Cinematography: Hiroshi Takase

Direction Mamoru Hoshi

Cast Kôji Yakusho · Goro Inagaki · Tae Kimura · Masao Komatsu

Synopsis University of Laughs (2004) is a period comedy-drama set in 1940, focusing on the clash between a budding playwright, Tsubaki Hajime, and a government censor, Sakisaka Mutsuo. The censor's role is to suppress any political or taboo content from the...

Direction Miwa Nishikawa

Cast Jô Odagiri · Teruyuki Kagawa · Masatô Ibu · Keizo Kanie

Synopsis Sway (Yureru) (2006) follows the story of Takeru, a prosperous photographer enjoying the vibrant life in Tokyo. He is compelled to return to his hometown on the first anniversary of his mother's passing. During his visit, he stops by to...

Direction Shusuke Kaneko

Cast Tatsuya Fujiwara · Ken'ichi Matsuyama · Shigeki Hosokawa · Erika Toda

Synopsis Death Note (2006) follows the story of Light Yagami, a brilliant student who stumbles upon a supernatural notebook with the ability to end lives. Driven by a desire to rid the world of evil, Light embarks on a mission to...

Direction Daizaburo Hanada · Jôji Iida · Shunji Iwai · Ryûhei Kitamura

Cast Natsuko Akiyama · Hirofumi Arai · Haruka Ayase · Ryoko Hirosue

Synopsis Jam Films (2002) presents a collection of short stories that delve into the surreal and the mundane. "The Messenger" introduces a enigmatic woman who visits a mobster in hiding, revealing his destiny. A simple mix-up involving a "Kendama" toy and...

Direction Jôji Iida

Cast Yôsuke Eguchi · Miwako Ichikawa · Takashi Kashiwabara · Yukiko Okamoto

Synopsis Another Heaven (2000) follows two seasoned Tokyo detectives as they delve into a chilling homicide case. The victim was brutally murdered, and the killer's macabre act of cooking the victim's brain in a stew adds a horrifying twist. As the...

Direction Shunsaku Kawake

Cast Yûya Yagira · Takako Tokiwa · Katsumi Takahashi · Yû Aoi

Synopsis Shining Boy & Little Randy (2005) follows the journey of Tetsumu, a reserved young man who discovers his unique talent for communicating with elephants. This revelation inspires him to travel to Chiang Mai, Thailand, with the ambition of becoming Japan's...

Direction Yoshimitsu Morita

Cast Kuranosuke Sasaki · Muga Tsukaji · Miyuki Nakajima · Takako Tokiwa

Direction Masayuki Suzuki

Cast Shingo Katori · Rena Tanaka · Gori · Yuri Chinen

Synopsis Legend of Nin Nin Ninja Hattori (2004) follows the journey of Kanzo Hattori, a young ninja trainee from the Iga clan, who ventures to the bustling city of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) for his ultimate training. His mission is to locate...

Direction Tetsu Maeda

Cast Shinya Taniuchi · Kyohei Kaneko · Keita Furuya · Teru Kagimoto

Direction Mamoru Hoshi · Masayuki Ochiai · Hisao Ogura · Masayuki Suzuki

Cast Kazuyuki Aijima · Izumi Inamori · Renji Ishibashi · Takashi Kashiwabara

Synopsis Tales of the Unusual (2000) is a four-part anthology film that captures the essence of "The Twilight Zone." The narrative begins with a group of travelers stuck at a train station during a downpour, who pass the time by sharing...

Direction Hiroshi Shimizu

Cast Hiroyuki Ikeuchi · Kiyoshiro Imawano · Suzuki Matsuo · Hiroshi Sakuma

Synopsis Chicken Heart (2002) follows the story of Iwano, a former boxer who, along with his neighbors Sada and Maru, earns a living by serving as a human punching bag for intoxicated businessmen in the entertainment district. The trio has managed...

Direction Tetsuo Shinohara

Cast Ryuhei Matsuda · Kayoko Kishimoto · Hiroyuki Ikeuchi · Yoichiro Saito

Synopsis Karaoke Terror (2003) follows a group of middle-aged women who share a passion for karaoke. Their world is turned upside down when one of their own is brutally murdered by a young man. Driven by grief and a desire for...

Direction Yoshimitsu Morita

Cast Kyoka Suzuki · Shin'ichi Tsutsumi · Ittoku Kishibe · Naoki Sugiura

Synopsis 39 keihô dai sanjûkyû jô (Keiho) (1999) follows the story of Masaki Shibata, a stage actor portrayed by Shinichi Tsutsumi, who stands accused of brutally taking the lives of a man and his pregnant wife. Masaki openly admits to the...

Direction Shosuke Murakami

Cast Takao Osawa · Miki Nakatani · Ryûta Satô · Juri Ueno

Synopsis 7 gatsu 24 ka dôri no Kurisumasu (2006) follows the story of Sayuri, a hopeless romantic portrayed by Miki Nakatani, who dreams of a perfect love that will transport her to the enchanting July 24th Avenue in Lisbon, Portugal, as...

Direction Shusuke Kaneko

Cast Yûji Oda · Takeshi Kaga · Kazuya Kosaka · Mayu Tsuruta

Direction Naosuke Kurosawa

Cast Hiroshi Ito · Ryûji Katagiri · Takanari Michimata · Yôko Natsuki

Synopsis Another XX: Red Murderer (1996) introduces a chilling narrative as an unparalleled killer emerges, claiming the life of a young woman with her breasts brutally severed. Kyoko Mizuki, a dedicated female autopsy officer, is deeply unsettled after observing the grim...

Direction Yoshimitsu Morita

Cast Eri Fukatsu · Seiyô Uchino · Sei Hiraizumi · Noriko Kojima

Synopsis (Haru) (1996) follows the journey of two young people who cross paths in the digital world, exchanging daily emails that spark a mutual interest. As they share their deepest secrets, they build a strong connection and eventually make the decision...

Direction Sadaaki Haginiwa

Cast Masahiro Motoki · Renji Ishibashi · Nagare Hagiwara · Daijirô Harada

Synopsis Bang! (Play Time Never Ends) (1991) follows a dedicated law enforcement officer who assumes the role of a bank robber during a high-stakes training exercise. His exceptional performance leaves his colleagues unable to apprehend him, leading to a nationwide broadcast...

Direction Yoshimitsu Morita

Cast Kôji Yakusho · Hitomi Kuroki · Akira Terao · Toshio Shiba

Synopsis Lost Paradise (1997) follows the tale of a middle-aged man, Shoichiro, who has dedicated his entire life to his career, only to find himself filled with regret. His life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Rinko, a stunning woman...