Eitarō Shindō

Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director (1975)

In 39 interviews with actors and actresses, writers, producers and staff members, interspersed with film excerpts and stills, Shindō recounts the life and career of his friend and mentor Mizoguchi. ...

Monsieur Zivaco (1967)

International thief Zivaco, who can assume any identity, eludes the authorities and battles rival thief WCWC for a rare gold samurai sword. ...

Rebellion of Japan (1967)

Suzuko, a woman in her twenties who has a brother with political problems (due to communist reprisals), lives for over five years in a love affair with Tate who's a young lieutenant in the Army, ultimately becoming a right-wing fundamentalist revolutionary ...

The Craziest Operation (1966)

The Crazy Cats try to steal 1,000,000,000 yen in laundered Yakuza money. ...

The Man from Planet Alpha (1966)

A film produced by Toho and Watanabe Productions as part of the Crazy Movie project featuring The Crazy Cats comedy group and jazz band members. It is the sixth film in the Crazy Operation series where the lead role was handed over from Eikichi Ueki to Kei ...

Four and A Half Mats (1966)

Shino, a resilient young woman sold into prostitution must navigate the gritty realities of the red-light district to survive. Within the confines of her small 4½-mat room, she encounters a variety of men, using her wit and body to endure a system designe ...

The Actress vs. the Greedy Sharks (1966)

Framed by his enemies, Manbe finds himself imprisoned for a murder he didn't commit. His only hope lies with his daughter Yuki who takes it upon herself to clear his name. ...

A Smell of Money (1965)

Banjun organizes a group of con men to fleece the greedy and rich. ...

Japan's No. 1 Sesame Paste Man (1965)

Irresponsible Life in Edo Japan (1964)

A comedy directed by Kajiro Yamamoto, based on an original idea by Koji Toita, co-written by Yasuo Tanami, who worked on "Hibari Chiemi Izumi Sannin Yoba" and Kajiro Yamamoto, who worked on "The Story of a Genius Swindler: Tanuki no Hanamichi." Photographe ...

Revenge (1964)

An innocuous comment during a weapon inspection wounds the pride of low-ranking samurai Shinpachi, leading to an argument with his superior. The situation snowballs out of control, leading to a deadly duel and political fallout which threatens the entire c ...

Raised in a Palace (1964)

Set in the pleasure district of Kyoto, Tamiko (Yoshiko Mita, in her first lead role) is a young girl attending high school by day and training as a geisha at night She sees her future as an entertainer, not a prostitute, & she expects a happy marriage wit ...

Suruga Yūkyōden: Gambling Hall Robbery (1964)

The Kingdom of Jirocho 3 (1964)

The third part of the story about feudal boss Jirocho and his underlings. ...

Warrior of the Wind (1964)

A suspenseful Ninja fantasy based on Shiba Ryotaro's novel, woven with the mysterious fate and romance of Shinzo and a beautiful Princess who find themselves at the center of an intrigue surrounding the legendary land of Yasurai in the mountains of Kumano. ...

Orders from Hell (1964)

Crazy Cats Go to Hong Kong (1963)

Comedy has the proprietors of a tonkatsu (deep-fried pork) restaurant match wits with a Chinese developer. ...

The Kingdom of Jirocho 2 (1963)

Jirocho and his henchmen befriend Ishimatsu, a wanderer in Mishima. ...

A House in the Quarter (1963)

With her family suffering from extreme poverty, Yuko, as the eldest daughter, is sold to a successful brothel in Kyoto. There she is assigned to serve Takamatsu, one of the brothel's top customers. But while Takamatsu falls madly in love with Yuko, she fin ...

Gang Loyalty and Vengeance (1963)

A modern gang version of Chushingura, chronicling almost scene for scene the Brave 47 Ronin story, transposed from the Genroku Period to the Showa Era. ...

The Kingdom of Jirocho 1 (1963)

The tale of real-life Yakuza boss Shimizu Jirocho is told from his earliest beginnings as a gambler on the road as he forms his gang and sets out on the path to fame and fortune. One of the smartest and strongest of all the gang bosses, he went on to survi ...

Young Master Yakuza: Edoite Goblin (1963)

Kyu-chan, Draw Your Sword (1963)

A laid-back man tries to become a member of the yakuza. ...

Cases of Umon: The Woman with an Umbrella (1963)

Ryutaro Otomo as the Edo magistrate Umon Kondo is out to solve a crime that centers around the murder of a jail guard & the escape of a criminal who is later himself killed. His dying words in Umon's arms were, "I didn't kill the guard." The murdered crimi ...

A Devil of a Gentleman (1963)

Tale of Ａ Company Boss Pt.５ (1963)

Shimizu Jirocho, the president, manages two businesses: Izumo Kanko-sha and the group inn "Daikokuya." There is a system where customers from Izumo Kanko-sha are directly sent to Daikokuya. President Jirocho learns that the geishas he is fond of, including ...

Tattoo of Love (1963)

The great Okawa Hashizo, in one of his most powerful roles risks his life and limb to help save the lovely Onaka from a terrible lifestyle. Starting out as a down on his luck gambler, Hantaro refuses to accept punishment for running up a 10 ryo debt in a c ...

Uragirimono wa jigoku daze (1962)

1962 Japanese movie ...

The Body (1962)

The sexual experiences of the passionate Sakiko, from her fling with her boss in her first job to her ending up as a prostitute. ...

