Kunie Tanaka

A crafty samurai helps a young man and his fellow clansmen save his uncle, who has been framed and imprisoned by a corrupt superintendent. (imdb)

Ryunosuke is a sociopathic samurai without compassion or scruples. When he is scheduled for an exhibition match at his fencingschool, the wife of his opponent begs Ryunosuke to throw the match, offering her own virtue in trade (imdb)

A businessman facially scarred in a laboratory fire receives psychotherapy from a psychiatrist, and obtains an amazingly lifelike mask from the doctor... (imdb)

Episodes from the lives of a group of Tokyo slum-dwellers: Rokkuchan, a retarded boy who brings meaning and routine to his life by driving an imaginary streetcar (imdb)

A look at the life of renegade yakuza, Rikio Ishikawa, particularly the years from 1946 to 1950 when his violent antics get him in trouble with his own clan, Kawada, and then with the clan of his protector, Kozaburo Imai. In these years, he can rely on Chieko, a young Tokyo courtesan who gives him shelter. He's banished to Osaka, where he picks up a drug habit. Through it all, he keeps his friends and enemies off balance with unpredictable behavior - and he seems indestructible. (imdb)

This film contains four distinct, separate stories. "Black Hair": A poor samurai who divorces his true love to marry for money... (imdb)

Second part of a trilogy. Conscientious objector Kaji, now forced to serve in the Japanese army during the Second World War... (imdb)

A guilt-haunted samurai warrior attempts to stop a massacre taking place. (imdb)

Gennosuke, a clan retainer, kills one of the clan ministers as part of a plot to achieve reform. He is pursued by his former comrades... (imdb)

Misumi Kenji's Zatoichi: The Festival of Fire finds the famous blind swordsman becoming mixed up with a blind but powerful gangster. The town is a brutal place where women and children are regularly available to the highest bidder. Zatoichi takes a fancy to two local women, and this causes him to earn the ire of both two local men - one of them a Yakuza. (Perry Seibert, Rovi)

Munezo Katagiri (Nagase), an honest and low ranking samurai is trapped in a state of personal and professional imbalance. Secretly in love with his family's maid, Kie (Tabata), Munezo begins an uneasy courtship with her, knowing that a relationship is impossible. Raised to respect traditions from the past and the demanding moral code of the samurai, circumstances have now forced Munezo to look to the future... (Tartan Films)

In this 14th installment of the series, our reluctant warrior, Zatoichi (Katsu), is ambushed by a gang of bandits, and is forced to kill a young man in self-defense. In an odd quirk of fate, Zatoichi meets his victim's sister, Okichi (Yasuda), who attacks him in a fit of uncontrolled anger. Later, realizing that he had no choice in his actions, Okichi's conscience gets the better of her, and as she cares for Zatoichi's wounds, the two fall in love. (amazon)

A man wanders into a seemingly deserted town with his young son in search of work. But after a bit of bad luck, he joins the town's population of lost souls. (imdb)

This Lupin the Third movie is set before he meets Daisuke Jigen, Goemon Ishikawa, or Fujiko Mine. It starts out with Lupin meeting a cute girl, who's on her way to being locked up. Lupin busts her out, only to be left behind. He later encounters Daisuke Jigen, who desperately wants Lupin to reincarnate the Lupin empire... (imdb)

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)

When Sokichi stops providing his long-time lover Kikuyo enough money to pay for the care of their three young children, Kikuyo leaves the children with Sokichi - and his very surprised and angry wife Oume - and disappears. (imdb)

The story of a Yakuza gangster convicted for life imprisonment, who learns that his mother is about to die and runs for an escape, to ask for forgiveness of her

In the town of Aso a boy returns to his mother after he was missing for 58 years. Inspector Kawada from the welfare ministry is sent to the town to investigate these strange occurence. Soon, more and more dead people are resurrected and return to their loved ones. (imdb)

Tetsuo is a young man living in Tokyo, who falls in love with a deaf-mute factory girl. (imdb)

Dracula, shipwrecked in the 1600s in Japan. forced to spit on the cross and wander alone in the desert. In present day, Professor Shiraki arrives at a girl's school where he Is to be teaching. The principal, whose wife died in a car accident, is keeping her body in the cellar for a week, to see if she might return to life. Shiraki investigates and becomes entrenched in the horror of the vampires. (imdb)

Gakko tells a simple heartwarming story of a group of students and their teacher, in one of the public night schools in Japan providing them education at the Junior High level. With night schools, you know that the students are working adults, and the narrative takes its time to dwell on the characters' backgrounds, and their interactions with the teacher, how he helped them in their times of need, or simply being the beacon of hope for them. (imdb)

During World War II, a Japanese soldier finds himself assigned to a kamikaze mission against a U.S. battleship. (imdb)

When a gang member finds himself estranged from his gang he joins up with his two brothers to start a new life.

