Hiroki Matsukata

We begin in 1865, when the Shogunate is on its last legs, but still capable of punishing its enemies. One is Izo (Kazuya Nakayama), an assassin in the service of Hanpeida (Ryosuke Miki), a Tosa lord and Imperial supporter. After killing dozens of the Shogun's men, Izo is captured and crucified. Instead of being extinguished, his rage propels him through the space-time continuum to present-day Tokyo (imdb)

Shogun of the Tokugawa clan is dead. Either of two princes stands to inherit his position. The younger Tadanaga has the support of their mother, as well as the local government. Iemitsu, the elder and rightful heir has a scarred face and speaks with a stutter, making some distrust him as a leader. Iemitsu is supported by Yagyu, the master swordsman who trained both brothers.Masterless samurai wander in from far-n-wide to take up sides in a battle for control of the shogunate. (thelunchmovie.com)

Kinji Fukasaku directed this powerful and uncompromising look at the deadly stakes of life among the Yakuza -- the Japanese Mafia. Shozo Hirono (Bunta Sugawara) is a former Japanese soldier who, following his nation's defeat in World War II, finds himself in a prison cell in Hiroshima on a murder charge. While behind bars, Hirono gains a loyal friend in fellow criminal Wagasugi (Tatsuo Umemiya), and upon his release Hirono joins Wagasugi in an underworld gang. What starts as a seemingly easy way to earn some quick money becomes something darker and bloodier... (All Movie Guide)

A long-standing gang war on the streets of Hiroshima escalates despite police pressure in this, the fourth film in Kinji Fukasaku's Yakuza Papers series. It's 1964, and with the Tokyo Olympics turning the eyes of the world to Japan, lawmen have set out to keep the Yakuza -- Japan's organized crime system -- out of sight. (All Movie Guide)

n this violent and morally ambiguous crime drama from master genre filmmaker Kinji Fukasaku, Takeda (Akira Kobayashi), a longtime leader of one of Hiroshima's Yakuza families (the Japanese Mafia), attempts to resolve the longtime war between various mob factions by reshaping his organization into a political organization that would be both powerful and legal. (All Movie Guide)

Yuji Kotorida has become plastic surgeon to the rich and famous - almost over night transforming himself from nebbish to charismatic icon. His secret? He eats women. In a flashback, we watch the flowering of his proclivity - from an initial taste, and a search that takes him to Hong Kong, to murder. After the flashback, he promises a colleague he will prepare meat for her wedding banquet. At about the same time, the police express suspicion. Can Dr. Kotorida carve out an escape? (imdb)

Police officers and gangsters work hand in hand in this bloody urban drama, which splits the difference between a good guy and a thug. Just as the Ohara gang -- a crafty group of criminals that's unofficially sanctioned by local police -- prepares to pull off a profitable scam, their leader emerges from prison with plans to go legit. To make matters worse, a new police lieutenant has plans of his own to shake things up in the department. (Netflix)

When a team of ninja is sent to kidnap Lady Oichi, the sister of the late Oda Nobunaga and wife of Shibata Katsuie without harming her, they must find a way into the fabled Iron Castle at Kitanosho, and a way out as well. Facing impossible odds, the team finds their skills tested as they risk their lives to accomplish "Mission: Iron Castle".

Blackmail Is My Life follows the exploits of a ring of small-time punk extortionists who go up against Japan's corrupt establishment. Up-from-the-slums Shun (Hiroki Matsukata) is a young swinger who will do anything to keep his freewheeling lifestyle intact. His lucky streak of blackmailing unravels in violent fashion when he unwisely targets business allies of a powerful gang boss. (movietome)

TAJOMARU is the famous 'bandit' of the forest from RASHOMON. Whoever kills Tajomaru inherits his name, status and sword. A royal brother leaves his kingdom to protect the princess he loves, only to find a series of harrowing adventures along the way which lead him back to where he came from, and then disinheriting his past to become the bandit TAJOMARU (imdb)

The film's story centers around the burned remains of a young woman discovered in Shinjuku. The police comes to the conclusion that its the work of a pyromaniacal serial murderer. The murder victim is identified as Mayumi Tamaki, a native of Ishigaki, Okinawa, and her former boyfriend, a former biker named Nagao Misako, becomes the suspect. (wikipedia)

A group of assassins come together for a suicide mission to kill an evil lord. (imdb)

After a devastating event, a yakuza family converts itself (on the surface only) into a "legitimate" business company dealing with real estate and construction. However, old habits die hard.

