is a Japanese film director. He won critical acclaim for ''
800 Two Lap Runners
''800 Two Lap Runners'' is a 1994 Japanese film directed by Ryūichi Hiroki starring Shunsuke Matsuoka and Eugene Nomura. For director Hiroki, the film marks a transition from his early work in ''pink film'' to mainstream cinema.
Plot
This comin ...
''.
Film critic and researcher Alexander Jacoby has described Hiroki as "one of the modern Japanese cinema's most intelligent students of character".
[
]
Biography
''Pink film''
Hiroki is one of several Japanese film directors who got their start in the Japanese softcore pornographic film genre of '' pink film''. He said in an interview that in the late 1970s when he wanted to get into directing, he wrote a script for a ''pink film'' and brought it to the Ōkura Eiga studio but they told him he needed to start as an assistant director. At this time he met prolific ''pink film'' director Genji Nakamura Genji may refer to:
*Genji (era), an era in Japanese history (1864–65)
*Hikaru Genji, the main character of the 11th-century Japanese text ''The Tale of Genji''
*Genji, an alternative name for the Minamoto clan
*Genji (woreda), a district of the ...
and during the next three years, Hiroki worked as an assistant director, editor, and manager for Nakamura's company Yū Pro. Hiroki made his first film as a director with ''Sexual Abuse! Exposed Woman'' for Million Film
was one of the early independent studios which produced pink films. Along with OP Eiga, Shintōhō Eiga, Kantō and Kōji Wakamatsu's production studio, Million Film was one of the most influential on the genre during its first decade. Many of t ...
in 1982. His debut met with poor reviews and was "terrible" according to Hiroki and he went back to being an assistant director for a time.[Sharp, p. 242-243, 344]
Hiroki's next excursion into directing, beginning in November 1983, was more successful, a trio of homoerotic
Homoeroticism is sexual attraction between members of the same sex, either male–male or female–female. The concept differs from the concept of homosexuality: it refers specifically to the desire itself, which can be temporary, whereas "homose ...
''pink films'' for ENK, a new company with links to Nikkatsu
is a Japanese entertainment company known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio, founded in 1912 during the silent film era. The name ''Nikkatsu'' amalgamates the words Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally ...
, which specialized in gay ''pink film''. ''Our Season'', ''Our Generation'' and ''Our Moment'' were frank depictions of the tribulations of gay couples in 1980s Japan. All three films starred veteran ''pink film'' actor Tōru Nakane and ''Our Season'', considered the best of the trio by the ''pink film'' historians Thomas and Yuko Weisser, had a screenplay by future director 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 ...
.[
The Weissers dub Hiroki "the prince of youth porn" for his 1984 film produced by Yū Pro and distributed by ]Nikkatsu
is a Japanese entertainment company known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio, founded in 1912 during the silent film era. The name ''Nikkatsu'' amalgamates the words Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally ...
, ''Teacher, Don't Turn Me On!'', once again scripted 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 ...
and featuring Tōru Nakane as the college-age tutor of a high-school girl. His most notorious works for Nakamura's Yū Pro were a series of brutal S&M movies directed under the pseudonym Gō Ijūin (), which was also sometimes used by scriptwriter Hitoshi Ishikawa and Nakamura himself. According to Hiroki, using a pseudonym gave him greater freedom to describe S&M relationships in a new way.[ The Gō Ijūin films directed by Hiroki were the 1984 ''The SM'', distributed by ]Million Film
was one of the early independent studios which produced pink films. Along with OP Eiga, Shintōhō Eiga, Kantō and Kōji Wakamatsu's production studio, Million Film was one of the most influential on the genre during its first decade. Many of t ...
, ''The Sexual Abuse'' from February 1985 and ''The Sacrifice'' from February 1986, with the latter two films being released by Nikkatsu
is a Japanese entertainment company known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio, founded in 1912 during the silent film era. The name ''Nikkatsu'' amalgamates the words Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally ...