Tengu Priest (1962)

Kichizaburo, a samurai keeping peace in Edo, helps a young geisha Kozome avenge her father's death. ...

Showdown at Lightning Pass (1962)

A story about a spear master's spiritual and martial discipline. ...

Lion Festival of Echigo (1962)

Ganko Oyaji to Edokko Shain (1962)

Tōkyō sanosa musume (1962)

1962 Japanese movie ...

Hibari the Traveling Performer (1962)

Kimie, a traveling guitarist, performs at various inns at help out her sickly mother. One night while out with her mother, Otoshi, Kimie unexpectedly sees her father, who had abandoned the family 20 years ago. Her hopes for a happy reunion are quickly dash ...

The Sentencer (1962)

A man challenges a territorial fight between gangs. ...

Case of Umon: Red Lizard (1962)

Umon goes on an investigation to unveil the murderer known as Red Lizard. ...

Yakuza Official (1962)

Bunkichi disguises himself as a yakuza to solve a mysterious death. ...

The Ambitious Youth (1962)

As descendent of famed fishmonger Isshin Tasuke, young feisty Ishii Tasuke uses his talent to flourish his employer's food business. ...

The Bandits (1962)

Friendship between an ambitious young thief and an artist during the Warring States period. ...

Tales of President Mito (1962)

Mr. Mito, a former president of an instant food company, with two young men's help, solves the quality problems and wins a big ramen contract with a large Chinese company. ...

Pleasant Company (1962)

The Eve of the Chinese Festival (1962)

A kabuki actor is assassinated during a New Year celebration show, in front of everyone, fortunately the great detective Umon is among the audience. Along with his quirky assistant they set on the trail of revenge killing. Revenge for what? Who and where i ...

Travels of Gonkuro (1961)

Sugimoto Gonkuro is travelling along from Tosa to Edo. On his journey he will meet both good and bad people. ...

The Conspirator (1961)

Young lord Saburo Nobuyasu struggles to find comfort in life. His arranged marriage to Tokuhime, daughter of one-time family enemy Oda Nobunaga, provides little happiness. His manipulative mother adds further complications through her constant interference ...

Tale of a Company Boss 3 (1961)

A story about the nature of office workers today. ...

Boss Takes to the Road (1961)

Japanese comedy film. ...

Himalayan Wanderer (1961)

One after another, expedition teams were being attacked in the Himalayas. With the unprecedented boom in snow men, the public began to make a fuss about the fact that the monster that attacked them must be the snow man. Even in Las Vegas, betting began on ...

Case of Umon: Woman of the Magic Lantern (1961)

Detective Umon's services are called upon when ronin Yaichiro is killed with a peculiar weapon, a stone wrapped in a towel. ...

Tale of Ａ Company Boss Pt.２ (1961)

1961 Toei comedy ...

Tale of a Company Boss (1961)

Japanese comedy film. ...

Amazon mushuku seiki no dai maō (1961)

Chiezo's two-guns-at-all-costs film, directed by Ozawa Shigehiro (Kengo Tengu Matsuri) from a screenplay by Matsuura Kenro (The Dice Magistrate). Shot by Nishikawa Shoei (I Am the Magician of Hell). ...

Magistrate of Dice (1961)

Based on the exploits of real-life historical character Magistrate Toyama no Kinsan, this exciting tale brings the "Demon Magistrate" as he is called to the aid of a beautiful young woman who asks to be abducted on the eve of her wedding so that she would ...

The Ako Retainers (1961)

Toei's 10th anniversary film, featuring an all-star cast from the golden movie era of the 1960s. A famous story of the 47 loyal samurai. When Lord Asano is unjustly executed, his loyal retainers strike back for revenge. ...

Festival of Swordsmen (1961)

During the middle of the Kanei Period (1624-1644) Japan was in the early stages of its most peaceful era. This left a large number of unemployed samurai with nothing to do, and their morale suffered. In order to raise their spirits, the Shogun's Chief Advi ...

An Edo Magistrate (1961)

When a former artisan is tricked into putting his sister up as collateral for a loan by a gangster boss in a crooked gambling casino it sets in motion the story of Ooka Echizen, the famed magistrate of Edo during the reign of Shogun Tsuneyoshi. In a world ...

Case of Umon: The Nanbanzame Murders (1961)

The serial killing of a samurai each night by strangulation at various temples confounds investigators and brings a chill to the residents of Edo. With the capital on edge, master crimefighter Kondo Umon is brought in to try and solve the case. His illustr ...

Hell's Juggler (1961)

The Shogun and the Fishmonger (1961)

Fishmonger Tasuke and Shogun Iemitsu swap their identities in pretence for the protection of Iemitsu. ...

Scarier than the Devil (1960)

A stage director who directs a "Mori no Ishimatsu" play time travels and becomes "Mori no Ishimatsu" himself. ...

Queen of the Treasure Island (1960)

At a tavern in Shimoda, Ronin Tadakazu Yamakawa saved a samurai girl named Mino from the clutches of the Benten family. When Mino's father, Kyohei Tsuchihashi, is murdered by unknown assailants, Tadakazu is summoned to Akane-ya, the landlord of this area. ...