Fujiko wanders aimlessly, seeking vengeance on the man she once loved. When she discovers that man had already died, she loses her will to live. But in a twist of fate, she meets Tatsumi, a raising star in the Horikawa Family. She quickly falls in love with him, but when Tatsumi is chosen to but the next Boss of the family, his jealous sworn brother Morito kills him. Now Fujiko becomes a Bakuto, a wandering yakuza gambler, and once again, walks the bloody path of vengence... (kurotokagi.com)

The movie is set in Kure (same place as Yakuza Papers part 1), and the initial story once again revolves around the Yamamori clan. Boss Yamamori is the same whining, crying bastard you hate from the original series. In this new series Bunta plays Mikio Miyoshi of the Yamamori family. He is a similar type of character to the one he played in the first set of movies. These new ones are differernt though. There is a lot more (uncoregraphed) gun violence. (KG)

This movie can basically be summed up as "small town gangsters vs. big city gangsters." If you've seen any of Kinji Fukasaku's other yakuza pictures, like the Battles Without Honor & Humanity series (a.k.a. The Yakuza Papers) or Yakuza Graveyard, you'll know what to expect in terms of pacing, camera-work, and storytelling style. Every character in this movie is either a snarling alpha male or a sniveling coward. The action scenes are frenetic to the point of being confusing. (imdb)

The most dangerous hired gun in Tokyo's underworld has managed to trigger a vicious gang war, and now, there's a contract on his life. Though nobody is more skilled in the arts of dealing death, can the tattooed hit man fend off the entire Japanese mafia as he searches for the man who wants him dead? Bunta Sugawara, Tsunehiko Watase and Mayumi Nagisa star in this Japanese martial arts cult classic.

In ancient Japan, a good lord is killed and his throne is taken by the trecherous Yuki Daijo and his wizard friend Oroki-maru. The young prince Ikazuki-maru is rescued from the jaws of death by a magic bird sent by a wizard. Ten years later, Ikazuki-maru embarks on an adventure to avenge his parents and the wizard's death with his magic powers he learned from the wizard. He kills Yuki Daijo but then must battle Oroki-maru in a battle to the death. (imdb)

Taku's your average sallaryman at a real estate company. Together with his at-home wife, college student daughter, and band-member younger daughter he decides that the family should--no matter what--always at least spend dinner all together. But when his young daughter begins skipping meals to work on her band and meet the boy of her dreams, the happiness her family's dinner table begins falling apart.

After World War II, their town was a pile of rubble. Gennosuke, the second generation boss of the Kamizu Group was upholding yakuza chivalry by keeping black-market and illegal items out of their open-air market. Taking advantage of the mess, Iwasa and his gang take hold of goods from the US military, black-market and controlled items in order to become the most powerful group in Enko area.(filmaffinity.com)

Chiba, looking gnarly, and acting as animalistic as ever, stars alongside Matsukata as violent gangsters battling their way through fight after bloody fight with rival yakuza on the streets of Okinawa. (letterboxd.com)

The Last Bakuto (1985), directed by the genre specialist Kosaku Yamashita, is Toei's last major effort to revive yakuza films in 80s.

A bunch of young angry misfits and hoods who aren't quite up to joining the yakuza, hatch and execute a variety of petty scams. The youngest, a high school student who has a way with women, is approached by a yakuza and asked to spy for them. (sansebastianfestival.com)

Among the great 'Warlords' in Japanese history, Oda Nobunaga holds a unique place. In effect, his military success led to the ultimate unification of the country. This historically accurate portrayal of Nobunaga's life and times is highlighted by many of Japan's biggest stars, most notably Watanabe Ken in the lead role. (Japanesesamuraidvd.com)

When Omuro Yahachi of the Omuro family is selected as Mutsumikai Soke's successor, the conflict between the Kitakyushu and Wakamatsu begins. (filmaffinity.com)

The widow of a murdered yakuza boss serves jail time for attacking the man she believes killed her husband. After her release, as she is shadowed by a hitman, she returns to thoughts of revenge. (imdb)

The fate of Tokugawa's world hangs in the balance as Yagyu Jubei is sent on a mission to discover what happened to 10 of the shogun's spies that never returned. Matsukata Hiroki, one of the last surviving members of the Golden Age of Japanese Cinema proves that he has not lost a step as he portrays an older and wiser Yagyu Jubei in a movie that brings the best of samurai filmmaking into the 21st century. Summoned from semi-retirement by Shogun Iemitsu, Jubei is asked to take to the road... (imdb)

