Screenplay: Tatsuo Nogami

Direction Yasuzô Masumura

Cast Ayako Wakao · Jiro Tamiya · Keizo Kawasaki · Kyôko Kishida

Direction Koreyoshi Kurahara

Cast Ken Takakura · Tsunehiko Watase · Eiji Okada · Keiko Oginome

Synopsis Antarctica (1983) follows the journey of two Japanese researchers, Ushioda and Ochi, who form a deep connection with their sled dogs during a scientific mission in the frozen continent. After completing their initial expedition, Ushioda and Ochi depart from Antarctica,...

Direction Kinji Fukasaku

Cast Kinnosuke Nakamura · Sonny Chiba · Hiroki Matsukata · Teruhiko Saigô

Synopsis The Shogun's Samurai (1978) unfolds in the wake of the second Tokugawa shogun's demise, as it is uncovered that he was fatally poisoned by loyalists of his son, Iemitsu. These retainers harbored ambitions to secure the shogunate for Iemitsu, despite...

Direction Masahiro Makino

Cast Hashizo Okawa · Satomi Oka · Shizue Natsukawa · Kusuo Abe

Synopsis Tattoo of Love (1963) follows the story of Hantaro, a man with a serious gambling problem who finds himself deeply in debt after a rigged dice game in Edo. Compelled to flee, he spends the next three years working diligently...

Direction Akira Matsumoto · Masahisa Sadanaga · Eiichi Kudo · Koreyoshi Kurahara

Cast Tsutomu Yamazaki · Yumiko Nogawa · Makoto Fujita · Takayuki Akutagawa

Synopsis Hissatsu shiokinin (TV Series) (1973) is a gripping television series set in the bustling city of Edo (present-day Tokyo) during the mid-1800s. The narrative revolves around a seemingly ordinary group of merchants who, unbeknownst to many, are a clandestine band...

Direction Tadashi Sawashima

Cast Kinnosuke Nakamura · Tatsuya Nakadai · Hiroki Matsukata · Hiroko Sakuramachi

Synopsis Wanderers: Three Yakuza (1965) presents a trio of standalone narratives, each set in Japan's feudal era and centered around the lives of yakuza, or traditional Japanese gangsters. The first story follows Sentaro, a wandering yakuza who finds refuge with a...

Direction Tai Kato

Cast Hashizo Okawa · Hiroko Sakuramachi · Naoko Kubo · Sanae Nakahara

Synopsis Warrior of the Wind (1964) follows the tale of a charismatic ninja, Nabari Shinzo, portrayed by Hashizo Okawa, during the era of the Tokugawa shogunate. Initially tasked with a government mission, Shinzo becomes entangled in a complex web of deceit,...

Direction Nobuhiko Ôbayashi

Cast Sayuri Yoshinaga · Masahiko Tsugawa · Morio Kazama · Miki Fujitani

Synopsis A Mature Woman (1994) follows the journey of a seasoned journalist, Yumiko, who has been diligently covering the "Women's page" for years. Seeking a significant career advancement, Yumiko is finally given the opportunity to transition to writing editorials, marking a...

Direction Tokuzo Tanaka

Cast Raizô Ichikawa · Masumi Harukawa · Chitose Kobayashi · Isao Yamagata

Direction Masahiro Makino

Cast Ken Takakura · Kôtarô Ôkôchi · Bin Amatsu · Junko Fuji

Synopsis Chivalrous Story of Japan: Duel at Thunder Gate (1966) follows the journey of a noble samurai who is driven by a deep sense of justice and a strong aversion to the oppression of ordinary people. His path crosses with the...

Direction Kinji Fukasaku

Cast Keiko Matsuzaka · Hiroyuki Sanada · Tsutomu Yamazaki · Koichi Sato

Synopsis Lovers Lost (1982) unfolds a poignant tale of romance between a 29-year-old woman, who has a complex past as a former prostitute but is now the companion of a prosperous jewelry merchant, and a 19-year-old college student.

Direction Kosaku Yamashita

Cast Sumiko Fuji · Ken Takakura · Tomisaburô Wakayama · Hiroko Sakuramachi

Synopsis Chivalrous Geisha (1969) follows the tale of Shinji, a beloved geisha who finds herself deeply in love with Shimada, a humble coal mine owner. Their bond is tested when they must confront the tyrannical Osuga, a wealthy coal mine owner...

Direction Kinji Fukasaku

Cast Sonny Chiba · Kenji Sawada · Akiko Kana · Ken Ogata

Synopsis Makai tenshô: Samurai Reincarnation (1981) centers around the nefarious character Amakusa SHIRO Tokaisada, a figure inspired by a genuine Christian samurai from history. This cinematic work served as a significant inspiration for the renowned video game 'Samurai Shodown,' blending historical...

Direction Tomotaka Tasaka

Cast Kinnosuke Nakamura · Chiemi Eri · Katsuo Nakamura · Hiroko Sakuramachi

Synopsis Carpenter and Children (1962) follows the journey of a skilled woodworker, Shigetsugu, who finds his life transformed by his interactions with five orphaned children and a kind-hearted woman named Oritsu. As he forms a deep bond with the children, Shigetsugu...

Direction Yoshitaro Nomura

Cast Asami Kobayashi · Kaoru Kobayashi · Tsunehiko Watase · Makoto Fujita

Direction Tadashi Sawashima

Cast Hibari Misora · Koji Tsuruta · Haruo Tanaka · Juro Hoshi

Synopsis Bride of White Castle (1961) unfolds a captivating narrative of romance and deception set against the backdrop of the enchanting Hakuba Castle in feudal Japan. Okimi, a humble weaver raised as an orphan, yearns for a life of love and...

Direction Santarô Marune

Cast Kinshirô Matsumoto · Akiko Koyama · Ushio Akashi · Ryôsuke Kagawa

Direction Kosaku Yamashita

Cast Koji Tsuruta · Ryo Ikebe · Gorô Ibuki · Masataka Iwao

Synopsis Father of the Kamikaze (1974) delves into the wartime journey of a highly regarded admiral who made a valiant effort to compel the United States to explore a negotiated peace during the tumultuous years of World War II.

Direction Kinji Fukasaku

Cast Makoto Fujita · Hiroaki Murakami · Kazuko Kato · Ken Nishida

Synopsis Hissatsu 4: Urami harashimasu (1987) unfolds after a brutal slaughter that claims the life of the local magistrate. A new, unconventional magistrate arrives in the area, quickly finding himself in a tense standoff with the established local law enforcement.

Direction Saito Kosei

Cast Toshiyuki Nishida · Isao Natsuyagi · Haruko Wanibuchi · Saitô Tomoko

Synopsis The Devil's Flute (1979) follows renowned detective Kindaichi as he unravels a sequence of enigmatic homicides within an affluent family. This cinematic gem masterfully combines suspense and deception, all set against the opulent backdrop of wealth. The narrative is filled...