Life of Hishakaku

The Pinkie(ja)

Since they were both five, Ryosuke has been stalked by Momoko - the ugliest girl in the village. Her love for Ryosuke is so boundless that she has her face surgically altered to suit his taste - but still he wants nothing to do with her. Ryosuke goes in for fleeting romance - for example, with the girlfriend of a gangster boss. But when he finds out about their affair, he has Ryosuke's little finger hacked off. Magically, the finger falls into Momoko's hands, and she uses it to clone Ryosuke, so she can finally have him (or almost him) for herself. And this is just the first five minutes of Lisa Takeba's short-but-powerful feature debut. Just like in her previous short films, the director - who cut her teeth in the advertising world and as the writer of a video game - throws a lot of genres and techniques into the mix: from science fiction to gangster films, from hospital eroticism to animation. Hectic and absurd, but with its heart in the right place. © IFFR

Dolls(ja)

Dolls takes puppeteering as its overriding motif, which relates thematically to the action provided by the live characters. Chief among those tales is the story of Matsumoto and Sawako, a young couple whose relationship is about to be broken apart by the former's parents, who have insisted their son take part in an arranged marriage to his boss' daughter.

The Hidden Fortress(ja)

In feudal Japan, during a bloody war between clans, two cowardly and greedy peasants, soldiers of a defeated army, stumble upon a mysterious man who guides them to a fortress hidden in the mountains.

AKP: Job 27(en)

A Yakuza hitman travels to North America for his 27th job, only to find lingering memories of lost love through a chance encounter with a beautiful prostitute.

New Third Gangster XII(ja)

The army of backstory reunites in the evil of darkness that pollutes Jinyoshi for his own desires! The final 12th installment of the super popular series based on Kazuhiko Murakami! !! Masaki, the young head of the Todo group, tries to drop Nagoya via the Murota group as a stepping stone to conquer the whole country, but the members are killed in a series of mysterious accidents, and even the leader of the Murota group is finally assassinated.

Throne of Blood(ja)

Returning to their lord's castle, samurai warriors Washizu and Miki are waylaid by a spirit who predicts their futures. When the first part of the spirit's prophecy comes true, Washizu's scheming wife, Asaji, presses him to speed up the rest of the spirit's prophecy by murdering his lord and usurping his place. Director Akira Kurosawa's resetting of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" in feudal Japan is one of his most acclaimed films.

Red Beard(ja)

Aspiring to an easy job as personal physician to a wealthy family, Noboru Yasumoto is disappointed when his first post after medical school takes him to a small country clinic under the gruff doctor Red Beard. Yasumoto rebels in numerous ways, but Red Beard proves a wise and patient teacher. He gradually introduces his student to the unglamorous side of the profession, ultimately assigning him to care for a prostitute rescued from a local brothel.

New Third Gangster V(ja)

A martial arts executive, Hashiguchi, was attacked by someone. In addition, danger creeps into the body of Reijiro Masaki, the second generation of the Wuxia Association. And finally, even Masaki's stripes have been destroyed ... Who is the true identity of the mysterious man, the bat, who moves in the shadow of the conflict? Also, what is the unexpected relationship between Dr. Tonomura and bats ...! ??

New Third Gangster VII(ja)

Shabs and weapons leaked from a US military base in Bando-gumi's Shima. It was due to a plot of the Kenyukai aiming at the Bando group's Shima. The Kenyukai sends a young head, Takenouchi, to Masaki, the second generation of the Wuxia Association, who tries to stop the plot.

New Third Gangster VIII(ja)

The 8th installment of the "New Third Gokudo" series, which is a visualization of the work of Kazuhiko Murakami, which depicts the stories of men living in the world of gangsters. In the wake of the shooting of Todo-gumi Wakato and Hattori, disturbing movements began to appear around Masaki, the second generation of the Wuxia Association. Masaki, who explores the situation, finds out the existence of the mysterious organization "Sakurakai", but behind it, there is an even bigger one!

New Third Gangster IX(ja)

The Ryuna group's gambling ground was devastated by the Todo group Kishibe group. Tatsunami Ayatsu, acting leader of the Ryuna group, was prepared to fight with the Kishibe group, but responded by arbitration by Masaki. At that point, Kishibe, the leader of the Kishibe group, is killed by someone, and suspicion is turned to Masaki. A conspiracy theory drives Masaki into a corner.

New Third Gangster X(ja)

New development of rage! The army of backpacks is now starting to move toward the great evil that is trying to dominate the dark world! An unidentified group claiming to be the Untenichi faction begins to judge the shab at the Munakata group's sima. Reijiro Masaki, the chairman of the Wuxia Association, begins to hunt down the Untenichi faction with Naoji Hanai, a member of the Munakata group.

New Third Gangster XI(ja)

The death of Todo-gumi Wakato and Hattori Retsu broke out in the Todo-gumi over the next young head. A fierce bargain between the Wuxia Association Chairman Reijiro Masaki and the Arase faction, which is in opposition to the Masaki faction, takes place.

New Third Gangster III(ja)

The Shineikai, headed by Goro Numata, was doing his best in partnership with the Taiwan Mafia. In order to suppress the runaway, Reiniro Masaki, the second chairman of the Wuxia Association, stands up with the men in the back cup.

New Third Gangster IV(ja)

The martial arts leader is kidnapped. At the same time, an uneasy shadow attacks Reiniro Masaki, the second generation of the Wuxia novels. When a new conflict breaks out again, Masaki's own shocking past becomes clear.

New Third Gangster VI(ja)

The second generation Todo-gumi Wakato Hattori is taken to Johoku Medical College, where there are many suspicions of drugs due to angina. Hattori asks Masaki to act as a young head just in case. However, dissatisfied with the procedure, Ejima teamed up with the Mafia and started aiming for Masaki's defeat! !!