The Pirates (1960)

Finding more freedom on the high seas than in war-torn Japan, the 'Bahansen' (Pirate ships) based on the Seto Inland Sea during the Warring Period (Sengoku-jidai)sailed to China, Korea, Luzon, and Siam under the Hachiman banner. A battle for supremacy of t ...

The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 3 (1960)

Popular geisha Koharu suspects that Yusaku, a handsome stranger she falls in love with, is involved in a robbery of precious diamond. ...

The Man Who Came to Shimizu Harbor (1960)

One of Japan's most enduring stories is the true-life yakuza boss Jirocho of Shimizu and his gang as they took over the Tokaido Highroad and went on to everlasting fame. Many of the gang members have become household names although their backgrounds and ho ...

The Black Hooded Man in Peril (1960)

Ninja Assassins (1960)

Saotome Mondonosuke pursues the culprit who placed a malicious curse upon Shogun Tsunekichi. ...

Unwieldy Brothers (1960)

Taisuke is kind-hearted but overall lacks ambition. Taizo is smarter, but given to fits of emotion and impulsive violence. The samurai brothers fight against corruption in a castle. ...

Hanjiro of Kusama: Bird of Passage (1960)

A kindhearted wandering gambler named Hajiro gets involved in a crisis of a village as he passes through and decides to lend a sword in hopes to rescue them. ...

The Man of Seven Faces (1960)

Detective Tarao investigates the deaths of police officers who were involved in solving a kidnapping case. ...

Shingo's Original Challenge, Part 4 (1960)

Aoi Shingo, a son of the Shogun, continues his travels seeking to further his mastery of the sword. In this final episode of the popular "Shingo's Original Challenge" series, Shingo confronts his master's killer in the ultimate test of his skill. ...

Shingo's Original Challenge, Part 3 (1960)

The adventures of Aoi Shingo continue. Shingo is finally given permission to officially meet his father, the Shogun. However, his journey is disturbed by those who wish to claim his life. This is the third part of "THE 10 DUELS OF YOUNG SHINGO", following ...

Official with a Tattoo (1960)

Kinnosuke of Toyama sets out on a private mission to clear his father's name for a crime he did not commit. ...

Case of Umon: Hell’s Windmill (1960)

Umon's services are called upon when innocent bystanders, Kayo and Minokichi, along with the ronin, Gontaro are mistakenly identified as suspects in several recent murder cases. To prove their innocence and uncover the truth, Umon launches his own investig ...

The Second Bullet is Marked (1960)

Tsunokichi and Ken face off against a rival yakuza in Kyushu. ...

Road of Chivalry (1960)

While on the road, famed Yakuza Boss Jirocho is falsely accused of starting a peasant's uprising and chased by the law. Meanwhile, one of his henchmen in an attempt to raise money for the Boss gambles away not only all their funds, but their clothing as we ...

An Actor's Revenge (1959)

Nakamura Yukinojo gains popularity in Edo's kabuki scene as a handsome onnagata (a male actor who plays female roles). But hidden behind the placid expression of his stage face is a deep grudge for the men responsible for dishonoring his parents' names and ...

Isshin Tasuke: A Man Among Men (1959)

In the third entry into this mega-hit series, Isshin Tasuke, a spirited fishmonger in Edo who looks just like Shogun Iemitsu undergoes a series of unforeseen troubles in his newly wedded life. ...

The Travel notes of Choshichiro - Peregrine Goblin (1959)

The second film about the adventures of Chosichiro Matsudaira. This time he fights against conspirators whose goal is to replace the 4th Shogun Ietsuna during his visit to Nikko Shrine. ...

Lucky Adventurer Nobunaga Oda (1959)

Oda Nobunaga (1534–1582) was a major daimyo during the Warring State period of Japanese history. He was the second son of Oda Nobuhide, a deputy military governor with land holdings in Owari province. Nobunaga lived a life of continuous military conquest ...

Chikamatsu's Love in Osaka (1959)

Chubei, the adopted son of an Osaka courier, falls desperately in love with the courtesan Umegawa. To prevent a wealthy client from purchasing her, he steals money from his employer to buy her freedom himself. Now hunted criminals, the lovers flee toward Y ...

A Spectacular Showdown (1959)

One of the great stories from Japan's rich history comes to life in this true tale of the bloody showdown between two rival yakuza gangs in the 1840's. The battle between Boss Sukegoro of Iioka and Boss Shigezo of Sasagawa has been portrayed many times, mo ...

Lord Mito 2: The Nation's Vice Shogun (1959)

After settling the matter of shogunal succession, the retired Old Lord of Mito finds himself in a sea of trouble when he gets involved in the succession of the Takamatsu clan. The usurpers try by every means to effect their takeover, even if it leads to bl ...

Gentle Breeze (1959)

A young, feisty woman named Osome searches for her true love in the midst of a family crisis. ...

Hell's Companion (1959)

During the seventh-year memorial service for Katsugoro and Genji, Ikari Genji himself emerged from the coffin brought in by the hearse seeking revenge ...

Happily Tied to the Road (1959)

With flashing swordwork and a terrific story, wandering gambler Kusama Hanjiro inspires the wrath of Boss Jirotaro who has been terrorizing travelers along the route through his territory. When Hanjiro steps in to gamble with him one-on-one it leads to a d ...

