Masahiko Tsugawa

A truck driver stops at a small family-run noodle shop and decides to help its fledgling business. The story is intertwined with various vignettes about the relationship of love and food.

Spending their summer on an exotic beach, two brothers fall for the same beautiful girl, whose charm and looks may hide more than they they bargained for. (imdb)

Ryoko Itakura is a government tax agent who has just landed a big promotion. Her first assignment is to catch wheeler-dealer Hideki Gondo. She has a tough job, since in Japan tax evasion is an art and Gondo is, in effect, Rembrandt. Her job is complicated by a growing sympathy for the rogue and by political pressure to lay off. (imdb)

In Osaka's slum, youth without futures engage in pilfering, assault and robbery, prostitution, and the buying and selling of identity cards and of blood. (IMDB)

Goro's supermarket is not doing well; the rival "Bargains Galore" threatens his business. A chance encounter with Hanako, an energetic woman he knew in grade school, results in big retail and life changes. (imdb)

Based on a novel by Kafu Nagai, this movie uses a short story of the same name, and at the same time infused it with real diary entries of Kafu's as well, making it seem like an amalgamation of his life and that pre-war story. Some however, have claimed that it's solely based on the novel, and the director Kaneto Shindo had changed the protagonist to the author himself. (imdb)

This film from the great Naruse has her stretching her acting muscles, playing Oshima, a woman who goes through situations in which men treat her wrong. Somehow, in a sometimes fun way, she emerges intact and stronger. (imdb)

Yoshida's first movie for Shochiku narrates the life of young students against a background of jazz, emptiness and boredom. Yet one of those "good-for-nothing" coming from a poor background falls for a young secretary of his rich friend's father. The woman senses good in him and tries to lead him on the right path. Yoshida demonstrates his talent and innovation in this early new wave attempt, showing great mastery of lighting and composition. (KG)

An ambitious department store worker endeavors to improve his station in life by manipulating women to get what he wants - money that is.

Ryoko Itakura returns as the government tax agent willing to tackle the toughest cases. This time she takes on a fanatical but lucrative religious cult run by a vile lecher. (imdb)

Warlords Kagetora and Takeda each wish to prevent the other from gaining hegemony in feudal Japan. The two samurai leaders pursue one another across the countryside, engaging in massive battles of cavalry and infantry. Younger and less brutal, Kagetora must find the strength to be as brutal as his opponent, but at what cost? (imdb)

Nayoko (Nobuko Miyamoto) is a geisha who brings luck to the men with whom she sleeps. Because of her role as a geisha, Nayoko comes into contact with some of the most powerful men in Japan. She then learns and observes the world of power politics. (asianwiki.com)

The story follows the very affluent and aging director Buhei Mikai (Rentaro Mikuni) who is currently filming a movie starring himself in the role of a great conductor who is battling cancer yet perseveres toward the final concert they have all prepared for. When off the set, Buhei lives a life of decadence, greeted and pampered by fans and inferiors, drinking massive amounts of whiskey, and ingesting handfuls of viagra to voraciously get it on with his mistress. (sarudama.com)

One day in the dark, actress Biwako (Nobuko Miyamoto) witnesses a murder. She becomes an unwitting witness of the crime and police asks her to be the lead witness in the trial. The gangs who sent the assassin sends their lawyer Nihonmatsu (Toru Emori) to bribe Biwako so she wouldn't take the stand. Biwako refuses, and the gangs are now out to kill Biwako before the trial. (imdb)

The new film from director Tetsuo Shinohara based off of the award-winning love story by Mariko Koike. A young man searching for physical comfort and dumb lust, and the world-weary woman drowning in a sea of men that works with him. This is a fantastic new film from a remarkably skilled cast about "the beauty of sensualism." (cdJapan)

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.

Tora-san watches the family shop while the rest of his family takes a vacation to Kyushu. An old friend introduces Tora-san to his sister Ritsuko, and he promptly falls in love with her. She is an artist and has no time for Tora-san.

Set in the late 1950s, when geisha culture was threatened by moral crusades, it tells the story of Omacha (Miyamoto Maki), a young girl who sees the geisha life as a way to lift her poverty-stricken family from their hand-to-mouth existence. Through her eyes, we see the protocols and complex financial relationships which dictate the running of the geisha house.

