Tetsurō Tamba

Tetsurō Tamba

Born: July 17, 1922
Died: September 24, 2006
in Tokyo, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
Tetsurō Tamba (July 17, 1922 – September 24, 2006) was a distinguished Japanese actor known for his versatile talent across five decades. Recognized globally for his portrayal of Tiger Tanaka in the iconic 1967 James Bond film "You Only Live Twice," Tamba's cinematic journey was a remarkable blend of cultural bridges.

Before embarking on his acting career, Tamba worked as an interpreter for the Allied Powers' Supreme Commander. Graduating from Chuo University in 1948, he later joined Shintoho company, making his debut in the film Satsujin Yougishain in 1951.

Tamba's impact on Western audiences extended beyond Bond, with standout performances in films like Bridge to the Sun and The 7th Dawn. He earned acclaim in Japan as well, most notably as the lead in police dramas like Key Hunter and G-Men '75.

His talents weren't confined to the screen alone. Tamba lent his voice to characters like the Cat King in Studio Ghibli's The Cat Returns and graced historical roles in television dramas, leaving an indelible mark on period pieces.

In 2005, Tamba faced health challenges but continued to contribute until the end. Sadly, he passed away in Tokyo at 84 due to pneumonia on September 24, 2006. His legacy lives on through his son, actor Yoshitaka Tamba, while his last appearances in the 2005 Taiga drama Yoshitsune and the 2006 film Sinking of Japan remain a testament to his enduring impact on Japanese cinema and beyond.

Movies for Tetsurō Tamba...

The Exotic Locations of 'You Only Live Twice'
Title: The Exotic Locations of 'You Only Live Twice'
Character: Tiger Tanaka (archive footage)
Released: October 4, 2006
Type: Movie
Maud Adams narrates a tour of the locations of You Only Live Twice.
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Teruo Ishii Fan Club
Title: Teruo Ishii Fan Club
Released: August 12, 2006
Type: Movie
A documentary on Teruo Ishii, the Japanese "King of Cult".
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Demon Pond
Title: Demon Pond
Released: May 25, 2005
Type: Movie
The modern-day story of a man searching for a friend who has mysteriously disappeared, with a magical tale involving strange creatures, a heartbroken princess, and a pact that can't be broken. Conflicts between faith and skepticism, and between social obligation and personal desire drive the narrative toward a dramatic conclusion where the worlds of the real and the surreal inevitabl
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Title: Yoshitsune
Character: Minamoto no Yorimasa (Gen-ji)
Released: January 9, 2005
Type: TV
Yoshitsune is a Japanese television drama series originally broadcast between 9 January and 11 December 2005, with a three-part special compilation being aired from 24 December to 25 December 2005. The 44th Taiga Drama, the original work is by Miyao Tomiko, screenplay by Kaneko Narito and starring Hideaki Takizawa.
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Title: Order Made ~Shiawase Iro no Shinshi Fuku Mise~
Released: November 29, 2004
Type: TV
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The Thousand Year Fire
Title: The Thousand Year Fire
Released: September 11, 2004
Type: Movie
Having lost both his mother and father, an 11-year-old city boy is sent to live with his grandparents in a small seaside village. Feeling responsible for his father's accidental death, he becomes increasingly introverted and finds himself unable to make friends with the local kids. Then an eccentric elderly doctor takes him under his wing, and tells him of an ancient ceremony where a sacred flame must be brought back from a remote island by a lone swimmer.
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Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
Title: Capone: Roppongi Renkin no Teio
Released: February 14, 2004
Type: Movie
With the help of the real-life pachislot gambling group "Capone," the film depicts the friendship between a man who gambles and a man who lives in the underworld.
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Title: Yumemiru Budo
Released: September 29, 2003
Type: TV
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Gozu
Title: Gozu
Released: July 11, 2003
Type: Movie
Minami mistakenly kills a gangster associate of his named Brother. Almost as soon as the murder takes place, the body of the deceased man is gone, prompting Minami to conduct a search. While looking, he finds a mysterious isolated hotel where he decides to take a rest. Not only are the front desk clerks a bit strange, but even the ambiance feels unusual. Minami soon realizes he may have gotten more than he bargained for.