House of Spider Webs (1959)

Based on the original story by Seishi Yokomizo, House of Spider Webs is a gorgeous historical drama thriller starring Kinnosuke Nakamura and directed by Tadashi Sawashima. ...

Turbulent Highways (1959)

Whirlwind Magistrate (1959)

One of the most popular history-based characters is back when Magistrate Saemonojo Toyama no Kinsan investigates the tragic shipwreck of the 'Sadomaru' near Cape Kasumigaseki. The ship carrying gold bars from Sado Island to Edo for the shogunate disappeare ...

Case of Umon: One-Eyed Wolf (1959)

Five swordsmen are murdered and hung from a tree and the chase is on to find the killers. Two magistrates pursue the leads to solve the crime and it leads to a potential conspiracy to kill the Shogun. ...

The Unleashed Lord (1959)

The Bastards of Lawless Town (1959)

An action-packed, dramatic gangster film. ...

The Acrobats of Death (1959)

Saotome, a sword master and guard of the Shogunate, pursues the mystery of a deadly aerial weapon that is responsible for the multiple deaths in town. ...

Fighting Disposition (1958)

With the help of famous yakuza Jirocho, brave and quick tempered Eijiro takes revenge on the death of his close friend. ...

Case of a Young Lord 7: Red Crane House (1958)

All is not well in an a small fishing village not far from Edo. Mysterious goings-on are happening at Echigoya's Red Crane Mansion, and when Young Lord comes to relax he finds no peace until he can unravel the mystery rooted in the past when a beautiful sa ...

Detective Hibari: Secret of the Golden Coin (1958)

A princess finds life behind the protection of her brother and the high walls of the mansion to be quite dull, so she takes on another identity and lives in a small house in Edo pretending to be a singer but all the while she is actually a Shogunate Detect ...

Kanbei's Bargain Sale (1958)

Wandering swordsman Kanbei, parading through town with a sign that reads "Seeking fights, selling my life cheap." One day, he receives a request from the star of the daughter's kabuki, Nakamura Tsurukichi. However, unable to bear seeing a face reminiscent ...

Isshin Tasuke: A World in Danger (1958)

Tasuke stumbles across Kokichi, a distraught man whom having lost his fiancee to Lord Kawakatsu is ready to commit suicide. Tasuke learns that Kokichi's fiancee, Otoyo, was a chambermaid whom Kawakatsu abducted in order to make her his concubine and Tasuke ...

The Sword Knows (1958)

In the midst of the warring age, a young samurai Kyonosuke defies his former lord Hojo Ujikatsu in order to avenge his parents' deaths. ...

Kunisada Chuji (1958)

Kunisada Chuji is a common folk hero who looks out for poor people in the country who are at the mercy of corrupt officials. Intent on fulfilling a dying wish from one of his henchmen, Asataro, to find a decent home for his young nephew, Chuji descends fro ...

Bored Hatamoto: Idle Vassal Tribute (1958)

Master swordsman and loya 'Hatamoto' (direct vassal to the Shogun), Saotome Mondonosuke, is sent to investigate an intrigue centering on the Date Clan. The 300th film in the long and illustrious career of Ichikawa Utaemon, one of the most popular Japanese ...

Magistrate Ooka’s Legends (1958)

A hotshot investigator solves a series of gruesome murders in this exciting and dark classic. ...

Yaji and Kita's Ghost Story Journey (1958)

A ghost interrupts the journey of two young noblemen who are disguised as merchants. ...

Eight Views of Samurai (1958)

Bright samurai movie innovatively adapted from a classic story. A traveling masterless samurai is asked by a daughter of an established samurai family to pretend they are a married couple, and gets involved in the troubles of the samurai clan. ...

Wind, Woman and Road (1958)

A chance meeting between two traveling gamblers leads to a case of mistaken identity when the farmers transporting gold to the governor think they are about to be robbed as the two gamblers face off against each other swords in hand. ...

Aoi Secret Book (1958)

A Golden Age drama depicting the exploits of passionate patriot Uotaro Toge in the midst of a mysterious standoff over the Secret Book of Aoi, which will determine the rise or fall of the 350,000-koku Mito clan, and showcasing swashbuckling swordsmanship. ...

Man of Thirteen Eyes (1958)

Japanese mystery film. ...

The Scroll’s Secret (1958)

Shogun Yoshitane's order to recover the secret scroll triggers a series of ninja warfare during the Muromachi period. ...

A Chivalrous Spirit (1958)

An all-star cast highlights this Jidai-Geki classic. Set in the samurai era, this is the tale of period Yakuza. One of the real classics in this genre. Jirocho, an honorable and respected gang boss, uncovers a conspiracy organized by his rivals while on a ...

Falcon Magistrate (1957)

Toyama Kinshiro, a commissioner from northern Edo, goes undercover to unravel the mystery behind a series of murders. Kinshiro, played by Kataoka Chiezo, is most famous for the cherry blossom tattoos on his shoulder which he reveals at the moment of judgem ...

Travel Romances (1957)

Romantic comedy. ...

Shadow Over Fuji (1957)

The year is 1805. Napoleon ruled Europe. Ienari is the 11th Tokugawa Shogun. An incident, which was an open official secret, took place on the foothills of Mt. Fuji. Fearing attacks from within and without, the Shogunate planned to build a training castle ...