A widow who has raised her autistic son decides to return to school.

Oida goes to prison after causing the death of a man and his daughter in a traffic accident. Shortly before being released, his cellmate offers him half of 30,000,000 yen if he follows instructions without questioning. Having nothing left to lose he decides to give it a try. The job turns out to involve the assassination of three men and Oida has second thoughts after meeting with one of them. However, someone else is after the men on Oida's list and now it is up to him to warn them.

A pregnant couple is killed by their disgraced family, the daughter is born after her mother's death thanks to supernatural forces and years later comes back accompanied with vengeful spirits to grapple with the evil family members.

The movie centers around two ronin (masterless samurai) 16 years after they participated in the revenge of their former master. The two survived to fulfill specific purposes. (imdb)

Tamiko and her husband want to realize the universal dream of all couples - a house of their own. They hire a fashionable young architect who is great on design but weak on actual construction. Tamiko brings in her old father, Iwata, who is a traditional carpenter and the construction of the house begins. It does not, however, get very far, with cutting-edge architectural fancy on one side and solid old-fashioned traditional methods on the other. (asianmediawiki.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 is a funny live action adaption of the animated series. It parallels the first few animated episodes. We meet the residents of Ikkoku-kan; Yusaku Godai - a struggling college student, Yotsuya - the mysterious resident of room 4, Akemi Roppongi - a waitress at Chacha Maru, and Mrs. Ichinose - a nosy party loving woman who live in room 1. Plus, we meet the new manager, Kyoko Otonashi - a quiet and recently widowed woman. But still, it is visually funny. (h33t.com)

On his deathbed, a wealthy businessman announces that his fortune is to be split equally among his three illegitimate children, whose whereabouts are unknown to his family and colleagues. A bevy of lawyers and associates then begin machinations to procure the money for themselves, enlisting the aid of impostors and blackmail. (criterion.com)

Lake of Tears (湖の琴 Mizuumi no Kin?) is a 1966 Japanese film directed by Tomotaka Tasaka. It was Japan's submission to the 39th Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee. (en.wikipedia.org)

A condensed adaptation of the Lone Wolf and Cub saga.

Approached by a friend about a matchmaking arrangement, Su-san goes to Hama-chan's home seeking help. Hama-chan is away on a business trip, but Michiko entertains Su-san late into the night. When he gets drunk and ends up spending the night, Hama-chan, begins to question his boss's relationship with Michiko.

A sixth-grade elementary school student, Shoichi, is visiting his divorced father who lives in Australia after retiring from a leading Japanese company in order to find the Tasmanian Tiger. Shoichi had run away from home and is in Sydney looking for his father

Torah returns to Shibamata. There he learns that his mother Kiku is bored in the city. Reluctantly, he is persuaded to visit them. There is a dispute between the two, because the mother wants grandchildren and Torah seems unable to ever win a wife for himself. Sadly Torah draws away again travels on and meets the sweet Hanako. She appears to be mentally a little slow. He lovingly cares for her and gives her his address. Later on she shows up in Shibamata.

Featuring ATSUMI Kiyoshi as the lovable loser KURUMA Torajiro, the 48-film Tora-san series holds the Guinness World Record for the longest running film series starring the same actor. In a typical story-line from the series, Tora-san visits a different part of Japan where he meets a beautiful young woman, and tells her if she ever needs help, she should come visit him in his small hometown of Shibamata.

