is a 1999 Japanese film directed by
Katsuhito Ishii
is a Japanese film director best known for directing ''The Taste of Tea'' (2004), ''Funky Forest'' (2005), and ''Smuggler'' (2011).
Career
After graduating from Musashino Art University, Ishii got a job at Tohokushinsha Film and began direct ...
and starring
Tadanobu Asano
, better known by his stage name , is a Japanese actor. He is known for his roles as Dragon Eye Morrison in ''Electric Dragon 80.000 V'', Kakihara in ''Ichi the Killer'', Mamoru Arita in '' Bright Future'', Hattori Genosuke in ''Zatoichi'', Kenj ...
. It is based on a manga of the same name by
Minetaro Mochizuki which was originally serialized in ''
Mister Magazine
''Mister'', usually written in its contracted form ''Mr.'' or ''Mr'', is a commonly used English honorific for men without a higher honorific, or professional title, or any of various designations of office. The title 'Mr' derived from earlier ...
'' circa 1993 under the title "Daisharin" (Big Wheel). The current title was adopted when the comic was published as its own book.
Plot
Kuroo Samehada (Tadanobu Asano), a yakuza soldier, is on the run for his life after stealing from his boss Tanuki Fukuda (Ittoku Kishibe). During a chase through a forest, Tanuki's car is struck by a SUV. Enter Toshiko Momojiri (Shie Kohinata), who is also on the run. She is trying to escape her twisted uncle Michio Sonezaki (Yohachi Shimida), who manages the hotel where she works and who has developed a
controlling sexual obsession with her. During the crash Toshiko is knocked unconscious, and Samehada is able to escape with Toshiko in tow.
The couple are then chased across Japan by a large cast of gun crazy, deadpan gang members dressed in over-the-top, high-end fashion. They are also being followed by Yamada, an amateur hit man, who was hired by Michio to bring Toshiko back.
Cast
*
Tadanobu Asano
, better known by his stage name , is a Japanese actor. He is known for his roles as Dragon Eye Morrison in ''Electric Dragon 80.000 V'', Kakihara in ''Ichi the Killer'', Mamoru Arita in '' Bright Future'', Hattori Genosuke in ''Zatoichi'', Kenj ...
as Kuroo Samehada
*
Shie Kohinata
is a Japanese actress, ''tarento'', and singer. She is from Tokyo. She has one younger brother. She was formerly represented by Space Craft.
Biography
At the age of fifteen she met her father's acquaintance production president, and debuted as ...
as Toshiko Momojiri
*
Ittoku Kishibe
, born , is a Japanese actor and musician.
Career
He originally entered show business as the bassist for the Japanese rock bands, The Tigers and Pyg, but later switched to acting. The veteran of over 115 films, he won the Best Actor Japanese Aca ...
as Tanuki Fukuda
*
Susumu Terajima
is a Japanese actor. Though he has played a wide range of characters, he is perhaps best known for his portrayal of ''yakuza'' figures, most notably in the films of Takeshi Kitano.
Terajima made his acting debut in 1986's ''A Homansu''. He ...
as Sawada
*
Kimie Shingyoji
is an actress and model in Japan. She has appeared in films ''Eureka'', ''Station To Heaven'', ''Natsumeke No Shokutaku'', and ''Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl''.
In the 1980s she married Hiroshi Oguchi, a Tokyo scene celebrity, and drumme ...
as Mitsuko Fukuda
*
Youhachi Shimada as Michio Sonezaki
*
Tatsuya Gashuin
is a common masculine Japanese given name.
Possible writings
Tatsuya can be written using different kanji characters and can mean:
*達也, "master/accomplished, to be"
*達矢, "master/accomplished, arrow"
*竜也, "dragon, to be"
*竜哉, "d ...
as Yamada
*
Shingo Tsurumi
is a Japanese actor.
Career
Shingo Tsurumi has appeared in the films such as Katsuhito Ishii's ''Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl'', Hideo Nakata's '' L: Change the World'', and Tak Sakaguchi's ''Yakuza Weapon''.
Filmography
Films
* ''Tonda C ...
as Mitsuru Fukuda
The Yakuza hitmen
*
Daigaku Sekine as Sakaguchi
*
Koh Takasugi as Sorimachi
*
Shingoro Yamada as Taniguchi
*
Hitoshi Kiyokawa
Hitoshi (written: , , , , , , , , , or in hiragana) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include:
*, Japanese politician
*, Japanese manga artist
*, Japanese baseball player
*, Japanese photographer
*, Japanese baseba ...
as Maruo
*
Yoji Tanaka as Asahina
*
Keisuke Horibe
Keisuke (written: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , or ) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include:
*, Japanese footballer
*, Japanese general
*, Japanese mixed martial artist
*, Japanese footballer
* ...
as Inuzuka
*
Yoshiyuki Morishita
is a Japanese actor. He has appeared in more than eighty films since 1996.
Selected filmography Film
Television
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morishita, Yoshiyuki
1962 births
Living people
People from Tokyo
Japanese ...
as Hidari
*
Kanji Tsuda
is a Japanese actor.
Career
Tsuda appeared in Kiyoshi Kurosawa's ''Tokyo Sonata''. He co-starred in Sion Sono's ''Guilty of Romance'' with Megumi Kagurazaka.
Filmography
Film
* '' Sonatine'' (1993)
* ''119'' (1994)
* ''Kids Return'' (1996)
* ...
as Fukazume
Release
The film was shown at the 1998
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, often stylized as tiff) is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people annually. Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a permane ...
.
Bibliography
*
References
External links
*
1998 films
Live-action films based on manga
Japanese action films
Yakuza films
Films directed by Katsuhito Ishii
1990s action films
Japanese crime comedy films
1990s Japanese films
{{1990s-Japan-film-stub