When a rebellious roughneck enlists in the Navy and goes on a rampage against his superiors, he is sent to the Yokosuka Naval Prison. (imdb)

This anthology tells three separate stories, all about yakuza (Japan's gangsters) in the feudal period. In the first, Sentaro, a roaming yakuza, seeks sanctuary with a gang which then asks his help in a fight against its rivals. His attention is drawn primarily to a young woman who waits in vain for the man she loves. In the second tale, two gamblers barely escape from their pursuers after being caught cheating. (imdb)

Story of loyal sailors giving their lives for their country as human torpedoes towards the end of the War. (The Movie Database)

Based on a true story about a jailbird who was sentenced for 41 years and escaped seven times. In 1947, Ueda robs a drug dealer and his woman for morphine and kills them. He gets imprisoned in Hiroshima, but escapes next year. From then on he gets caught and imprisoned over and over. (thehawaiiherald.com)

After Aoi Shingo, the illegitimate son of Shogun Yoshimune has gained prominence as the finest swordsman in the land, he tries to lead a peaceful life with his mother far away from the seat of government in Edo. Not wanting to inconvenience his father anymore his plan is to stay away from the city and enjoy life like a normal man. Unfortunately for him, his past comes back to haunt him in the person of his mortal enemy, the one swordsman that is skillful enough to defeat him.

In the year 1651 the Kishu clan is about to rise against the Tokugawa shogunate using a stash of muskets being guarded by Jinza the leader of the Koga ninja. The Iga ninja are called upon to stop the revolt under the leadership of Hattori Hanzo setting off a spy versus spy battle of silent ninja stealth. Through all the turmoil, Shizaburo and Yuka have broken the taboo of ninja falling in love and strive to achieve the forbidden life of happiness that is denied to all members of the ninja class.

Inspector General Kanjuro Sano conspires with the future shogun twin brother. They replace Ieyoshi Tokugawa with his twin, but it becomes a problem when suspicion arises and Nemuri Kyoshiro gets involved. (themoviedb)

Nemuri Kyoshiro this time get involved in a feud between two clans and get the target of one of the clans from where he meet a half breed like himself. Also some dolls play an important role. Getting an opportunity to meet with another half-Caucasian swordsman, Kyoshiro finds himself involved in a series of dangerous encounters.

Period piece about a young man who, because of his hard life alone in the world, has become a yakuza. When he hears that his mother may be living in Edo (Tokyo), he travels there, intent on finding her and leaving the swordsman's life behind. But a team of rival gangsters is hot on his heels. (themoviedb)

In the fourth film in this exciting series, and the first since losing his left eye, Yagyu Jubei is charged again with the task of protecting the Yagyu Secret Scrolls. The two scrolls are held in separate locations to assure their safety. Within them there is information other than the techniques of the Yagyu Shin-kage style. They contain a secret that could throw the country into turmoil. Clan founder Yagyu Sekishusai had split the scroll into two parts to prevent its contents... (letterboxd)

When the country is in peril, Lord Tajima summons his son to retrieve the mystical Yagyu Scroll is order to save all of Japan. This time, Jubei must stop the evil plot of Lord Hayatonosho who secretly plans on overthrowing the Shogunate. (imdb)

A former Yagyu Clan member confesses to the murder of Imperial Prince Takahito and then commits suicide. Fearing this may cause a war between the Imperial Court and the Shogunate, Jubei sets out to find answers. (imdb)

AKA Renegade Ninjas; This is a film about a real person. Sanada Yukimura fought a war against Tokugawa Ieyeasu. In the beginning the film shows Yukimura fighting to defend the Osaka Castle. He used very unconventional methods, wich were not approved by the other defenders. When the Osaka campaign was lost, Sanada is shown dedicating all his efforts to assassinate the shogun Ieyeasu. (letterboxd)

The famed ninja Yagyu Jubei fights to suppress a coup d'etat plotted against Tokugawa Shogunate. (imdb)

While the original from 1964 starred the great old-time actor Konoe Jushiro, this version is perfectly cast with his son Matsukata Hiroki in the lead as Wadakuro, one of four ronin hired to fight against the Shogunate's plot to abolish the Gamo Clan, who are struggling to reinstate their young heir Tanemaru as their Lord. Facing the threat of the Koga Ninja, Wadakuro shows his own cruelty while on a personal vendetta.

