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Matsukata Hiroki
, better known by his stage name , was a Japanese actor. He was the son of '' jidaigeki'' actor Jūshirō Konoe and actress Yaeko Mizukawa and has a younger brother, Yūki Meguro, who is also an actor. With ex-wife actress Akiko Nishina he had two children; son Masaki Nishina and daughter Hitomi Nishina are both in the entertainment industry. Career As a young man, he aspired to be a singer, but turned to acting, making his debut while still in high school. His first film was 1960's for Tōei, where his father worked. He specialized in romantic leads in ''jidaigeki'' and yakuza films. But he soon switched to modern yakuza for films such as ''Bakuto'' (1964) and ''Showa Zankyoden'' (1965), and starred in Kinji Fukasaku's ''Blackmail Is My Life'' (1968). In 1969 he switched to Daiei as a replacement for the recently deceased Raizo Ichikawa, starring in nine films including two in the ''Nemuri Kyōshirō'' series and ''Mission: Iron Castle'', the final entry in the '' Shinobi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 million residents ; the city proper has a population of 13.99 million people. Located at the head of Tokyo Bay, the prefecture forms part of the Kantō region on the central coast of Honshu, Japan's largest island. Tokyo serves as Economy of Japan, Japan's economic center and is the seat of both the Government of Japan, Japanese government and the Emperor of Japan. Originally a fishing village named Edo, the city became politically prominent in 1603, when it became the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate. By the mid-18th century, Edo was one of the most populous cities in the world with a population of over one million people. Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the imperial capital in Kyoto was mov ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nemuri Kyōshirō
is a series of jidaigeki novels written by Renzaburō Shibata. The stories were originally serialized beginning in May 1956 in the ''Shūkan Shinchō''. The stories take place during the Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate and the rules of Tokugawa Ienari and his successor Tokugawa Ieyoshi. They center on the title character, a sleepy-eyed ''rōnin'', or outlaw swordsman, who is the son of a Japanese mother (the daughter of a , who commits (see "Female Ritual Suicide" in '' Seppuku'') some time after Kyoshiro's birth) and a foreign father, and who was conceived during a Black Mass (resulting in his fierce hatred for what he considers the hypocrisy of Christianity).AnimEigo , Series Introduction (December 28, 2007). ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tōyama No Kin-san
is a popular character based on the historical Tōyama Kagemoto, a samurai and official of the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period of Japanese history. In kabuki and kōdan, he was celebrated under his childhood name, Kinshirō, shortened to Kin-san. He was said to have left home as a young man, and lived among the commoners, even having a tattoo of flowering sakura trees on his shoulder. This story developed into a legend of helping the common people. The novelist Tatsurō Jinde (陣出達郎) wrote a series of books about Kin-san. Noted actor Chiezō Kataoka starred in a series of eighteen Toei ''jidaigeki'' films about him. Several Japanese television networks have aired series based on the character. These variously portrayed him pretending to be a petty hood or a yojinbō while solving crimes as the chief of police. People famous for having portrayed Kin-san on television include kabuki stars Nakamura Umenosuke IV and Ichikawa Danshirō, singers Yukio Hashi and Teru ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ōedo Sōsamō
and are long-running (1970 to 1992) prime time television ''jidaigeki'' programs that originally aired from 1970 to 1992. The series was broadcast on TV Tokyo (Tokyo 12 Channel). The title literally translates as " Oedo Dragnet" ("New Oedo Dragnet" for the second series). Early on, it carried the subtitle "Ōedo Untouchables." Characters The central characters are a ninja group who serve as secret police agents in Edo. They work undercover under the direction of a hatamoto, and later, under Matsudaira Sadanobu. * Jūmonji Koyata, masquerading as a vagrant from Sagami, Sanjirō. The male lead, Koyata was played by Ryōtarō Sugi, Kōtarō Satomi, Hiroki Matsukata, Shirō Namiki, and Jun Hashizume. * Isaka Jūzō, masquerading as a rōnin of the same name. Tetsurō Sagawa created the role. * Female leads: Konami (Meiko Kaji), Yūgiri (Miyako Koshiro), Kurenai Ochō ( Michiyo Yasuda), Inazuma Oryū ( Sanae Tsuchida), Kazaguruma no Okiku (Yōko Natsuki), and others. A 1979 film ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Takeshi Kitano
is a Japanese comedian, television presenter, actor, filmmaker, and author. While he is known primarily as a comedian and TV host in his native Japan, he is better known abroad for his work as a filmmaker and actor as well as TV host. With the exception of his works as a film director, he is commonly known by the stage name . Kitano rose to prominence in the 1970s as one half of the comedy duo ''Two Beat'', before going solo and becoming one of the three biggest comedians in the country. After several small acting roles, he made his directorial debut with 1989's '' Violent Cop'' and garnered international acclaim for '' Sonatine'' (1993). He was not widely accepted as an accomplished director in Japan until ''Hana-bi'' won the Golden Lion in 1997. In October 2017, Kitano completed his ''Outrage'' crime trilogy with the release of '' Outrage Coda''. He is also known internationally for hosting the game show '' Takeshi's Castle'' (1986–1990) and starring in the film '' Battle ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
V-Cinema
Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, TV series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strategy was prevalent before streaming platforms came to dominate the TV and movie distribution markets. Because inferior sequels or prequels of larger-budget films may be released direct-to-video, review references to direct-to-video releases are often pejorative. Direct-to-video release has also become profitable for independent filmmakers and smaller companies. Some direct-to-video genre films (with a high-profile star) can generate well in excess of $50 million revenue worldwide. Reasons for releasing direct to video A production studio may decide not to generally release a TV show or film for several possible reasons: a low budget, a lack of support from a TV network, negative reviews, its controversial nature, that it may appeal to a small ni ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sonny Chiba
