is a Japanese

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-li ...

directed by

Rokurō Mochizuki is a Japanese film director who has worked in pink film, adult videos and mainstream cinema. He won the award for Best Director at the 19th Yokohama Film Festival for ''Onibi (film), Onibi'' and ''A Yakuza in Love''. Life and career Early career ...

starring

Ryo Ishibashi is a Japanese people, Japanese actor and lead singer of the Japanese rock band ARB (band), ARB. He is known around the world for his roles in the Japanese horror films ''Suicide Club (film), Suicide Club'' and ''Audition (1999 film), Audition.'' ...

and

Asami Sawaki is a feminine Japanese given name which can also be used as a surname. Possible writings Asami can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: ;as a given name *麻美, "hemp, beauty" *朝美, "morning, beauty" *朝海, "morning, ...

, who was making her film debut. The film was based on a novel by Yukio Yamanouchi who also appears as an actor in the film. The Japanese title of the film begins with the character 新, ''shin'' (new), to distinguish this movie from a 1989 film (Lonely or Sad Hitman), also based on a novel by Yamanouchi but unrelated in plot.

Plot

After 10 years in prison,

yakuza , also known as , are members of transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. The Japanese police and media, by request of the police, call them , while the ''yakuza'' call themselves . The English equivalent for the term ...

hitman Takashi Tachibana is returning to a new mob scene where his code of honor is outdated. The old violent gangs have now turned to drug dealing as their main business. His old mob presents him with a bundle of cash and Yuki, a call girl who is addicted to drugs as he once was. Tachibana falls for the girl and tries to rehabilitate her which eventually causes trouble with his own gang and rivals as well.

Cast

as Takashi Tachibana *

as Yuki Tajima *

Kazuhiko Kanayama Kazuhiko ( or ) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: * , politician * , a video game producer * Kazuhiko Chiba, Japanese footballer * Kazuhiko Hasegawa, film director * Kazuhiko Hosokawa, professional golfer ...

as Yuji Takayama *

Tatsuo Yamada was a Japanese actor best known for the protagonist of Sōgo Ishii's 1980 film ''Crazy Thunder Road''. Filmography * ''Crazy Thunder Road'' (1980) * ''Yokohama BJ Blues'' (1981) * ''Welter'' (1987) * '' Evil Dead Trap 3: Broken Love Killer'' ( ...

as Shimoyama *

Tetsuya Yūki Tetsuya is a masculine Japanese given name. Possible writings Tetsuya can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: * 哲也, "philosophy, to be" * 鉄也, "iron, to be" * 哲哉, "philosophy, alas" * 徹也, "devotion, to be" ...

as Hirakawa *

Zenkichi Yoneyama Zenkichi is a masculine Japanese given name. Possible writings Zenkichi can be written using different combinations of kanji characters. Here are some examples: *善吉, "virtuous, good luck" *全吉 "all, good luck" *然吉, "so, good luck" The ...

as Wada *

Toshiyuki Kitami Toshiyuki is a masculine Japanese given name. Possible writings Toshiyuki can be written using different combinations of kanji characters. Here are some examples: *敏幸, "agile, happiness" *敏行, "agile, go" *敏之, "agile, of" *敏志, "ag ...

as Mizohashi * Yukio Yamanouchi as Yoshimura

Release

The film was released theatrically in Japan on July 1, 1995. A DVD version with English subtitles which included an interview with director Mochizuki came out May 31, 2005.

Reception

At the

5th Japan Film Professional Awards The is the 5th edition of the ''Japan Film Professional Awards''. It awarded the best of 1995 in film. The ceremony took place on April 26, 1996, at Theatre Shinjuku in Tokyo. Awards *Best Film: ''Another Lonely Hitman'' *Best Director: Rokur� ...

, ''Another Lonely Hitman'' won the award for Best Film of 1995 and

was named Best Director.

took the Best Actor award at the same ceremony.

References

External links

* * (Review) Yakuza films Films directed by Rokuro Mochizuki 1990s Japanese films {{1990s-Japan-film-stub