Kosuke Kindaichi is a popular detective found in Seishi Yokomizo's novels, and this is one of several movies that have been made based on his character. Yokomizo's plots have more twists and turns than Japanese calligraphy and loudly invite parody. This film is not an RSVP to that invitation. Director Nobuhiko Obayashi has not parodied Yokomizo's style so much as imitated it. (nytimes.com)

UFOs appear on Earth, and people who actually see them suddenly find that their blood has turned blue. Soon panic and hysteria result in the new "blue-bloods" being persecuted by the rest of mankind, and eventually certain all-too-familiar measures begin to be taken against them. (imdb)

After a long stint working in Alaska, Jiro returns to his hometown. He soon learns that his father, the town's mayor, was murdered and, in his absence, the yakuza gangs have seized control of the town. Jiro quickly becomes dangerously obsessed with finding his father's killer. (imdb)

An international gang fights with other families at postwar Kobe. (thehawaiiherald.com)

An old man falls into a coma and dreams about his childhood during WWII. (The Movie Database)

Shinkichi, a peasant employed as a cloth-dyer, has a dream: in the midst of the civil war which ravages Japan, he hopes to revive the long-banned custom of the Kyoto Gion Festival, and by doing so, bring together the warring clans and rampaging brigands in peaceful celebration. (imdb)

When a young soldier is killed while trying to prevent his younger sister, Kaoru, from being sold into a life of prostitution, his commander, Col. Miyagi, tries to honor his dying wish to rescue his sister. Upon finding Kaoru at a party working as a geisha and later rescuing her from committing suicide, Col. Miyagi allows her to move in with him. Over time, the two grow close, but in spite of Kaoru's growing feelings for him, Col. Miyagi is unable to bring himself to return her love... (The Movie Database)

There is a woman. She has a mother. She does not have a father. Mother wants her daughter married. Mother wants the marriage to be arranged. Mother wants a successful and rich son-in-law. Daughter is uninterested. Daughter recruits a coworker to pretend they are dating. Daughter and coworker have chemistry. Could you guess what follows?

Set during Japan's Meiji period, three sisters are abused and exploited by their harsh father, including a daughter who plays the three-corded shamisen for pilgrims visiting the sacred chapel of Ise.

Eiji, also known as Choji, quits the shipyard to start Izakaya Choji (snack bar) with his wife Shigeko on the outskirts of Hakodate. (imdb)

A thug is released after fifteen years in prison for the murder of a yakuza gang boss. Things were never going to be simple and bygones were never going to be bygones of course, but to make matters more complicated the murdered boss had a young daughter upon his death. Will it be a case of vengeance? (imdb)

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.

A university student Hitomi falls in love with a middle-aged man Okawa, who was the lover of her deceased mother. Hitomi's feelings shift back and forth as she is not sure whether it is true love or just a realization of her mother's romantic dream... (imdb)

Goro (Tetsuya Watari) wants to put his dark past behind. He heads to Hirosaki City to offer his condolences to Yumeko and to reunite with Yukiko (Chieko Matsubara), but finds that Yumeko is fatally ill. Although Yukiko was taking care of her, she is pressed for money. Goro wants to help and knows that there is only one way to come up with fast money. (imdb)

Yu?saku Matsuda plays the part of a private detective in this modern-day "whodunnit" mystery, full of suspense, thrills, and chills.

Oniwaban is an organization that is composed of two ninja groups… Iga and Koga. This is a story of a secret spy who settled in Okazaki Joka town during the Seitoku period of General Ietsugu and his son who trained to be a Ninja.

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

Japanese action film.

A martial arts master/detective investigates a series of murders and helps a deaf bathhouse attendant, Hisako.

Featuring journalist Shiro Yamaoka who works for Touzai Shimbun. He is a cynical food critic who is tasked by the newspaper's owner, along with the young Yuko Kurita, to provide recipes for the "ultimate menu". Based on the comic by Tatsu Kariya.

An awkward attempt to build a movie around Pink Lady, the name given to a Japanese pop music duo consisting of the very pretty short-haired Mie and the long-haired Kei. Their popularity in Japan lasted from 1976 to 1979 before their attempt to break into the American market with the ill-fated TV show, "Pink Lady and Jeff" (1980), which wound up setting back the cause of J-pop in America by nearly 30 years.

The fifth film in the long-running series Daiei Studio's Woman Gambler with Kyoko Enami starring where she plays the woman gambler Ogin.

The tenth film in the long-running series Daiei Studio's Woman Gambler with Kyoko Enami starring where she plays the woman gambler Ogin.

Tachibana has completed his three years in prison and returns to the streets. He and his old cell mate wants a new life as ex-prisoners, but by chance they come across some jewels from a bloody bank robbery.

Shinichi returns home to visit his mother's grave. Upon returning he finds the mess that his previous reckless behavior left behind. His old boss, Asahi, was attacked after Shinichi left and was forced to give up a lot of of his power. (imdb)