Arisa Mizuki  •  Claude Maki  •  Koji Imada  •  Eiko Shinya

Sister Street Fighter: Fifth Level Fist (1976)

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Kiku Nakakawa, the only daughter of an old kimono shop owner in Kyoto, is enthusiastic about karate. To help her friend Michi avenge her brother, she sneaks into a movie studio in Kyoto where a drug dealing syndicate is based.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shigehiro Ozawa
CAST:  Etsuko Shihomi  •  Mitchi Love  •  Ken Wallace  •  Hiroshi Tanaka

Kiku Nakakawa, the only daughter of an old kimono shop owner in Kyoto, is enthusiastic about karate. To help her friend Michi avenge her brother, she sneaks into a movie studio in Kyoto where a drug dealing syndicate is based.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shigehiro Ozawa
CAST:  Etsuko Shihomi  •  Mitchi Love  •  Ken Wallace  •  Hiroshi Tanaka

Miyamoto Musashi: Showdown at Hannyazaka Heights (1962)

The remake of Yoshikawa's novel continues with the second installment in which Takezo, soon to be Miyamoto Musashi, emerges from the Himeji Castle after three years of intense contemplation and philosophical study and starting on his epic quest to complete his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tomu Uchida
CAST:  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Wakaba Irie  •  Isao Kimura  •  Chieko Naniwa

The remake of Yoshikawa's novel continues with the second installment in which Takezo, soon to be Miyamoto Musashi, emerges from the Himeji Castle after three years of intense contemplation and philosophical study and starting on his epic quest to complete his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tomu Uchida
CAST:  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Wakaba Irie  •  Isao Kimura  •  Chieko Naniwa

A Yakuza in Love (1997)

When an innocent young country girl falls for a low level yakuza, she enters a completely different world in which the line between good and evil are quickly blurred. Through great ups and downs their love will be tested, but the ultimate test lies in whether or ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rokurō Mochizuki
CAST:  Eiji Okuda  •  Yûna Natsuo  •  Shunsuke Matsuoka  •  All Kyojin

When an innocent young country girl falls for a low level yakuza, she enters a completely different world in which the line between good and evil are quickly blurred. Through great ups and downs their love will be tested, but the ultimate test lies in whether or ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rokurō Mochizuki
CAST:  Eiji Okuda  •  Yûna Natsuo  •  Shunsuke Matsuoka  •  All Kyojin

Dad's Backdrop (2004)

Middle-aged pro wrestler Ushinosuke's wife passes away, and he and his son, Kazuo, move in with his father. His fellow wrestlers help them shift house and celebrate their new home, but in the midst of their revelry sits Kazuo with a pained look on his face. He ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshio Lee
CAST:  Takashi Ukaji  •  Ryunosuke Kamiki  •  Kaho Minami  •  Eiji Minakata

Middle-aged pro wrestler Ushinosuke's wife passes away, and he and his son, Kazuo, move in with his father. His fellow wrestlers help them shift house and celebrate their new home, but in the midst of their revelry sits Kazuo with a pained look on his face. He ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Toshio Lee
CAST:  Takashi Ukaji  •  Ryunosuke Kamiki  •  Kaho Minami  •  Eiji Minakata

Onibi: The Fire Within (1997)

After spending over half his life in prison, ex-hitman Kunihiro is determined to go straight. But the shortcomings of the new gangs mean that he is soon having to call on his old-school yakuza talents. And when he falls for Asako, a beautiful piano player, she ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rokurō Mochizuki
CAST:  Yoshio Harada  •  Reiko Kataoka  •  Show Aikawa  •  Kazuki Kitamura

After spending over half his life in prison, ex-hitman Kunihiro is determined to go straight. But the shortcomings of the new gangs mean that he is soon having to call on his old-school yakuza talents. And when he falls for Asako, a beautiful piano player, she ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rokurō Mochizuki
CAST:  Yoshio Harada  •  Reiko Kataoka  •  Show Aikawa  •  Kazuki Kitamura

Hana (2006)

In a poor district of Edo lives a young samurai named Soza. He has been sent by his clan to avenge the death of his father. He isn't an accomplished swordsman however, and he prefers sharing the life of the residents, teaching the kids how to write etc. When he ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hirokazu Kore-eda
CAST:  Junichi Okada  •  Rie Miyazawa  •  Arata Furuta  •  Jun Kunimura