Goblin's Highway (1957)

Gombei is Nameless, a wanderer who is skilled with a sword and has a great sense of humor, who tries to save the good people of the Kiso Valley, he gets into a fight with local bad bosses who behave badly on the Tokaido road in the Kiso Valley. ...

Case of a Young Lord 6: Mermaid Murder Case (1957)

The sixth episode of Hashizo Okawa's "Wakasama Samurai" catch series. ...

Ghost Ship Part 1 (1957)

As Part I opens, Jubei (Denjiro Okochi), the best of sea skippers, is unable to overcome the stormy seas of Luzon. All hands on board the Kannonmaru were lost except for Shinkei, who alone made his way to land & eventually home to inform his grandson Jirom ...

Lord Mito (1957)

This most celebrated all-star movie version of the popular series features Tsukigata Ryunosuke as Mito Komon, the sage who wanders the countryside rectifying government corruption along with his faithful attendants Suke and Kaku. ...

The Adventures of Chuji (1957)

Chuji Kunisada runs into strange adventures which tests his skill as a samurai as he untangles intrigue and murder against the backdrop of the majestic Mount Akagi. ...

Temple of Revenge (1957)

Revenge breeds revenge. Ikuta Denpachiro, the martial arts instructor of the Honda family in Koriyama, lost a fight to the young samurai Enjo Sozaemon in a martial arts tournament and as a result lost his position and was expelled from home. Wanting to ave ...

Rebellion (1957)

In the mist of the warring age (Sengoku Era), the Kyushu based Hayato Clan is faced with a monumental battle to determine their survival. ...

The Lord Takes a Bride (1957)

Young Lord Gentaro (Otomo Ryutaro) takes a journey to Edo in search of his future wife. Easier said than done, evil forces lurk in Edo and Gentaro must use his phenomenal sword skills to overcome the evil and find the love of his life. Another must have fo ...

Lords of Oppression 2 (1957)

Period drama directed by Yasushi Sasaki. ...

Lords of Oppression (1957)

Period drama directed by Yasushi Sasaki. ...

Pirates Magistrate (1957)

As it turns out, the evil hand of drugs has reached the inner palace of the Shogunate. It was thought that the opium was coming from Nagasaki, but it turns out that it was reaching Edo through smuggling purchased from foreign ships. However, Nagasaki magis ...

The Horse Boy (1957)

A humble page fathers a child by the daughter of a clan official and is banished. Years later, the child, now a stable boy, is reunited with his father, but feudal codes threaten their happiness. Uchida's poignant masterpiece condemns the inflexible class ...

Pure-Hearted Unit (1957)

A story of young people in the immediate aftermath of World War II, their post-war careers, sorrows, and triumphs. ...

Shimizu Port of Chivalry (1957)

An all-star cast highlights this Jidai-Geki classic. Set in the samurai era, this is the tale of period Yakuza. One of the real classics in this genre. In this dramatic portrayal of the real-life gambling boss Jirocho, a good-hearted and honest boss sets o ...

Red-Lacquered Sword (1956)

The Fiery Magistrate (1956)

Film adaption by Kenji Misumi ...

Manchurian Sunset (1956)

A film adaptation of the original novel by Kazuo Dan. This exciting film, set in Asia on the eve of violent changes, tells the story of a young man Rinnosuke Date, who, following his dream, love and passion, breaks through the blood- and dust-drenched land ...

Ancient Coins (1956)

This 1956 adaptation of the novel with the same title puts more focus on the characters and their interactions than the previous version. ...

Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Ghost Ship (1956)

Bored Hatamoto film #20 ...

Sisters of Gion (1956)

The Chop Professor (1956)

Junpei Kihara, a young president of the University's wrestling club, is nicknamed "Mr. Chop". One day, on the way back from visiting the hospital after being thrown by Nobuyoshi Shinohara during practice and injured, he met Asako, the sister of Arisawa's m ...

Street of Shame (1956)

Follows five sex workers employed at a Japanese brothel while the nation debates the passage of an anti-prostitution law. ...

Three Women Around Yoshinaka (1956)

The story of Yoshinaka during the tumultuous period of warring related to us in the Heike Monogatari. Close in setting to Kinugasa's famous Gate of Hell (1953). ...

Bored Hatamoto: Mysterious Letter of Challenge (1955)

Bored Hatamoto film #19 ...

Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Demon Palace (1955)

In Kyoto, a samurai named Boredom Otoko, Saotome Mondonosuke , appears and helps a woman being chased by a spy named Genshichi. Unfortunately, the woman is shot and killed. Later, Genshichi explains that the woman was a member of a band of thieves, and bec ...

The Roar of The Lion (1955)

Ticket to Hell (1955)

Japanese crime film ...

Taira Clan Saga (1955)

Japan, 1137. The Taira family, a samurai clan, becomes involved in the disputes between Emperor Toba and the monks of Mount Hiei. ...

Young Ruddy Warrior: Nobunaga Oda (1955)

A dynamic story depicting the rise to power of Oda Nobunaga. The story of a young man on the battlefields of the Sengoku era, who possessed character and courage, and who became a great commander and ruler, while some called him a great dictator. A film ad ...

New Women’s Dialogue (1955)

A young female president of a company who hates men and a new male employee who hates women: a one-on-one fight in which sparks fly! A cheerful youth film! ...