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Yakuza Demon
Title: Yakuza Demon
Released: June 25, 2003
Type: Movie
Seiji and Yoshifumi are the only members of the Muto branch of the Date Family. The two respect and love their leader, Mr. Muto, like a father and the three share a firm bond. But their fate is sealed when the Family is involved in a conflict. Muto is unable to pay his share of funds for the oncoming battle but tells executives of the Family that he would fight at the front line instead. In the wish to protect Muto, Seiji has him arrested by the police. Ignoring the Family executives' mocks of "Muto escaped to prison", Seiji prepares for the battle and attacks like a demon on behalf of his boss...
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A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand
Title: A Case of Murder by the Atami Station Taxi Stand
Released: February 17, 2003
Type: Movie
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T.R.Y.
Title: T.R.Y.
Released: January 11, 2003
Type: Movie
At the turn of the 20th Century amongst tension between China and Japan, a Japanese swindler in Shanghai plans to profit by selling weapons. He steals arms from the Japanese military and sells them to the rich Chinese.
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Best Ever Bond
Title: Best Ever Bond
Character: Tiger Tanaka (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: November 22, 2002
Type: Movie
Roger Moore presents the ten best sequences ever to have appeared in the James Bond series, and cast members recall their favourite moments.
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Bond Girls Are Forever
Title: Bond Girls Are Forever
Character: Tiger Tanaka (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: November 6, 2002
Type: Movie
Through vintage film clips of past Bond movie epics, and with the participation of several former "Bond Girls" as interviewees (among them Dr. No's Ursula Andress and Diamonds Are Forever's Jill St. John), the documentary traces the evolution of the typical James Bond heroine from decorative damsel in distress to gutsy (but still decorative) participant in the action.
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The Twilight Samurai
Title: The Twilight Samurai
Character: Tozaemon Iguchi
Released: November 2, 2002
Type: Movie
Seibei Iguchi leads a difficult life as a low ranking samurai at the turn of the nineteenth century. A widower with a meager income, Seibei struggles to take care of his two daughters and senile mother. New prospects seem to open up when the beautiful Tomoe, a childhood friend, comes back into he and his daughters' life, but as the Japanese feudal system unravels, Seibei is still bound by the code of honor of the samurai and by his own sense of social precedence. How can he find a way to do what is best for those he loves?
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Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
Title: Deadly Outlaw: Rekka
Character: Sanada
Released: September 21, 2002
Type: Movie
After Kunisada's Yakuza leader and father figure is brutally murdered, he and his best friend go on a two-man mission to avenge his death, killing other Yakuza leaders leading to a final confrontation by the old man's killers.
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The Cat Returns
Title: The Cat Returns
Character: Cat King (voice)
Released: July 19, 2002
Type: Movie
Young Haru rescues a cat from being run over, but soon learns it's no ordinary feline; it happens to be the Prince of the Cats.
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Graveyard of Honor
Title: Graveyard of Honor
Character: Tetsuji Tokura
Released: June 22, 2002
Type: Movie
A barkeeper saves a Yakuza boss' life and thus makes his way up in the organization. However, his fear of nothing soon causes problems.
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The Happiness of the Katakuris
Title: The Happiness of the Katakuris
Character: Granpa Jinpei Katakuri
Released: February 23, 2002
Type: Movie
The Katakuri family has just opened their guest house in the mountains. Unfortunately their first guest commits suicide and in order to avoid trouble they decide to bury him in the backyard. Things get way more complicated when their second guest, a famous sumo wrestler, dies while having sex with his underage girlfriend and the grave behind the house starts to fill up more and more.
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Shura Group
Title: Shura Group
Released: February 16, 2002
Type: Movie
Remake of The Story of a Man Among Men (1984)
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Title: Toshiie and Matsu
Character: Tarozaemon Iguchi
Released: January 6, 2002
Type: TV
The 41st NHK Taiga Drama is Toshiie to Matsu. During the turbulent Warring States Era, one man's life and career intertwined with the three great generals of Japanese history-Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu. With political savvy and the support of his fiercely loyal wife, Maeda Toshiie rose to second in power in the shogunate and built up a fiefdom that encompassed Echizen, Noto and Kaga.