In a poor district of Edo lives a young samurai named Soza. He has been sent by his clan to avenge the death of his father. He isn't an accomplished swordsman however, and he prefers sharing the life of the residents, teaching the kids how to write etc. When he ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Hirokazu Kore-eda
CAST:  Junichi Okada  •  Rie Miyazawa  •  Arata Furuta  •  Jun Kunimura

Big Magnum Kuroiwa (1985)

Kuroiwa, a high school teacher who carries a “Big Magnum 44” gun is sent to a school that is full of violence. Can Kuroiwa reform the students with the gun?  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kazuhiko Yamaguchi
CAST:  Hachiro Tako  •  Yasushi Yokoyama  •  Taro Ibuki  •  Mai Inoue

Kuroiwa, a high school teacher who carries a “Big Magnum 44” gun is sent to a school that is full of violence. Can Kuroiwa reform the students with the gun?  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kazuhiko Yamaguchi
CAST:  Hachiro Tako  •  Yasushi Yokoyama  •  Taro Ibuki  •  Mai Inoue

Shabu (1996)

Makabe is a yakuza who is addicted to 'shabu' (a slang refers to stimulant drug). He lives as if he wants to destroy himself. He steals a mistress of the boss of a big yakuza syndicate by force. He takes over the yakuza group he belongs to, by killing the old boss. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tatsuoki Hosono
CAST:  Koji Yakusho  •  Ai Saotome  •  Shun Sugata  •  Akira Takahashi

Makabe is a yakuza who is addicted to 'shabu' (a slang refers to stimulant drug). He lives as if he wants to destroy himself. He steals a mistress of the boss of a big yakuza syndicate by force. He takes over the yakuza group he belongs to, by killing the old boss. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tatsuoki Hosono
CAST:  Koji Yakusho  •  Ai Saotome  •  Shun Sugata  •  Akira Takahashi

Faraway Heaven (2008)

Chizuru, a typical Japanese young female office worker, is socially clumsy, poor at romance and unhappy with her job. Being weary from a busy and stressful city life, she seriously desires to end her life somewhere faraway from the city and leaves for deep in the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiko Nagasawa
CAST:  Rosa Kato  •  Yoshimi Tokui  •  Sabu Kawahara  •  Kaku Tomohiro

Chizuru, a typical Japanese young female office worker, is socially clumsy, poor at romance and unhappy with her job. Being weary from a busy and stressful city life, she seriously desires to end her life somewhere faraway from the city and leaves for deep in the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiko Nagasawa
CAST:  Rosa Kato  •  Yoshimi Tokui  •  Sabu Kawahara  •  Kaku Tomohiro

Sword of Destiny (1960)

When master swordsman Mikogami Genshiro of the Ono fencing school returns to find that his ailing sensei has been murdered in the dead of night, he must find the culprit and exact revenge. His return sets off a series of violent incidents and incites a high ranked ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yasushi Sasaki
CAST:  Koji Tsuruta  •  Hiroko Sakuramachi  •  Hibari Misora  •  Ryutaro Chikamatsu

When master swordsman Mikogami Genshiro of the Ono fencing school returns to find that his ailing sensei has been murdered in the dead of night, he must find the culprit and exact revenge. His return sets off a series of violent incidents and incites a high ranked ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yasushi Sasaki
CAST:  Koji Tsuruta  •  Hiroko Sakuramachi  •  Hibari Misora  •  Ryutaro Chikamatsu

Restoration Fire (1961)

Megastar Kataoka Chiezo is Vice-commander Hijikata Toshizo of the Shinsengumi in this realistic tale of Japan’s inner battles that led to the downfall of the Tokugawa shogunate. Excellent performances and extremely good swordplay highlight this glimpse into the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sadatsugu Matsuda
CAST:  Chiezō Kataoka  •  Chikage Awashima  •  Takashi Shimura  •  Ryūnosuke Tsukigata

Megastar Kataoka Chiezo is Vice-commander Hijikata Toshizo of the Shinsengumi in this realistic tale of Japan’s inner battles that led to the downfall of the Tokugawa shogunate. Excellent performances and extremely good swordplay highlight this glimpse into the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sadatsugu Matsuda
CAST:  Chiezō Kataoka  •  Chikage Awashima  •  Takashi Shimura  •  Ryūnosuke Tsukigata