The second chapter of the incredible "Show Zankyoden" series. This time Ken Takakura stars as Hidejiro Hanada, a wandering yakuza with a 'karashi botan' (Chinese lion and peony) tattoo. Owing a favor to the Soda Family, he kills the boss of the rival Sakaki Family and ends his obligation. After serving his time in jail, he befriends and works for the slain boss' wife and son. When the Soda attacks the Sakaki and double-crosses him, with sword in hand, Hidejiro seeks brutal retribution... (coolmedia)

The Karashi Botan returns in the fourth chapter of the incredible Showa Zankoden series. This time legendary actor Takakura Ken plays Hidejiro, the reluctant boss of a firefighter company. They win the bidding for the construction contract of an annual festival. When a rival family, desperate for that contract, becomes treacherous and violent, Hidejiro must take brutal revenage. (japanesesamuraidvd.com)

Re-make of the Samurai Rebellion (1967). The mother of a feudal lord's only heir is kidnapped away from her husband by the lord. The husband and his samurai father must decide whether to accept the unjust decision, or risk death to get her back. (imdb)

A Japanese sailor arrives in Cuba, willing to know the country and meet its people, after a decade of a revolutionary process. He feels attracted to Marcia, a young Cuban girl, who willingly shows him her country, and tells him about the years of terror that she lived under Fulgencio Batista's regime, when her family was killed. But they will have to make a decision, when she feels more inclined to dedicate her life to the revolution. (imdb)

Japanese film directed by Tadashi Imai. (letterboxd)

Set in Osaka in 1907, it centers on a yakuza, Asajiro (Koji Tsurata), a man of honor, who must deal with a conflict over a prostitute while struggling to compete with another clan; both are hoping to go legitimate as the city is poised to develop its port for international trade. (latimes.com)

Longtime friends reunite only to find out that their bonds are not as strong as they thought they were. (imdb)

A lowly drunken samurai finds an abandoned baby in the woods and takes it home. A gift from a fox. But there's something special about the boy... (imdb)

It is early summer and a boyfriend and girlfriend commit suicide in a field of flowers. He survives. The girlfriend has a younger sister whose name is Natsuko who cannot understand why her sister killed herself. She leaves school and her hometown, moves to Tokyo and meets the man to find answers. He works as a scout for a television station by day and at a denim store at night. He has moved on. Natsuko is angry. (imdb)

The story of Tei, a female coal mine operator, who risks her life to protect the business that was passed on by late husband. (thehawaiiherald.com)

A ronin carries a secret that could either deliver or destroy 400,000 clan members. (imdb)

Kyoshiro rescues Shizu who was being abused by her husband, even since she had been violated by the man posing as Ieyoshi. He then learned that Ieyoshi had been acting oddly ever since returning from Kyoto six months ago. Sir Fumiya's investigation of the O'oku (Shogun's harem in Edo Castle) uncovered the plot and reported that Sir Higo-no-Kami had been controlling the fraud. That's when Kyoshiro heads to Kyoto to find clues... (themoviedb)

Sakai Nobunari an Elder in 'Honmaru'and Mizuno Tadakuni an Elder in 'Nishinomaru' have been at odds behind the scenes over the marriage of Tokugawa Ieyoshi, heir to the Shogunate. Kyoshiro, who has come back in Edo after 3 years is involved in it against his will. It's because he gets to know Lady Mihoyo who is a spy for Sakai and looks exactly like his late mother. As she couldn't complete her mission she has nowhere to go. Kyoshiro shelters her from both parties that seek her life. (themoviedb

What does a young orphan urchin do in the slums of Tokyo? He gets into trouble, into brawls, into fights and eventually he lands in jail. Except this one is not just beating, he has a raw talent and a force that gets noticed. Out of jail, it is time to take the boy and polish the raw talent into something that fits the boxing rink. (imdb)

In 16th century Japan, a young man has to choose between becoming a master steel maker like his father and grandfather before him, or becoming a samurai so that he can help protect his village from attacks by the various clans which want the high-quality steel made there. (imdb)

Ryosuke Hinode moves in with relatives the Hinode family, located at Ishibashi Castle in Lake Biwa, as he enters high school. The Hinode family possesses a special power. Tanjuro s the heir of the Hinode family. He has eccentric tendencies and does odd things to Ryosuke like making him wear a red uniform to go to school. Tanjuro and Ryosuke attends the same high school. Due to an error, they both confront Hiromi Natsume, the first son in the Natsume family... (imdb)