The tale of Taira Kiyomori who started as a young inexperienced warrior who led the Heike into the battle against the brutal pirates on Setouchi.

The tragic, yet exciting story of the friendship between Nakayama Yasubei, a member of the 47 Ronin, and Tange Tenzen, a relative by marriage of the vile Lord Kira. Remake of Hakuôki AKA Samurai Vendetta (mubi.com)

Genshiro is a famous Kenkaya of Edo. He turns up in incidents to get interfering fees but gets involved in a terrible incident… the Shichikudano Whistles known as Akinonanakusa and her seven sisters. The sisters were killed one after another. The whistle, in fact, shows the place of 300 thousand Ryo that their ancestors left. Genshiro gets one of the whistles and devotes himself try and solve the mystery.

A pair of black-robed thieves who robbed many wealthy merchants in Edo one after another. One of them is a young woman who is called "Aoi no Kozo" because she always takes off her skin to show the tattoo on her back. The target of the robbers was the Kogi, and in particular, the big stores that were under the control of Hotta Bizen. Itami Hanzo, a Doshin known as "Kamisori Hanzo" discovers when he tracks down the Aoi no Kozo! What is the truth?!

Formerly a secret agent of the shogunate, Sanzo and Yumenogosuke are now on the run, with their lives in danger, and make their way to Kurume Castle in Kyushu. Sanzo extorts an official patrolman but is caught and thrown in jail. Meanwhile, Gosuke meets Tanokura Tanosuke and Otoyo, a street performer couple traveling with their son, Daikichi. However, they are attacked by a group of samurai. Saved by a female swordsman dressed as a man, the Tanokura family heads for Hiyoshi.

The Onmitsu, Sanzo and Yumenogosuke are ordered to find out if the feudal lord's offer of medical treatment is true or not. They risk their lives to infiltrate the domain and report that the feudal lord was locked in a prison cell by a group of Karo lords. However, after three months, nothing is heard from him. Sanzo is furious at being neglected and quits the covert service, saying that he has run out of loyalty to the lord. Sanzo is attacked by a Kogi, but Gosuke comes to his rescue just in ti

A story of a lone wolf struggling with human compassion and duty.

From his early days as Matsudaira Motoyasu through his rise to the most powerful man in Japan as Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first of the Tokugawa Shoguns, this is the story of the man who truly unified Japan under one ruler. Tokugawa Ieyasu is quoted as saying: “People carry burdens through life as they travel a long road. Never rush” “If you think of privation as normal, you’ll be contented. If you know only about winning and losing, harm may fall upon you. Being inferior is batter than being superio

During the reign of Shogun Iemitsu, a great martial arts tournament was held to determine whether or not Iemitsu was to remain in power or cede it to his uncle, Yornobu, the 10th son of Ieyasu. Among the contestants were many expert swordsmen who have become well-known to this day. Warriors such as Yagyu Jubei, and Miyamoto Musashi headed up the slate. This was to be the all-star samurai match of the century.

Ise, a Yakuza mid-level drug dealer, is captured during a police sting operation. The Yakuza criminal breaks down under interrogation and agrees to become a police informant. (imdb)

A yakuza leader must balance his violent tactics necessary for the rough streets of 1960s Tokyo with the domestic needs of his daughters.

During the Showa era, a young yakuza survives war and injury and rises to become a clan boss with the help and respect of his sworn brothers.

Upon his release from prison, Masa (Bunta Sugawara) is disappointed to not be picked up by his brother Katsu (Tamio Kawaji). After hitching a ride on a bus full of old women, Masa finds out that Katsu tried to fake a car accident and get some money for Masa to live on after prison. Together, the two decide to blackmail the woman (Yoko Horikoshi) who hit Katsu, who happens to be the daughter of a rich company president (Seizaburo Kawazu). 6th film in a series of 8.

A group of Iga ninja risk their lives to protect Tokugawa Ieyasu from the villainous Koga Ninja. Kagemaru uses his amazing Iga ninja skills to fight the evil Koga Ninja in the name of justice! A stunning old-school Ninja action adventure, full of special effects! Its splendid cast includes Matsukata Hiroki as ‘Kagemaru’ and Yamashiro Shingo as ‘Amanojaki’, Kagemaru’s arch-enemy.