.[
Also in 1986, Nikkatsu released Hiroki's creative but bizarrely titled Yū Pro production ''SM Class: Accidental Urination'' promoted as "New wave S&M with a sense of humor". In October 1987, Hiroki directed pioneering ]AV Idol
An or is a type of pornographic film actress in Japan. It is a sub-category of the idol culture in Japanese pop entertainment. AV idols work in the pornographic business, often both as an actress as well as a model as the video performances ...
Hitomi Kobayashi
is an important early Japanese AV idol. One of the founding figures of the Japanese adult video, she has been called indispensable to any discussion of the AV. ''Mainichi Shimbun'' calls her "one of the icons of Japanese adult cinema history." ...
in the ''pink film'' ''The True Self of Hitomi Kobayashi'' released by Million Film
was one of the early independent studios which produced pink films. Along with OP Eiga, Shintōhō Eiga, Kantō and Kōji Wakamatsu's production studio, Million Film was one of the most influential on the genre during its first decade. Many of t ...
and the next year supervised another early AV actress Eri Kikuchi
is a pink film actress and an early Japanese AV idol of the 1980s.
Life and career
Kikuchi was born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan on April 5, 1965. She started as a ''fuzoku'' (sex industry) girl in hotels and soaplands and also made appe ...
in ''Eri Kikuchi: Huge Breasts'' released by Nikkatsu in January 1988.
Hiroki also ventured into the adult video
Pornographic films (pornos), erotic films, sex films, and 18+ films are films that present sexually explicit subject matter in order to arouse and satisfy the viewer. Pornographic films present sexual fantasies and usually include erotical ...
(AV) world, directing for Athena Eizou
is an early pioneering Japanese adult video (AV) production company. They have offices in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan.
Company information
Athena Eizou was founded December 21, 1981, by pink film director Tadashi Yoyogi and Hikaru Kitoh ( ...
, a company founded by former ''pink film'' director Tadashi Yoyogi
is a Japanese director of pink film and adult videos (AV). He is known as the "Father of Japanese Adult Video" and has been credited with establishing the model in his early work for many of the adult videos produced since.
Life and career
Tadas ...
, with titles such as the August 1989 starring Mako Hyuga and the May 1990 video .
Into mainstream film
Although Hiroki left the ''pink film'' industry in the late 1980s, he continued to make films dealing with sexuality. Hiroki has said that he never changed his film making, but his later movies were aimed at a different audience.[ In May 1989 Hiroki with fellow directors ]Masato Ishioka
is a Japanese director, screenwriter and business executive who had an early career as an adult video (AV) director.
Life and career
Masato Ishioka was born in 1960 in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. He attended Meiji University, graduating in 1983 ...
and Tadafumi Tomioka founded their own production company Heaven ().
In November 1990, Hiroki directed a romance about modern young couples in Japan, ''A Love Affair With Sawako'' for the Shochiku
() is a Japanese film and kabuki production and distribution company. It also produces and distributes anime films, in particular those produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks (which has a long-time partnership—the company released most, if not all ...
company. This was followed by the erotic horror 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 p ...
production ''Sadistic City'' which took the Japanese Film Section Grand Prize for a video at the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival
The , also sometimes called YIFFF, is held in a resort-like environment in the small town of Yūbari on the northernmost Japanese island of Hokkaidō. From 1990 to 1999, the festival was known as the Yubari International Fantastic Adventure Fil ...
. Hiroki's breakthrough into mainstream film, however, came with his 1994 feature ''800 Two Lap Runners
''800 Two Lap Runners'' is a 1994 Japanese film directed by Ryūichi Hiroki starring Shunsuke Matsuoka and Eugene Nomura. For director Hiroki, the film marks a transition from his early work in ''pink film'' to mainstream cinema.
Plot
This comin ...
'' which looked at teenage heterosexual and homosexual relationships against a track and field background. The film opened at the Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...
in February 1994 before being released in Japan in July 1994. It placed number 7 on the Kinema Junpo
, commonly called , is Japan's oldest film magazine and began publication in July 1919. It was first published three times a month, using the Japanese ''Jun'' (旬) system of dividing months into three parts, but the postwar ''Kinema Junpō'' ha ...
