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Yakuza Film
is a popular film genre in Japanese cinema which focuses on the lives and dealings of ''yakuza'', Japanese organized crime syndicates. In the silent film era, depictions of ''bakuto'' (precursors to modern yakuza) as sympathetic Robin Hood-like characters were common. Two types of yakuza films emerged in the 1950s and 1960s. The Nikkatsu studio was known for modern yakuza films inspired by Hollywood gangster films, while Toei was the main producer of what is known as . Set in the Meiji and Taishō eras, ''ninkyo eiga'' depict honorable outlaws torn between '' giri'' (duty) and ''ninjo'' (personal feelings). In contrast to ''ninkyo eiga'', based on real crime stories became popular in the 1970s. These portrayed modern yakuza not as honorable heirs to the samurai code, but as ruthless street thugs living for their own desires. Early films In the silent film era, films depicting ''bakuto'' (precursors to modern yakuza) as Robin Hood-like characters were common. They often ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Battles Without Honor And Humanity
, also known in the West as ''The Yakuza Papers'', is a Japanese yakuza film series produced by Toei Company. Inspired by a series of magazine articles by journalist Kōichi Iiboshi that are based on memoirs originally written by real-life yakuza Kōzō Minō, the films detail yakuza conflicts in Hiroshima Prefecture. Five films directed by Kinji Fukasaku and starring Bunta Sugawara as Shozo Hirono, who was based on Minō, were produced between 1973 and 1974. They were both critically and commercially successful and popularized the subgenre of yakuza film called '' Jitsuroku eiga'', which are often based on true stories. Fukasaku directed an additional three standalone films under the ''New Battles Without Honor and Humanity'' title between 1974 and 1976. Three more films by different directors were produced in 1979, 2000 and 2003. Sources The ''Jingi Naki Tatakai'' series of articles written by Kōichi Iiboshi that began in magazine in 1972, are rewrites of a manuscript origi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Daisuke Itō (film Director)
was a Japanese film director and screenwriter who played a central role in the development of the modern jidaigeki and samurai cinema. Career Born in Ehime Prefecture, Itō joined the actors school at Shōchiku in 1920, but soon began writing screenplays under the recommendation of Kaoru Osanai. He made his directorial debut in 1924 at Teikoku Kinema with ''Shuchū nikki''. After trying to start his own production company, he settled at Nikkatsu and established his name in 1927 with the three-part ''Chūji tabi nikki'', which is considered one of the masterpieces of ''jidaigeki''. Especially in the silent era, he was known for a very mobile camera style that earned him the nickname "Idō daisuki" (Loves Motion), which is a pun on his name. The heroes of his films, such as Tange Sazen and Kunisada Chūji, were often disaffected, nihilistic loners and thus Itō's early films were sometimes considered tendency films. He was criticized, however, for being more of a stylist than a t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kimono
The is a traditional Japanese garment and the national dress of Japan. The kimono is a wrapped-front garment with square sleeves and a rectangular body, and is worn left side wrapped over right, unless the wearer is deceased. The kimono is traditionally worn with a broad sash, called an , and is commonly worn with accessories such as zōri sandals and socks. Kimono have a set method of construction and are typically made from a long, narrow bolt of cloth known as a , though Western-style fabric bolts are also sometimes used. There are different types of kimono for men, women, and children, varying based on the occasion, the season, the wearer's age, and – less commonly in the modern day – the wearer's marital status. Despite the kimono's reputation as a formal and difficult-to-wear garment, there are types of kimono suitable for both formal and informal occasions. The way a person wears their kimono is known as . Though previously been the most common Japanese garm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keiichirō Akagi