Princess Yang Kwei-fei (1955)

In 8th-century China, the Emperor grieves the death of his wife. The Yang family wants to provide the Emperor with a consort so that they may consolidate their court influence. General An Lushan finds a distant relative working in their kitchen, whom they ...

Four Swordsmen of Ashura (1955)

Casebook of Dandy Sashichi: Blind Wolf (1955)

In this movie, Sashichi tries to catch a serial killer who kills his victims with shurikens. ...

Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji (1955)

Tragicomic road movie set during the Edo period. It follows a samurai, his two servants – including spear-carrier Genpachi – and the various people they meet on their journey, including a policeman in pursuit of a thief, a young child and a woman who i ...

A Gang of Five (1955)

A group of five law enforcers search Edo for a missing sword. ...

Bored Hatamoto: The Mysterious Phantom Mansion (1954)

Bored Hatamoto film #17 ...

Chikamatsu Monogatari (1954)

When the wife of a 17th-century Kyoto scrollmaker is falsely accused of having an affair with his best employee, the pair flee the city and find themselves truly falling for one another. ...

The Black Current (1954)

A reporter Takuo, who is sleeping in the newspaper room of the Maichō newspaper company, receives a sudden report from a reporter that the missing Akiyama JNR president was found dead. ...

Inugami-ke no nazo: Akuma wa odoru (1954)

Early adaptation of the book "The Inugami Clan", featuring the detective Kōsuke Kindaichi. ...

The Story of Shunkin (1954)

Based on the novel by Junichiro Tanizaki. Story of the beautiful blind daughter of a wealthy businessman who falls in love with a servant. ...

The Woman in the Rumor (1954)

After living a traumatic experience in Tokyo, Yukiko returns to Kyoto, where Hatsuko, her mother, runs a brothel, which upsets Yukiko very much. ...

Sansho the Bailiff (1954)

In 11th-century feudal Japan, following the exile of an idealistic governor, his wife and children are separated by slave traders; the children, Zushio and Anju, are sold into brutal servitude under the cruel bailiff Sansho. ...

The Bloody Cherry Blossom Magistrate (1954)

A Samurai's Love (1954)

A film about the Ghost of Okiku that's based on the kabuki play Bancho Sarayashiki. ...

Koina no Ginpei (1954)

1954 Japanese movie ...

Onna no issho (1953)

Based on "Une vie" by Guy de Maupassant ...

The Sun (1953)

Adaptation of the Riichi Yokomitsu novel. ...

A Geisha (1953)

Fleeing a distressing family situation, Eiko, a very young girl, becomes an apprentice to Miyoharu, a veteran geisha. Both, determined to preserve their professional integrity, must face the selfishness and ambition of several petty people. ...

One-Eyed Detective (1953)

Fifth delivery in the Tarao Bannai series, following the "master detective with seven faces" who uses his signature disguise to solve crimes with a double-barreled pistol. ...

Merciless Blade Part 3 (1953)

The final film in the 1953 trilogy based on the long novel series The Great Bodhisattva Pass. ...

Merciless Blade Part 2 (1953)

The second film in the 1953 trilogy based on the long novel series The Great Bodhisattva Pass. ...

Yokubo (1953)

Nobuko Otowa won the Blue Ribbon for the Best Actress for this movie among others. ...

Merciless Blade (1953)

The first film in the 1953 trilogy based on the long novel series The Great Bodhisattva Pass. ...

Miniature (1953)

Ginko, a poor cobbler's daughter, becomes a geisha to support her family. She passes from one geisha house to the next, trying to find love and hope in the process. No matter how hard she tries, she just can't escape her sad fate. ...

Bored Hatamoto Passes By (1953)

Bored Hatamoto movie #14 ...

Reminiscence (1953)

Kazuo Miyagawa's prizewinning black-and-white cinematography draws out the moral shadings of Nobel laureate Yasunari Kawabata's 1952 novel Thousand Cranes, a quietly devastating story of a young man, orphaned during the war, who stumbles into a passionate ...

Shimizu no Jirocho den (1952)

Based on the story of Shimizu no Jirocho. ...

Violence (1952)

Ghost Story: Passion in Fukagawa (1952)

A ghost story about a woman who dies a violent death and appears to the man she loves as a vengeful spirit. This film marked the turning point in Daiei's shift in emphasis from thrillers to ghost stories. ...

Third Class Executives (1952)

1950s Japanese comedy. ...

The Life of Oharu (1952)

During the Edo Period, a noblewoman's banishment for her love affair with a lowly page signals the beginning of her inexorable fall. ...

Sisters of Nishijin (1952)

A family of Kyoto textile workers struggles after tragedy. ...

Fashionable Crazy Woman (1952)

Melodrama by director Kiyoshi Saeki ...

Story of Lightning (1951)

Gensaburo Funaki and Oyuki were childhood friends, but Gensaburo misunderstood that Oyuki was hesitant to get married because he had to feed his father and younger brother. I left the town. ...

Repast (1951)

In post-WWII Osaka, a middle-aged woman is forced to examine her dreary life and marriage when her husband's young and flirtatious cousin arrives for a brief stay to escape an arranged marriage. ...

