Jun Usami

Noriko is perfectly happy living at home with her widowed father, Shukichi, and has no plans to marry -- that is, until her aunt Masa convinces Shukichi that unless he marries off his 27-year-old daughter soon, she will likely remain alone for the rest of her life. When Noriko resists Masa's matchmaking, Shukichi is forced to deceive his daughter and sacrifice his own happiness to do what he believes is right.

1954 Theater of Life adaptation.

When Katsukawa, a low ranking vassal, learns that his greedy superior, Tatewaki, has hatched a plan to expand his territory, he and his comrades decide to take matters into their own hands. Lots of action in this all-star production from Toei Films, the foremost studio during that era. As with so many of their films, this is highly entertaining, with lots of plot twists and exciting swordplay

Fourth film in the Boy Detectives Club series.

Bright samurai movie innovatively adapted from a classic story. A traveling masterless samurai is asked by a daughter of an established samurai family to pretend they are a married couple, and gets involved in the troubles of the samurai clan.

Lord Mito, with his companions, comes to Sakai, Senshu, where the annual Minato Festival takes place. During the celebration, a mysterious incident occurs. The portable altar is attacked by a shaven-headed priest, and Ofuji, the daughter of a wealthy Senshu-ya merchant, disappears.

In the summer of 1941, the United States and Japan seem on the brink of war after constant embargos and failed diplomacy come to no end. "Tora! Tora! Tora!", named after the code words used by the lead Japanese pilot to indicate they had surprised the Americans, covers the days leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, which plunged America into the Second World War.

During the latter part of the 16th Century, Japan's Warring States era was coming to a close. After crushing almost all of his enemies, Date Masamune aka the "Hawk of the North" sets his eyes on Hatakeyama's lands. The young warlord is about to face his greatest challenge.

An all-star cast highlights this Jidai-Geki classic. Set in the samurai era, this is the tale of period Yakuza. One of the real classics in this genre. Jirocho, an honorable and respected gang boss, uncovers a conspiracy organized by his rivals while on a quest to bring justice to three murders. Some of the most famous actors from Toei studios make this a must-see for everyone! Featuring a very young Nakamura Kinnosuke, who went on to become one of Japan's mosted noteworthy actors under the name Yorosuya Kinnosuke. This is one of the best examples his early work.

The great Sonny Chiba stars as Goro Saionji, a drifting thrill-seeker. Out to investigate a suspisious plane crash in the Red Valley, he uncovers a plot involving yakuza and a shady land developer to evict an old farmer off of his land to build a sky resort. Goro must now help the old farmer and his daughter and take those criminals on.

A drama about relations between Japanese immigrants and the indigenous Ainu on Hokkaido, the most northerly island of Japan. From a novel by Taijun Takeda.

A suspense work based on the "Miyagi Incident," an attempted coup d'etat led by some officers working for the Ministry of the Defense and the General Staff of the Konoe Division on the eve of the end of the Pacific War.

A film adaptation of the original novel by Kazuo Dan. This exciting film, set in Asia on the eve of violent changes, tells the story of a young man Rinnosuke Date, who, following his dream, love and passion, breaks through the blood- and dust-drenched land of Manchuria with a pistol in a piercing wind.

A dead lover returns as a ghost

Bunkichi disguises himself as a yakuza to solve a mysterious death.

Third part in Tadashi Sawashima's Theater of Life trilogy.

A hospital melodrama where the conflict between love and friendship rules the faith of the protagonists.

Ichibei is assigned by Shogun Tokugawa to prevent the sale of a Dutch ships-load of rifles to the hostile Shogun Satsuma. On his mission he meets a cowardly Ronin who becomes his assistant, as well as a female spy and a female warrior...

The four kinds of love that Yuriko experiences, namely, a childhood longing love, a dream of marriage, a maternal love, and a destined love between parents and children over two generations, as well as the sisterly love between Yuriko and her sister Kaori.

1945 Japanese movie

A young man goes missing after visiting his girlfriend's isolated country home. His sister and her boyfriend trace him to the creepy mansion, but their search becomes perilous when they uncover a gruesome family history.

Sixth film of the Bannai Tarao series starring Chiezo Kataoka.