's list of the ten best Japanese movies of 1994.[
Hiroki returned to his theme of the emotional and sexual lives of young adults in modern urban Japan in his June 1996 film ''Midori'' about a high-school girl pretending to be ill in order to see her boyfriend.][ His 2000 work ''Tokyo Trash Baby'' is an understated look at a lonely woman who goes through the garbage of the neighbor she is obsessed with looking for mementos.][ His other film in 2000 had a very different theme; the erotic comic drama ''I Am an S&M Writer'', with a screenplay by Hiroki's former ''pink film'' colleague Hitoshi Ishikawa, is based on a possibly partly autobiographical novel by celebrated S&M writer ]Oniroku Dan
was a Japanese author who has been called, "the most celebrated writer of popular SM novels in Japan." Many of his stories have been filmed, most notably by Nikkatsu studio in their '' Roman Porno'' series. Dan had a close professional associa ...
.
Recognition
Hiroki's 2003 film '' Vibrator'', based on the novel by Mari Akasaka
is a Japanese novelist.
Biography
Mari Akasaka was born in Suginami, Tokyo, and studied Politics in the Law Department at Keio University. In 1999 her novel ''Vibrator'' was nominated for the Akutagawa Prize. She was again nominated for the A ...
and starring Nao Omori and Shinobu Terajima
is a Japanese actress. Her feature films include '' Akame 48 Waterfalls'' (2003) and '' Vibrator'' (2003). For her role in ''Caterpillar'' (2010), Terajima won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 60th Berlin Film Festival while her performan ...
, returned to his theme of alienated women. It was described by Tom Mes as "one of the bravest and most important films of recent years."[ ''Vibrator'' won the Best Film award at the 25th Yokohama Film Festival in 2004 and Hiroki was named Best Director. The film was also widely seen overseas.][ where it won a number of awards giving Hiroki a measure of international renown.
He once again worked with actress ]Shinobu Terajima
is a Japanese actress. Her feature films include '' Akame 48 Waterfalls'' (2003) and '' Vibrator'' (2003). For her role in ''Caterpillar'' (2010), Terajima won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 60th Berlin Film Festival while her performan ...
on the 2005 film ''It's Only Talk
is a Japanese film, released in 2005 and is based on the prizewinning novel of the same title written by Akiko Itoyama and directed by Ryūichi Hiroki.
Plot summary
''"Kamata Town: not an ounce of chic..." "Perhaps I should move there..."'' So ...
'', returning to his concentration on the problems of modern city life in Japan.[ The film won Best Film Third Place at the 16th ]Japanese Professional Movie Awards
The are an annual Japanese film award. The first awards were given to films made in 1991. This award is hosted by Hiroo Ōtaka.
Categories
*Best Film
*Best Director
*Best Actor
*Best Actress
Editions
* 1st (1991)
*2nd (1992)
* 3rd (1993)
* 4th ...
(2006) and Hiroki was given a Special Award. Also during this period, Hiroki directed two character dramas with sexual themes, ''L'Amant'' about a teenaged girl selling herself as a sex slave and ''M'', detailing the experiences of a housewife whose sexual experimentation leads to prostitution.[
Later films include ''The Egoists'', a romance film starring ]Kengo Kora
is a Japanese actor.
Career
Kora has gained recognition for his roles in films such as Shinji Aoyama's '' Sad Vacation'', Yukio Ninagawa's ''Snakes and Earrings'', Tran Anh Hung's '' Norwegian Wood'', Ryuichi Hiroki's ''The Egoists'', Yoshihir ...
and Anne Suzuki
is a Japanese actress.
Career
Suzuki co-starred in Shunji Iwai's '' Hana and Alice'' with Yū Aoi. She voiced the title character Ray Steam in Katsuhiro Otomo's animated film ''Steamboy''.
Suzuki played a supporting role in Andrew Lau and Ala ...
and ''River
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...
'', a film which was originally inspired by the Akihabara massacre
The was an incident of mass murder that took place on 8June 2008, in the Akihabara shopping quarter in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. The perpetrator, 25-year-old of Susono, Shizuoka, drove into a crowd with a rented truck, initially killing three peo ...
