Masao Inoue

A man takes a job at an asylum with hopes of freeing his imprisoned wife.

In the 30th year, Nirasaki Den'emon established the Nirasaki Hokkaido Development Company with investment from Sonoi to build railway facilities. However, the endeavor faced criticism for attempting to buy Ainu land at low prices. Tokyo Nippo reporter Toshimasa Matsuzaka, who was actually Nirasaki's son, wants to expose the flawed practices of the company.

The adventures of a demobilised soldier and a group of war orphans under his care on Ringing Bell Hill. Third installment of a wartime film trilogy.

Japanese Warmovie

Government-sponsored film set during the Pacific War, depicting the lives of people working as stevedores.

Directed by Masao Inoue.

Based on a contemporary set novel by Shunyo Yanagawa, this film was adapted to the Japanese stage with multiple film versions to follow, including director Naruse Mikio’s take in 1932. Director Masao Inoue also stars in this 1916 adaption which follows the destruction of a businessman and his family as mounting scandals reakwaken lingering hatreds and induce new crimes. This surviving fragment features three sequences from the original film, including its denouement.

Directed in 1921

A blacksmith is chased out of the village by the sinister village chief and forced to move to the forest with his wife and two sons. The blacksmith's younger son is disabled, and the other children in the village tease him. The older son aspires to become a doctor in order to fix his brother's leg. The film depicts the bond between a father and his sons. Only 18 minutes survive.

Life and love in corrupt postwar Tokyo, as a young couple struggles against both the law and the mob.

The adventures of a demobilised soldier and a group of war orphans under his care on Ringing Bell Hill. Second installment of a wartime film trilogy.

Japanese silent film from 1928.

Japanese silent film from 1928.

The adventures of a demobilised soldier and a group of war orphans under his care on Ringing Bell Hill. First installment of a wartime film trilogy.

Directed by Masao Inoue.

Based on a contemporary set novel by Shunyo Yanagawa, this film was adapted to the Japanese stage with multiple film versions to follow, including director Naruse Mikio’s take in 1932. Director Masao Inoue also stars in this 1916 adaption which follows the destruction of a businessman and his family as mounting scandals reakwaken lingering hatreds and induce new crimes. This surviving fragment features three sequences from the original film, including its denouement.