When a theater producer Kurato is murdered in the audience on opening night, Inspector Kawano investigates the prop pistols used on stage, but all were fake. That same night, a dancer in the troupe went missing and a police officer was shot with the same caliber gun. Kawano suspects they are all related to a gun smuggling case.

An exciting historical drama that dynamically depicts the life of Minamoto no Yoshitsune from the period of his stay on Mount Kurama to his reconciliation with his brother Yoritomo.

The mysterious story behind the Skull Coins, which are said to reveal the location of treasure, and the battle for them will make your heart beat faster.

Maeda Tsunanori, the lord of Kaga Domain, had two young princes - Katsumaru, the son of his legitimate wife, who died, and Yasunosuke, the son of his concubine. However, Katsumaru suddenly lost his mind and appealed to the shogunate to hand over the reins of the family Yasunosuke, but the request was rejected. Vassal Osawa Kuranojo suspects that this is the work of Ishikawa Torajiro, a swordsman from the Katsumaru group, and begins an investigation.

Young swordsman Shintaro must fight against evil officials who plot to overthrow the youthful Shogun.

1945 Japanese movie

Ex-war financier Kuraishi Kinnosuke is visited by a ghostly face in the middle of the night telling him to return the 5.5 million yen jewel he stole to the government. The next day, the jewel disappears. Investigator Yamazaki investigates...

Detective Tarao goes undercover to battle an evil gun smuggling business.

To fulfill a friend’s dying wish, a young sailor Kenji takes on the task of delivering an heirloom to his friend’s daughter, Harumi, who has been adopted by another family. When he arrives, Kenji soon discovers that Harumi and her adopted family are the targets of an evil gang boss. In an attempt to help them, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

Sayuri, a young woman born to a simple life on a farm, moves to Tokyo to pursue a life long dream of becoming a singer. Through dance, music, and songs, this story shows how a girl raised on a farm was able to make her dream a reality, with the love of those around her.

First film in the Boy Detectives Club series.

Second film in the Boy Detectives Club series.

A man with many disguises uses robotic beetles, man-made monsters and other devices to try and steal atomic power.

Seventh film in the Boy Detectives Club series.

Eighth film in the Boy Detectives Club series.

Ninth and final film in the Boy Detectives Club series. Features Tatsuo Umemiya's film debut.

The first batch of flight control officer candidates, full of yearning for the sky, are assembled at the 101st Air Regiment base. Nakata, Sato, and the other cadets undergo intensive training under Captain Kotani, a famous pilot, but gradually begin to resent his strict leadership. A youthful story that vividly portrays the young pilots of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force who place their hopes in the sky. Japan's first full-length film about jet aviation, it was shot on location at the Hamamatsu Air Self-Defense Force Base over an extended period of time, with dozens of jets being mobilized for the filming.

First Moonlight Mask theatrical film.

Second Moonlight Mask theatrical film.

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 from being known to the public. This is Jubei's toughest assignment yet as he puts his life on the line to save the nation!

Made after Takechi had won an obscenity trial over Black Snow (1965), the film has been called "Takechi's personal message to Eirin."

Tale of tragic love between samurai and princess during Heian period.

Detective Tarao investigates the deaths of police officers who were involved in solving a kidnapping case.

Japanese youth film.

Drifting detective Goro Saionji is asked to investigate the sinking of a fishing boat in a port town on the Bōsō Peninsula and runs up against the smuggling gang behind the case.

Four unlucky pirates head to a weather tracking station set on a remote island with the intention of holding the weather trackers as hostages and assaulting their next incoming supply ship; but at the station they are told that a serious typhoon is on the way, so the ship will be delayed.

A 1948 Japanese film.

Friendship between good samurais and aborigines in Hokkaido.

A detective tries to outwit a jewel thief who has kidnapped the daughter of a jeweler to get to an exquisite diamond.

In this film in the long running series, Tange Sazen and his friends are asked to guard a dragon-shaped incense burner that holds the key to hidden treasures. This is the most exciting film in the series, and contains some of the best action sequences of Otomo's distinguished career. Sazen is the strongest swordsman of his time, and his sense of honor and justice are called upon more than once to set things right.