Five Men of Edo (1951)

During the 17th Century roving bands of hatamoto were causing trouble in the new capital city of Edo and constantly fought with the townspeople at every turn. The leader of these ruthless samruai was Mizuno Jirozaemon, who despite his high rank was in deep ...

Yatsuhaka-mura (1951)

Original work by Yokomizo Seishi. The third part of Kindaichi Kosuke's story, which was collected by Chie Kataoka. ...

The Lady of Musashino (1951)

In post-war Japan, Michiko, a disillusioned young woman trapped in a loveless marriage, confides in her younger cousin, Tsutomo, and the two become close, but decide not to consummate their affair. He instead becomes involved with the flirtatious Tomiko, w ...

Tales of a Drifter (1951)

Kurama Tengu: Acrobat in a lion mask (1951)

Two child performers lose their money, but are saved by the masked avenger Kurama Tengu. When the children return the favor in foiling an attempt on the hero's life, they find themselves in need of protection once again... ...

Miss Oyu (1951)

Shinnosuke is introduced to Shizu as a prospective marriage partner, but he falls in love with her widowed sister Oyu. Convention forbids Oyu to marry because she has to raise her son as the head of her husband's family. Oyu convinces Shinnosuke and Shizu ...

G-men of Japan 3: Fearless Counterattack (1951)

A man with two identical faces challenges the wicked and lawless escaped prisoner to an unsuitable battle, intertwining with the chilling image of the emergency line. ...

The Tale of Genji (1951)

Genji, the illegitimate offspring of a Japanese potentate, goes by the philosophy of "love 'em and leave 'em" as a matter of course. Only when his heart is broken by Awaji does Genji realizes how much pain he himself has caused. ...

Weeping Doll (1951)

A Hibari Misora musical about an impoverished girl and her brother in Postwar Japan. ...

New Yuuden 2: Yuu Traffic (1951)

Jidai-geki by Kiyoshi Saeki (Part 2 of 2) ...

New Yuuden (1951)

Jidai-geki by Kiyoshi Saeki (Part 1 of 2) ...

The Killing of Otsuya (1951)

Conduct Report on Matashiro: The Devil Princess and Winter Rain (1951)

Jidai-geki by Nobuo Nakagawa. ...

Clothes of Deception (1951)

The story of two sisters in post-war Japan. One is a geisha and the other works for the tourist board. ...

Umon's Detective Stories: The One-Eyed Wolf (1951)

Battle of Roses (1950)

Following the death of Mr Masago, his wife Satomi loses the family's cosmetics company to Mr Mogy due to huge amount of withdrawal debt caused by her husband. Mogy blackmails Satomi's sister Hinako into marrying him, so he will not send Masago to jail, and ...

Bored Hatamoto Detective, Part 2: Poisoning of the Demon Lord (1950)

Bored Hatamoto movie #11 ...

Fencing Master (1950)

Swordfighting instructor Danpei works at a local theater in Tokyo, instructing the actors how to fight realistically. ...

Jiruba no Tetsu (1950)

Heat and Mud (1950)

With one million yen in stolen cash, Kurita plans his escape to Hokkaido with an unwilling bar girl named Katsumi. ...

The Tattooed Magistrate: Fallen Flowers Showdown Volume (1950)

The Tattooed Magistrate: Cherry Blossoms Dance Volume (1950)

Enoken ohako rakuda no Ma-san (1950)

1950 Japanese movie ...

Conduct Report on Professor Ishinaka (1950)

Three humorous love stories set in rural Japan. ...

Escape from Prison (1950)

G-men of Japan 2: Bloody Duel at Shipwreck Cape (1950)

The second part of an action-packed action movie about the struggle between smugglers, the Japanese Coast Guard and G-men. Having caught a suspicious radio signal, the coast Guard discovers that a smuggling transaction is taking place and goes to the place ...

Rinchi (1949)

Japanese noir. ...

Gokumon Jima: Kaimei Hen (1949)

Sequel to "Island of Horrors" (獄門島, 1949). ...

Island of Horrors (1949)

Kindaichi challenges the mystery of an incident in which three sisters were killed one after the other according to an ancient tradition on an isolated island in the Seto Inland Sea. Kosuke Kindaichi received a will from his friend Kito, which said, "Go to ...

Jakoman and Tetsu (1949)

In a village subsisting on it herring fishery, a one-eyed criminal named Jakoman terrorizes the inhabitants. One of them, the son of the head of one of the fish companies by the name of Tetsu, decides to overthrow Jakoman and his cohorts. ...

Kaze no ko (1949)

1949 drama film ...

Thirty-three footprints (1948)

Fourth film of the Bannai Tarao series starring Chiezo Kataoka ...

Drunken Angel (1948)

In postwar Tokyo, a blunt, alcohol-soaked doctor diagnoses a swaggering young yakuza with tuberculosis, forging an uneasy bond that's tested when the gangster's ruthless former boss returns and drags him back toward the swampy underworld he can't escape. ...

Actress (1947)

During the late Meiji period, at the beginning of the twentieth century, Sumako, a country girl, becomes a great actress with the help of Hogetsu, a scholar who brought European realism to the Japanese stage. The relationship leads to the end of his marria ...

Eleven High School Girls (1946)

With his simple appearance, eyes shining with love and a sense of justice, and voice burning with youthful passion, the eleven students felt unexpectedly in each other's hearts that "this teacher will surely be our confidant," and looked at each other and ...