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Ino Tadataka: Meridian dreams
Title: Ino Tadataka: Meridian dreams
Released: November 17, 2001
Type: Movie
Biographical story, based on life of Ino Tadataka, a Japanese measurer and cartographer. Ino Tadataka travelled the length and breadth of Japan on foot for 17 years from the age of 55 to perform his surveys. The accuracy of his maps also owed much to the fact that he was the first surveyor in Japan to combine measurements on the ground with observations of the heavens. Ino started the work as a private individual but earned the confidence of the Shogunate and it eventually turned into a national project. His maps were later used for many years as the foundation for maps made by modern survey techniques.
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The Making Of The Katakuris
Title: The Making Of The Katakuris
Released: October 31, 2001
Type: Movie
In this contemporary documentary, the cast and the crew share their experiences of making the film.
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Blind Beast vs Dwarf Killer
Title: Blind Beast vs Dwarf Killer
Released: June 24, 2001
Type: Movie
A blind masseur kidnaps young women and kills them and then make sculptures of them, while a mysterious dwarf spreading severed body parts around. Detective Akechi Kogorô investigating crimes.
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Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
Title: Sakuya: The Slayer of Demons
Character: Old Master
Released: December 8, 2000
Type: Movie
The eruption of Mt. Fuji in 1707 released hordes of demons from deep inside the earth. Sakuya, the young daughter of a samurai killed fighting these demons, accepts a mission to travel to Mt. Fuji and defeat the evil spirits. Accompanying her on her journey are two veteran warriors who served her father, and Tarō, a young kappa, or river spirit, whom she has adopted as her little brother. Along the way, the two warriors have doubts about Tarō’s loyalties, and the young kappa himself must decide if he will stand with his own species or with the humans who have cared for him.
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A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
Title: A Class to Remember IV: Fifteen
Character: Tetsuo Hatake
Released: November 11, 2000
Type: Movie
Bored with school, 15-year-old Daisuke Kawashima embarks on a pilgrimage to visit the 7,000-year-old cedar tree on distant Yakushima Island. Through his journey, Daisuke meets a number of interesting people, including friendly truck driver Sumire and a mysterious mountaineer girl.
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The Stupid Teacher
Title: The Stupid Teacher
Character: Utaemon Baba
Released: September 30, 2000
Type: Movie
Film director Mario Baba meets a mysterious gentleman, and realizes he is a important man from his boyhood. The two chase each other around, causing a lot of commotion.
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Japanese Hell
Title: Japanese Hell
Character: Asu Shino
Released: November 20, 1999
Type: Movie
From the king of the Japanese cult movie, Teruo Ishii! A controversial film in which actual cases that rocked modern-day Japan—including the sarin gas attack by the Aum Shinrikyo Cult—are dramatized with gruesome detail as their perpetrators stand trial in Hell. An angst-ridden girl, Rika, is carried off to Hell by an old woman she meets in a neighborhood park. There she gets a first-hand look at the excruciating agony of those found guilty—by Lucifer himself—of committing heinous crimes during their time on Earth.
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Title: One for All
Character: Inui Sanshiro
Released: October 21, 1999
Type: TV
After spending 20 years searching for the object of his vengeance, Sekiya Kanbei discovers he is now a ronin. Inui Sanshiro was the head of a clan until his son succeeded him, or so he says. Genmu claims to have once been a ninja. These three elderly men join forces to travel the Japanese countryside together. Along the way, they encounter situations that bring out the "warrior" in each of them, and soon they are fighting the corruption and injustices that plague the common people.
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Jubaku: Spellbound
Title: Jubaku: Spellbound
Character: Tajiro Kawakami
Released: September 18, 1999
Type: Movie
When a major bank is caught paying off a corporate extortionist, the media and prosecutors begin to dig, breaking open a money-and-favours scandal that threatens to rock the entire structure of business and government to its core. While the bank's top executives continue to vacillate, a quartet of middle-management reformers, led by straight-arrow Kitano (Koji Yakusho), decide to stage a boardroom coup and install a new, clean management team. With the aid of a hotshot news anchor (Miho Wada) and a hard-nosed prosecutor (Kenichi Endo), heads begin to roll.
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Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
Title: Crayon Shin-chan: Explosion! The Hot Spring's Feel Good Final Battle
Character: Tamba (voice)
Released: April 17, 1999
Type: Movie
There's only one way to stop a filthy evil scientist from destroying the world, and it's with a powerful hot spring located under Shin-chan's house!
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Screwed
Title: Screwed
Character: Landlord
Released: June 17, 1998
Type: Movie
It has been two years since unsuccessful cartoonist Tsube started to live with Kuniko casually in a small apartment.