Rival gangs fight over ownership of bicycle race track.

After their father quarrels with local military men, Anju and Zushio are forced to flee, but they are captured and sold into slavery. When their mother dies, they are sold to Sansho the Bailiff, a cruel man who subjects them to hideous torments. While Anju falls into a lake and is transformed into a swan, Zushio escapes and after being adopted to a nobleman grows to a young man. He will then fight to defeat the evil Dayu and free all the slaves.

The eighth film in the "master detective with seven faces" series. Bannachi patrols the town in his taxi when he sees a man heading into Shiodome Town. Next day the man is found brutally murdered and the mystery starts to unravel.

This 1956 adaptation of the novel with the same title puts more focus on the characters and their interactions than the previous version.

In the mist of the warring age (Sengoku Era), the Kyushu based Hayato Clan is faced with a monumental battle to determine their survival.

Japanese mystery film.

Japanese drama film.

Based on the short story The Psychological Test by Edogawa Rampo.

Early film directed by Eiichi Kudô.

One of the earliest Japanese cop films following a mysterious killing on the last train to Mitaka, Tokyo.

A boss of underworld helps the police crush an evil gang.

Follows the lives of three sisters who have a dance act together.

Teruo Ishii portrays the bitter conflict over the right to develop land in a gripping and humorous way. Nakagami, the head of the Kanto Joseikai, is ordered to acquire the rights to work to level the reclaimed land and prevent the Doshikai from expanding from Kansai into Tokyo, but the interference of the Koda-gumi, associated with the Kansai Doshikai, intensifies. Nakagami's younger brother Hayami, unhappy that the situation is moving slowly, tries to blackmail the mayor into moving forward, but... A true Toei gangster film with an all-star cast including Koji Tsuruta and Ken Takakura!

After her mother runs away from home, Tomoko is raised to be a geisha. One day Tomoko meets her mother in a red-light district in Tokyo and her life deeply gets in trouble.

A court fortune-teller loses his mind after a conspiracy leads to the death of his lover. Hope appears to be on the horizon after he becomes romantically involved with his dead lover's twin sister, but more complications arise thanks to a chance encounter with a clan of shape-shifters.

Three young yakuza, Fujitaro, Matsugoro and Kanjuro, travel the country fighting evil.

Kinnosuke of Toyama sets out on a private mission to clear his father’s name for a crime he did not commit.

Newly graduated Miyamoto Otone is to inherit a fortune from a distant relative on the condition that she marries Takato Shunsaku, a man she has never heard of. The lawyers haven't located Shunsaku yet, allowing Otone to think about whether she accepts the conditions of the will. One month later after, Takato Shunsaku is found. Murdered. At the birthday party of Otone's uncle. With Shunsaku dead and thus making it impossible for Otone to marry him, the inheritence is to split amongst all (living) family members. And yes, as always, that means that the potential successors get killed off one by one. But Kosuke Kindaichi is on the trail...

The Domain: Severed Relations

Master swordsman and loyal vassal Saotome Mondonosuke goes on a mission to find a missing princess.

Young boys learn survival skills on a remote island and rescue a girl abducted by a gang of foreigners.

Saotome Mondonosuke pursues the culprit who placed a malicious curse upon Shogun Tsunekichi.

1961 Japanese movie

A film by Tomotaka Tasaka.

This moving movie depicts the preciousness of life through the interaction between a man with a dark past and a boy battling illness.

As Noriko becomes widowed, her parents-in-law take her daughter Mitsuko, and Noriko moves to Shanghai to earn money to repay the debt that piled up due to her husband's illness.

An orphan Mihato Mari works as a secretary at a spinning factory.

Young boys learn survival skills on a remote island and rescue a girl abducted by a gang of foreigners.

"Masayoshi Ryanko" jumps into the den of the underworld swirling with smuggling and murder, and defeats the culprit with a heart-pounding pistol.

A masterpiece of life sketches overflowing with heartwarming affection and laughter that portrays the modern common people with humor and pathos, focusing on the daily life of Sanpei Mejiro, a salaryman for over twenty years who finds a little happiness in life in his poor but joyful home.