Lord for a Night (1946)

In 1887, two businessmen, Echigo-ya and Kitahara, compete for railroad construction authorization from the government. The minister states that a local noble must not object, and his missing younger brother is the only one who could sway him. Meanwhile, Om ...

A Descendant of Urashima Taro (1946)

Reputedly based on Frank Capra's 1939 film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, A Descendant of Tarô Urashima is about a repatriated soldier who becomes populist politician in the Japanese Happiness Party. ...

Duel at Yagyu Valley (1945)

During the Warring States era, Hozoin Kakuzenbo and Yagyu Tajima-no-kami, being best friends, spend their days acquiring skills of the spear, sword and martial arts. Hozoin loses a series of matches with master swordsman Kozumi Ise-no-kami. Bitterly ashame ...

The Way of Drama (1944)

The Way of Drama unfolds in the world of kabuki in Osaka, but also addresses the politics of popular culture and the rivalry between theatrical styles like those used by amateur actors to dramatise contemporary events. ...

My Nightingale (1944)

Sumida is separated from his wife and daughter when conflict erupts in Harbin. Years later, he finds that his wife passed away and her daughter was adopted by his friends at the Russian opera company. ...

World of Love (1943)

A sixteen-year-old who had been living on her own since her mother died, frequently gets in trouble with the police. She gets sent to an "institute" for young girls in the countryside. There the residents grow their own food, cook and clean for themselves ...

Ongaku dai-shingun (1943)

A 1943 film. ...

The Opium War (1943)

The Opium War is a 1943 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Masahiro Makino. "Ahen senso" in Japan refers to the First Opium War. The story of the film concerns this war. ...

Kantaro of Ina (1943)

War-time jidaigeki by Eisuke Takizawa. ...

The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malaya (1942)

Japanese Navy air cadets train for the attacks on Pearl Harbor and the HMS Prince of Wales. ...

Wings of Victory (1942)

Mother Never Dies (1942)

The premature death of a young mother serves as inspiration for her husband and son. ...

Onna keizu (1942)

1942 adaptation of Izumi Kyoka's novel. ...

Green Earth (1942)

Set in Qingdao, China, a Japanese company locates an office there and begins work and cooperation with a local Chinese company for business. Many Japanese engineers also move to China, with their families, for the company in order to construct a canal. The ...

Currents of Youth (1942)

It was supposed to be about a love story, but it was and was not. An aircraft mechanic working for the government is matched by his boss with the latter man's daughter (Setsuko Hara) who is both beautiful and aggressive. Yet, he picks a woman who is less a ...

Sky of Hope (1942)

What is marriage? Young couple in match-making wanted to know before they decide. They visited married couples of sisters and brothers. Love comedy in 1942. ...

The Battle of Kawanakajima (1941)

This epic depicts the battle between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen. The focus of the story is the struggle by the unit leader in charge of the main supply wagons and the supply troops to transport materiel to the Uesugi army. To this are added episodes ...

The Splendid Gold Mine (1941)

Dancers of Awa (1941)

Jurobei, a kaisen tonya (wholesaler in port) in Awa, was wronged and killed on the day of the Dance Festival by the evil merchant & the chamberlin. His brother (Kazuo Hasegawa) vowed vengeance on the day of his brother's death. So every year the villains a ...

The Man Who Disappeared Yesterday (1941)

Feature film. ...

Oath on the Burning Sands (1940)

A Japanese army engineer (Hasegawa) on the mainland must put his personal feelings for a beautiful Chinese woman (Ri) aside if he is to succeed at building a highway through the "bandit"- (aka anti-Japanese militia-) infested hinterlands. ...

Flowers Blooming In the Storm (1940)

Jidaigeki from 1940 ...

Entatsu, Achako and Torazo: Chuji Kunisada's First Smile of the New Year (1939)

Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki (1939)

Another adaptation of Tange Sazen. ...

Song of the White Orchid (1939)

Song of the White Orchid was a co-production of Toho and Mantetsu, the railway that served the colonial region of Manchuria, and the first film in the Kazuo Hasegawa/Shirley Yamaguchi (Ri Koran) "Continental Trilogy." Handsome Hasegawa (representing Japan) ...

Flower Picking Diary (1939)

Based on "Heaven and Maiko", a short story from the book "Chiisaki Hanabana" by Yoshiya Nobuko, it is the story of two girls of different family backgrounds in Osaka. ...

Numazu Officer School (1939)

Japanese war movie ...

Old Songs (1939)

Set against the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion, two Osaka families navigate the radical social shifts of the early Meiji Era. As the merchant class ascends to economic prominence, the former samurai class faces a steady decline in status and traditional structure. ...

Itahachi shima (1938)

Japanese movie ...

Nangoku taiheiki (1937)

Japanese film. ...

Kuriyama Daizen (1936)

Prewar jidaigeki starring Denjiro Okochi ...

Sisters of the Gion (1936)

A geisha in the Gion district of Kyoto feels obliged to help her lover when he asks to stay with her after going bankrupt and leaving his wife. However, her younger sister opposes this, thinking that they should both find wealthy patrons to support them. ...

Osaka Elegy (1936)

Ayako becomes the mistress of her boss in order to pay her father's debt and prevent him from going to prison for embezzlement. ...