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The Peking Man
Title: The Peking Man
Character: Osone
Released: December 20, 1997
Type: Movie
In 1929 the fossil of a 500,000 year old man is discovered in China. In 1941 the Japanese army confiscates this find, but during the war the remains disappear. Based on these factual events, this movie takes off with a science fiction story involving a space rocket which places a satellite in orbit containing a secret cargo. The satellite crashes on a remote island and footprints are found in the sand leading away from the crash site. A story of how an ancient primitive cave-dwelling family contends with the scientists who want to study them.
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Title: Kaseifu wa mita!
Released: October 9, 1997
Type: TV
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Title: Hashiran ka!
Character: 前田米吉
Released: October 3, 1995
Type: TV
Set in Hakata, the series is about a young man who wants to play rock music even though his father expects him to follow him in making Hakata ningyou (a traditional Japanese clay doll). One of the few Asadora starring a male character.
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Title: Gokenin Zankuro
Released: January 9, 1995
Type: TV
Zankuro Matsudaira (Ken Watanabe) is a low-grade vassal of the Tokugawa Shogun, forced to moonlight as a bodyguard and executioner to make ends meet. He also has a drinking problem, an overeating mother, and a propensity to protect the oppressed, all of which eat into his finances. His confident mother Masajo (Kyoko Kishida) is the descendant of a famous family of shogunate retainers and a mistress of the pen and sword, who regards her son as a failure.
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Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
Title: Tetsuro Tamba’s Great Spiritual World 3: Amazing Reincarnation Story That Ran Around the Whole
Released: July 13, 1994
Type: Movie
At the end of the Edo period, nine-year-old Katsugoro told his older sister that he was the reincarnation of Tozo, who had died in a neighboring village. A live-action adaptation of Koizumi Yakumo's "Katsugoro Saisei Ki", which is based on a reincarnation incident that is also recorded in the official documents of the Edo magistrate's office.
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Title: Coming Home
Character: Shirota Fukuzo
Released: July 8, 1994
Type: TV
Shirota Shintaro lives with his wife Atsuko, his four children, Shitaro's father Fukuzo, and a dog. He is forced to make room for his sister Megumi and her children, as well as an unexpected lodger from Hungary.
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Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
Title: Psychic: Traveler to the Unknown
Released: June 11, 1994
Type: Movie
Hikaru, an ordinary man, discovers a way to unleash the supernatural powers hidden inside his soul, allowing him to cure others with his newfound “ki” healing power.
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The Supernormal II
Title: The Supernormal II
Released: March 3, 1993
Type: Movie
Pseudo-documentary sequel.
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Title: Hanshichi Torimonochō
Released: October 13, 1992
Type: TV
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Taira no Kiyomori
Title: Taira no Kiyomori
Released: July 25, 1992
Type: Movie
The tale of Taira Kiyomori who started as a young inexperienced warrior who led the Heike into the battle against the brutal pirates on Setouchi.
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Minamoto Yoshitsune
Title: Minamoto Yoshitsune
Released: December 31, 1991
Type: Movie
During the late Heian era in Japan a famous duel took place between the warrior monk Musashibo Benkei and a slender young man of high rank named Shanao. This was the battle at Gojo Bridge, and while Benkei had taken 999 sword from his vanquished opponents, he was soundly defeated by the young flute-playing samurai. Swearing allegiance to the superior swordsman, Benkei became his loyal vassal and accompanied the young man who went on to fame as Minamoto Yoshitsune, the general who defeated the Taira clan at the Battle of Dan no Ura thus leading the Genji over the Heike as the most powerful clan in the nation. With superb performances by some of Japan's greatest stars, including Satomi Kotaro and Tanba Tetsuro, history comes to life in this action-packed production.
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The Tale of Genji
Title: The Tale of Genji
Released: December 27, 1991
Type: Movie
TV movie based on the novel "The Tale of Genji" by Murasaki Shikibu, which tells about the life of Prince Hikaru Genji, who was nicknamed "Shining" by people for his dazzling noble beauty. In 1991, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of TBS' founding, it was released with a total production value of around 1.2 billion yen and aired in two parts.
