Makoto Satô

A young lord attempts to combat the official corruption endemic to the Shogunate, only to be placed in an impossible conflict of duties... (imdb)

Zatoichi is forced to kill a young man who owes a debt to a yakuza boss. Moments later, his sister Osode arrives with the money she earned (prostituting herself) to pay his debts. The bosses true motives are revealed and he attempts to steal Osode even though the debt is paid. Zatoichi realizes his grievous error and protects the girl from the gang... (imdb)

Years after moving to Tokyo with her parents, Hinako returns to her hometown in rural Shikoku. She soon learns that her childhood friend, Sayuri, died several years ago and that Sayuri's mother, who used to perform seances and exorcisms, has gone almost insane with grief. After seeing Sayuri's ghost several times during the night, Hinako consults with some local experts on the paranormal and discovers that Sayuri's mother has something planned for her daughter... (imdb)

Akemi and the man of her clan confront their opponents; Akemi delivers a sword thrust to kill the opponents' leader, and Aiko, his daughter, tries to interpose herself, suffering a glancing blow to her eyes, thus cutting her badly, and blinding her. Amid the ensuing fight, no one notices that a black cat laps the young woman's wound... (imdb)

The story of a a young man who has endured an enormous amount of disappointment and frustration at the hands of his parents, despite their apparent love for him. Though they prevented him from going far with his schooling, they have set him up with a business (a snack bar) of his own. However, when they forbid him to have a serious affair with a girl who works for him, he goes somewhat berserk and knifes his father to death.

9th-graders Kazuo (boy) and Kazumi (girl) take a tumble at a temple in a small seacoast town in Japan. Through supernatural intervention, their minds and bodies are switched, and the result is a touching and hilarious coming-of-age comedy as they attempt to survive the pressures of junior high school life. (imdb)

'Based' on the true story of the founder of "Shôrinji kenpô" in Japan. Doshin Soh, a double agent during WWII in Manchuria (where he learns the art of Shao Lin), returns to a defeated Japan full of corruption, crime and lost souls. After being arrested for beating up a group of American G.I.'s, he escapes and retreats to the country to start his own martial arts school. While helping to mend the shattered lives of his countrymen, he also runs afoul of the Yakuza...

When a narcotics deal goes sour and a suspect disappears, leaving only his clothes, Tokyo police question his wife and stake out the nightclub where she works. His disappearance stumps the police - until a young scientist appears who claims that H-Bomb tests in the Pacific, evidenced by a "ghost ship" that has turned up in the harbor, have created radioactive creatures - "H-Men" - who ooze like slime and dissolve anyone they touch. (imdb)

When Sergeant Okubo's brother is murdered at a Japanese outpost in Northern China during the Second World War, Okubo poses as a war correspondent and seeks out his brother's killer. (imdb)

An apparently psychotic killer is murdering, one by one, five women who meet regularly in Shinjuku for what they say are mahjong parties. (bfi.org)

Farmer Abare Goemon is confronted by brigand-like samurai. He raises an army of farmers to fight them and does so brilliantly. When Lord Asakura sees the success Goemon has achieved, he attempts to recruit him to fight in a conflict between Asakura and another clan. Goemon refuses, and Lord Asakura sets out to destroy him. (imdb)

Charged with insubordination for punching a superior, Sergeant Kosugi is shipped to China in the last desperate days of the Second World War. His commander, Captain Sakuma, is vicious and dictatorial. Sakuma places Kosugi in charge of training for combat what once was the military band. Kosugi must somehow prepare his inept soldiers for the rigors of combat. (imdb)

A satirical take on yakuza films, the storyline of the film involves a teenage delinquent schoolgirl named Izumi Hoshi who inherits her father's clan. (Wikipedia)

The handsome Yûzô Kayama plays the protagonist, a whale-hunting cannon manufacturing supervisor, whose brother, a car tester for Komatsu Motors, was killed in an accident early in the film. He investigation is joined by his college friend, now a reporter.