, known internationally as Sonny Chiba, was a Japanese actor and martial artist. Chiba was one of the first actors to achieve stardom through his skills in martial arts, initially in Japan and later before an international audience. Born in Fukuoka, Chiba played a variety of sports in high school, including baseball and volleyball. He also practiced gymnastics and participated at the National Sports Festival of Japan in his third year. When he was a university student, he learned martial arts, earning a black belt in Kyokushin Karate in 1965 and later receiving a fourth degree in 1984. Chiba's career began in the 1960s, when he starred in two ''tokusatsu'' superhero shows. In his first role, he replaced Susumu Wajima as the main character Kōtarō Ran/Seven Color Mask in '' Seven Color Mask'' (''Nana-iro kamen'') in the second half of the series. However, his breakthrough role was in the 1974 film '' The Street Fighter''. Before retiring, Chiba had starred in '' Kill Bill: Volum ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bunta Sugawara
was a Japanese actor who appeared in almost 200 feature films. Dropping out of Waseda University, he worked as a model before entering the film industry in 1956. After years of work, Sugawara finally established himself as a famous actor at the age of 39, with the lead role of Shozo Hirono in the ''Battles Without Honor and Humanity'' series (1973–1976) of yakuza films. He quickly found additional success starring as the truck driver Momojiro Hoshi in the comedic '' Torakku Yarō'' series (1975–1979). In 1980, Sugawara won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a detective in the satirical '' Taiyō o Nusunda Otoko'' (1979). Life and career Sugawara was born in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. His father was a newspaper reporter. His parents divorced when he was four, and he moved to Tokyo to live with his father and stepmother. As part of a wartime policy to evacuate children from major cities, he was moved back to Sendai during fourth grade. As an adu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Fall Of Ako Castle
is a 1978 Japanese historical martial arts period film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. It depicts the story of the forty-seven Ronin (''Chūshingura''). The film is one of a series of period films by Fukasaku starring Yorozuya Kinnosuke, including ''Shogun's Samurai''. The film received one nomination for the Award of the Japanese Academy for best cinematography. Plot Lord Tsunayoshi of the Tokugawa shogunate strips 48 samurai of their assets, but they are afraid to resist and nevertheless attend a ceremony where he is presented with the Imperial Sword. Enraged by insults from the court official Kira, Asano draws his sword but is prevented from killing him. Asano is sentenced to seppuku, his land and property are seized by the shogunate, and the Asano name is abolished. Several disciples of Asano, upset about the one-sided verdict, vow to return to Edo to take vengeance on Kira. They wait a year for an opportune time to make their move. Kira retires and Tsunayoshi's follower Lord ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shogun's Samurai
''Shogun's Samurai'', known in Japan as , is a 1978 Japanese historical martial arts period film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. The film is the first of two period films by Fukasaku starring Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba as Jūbei Mitsuyoshi Yagyū, the other being ''Samurai Reincarnation''. The film was adapted into a 39-episode TV series, ''The Yagyu Conspiracy'' (1978–1979), and two TV film remakes were released in 2008 and 2020. Plot In 1624, shogun Tokugawa Hidetada of the Tokugawa shogunate dies at Edo Castle. Komuro Kihei, his taster, also kills himself, leading to suspicion that the shogun was poisoned. Hidetada's oldest son Iemitsu was to be heir, but his father disliked his appearance and stammer and preferred his second son Tadanaga, who is bright, handsome, and admired. Hidetada's wife Oeyo uses her influence on other ministers such as the lord of Owari, Chief Chamberlain Doi, and Councilor Sakai, who join her in backing Tadanaga as heir. The young Chamberlain Matsudaira ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Doberman Cop (1977 Film)
''Doberman Cop'' is a film version of the manga ''Doberman Deka'' released theatrically in Japan by Toei on July 2, 1977. The film was directed by Kinji Fukasaku and starred Sonny Chiba as . Plot The burned and unidentifiable remains of a young woman are discovered in an apartment in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Objects in the apartment seem to indicate that the woman is named Mayumi Tamashiro, though the police believe this to be a pseudonym used by Yuna Tamashiro, a runaway from Ishigaki Island who has been missing for five years. Mayumi's former boyfriend, a motorcyclist named Chōei Mikawa who is also nicknamed "Hotshot", is originally a suspect but produces an alibi for the time of her murder. The police theorize that it must be the work of a serial murderer and arsonist. Kano, a visiting policeman from Ishigaki Island, is unconvinced by the theory presented by the police and begins conducting his own invasion to find the real criminal. He speaks with Yuna's mother, a '' noro'' who pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hokuriku Proxy War
is a 1977 film directed by Kinji Fukasaku and starring Sonny Chiba and Hiroki Matsukata. Plot Kawada Noboru is a peasant from Mikuni who becomes a yakuza in the Tomiyasu Group in Fukui. He holds a letter from his boss Mr. Yasuhara promising that he would receive control of the security business for the speedboat racetrack in exchange for killing Yamada. When Kawada is released from prison in 1968 and Mr. Yasuhara refuses to make good on the deal, Kawada buries him up to his neck and forces him to relinquish control over the security business of the bike race and speedboat race run by their gang. At a branch office in Tsuruga, Yasuhara asks for help from the Kanai Group, a destructive yakuza organization based in Osaka working under the umbrella of the Asada Group. Their leader, Kanai Hachiro, sends an excessive amount of 50 assassins to kill Kawada and Mantani warns Yasuhara that this is part of Kanai's plan to invade and destroy Fukui. Kawada hides out in the Shiranami House ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