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The Great Shogunate Battle
Title: The Great Shogunate Battle
Released: December 14, 1991
Type: Movie
The early days of the Tokugawa shogunate are brought to light in this exciting historical tale of broken vows and violent swordplay. In an ambush reminiscent of Miike’s 13 Assassins, although pre-dating that incident by 160 years, the heir to the shogun’s seat is brutally cut down by those who hope to install the emperor’s 5th son as military leader of the nation.
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Yakuza Warfare
Title: Yakuza Warfare
Released: November 9, 1991
Type: Movie
Two childhood friends find themselves caught in the midst of an all-out turf war between rival factions in the yakuza-stained region of Kyushu.
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Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
Title: Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
Character: Master Zhang
Released: October 5, 1991
Type: Movie
In 2001, where all correctional facilities have been privatized, martial artist Ricky finds himself victim to the corrupt system, found "guilty" of the manslaughter of an infamous crime boss.
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The Hitman Blood Smells Like Roses
Title: The Hitman Blood Smells Like Roses
Released: June 14, 1991
Type: Movie
A woman is being attacked by the yakuza of the Mitsuyoshi group ... A man with a pistol appears dashingly and shoots the yakuza without question now the yakuza want him dead
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Kim's War
Title: Kim's War
Released: April 5, 1991
Type: Movie
After shooting a gangster in self-defense, Kim Hui Ro takes refuge at a hotel and takes the guest hostages. Realising his position, he invites the press inside and explains why he was driven to his crime.
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Heat Wave
Title: Heat Wave
Character: Denkichi Tsuzaki
Released: February 9, 1991
Type: Movie
Rin Jyoshima lost her father to death-by-gambling; years later, she's grown up in the Kosugi household and has fallen victim to gambling herself.
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Female Neo-Ninjas
Title: Female Neo-Ninjas
Character: Time Patrol leader
Released: January 1, 1991
Type: Movie
Three cute, sexy ninjas, around the age of 20, have been in training, building their powers for some vague future threat. Their destined mission becomes apparent when a handsome ninja from 400 years past drops from the sky into the hot tub of on of the girls. He comes with news of a grave threat: an evil industrialist has apparently joined forces with UFOs to take over Japan. The only solution, it seems, lies in the special talents of the three girls - notable as much for their martial arts as their skimpy costumes.
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Title: Yonimo Kimyou na Monogatari Tokubetsuhen
Released: October 4, 1990
Type: TV
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1750 Days of Turbulence
Title: 1750 Days of Turbulence
Released: September 15, 1990
Type: Movie
After the death of previous Boss, a gang war lasts for more than four years.
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School Be-In Bully
Title: School Be-In Bully
Character: Ryotaro Sakurazawa
Released: August 25, 1990
Type: Movie
The prestigious private Sakuraryo Gakuen, which has a 90-year tradition, has now lost its glory to the ground, and the back organization of the athletic club, the male “Black Warriors” and the female “Red Warriors”, have made use of them. One girl, Oda Yoko, who has transferred to such a school, sneaks into the principal's room to find out the truth of the death of her best friend, Atsushi Katayama
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Aurora Borealis
Title: Aurora Borealis
Character: Tsuneiro Kamisaka
Released: August 3, 1990
Type: Movie
The story of a man and a wolf-dog in East Siberia during the early 1900s.
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13 Assassins
Title: 13 Assassins
Released: March 28, 1990
Type: Movie
In between the original 1963 13 ASSASSINS film and the 2010 remake by Miike Takashi, Fuji TV produced a version for TV. Starring Nakadai Tatsuya and Natsuyagi Isao, with strong support from Tanba Tetsuro and Tanaka Ken, this is the ultimate tale of samurai justice carried out in a historical masterpiece. The shogun’s half-brother, Matsudaira Naritsugu has been slated to join the Roju Council of Elders as a senior adviser even though he is criminally insane. His outrageous acts cause one of his top retainers to commit ritual suicide in protest over his lord’s crimes. Alerted to these crimes, Roju Councilor Doi asks Inspector General Shmada Shinzaemon to assassinate Naritsugu before he can be seated on the council. Gathering a band of 13 (including himself), Shimada sets out on a death-defying journey to cut down the lord before he can reach Edo. Can a band of 13 samurai defeat the vile Naritsugu’s 200 man entourage and enact justice against his cruelty?
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Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
Title: Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World 2: I was surprised when I died!!