A killer-for-hire gets mixed up with a cast of wacky characters involved in a gold smuggling route from Beirut to Tokyo. Jun Fukuda directs this follow-up to 100 Shot, 100 Killed (AKA Ironfinger). (Hulu)

In this Japanese samurai adventure, a brave, highly principled warrior resigns his post as a body guard to the head of a powerful clan after he learns that his employers have been smuggling arms to the enemy. The remaining samurai try in vain to coerce him back, but their efforts are thwarted by crooked warriors who launch an attack. (AMG)

Is it reality or insanity? Are the birds taking over this marine biology teachers mind? The daily conflicts of the sounds lurking in the shadows are beginning to take their toll. (imdb)

Obayashi captures the erratic and turbulent but sincere energy of youth with this story of a group of rebellious boys who form an uneasy alliance to save a local girl from being sold into prostitution. The film breaks with the somber and tortured critiques of wartime Japan by previous generations to present a positive and anarchic vision of resistance. (Alexander Zahlten, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard)

Lt. Koji Kitami is a navigator-bombardier in Japan's Naval Air Force. He participates in the Japanese raid on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in 1941 and is welcomed with pride in his hometown on his return. As Japan racks up victory after victory in the Pacific War, Kitami is caught up in the emotion of the time and fights courageously for the standard of Japanese honor. (The Movie Database)

Lt. Col. Senda resists the idea of sending Japanese fighter pilots on suicide missions. He believes that what is really necessary for Japan to regain momentum in the war is for the air force to gather its most brilliant pilots into an elite squadron and use the unit to pinpoint attacks on the Americans. Disrespected by the kamikaze pilots who think the "non-suicidal" pilots are afraid, the unit redeems itself by stunning victories. (imdb)

In 1943, the Aleutian island of Kiska was fortified by a small contingent of Japanese soldiers. When word arrived of an impending attack by an overwhelming force of Americans, the Japanese Navy attempted one of the most daring and unlikely evacuations in military history. This is that story. (letterboxd)

As Japan joins in a political pact with Nazi Germany and fascist Italy, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is appointed supreme commander of the Japanese fleet. With Japan headed inexorably toward war, Yamamoto, despite his misgivings, believes the only possible victory lies in destroying the American fleet by surprise at Pearl Harbor. The attack succeeds, but fails to sink the American carrier fleet.

A diligent police detective brings a kidnapper to justice after a chase through the yakuza underworld.

A single mother is being investigated into the death of her ex-husband, which brings to the fore the obscure details of her past.

After defeat at the Siege of Osaka several survivors attempt to deliver a young prince to safety. (imdb)

The Akiba and Shimura crime families run the streets of "K City". With the construction of new buildings and new factories underway, the city has sprouted into a boomtown and business is good. Two of the most infamous mobs of Tokyo want a piece of the pie. As out-of-town yakuza flood the city overnight, the crime boss of the Akiba family, Tezuka (Joe Shishido), is released from prison after a five year sentence. He does not like the "change" he sees. (nikkatsu.com)

A legendary actress thought to be dead is discovered living in an isolated mansion. A screenwriter is tasked with writing her comeback film, which leads the two to live under the same roof.

The son of a murder crime boss exacts his revenge by pitting two rival clans against each other.

Adapted from the Seicho Matsumoto story "Tazutazushi". Ryohei Suzuki, a manager at a travel company, is married to his superior's daughter, but tires of their authority over his life. A chance encounter with Yukiko Hirai one rainy night brings a new romance into Ryohei's life, and he and Yukiko fall deeply in love. Yukiko, however, reveals that she has a violent husband in prison - with only a week left until his release. Ryohei, desperate to maintain his social standing, brings Yukiko to the mo

Depicts the life of Nagaharu Yodogawa.

14th in the 17 film Daiei "Woman Gambler" series.

Film director Mario Baba meets a mysterious gentleman and realizes he is an important man from his boyhood. The two chase each other around, causing a lot of commotion.