Matsutaro Yasuda, a retired girl's High School Principal who has lost his wife to alcoholism and is forsaken by his Daughter, moves to an old apartment in a country town. Yasuda, at his new address, meets a little five years old girl who lives next door. Sachi, the little girl, clenches on an iron fence at the apartment. All alone, she is gazing into the distance. Angel's wings made of cardboard are on her back. She is barefoot and wears a summer dress in spite of it being winter. On her leg the

A young man has graduated from college and already secured a job. With his free days fast dwindling he opts to put his available time to good use by bicycling around Japan. The trip is interrupted when he crashes his bicycle into a lorry only to be taken to a local establishment for on-site treatment. Told from the vantage point of an older man's memory, the journey recalls the meeting, the locals, their relationships and environment.

A modern adaptation of Narayamabushi-ko, The Ballad of Narayama. (imdb)

Arisa is fascinated by humans. So much so that she leaves the magic world. But the broom she uses is faulty and she winds up in Japan. There she meets Joji Matsui who works at an advertising agency. Joji has been assigned by his boss Ichio Suzuki the difficult task of winning over Shiori Nomo who is in charge of corporate communications at a client. However, a little word from Arisa helps Joji win over Shiori and his agency gets the opportunity to pitch. Arisa and Joji fall in love and marry...

Now elderly in his 70s, Nemuri Kyoshiro, master swordsman, faces his final challenge - note actor Masakazu Tamura played the leading character in 1970's and 1990's. (own synopsis)

***A woman sees a company called "Fushiawase wo Anata ni" promoting a new sales concept. ***A woman wakes up in her bed every morning not remembering the events of the past night and finding that someone has moved around... ***As there is no more room in hell, the evil/sinful find they cannot die. ***A struggling author chances upon a diary which changes his life. ***A woman's husband dies in a car accident, but that same evening he is heard pounding on the door for someone to let him in.

The story of the rise and fall of a young courtesan. (imdb)

After a chance encounter at a public locker, a schoolgirl from a wealthy family gets involved with a lovable lowlife.

Yoko is a famous actress who goes to a mountain chalet for a few days rest. There, she learns a secret from her companion Toyoko. (imdb)

During Tenpo period, Bakuhu announced a law regulating expenditures in order to improve the financial situation. However, Doshin of a government office Itami Hanzo, called Kamisori Hanzo, challenged Bakuhu's oppressive way. Because of this, his father Magobei was told to kill himself by the Bakuhu and Hanzo himself was demoted. Five years later, Hanzo came back to the government office and implement a law regulating expenditures. He stands up for revenge Torii Kainokami who desires power as he l

The story of Sawa Yamagishi, who volunteers as an "uninvited helper" after finding elderly people living in difficult circumstances. (2015.tiff-jp.net)

Young yakuza Shujiro Hanada goes to prison after losing his cool in a rigged gambling game and slashing a few other players. When he's released in 1927, the world has changed. His sister died in the Great Kanto Earthquake and his father is also gone. His brother Jukichi invites him to stay at his in-laws and works in their family pub. He lies low, helping his blind mother-in-law and slowly developing a relationship with Ikuye, the hostess who helped him before his arrest.

Cho, leader of Kibamasa, finds out that his gang has been threatened by another one that, besides being more modern, wants to buy the gueisha that he's in love with.

In the midst of a bad economy, Yokoyama, the vice president of Taiyo Real Estate, launched a plan to cut back on his labor force. Fifty employees are segregated into a special assignment division and given an ultimatum: meet a sales goal of 1.5 billion yen within three months or be fired. Spiteful of their unjust treatment, two men, Shinoda and Takigawa, take up the battle against the ruthless Yokoyama.

Third film in the Maruhi series. Focuses on the life of Buddhist nuns during the Edo Period. Junko Fuji in leading role for the first time.

Based on the International Military Tribunal for the Far East of 1946–48, depicts Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo as a family man who fought to defend Japan and Asia from Western colonialism but was ultimately hanged by a vengeful United States.

15th in the 17 film Daiei "Woman Gambler" series.