, born was a Japanese actor. Akagi appeared in over 26 films in his short three-year career. Kenju burai-chō series and The Call of the Foghorn are Akagi's notable films. In 1958, he joined the Nikkatsu company. He landed the lead role for the first time in 1959 film '' Age of Nudity'' directed by Seijun Suzuki. In 1960, Akagi won Elan d'or Award for Newcomer of the Year. Akagi was one of the box office hitter of Nikkatsu company alongside Yujiro Ishihara and Akira Kobayashi. At around 12:20 PM on February 14, 1961, during a lunch break while shooting ''Gekiryū ni Ikiru Otoko,'' where he served as a replacement for injured Yūjirō Ishihara, Akagi was driving a go-cart brought by a salesman in the Nikkatsu studio but spun out of control and crashed into a steel door of a large tool warehouse at a speed of more than 60 km/h. He regained consciousness for a time, but on February 20 he fell into a coma again and died at 7:50 AM on February 21 of a subdural hematoma associated ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kenju Burai-chō Series
are Japanese film series directed by Haruyasu Noguchi who directed Gappa: The Triphibian Monster. The lead star is Keiichirō Akagi. He played skilled gunman in the series. Based on Rei Kido's novel "Nuki Uchi Sansirō". Kenju burai-chō Nukiuchino Ryu (Rereased date 1960,February 14, Running time 86minutes, Screen play by Gan Yamazaki) *Keiichirō Akagi as Kenzaki Ryu *Joe Shishido as Korto no Gin *Ruriko Asaoka as Ishii Midori *Ichiro Sugai as Shizu *Kaku Takashina as Gen *Arihiro Fujimura as Cho *Kō Nishimura as Yo Sangen Kenju burai-chō Denkō Setsuka no Otoko (Rereased date 1960, May14, Running time 86 minutes, Screenplay by Takeo Matsura) *Keiichirō Akagi as Jōji *Ruriko Asaoka as Keiko *Hideaki Nitani as Otsu Noboru *Mari Shiraki as JIna Nakagawa *Kaku Takanashi as Tatsukichi *Sayuri Yoshinaga as Setsuko Kenju burai-chō Futeki ni Warauotoko (Rereased date 1960, August6, Running time 84 minutes, Screen play by Gan Yamazaki) *Keiichirō Akagi as Dan Ryujirō *Reiko ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joe Shishido
was a Japanese actor most recognizable for his intense, eccentric yakuza film roles and his artificially enlarged cheekbones. He appeared in some 300 films but is best known in the West for his performance in the cult film ''Branded to Kill'' (1967). In Japan, he is also known by the nickname for his popular role in the Western ''Quick Draw Joe'' (1961). Early life Joe Shishido was born in the Kita Ward of Osaka, Japan. He had two older brothers, one younger sister and a younger brother who also became an actor under the name Eiji Go. Shishido attended schools in Tokyo and Miyagi. In 1952, he graduated from high school and enrolled in the theatre course at Nihon University. Two years later, he auditioned for the Nikkatsu Company's New Face contest. He was one of 21 selected from 8,000 applicants. Shishido dropped out of school and began working for Nikkatsu, appearing in small film roles. Nikkatsu In 1954, Joe Shishido signed on as a contract player at Nikkatsu. Studio boss ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Akira Kobayashi
is a Japanese actor and singer. His nickname is . Biography Kobayashi attended Meiji University but left before graduating. He became an actor at Nikkatsu and made his film debut with "Ueru Tamashii" directed by Yuzo Kawashima in 1956. He solidified his popularity with such films as ''Nangoku Tosa o Ato ni Shite'' (''A Farewell to Southern Tosa'') and starred in the '' Wataridori series'' and "Senpūji" ("Whirlwind Child") film series. Kobayashi, along with Yujiro Ishihara and others, formed the core of Nikkatsu Action's golden age. Kobayashi produced and starred detective tv drama series ''Target Men'' in 1971. In 1972, he left Nikkatsu and signed with Toei film. There he starred in many yakuza films, including Battles Without Honor and Humanity series. In 1989, Kobayashi made his director debut with ''Haru kuru Oni''. Marriage Kobayashi was married to popular singer Misora Hibari in 1962, but the marriage ended in divorce two years later in 1964. He remarried actress ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Wandering Guitarist
is a 1959 Japanese action and yakuza film directed by Buichi Saitō. It stars Akira Kobayashi. The Wandering Guitarist is the first film of Akira Kobayashi and Buichi Saitō's ''Wataridori series''. The film made Akira Kobayashi star and he gained national popularity. Plot *Source: Shinji Taki is a former detective but now he is a vagabond with a guitar. In the port town he visits, Taki saves a yakuza of the Akitsu clan at a bar fight and he is hired as a bouncer of the Akitsu clan. Akitsu orders Taki to evict the inhabitants for the development of the town. Cast *Source: * Akira Kobayashi as Shinji Taki * Ruriko Asaoka as Yuki Akitsu * Joe Shishido as Joe * Nobuo Kaneko as Reizaburō Akitsu (Head of the Akitsu clan) * Sanae Nakahara as Shōji Sumiko * Misako Watanabe as Rie * Kyōji Aoyama as Yasukawa * Tomio Aoki ''aka'' was a Japanese film actor. Aoki became famous as a child actor after debuting at the age of six in silent films directed by Yasujirō Ozu. His leading ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Teruo Ishii