. His ensemble drama film, ''Kabukicho Love Hotel
is a 2014 Japanese drama film directed by Ryūichi Hiroki, starring Shota Sometani and Atsuko Maeda. It was selected to be screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.
Plot
Having lost his ...
'', screened at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival
The 39th annual Toronto International Film Festival, the 39th event in the Toronto International Film Festival series, was held in Canada from 4–14 September 2014. David Dobkin's film '' The Judge'', starring Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duv ...
.
Style and influences
Hiroki was described by Niels Matthijs of Twitch Film
Screen Anarchy, previously known as Twitch Film or Twitch, is a Canadian English-language website featuring news and reviews of mainly international, independent and cult films. The website was founded in 2004 by Todd Brown. In addition to films, ...
as "one of the few male directors who can portray a woman with lifelike depth."
Filmography
Feature films
* (1982)
* (1983)
* (1983)
* (1984)
* ''The SM'' (1984) as Gō Ijūin
* (1985)
* (1985) as Gō Ijūin
* (1986) as Gō Ijūin
* (1986)
* (1987)
* (1988)
* (1989)
* (1990)
* (1993) (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 p ...
)
* (1994)
* ''800 Two Lap Runners
''800 Two Lap Runners'' is a 1994 Japanese film directed by Ryūichi Hiroki starring Shunsuke Matsuoka and Eugene Nomura. For director Hiroki, the film marks a transition from his early work in ''pink film'' to mainstream cinema.
Plot
This comin ...
'' (1994)
* (1995)
* (1995)
* (1996)
* (1999)
* (2000)
* (2000)
* (2001)
* (2002)
* '' Vibrator'' (2003)
* '' The Silent Big Man'' (2004)
* (2004)
* (2004)
* '' Female'' (2005)
* ''It's Only Talk
is a Japanese film, released in 2005 and is based on the prizewinning novel of the same title written by Akiko Itoyama and directed by Ryūichi Hiroki.
Plot summary
''"Kamata Town: not an ounce of chic..." "Perhaps I should move there..."'' So ...
'' (2005)
* (2006)
* (2006)
* ''M'' (2006)
* (2007)
* (2008)
* (2008)
* '' April Bride'' (2009)
* (2010)
* '' The Egoists'' (2011)
* ''River
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...
'' (2011)
* (2013)
* '' Yellow Elephant'' (2013)
* '' Crying 100 Times: Every Raindrop Falls'' (2013)
* ''Kabukicho Love Hotel
is a 2014 Japanese drama film directed by Ryūichi Hiroki, starring Shota Sometani and Atsuko Maeda. It was selected to be screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.
Plot
Having lost his ...
'' (2014)
* '' Her Granddaughter'' (2014)
* ''Strobe Edge
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Io Sakisaka. It began serialization in 2007 in the shōjo manga magazine ''Bessatsu Margaret'' and ended in 2010. The chapters are collected and bound in tankōbon format by Shueisha und ...
'' (2015)
* '' Policeman and Me'' (2017)
* (2017)
* ''Miracles of the Namiya General Store
is a 2012 Japanese novel written by Keigo Higashino and published by Kadokawa Shoten.
Plot
In 1980, the Namiya General Store becomes popular with citizens after its owner, Yūji Namiya, accepts people’s advice letters seeking advice for anyth ...
'' (2017)
* ''Marmalade Boy
is a shōjo manga series by Wataru Yoshizumi. It was published by Shueisha in the magazine '' Ribon'' from May 1992 to October 1995 and collected in eight ''tankōbon'' volumes. The series was adapted by Toei Animation as a 76-episode an ...
'' (2018)
* (2018)
* '' Ride or Die'' (2021)
* ''Noise'' (2022)
* ''Motherhood'' (2022)
* ''You've Got a Friend'' (2022)
* ''Phases of the Moon'' (2022)
* ''2 Women'' (2022)
Short films
* ''Cops vs Cops'' (2003)
Television
* ''Modern Love Tokyo'' (2022, episode 2)
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hiroki, Ryuichi
1954 births
Living people
Japanese film directors
Japanese film editors
Pink film directors
Japanese pornographic film directors