Devoted Cookbook(ja)

The film is set in Edo period. As an orphan child Mio starts working at a restaurant in Osaka where she learns how to cook. When she turns 18, she moves to Edo (today's Tokyo) where she opens her own restaurant.

Japan's Most Chivalrous(ja)

Dochinpira 2(ja)

The Haozakura-kai continues to relentlessly tail Jin every day, but now, a yakuza from the Enshin-gumi, Mizuno Tetsuo, appears. Just as they share a cup of sake as blood brothers, an assassin from the Tendo-gumi attacks and kills Mizuno, leaving behind his only sister, Rei. This is where Jin's days of agony begins, entrusted with Rei.

Enlisted Yakuza(ja)

It is the third film in the Gokudo series. In this episode, set in 1937, the main character of the series gang leader Shimamura is drafted into the military and fight in China.

Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima(ja)

Repeatedly beat to a pulp by gamblers, cops, and gangsters, lone wolf Shoji Yamanaka finally finds a home as a Muraoka family hitman and falls in love with boss Muraoka's niece. Meanwhile, the ambitions of mad dog Katsutoshi Otomo draws our series' hero, Shozo Hirono, and the other yakuza into a new round of bloodshed.

The Outsider(en)

A former American G.I. joins a yakuza family after his release from prison in post-World War II Osaka.

Graveyard of Honor(ja)

A barkeeper saves a Yakuza boss' life and thus makes his way up in the organization. However, his fear of nothing soon causes problems.

Battles Without Honor and Humanity(ja)

In the teeming black markets of postwar Japan, Shozo Hirono and his buddies find themselves in a new war between factious and ambitious yakuza.

Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally(ja)

Older, wiser but still a wandering loner, the blind, peace-loving masseur Ichi seeks a peaceful life in a rural village. When he's caught in the middle of a power struggle between two rival Yakuza clans, his reputation as a deadly defender of the innocent is put to the ultimate test in a series of sword-slashing showdowns.

Sex and Fury(ja)

Sex & Fury chronicles Ocho's exploits as she searches for her father's killers, each identified by unique tattoos on their backs (a deer, a boar, and a butterfly). Along the way, she also crosses paths with Shunosuke, a radical set on murdering prominent politician Kurokawa, and Christina, an American spy posing as a gambler.

Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple(ja)

After years on the road establishing his reputation as Japan's greatest fencer, Takezo returns to Kyoto. Otsu waits for him, yet he has come not for her but to challenge the leader of the region's finest school of fencing. To prove his valor and skill, he walks deliberately into ambushes set up by the school's followers.

Rainy Dog(ja)

A Japanese assassin stranded in Taiwan must take work from a local crime boss to make ends meet when suddenly a woman from his past delivers a son to him.

New Tale of Zatoichi(ja)

Wishing to find peace, Zatoichi travels to his old village but only finds trouble when he ends up in a love triangle and finds old scores have followed him home.

Samurai Rebellion(ja)

The mother of a feudal lord's only heir is kidnapped by the lord. Her husband and his samurai father must decide whether to accept the unjust decision, or risk death to rescue her.

Under the Open Sky(ja)

Mikami, an ex-yakuza of middle age with most of his life in prison, gets released after serving 13 years of sentence for murder. Hoping to find his long lost mother, from whom he was separated as a child, he applies for a TV show and meets a young TV director Tsunoda. Meanwhile, he struggles to get a proper job and fit into society. His impulsive, adamant nature and ingrained beliefs cause friction in his relationship with Tsunoda and those who want to help him.

The Firm(en)

A seemingly respectable estate agent leads a double life as the head of a vicious, well-organised gang of football hooligans.

Agitator(ja)

When a young Yakuza torments the customers in a rival crime family's nightclub, it is not long before his dead body is found. Soon, inter-family retaliation follows, resulting in the death for a prominent crime boss. Devastated by this turn of events, the temperamental Kenzaki vows to avenge his boss's death and, as bloody violence ensues, the body count reaches excessive proportions.

The Tale of Zatoichi Continues(ja)

Returning to the village where a year before he had killed Hirate, a much-admired opponent, Zatoichi encounters another swordsman and former rival in love.

The Tale of Zatoichi(ja)

The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur and master swordsman. Zatoichi targets a yakuza-controlled village, because war with a neighbouring town's smaller gang is brewing.

Bad City(ja)

Kensuke Sonomura directs the legendary Hitoshi Ozawa in this ultimate V-Cinema actioner. Kaiko City is plagued with poverty and crime. When a corrupt businessman decides to run for mayor and starts eliminating opponents from the rival mafia, a former police captain serving time for murder is secretly released and put in charge of a special task force to arrest him.

A Family(ja)

Taken in by the yakuza at a young age, Kenji swears allegiance to his old-school boss, pledging to adhere to the family code amid ever-changing times.

Jigen Daisuke(ja)

Feeling unhappy with his gun, Jigen is looking for the world’s best gunsmith. He finally finds out that Chiharu, who runs a watch shop, is the person he’s been seeking. Then, Jigen meets Oto, who comes to Chiharu’s shop looking for a gun. Jigen finds out about Oto's secrets and the mysterious organization that’s after her. After Oto is kidnapped, Jigen gets into a desperate battle to save her.

Kamui(ja)

A rebellious ninja in 17th century Japan takes refuge with a fisherman and his family.

Samaritan Zatoichi(ja)

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. Osode and Zatoichi are caught in a dilemma as she must rely on her brother's killer for protection and Zatoichi wrestles with the injustice he has caused.