was a Japanese film director best known in the West for his early films in the ''Super Giant'' series, and for his films in the ''ero guro'' ("erotic-grotesque") subgenre of ''pinku eiga'' such as ''Shogun's Joy of Torture'' ( 1968). He also directed the 1965 film, ''Abashiri Prison'', which helped to make Ken Takakura a major star in Japan. Referred to in Japan as "The King of Cult", Ishii had a much more prolific and eclectic career than was generally known in the West during his lifetime. Early life Born in Tokyo's Asakusa neighborhood in 1924, Ishii developed a love of cinema early. His parents would often take him to see foreign films, particularly French movies. Ishii worked at Toho Studios as an assistant director beginning in 1942. His film career was interrupted when he was sent to Manchuria during World War II to take aerial photographs for bombing runs. Shintoho In March, 1947 Ishii joined the newly founded Shintoho studios. Ishii would later recall his time with Shint ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Occupation Of Japan
Japan was occupied and administered by the victorious Allies of World War II from the 1945 surrender of the Empire of Japan at the end of the war until the Treaty of San Francisco took effect in 1952. The occupation, led by the United States with support from the British Commonwealth and under the supervision of the Far Eastern Commission, involved a total of nearly 1 million Allied soldiers. The occupation was overseen by American General Douglas MacArthur, who was appointed Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers by US President Harry Truman; MacArthur was succeeded as supreme commander by General Matthew Ridgway in 1951. Unlike in the occupation of Germany, the Soviet Union had little to no influence over the occupation of Japan, declining to participate because it did not want to place Soviet troops under MacArthur's direct command. This foreign presence marks the only time in Japan's history that it has been occupied by a foreign power. However, unlike in Germany the Alli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Drunken Angel
is a 1948 Japanese ''yakuza'' film directed by Akira Kurosawa. It is notable for being the first of sixteen film collaborations between director Kurosawa and actor Toshiro Mifune. Plot Sanada (Takashi Shimura) is an alcoholic doctor (the titular "drunken angel") in postwar Japan who treats a small-time yakuza named Matsunaga (Toshiro Mifune) after a gunfight with a rival syndicate. The doctor, noticing that Matsunaga is coughing, diagnoses the young gangster with tuberculosis. After frequently pestering Matsunaga, who refuses to deal with his illness, about the need to start taking care of himself, the gangster finally agrees to quit boozing and womanizing and allow Sanada to care for him. The two enjoy an uneasy friendship until Matsunaga's sworn brother, Okada, who is also the abusive ex-boyfriend of the doctor's female assistant Miyo, is released from prison. In the meantime, Sanada continues treating his other patients, one of whom, a young female student, seems to be makin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Akira Kurosawa
was a Japanese filmmaker and painter who directed thirty films in a career spanning over five decades. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. Kurosawa displayed a bold, dynamic style, strongly influenced by Western cinema yet distinct from it; he was involved with all aspects of film production. Kurosawa entered the Japanese film industry in 1936, following a brief stint as a painter. After years of working on numerous films as an assistant director and scriptwriter, he made his debut as a director during World War II with the popular action film '' Sanshiro Sugata''. After the war, the critically acclaimed ''Drunken Angel'' (1948), in which Kurosawa cast the then little-known actor Toshiro Mifune in a starring role, cemented the director's reputation as one of the most important young filmmakers in Japan. The two men would go on to collaborate on another fifteen films. ''Rashomon'' (1950), which premiered ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