A Revengeful Raid (1962)

In this tale of bravery and honor among the roving gamblers of old Japan, the heroic Jirocho, Boss of the Tokaido is called upon to help a young yakuza named Eijiro after he runs afoul of the new samurai officials who have taken over his hometown. Expertly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiro Makino
CAST:  Kinya Kitaoji  •  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Michitarō Mizushima  •  Jerry Fujio

In this tale of bravery and honor among the roving gamblers of old Japan, the heroic Jirocho, Boss of the Tokaido is called upon to help a young yakuza named Eijiro after he runs afoul of the new samurai officials who have taken over his hometown. Expertly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiro Makino
CAST:  Kinya Kitaoji  •  Kinnosuke Nakamura  •  Michitarō Mizushima  •  Jerry Fujio

Moonshadow Ninja Scroll: Twenty-One Eyes (1963)

A wave of terror is threatening to unseat Shogun Yoshimune. Police stations are erupting into flames, convicts escaping from prison, houses robbed and vandalized, streets teeming with panicked citizens. Is Ijyuin Tanomo, highly-placed official of Owari clan, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Junji Kurata
CAST:  Hiroki Matsukata  •  Kotaro Satomi  •  Kikuko Hojo  •  Yuriko Mishima

A wave of terror is threatening to unseat Shogun Yoshimune. Police stations are erupting into flames, convicts escaping from prison, houses robbed and vandalized, streets teeming with panicked citizens. Is Ijyuin Tanomo, highly-placed official of Owari clan, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Junji Kurata
CAST:  Hiroki Matsukata  •  Kotaro Satomi  •  Kikuko Hojo  •  Yuriko Mishima

Tragedy of the Coolie Samurai (1963)

Gonza was a handsome young laborer, a footman and spear-carrier, working hard for his meager wage. All Gonza wanted was to marry his young sweetheart, but despite their mutual poverty, her status as the daughter of a samurai blocked their path to happiness. A ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daisuke Itō
CAST:  Hashizo Okawa  •  Shirō Ōsaka  •  Shunji Sakai  •  Kiyoshi Matsukawa

Gonza was a handsome young laborer, a footman and spear-carrier, working hard for his meager wage. All Gonza wanted was to marry his young sweetheart, but despite their mutual poverty, her status as the daughter of a samurai blocked their path to happiness. A ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daisuke Itō
CAST:  Hashizo Okawa  •  Shirō Ōsaka  •  Shunji Sakai  •  Kiyoshi Matsukawa

The Kingdom of Jirocho 1 (1963)

The tale of real-life Yakuza boss Shimizu Jirocho is told from his earliest beginnings as a gambler on the road as he forms his gang and sets out on the path to fame and fortune. One of the smartest and strongest of all the gang bosses, he went on to survive the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiro Makino
CAST:  Koji Tsuruta  •  Yoshiko Sakuma  •  Shingo Yamashiro  •  Hiroki Matsukata

The tale of real-life Yakuza boss Shimizu Jirocho is told from his earliest beginnings as a gambler on the road as he forms his gang and sets out on the path to fame and fortune. One of the smartest and strongest of all the gang bosses, he went on to survive the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiro Makino
CAST:  Koji Tsuruta  •  Yoshiko Sakuma  •  Shingo Yamashiro  •  Hiroki Matsukata

The Kingdom of Jirocho 2 (1963)

Jirocho and his henchmen befriend Ishimatsu, a wanderer in Mishima.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiro Makino
CAST:  Koji Tsuruta  •  Hiroki Matsukata  •  Satomi Oka  •  Yoshiko Sakuma

Jirocho and his henchmen befriend Ishimatsu, a wanderer in Mishima.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiro Makino
CAST:  Koji Tsuruta  •  Hiroki Matsukata  •  Satomi Oka  •  Yoshiko Sakuma

Kōshoku hana densha (1981)

Pinku from 1981. A man in debt runs away from home, leaving his elderly father and wife between a rock and a hard place.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mamoru Watanabe
CAST:  Eri Kanuma  •  Junko Mabuki  •  Rima Aono  •  Gorô Tsuyuno

Pinku from 1981. A man in debt runs away from home, leaving his elderly father and wife between a rock and a hard place.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mamoru Watanabe
CAST:  Eri Kanuma  •  Junko Mabuki  •  Rima Aono  •  Gorô Tsuyuno
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