Character: Ryo Okamoto
Released: January 13, 1990
Type: Movie
The second installment of the spirit world guide movie based on the original idea of ​​Tetsuro Tamba, made after the hit of the previous work. Depicts the world after death seen by a man who was sentenced to death for murdering his wife and sent to heaven.
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Title: HOTEL
Character: Ohara Tetsutaro
Released: January 11, 1990
Type: TV
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Tokyo: The Last War
Title: Tokyo: The Last War
Released: September 15, 1989
Type: Movie
The year is 1945. After the horrific fire-bombings of the Pacific War levels Japan to the ground, the government decides to consult spiritual psychics to aid them in winning the war. Unfortunately, the resentment and agony of the souls of the fire-bombing victims culminate together to revive the evil Onmyoji, Yasunori Kato. Only a young, psychically imbued apprentice of the priests will dare fight against the evil magic user. However, can this lone man possibly contend with Kato's overwhelming power?
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Four Days of Snow and Blood
Title: Four Days of Snow and Blood
Character: Jinzaburi Shinzaki
Released: June 17, 1989
Type: Movie
Based on the "2.26 Incident", an attempted coup d'état in Japan 1936, launched by radical ultra-nationalist parts of the military. Several leading politicians were killed and the center of Tokyo was briefly held by the insurgents before the coup was suppressed.
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The Political Game
Title: The Political Game
Released: May 3, 1989
Type: Movie
This is James Miki's first directorial work, and he is also the original writer and scriptwriter. Noritaka Sakamoto was in charge of photography, and Kentaro Haneda was in charge of music direction. It depicts how an honest candidate aiming for a clean election campaign gradually collapses in the face of various realities. Kiyokawa, the mayor of Higurashi City, died at his lover's house. Yoshihiko announces that he will conduct a clean election campaign, but his sponsors and backers are reluctant.
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Yakuza Ladies 3
Title: Yakuza Ladies 3
Character: Takeo Sakanishi
Released: April 8, 1989
Type: Movie
Upon the passing of the Sakanishi Clan’s boss, a fierce battle between his wife Hazuki and his disciple Terada breaks out. Will Hazuki be able to assume her husband’s position as the head of the established yakuza clan?
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長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る
Title: 長七郎江戸日記スペシャル 長七郎 大奥まかり通る
Released: April 4, 1989
Type: Movie
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Shogun's Shadow
Title: Shogun's Shadow
Character: Hotta Masamori
Released: January 14, 1989
Type: Movie
A shogun's eldest son must do whatever it takes to survive a series of attempts on his life. He receives much-needed aid from seven warriors who are led by a strong leader.
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Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
Title: Tetsuro Tamba's Great Spirit World: What Happens When You Die
Character: 吉野博士
Released: January 14, 1989
Type: Movie
Visualization based on Tetsuro Tamba's best-selling "Great Reikai". A story about a physicist who dies in an accident and experiences the afterlife as a spirit. The leading role is Tamba Tetsuro's biological son, Tamba Yoshitaka.
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Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
Title: Tokugawa Ieyasu – TBS Warlord Special
Released: July 12, 1988
Type: Movie
From his early days as Matsudaira Motoyasu through his rise to the most powerful man in Japan as Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first of the Tokugawa Shoguns, this is the story of the man who truly unified Japan under one ruler. Tokugawa Ieyasu is quoted as saying: “People carry burdens through life as they travel a long road. Never rush” “If you think of privation as normal, you’ll be contented. If you know only about winning and losing, harm may fall upon you. Being inferior is batter than being superior.” These writing reflected the beliefs and military strategy of Ieyasu, a man before his time who was destined to take over the entire country in order to ensure the safety of his children.
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Tokyo Pop
Title: Tokyo Pop
Character: Mr. Dota
Released: April 15, 1988
Type: Movie
A young rock singer is not appreciated by her band, and gets a postcard from Japan saying "wish you were here". She takes what little money she has including ex-boyfriend's rent money and goes to Tokyo. She has numerous cross-cultural adventures and ends up singing with a Japanese rock group looking for a gaijin gimmick.
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A Taxing Woman's Return
Title: A Taxing Woman's Return
Character: Sadohara
Released: January 15, 1988
Type: Movie
Ryōko Itakura returns as the tough-as-nails government taxing agent. This time she must figure out a way to expose a fanatical religious cult lead by a corrupt sociopath.
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Tabaruzaka
Title: Tabaruzaka
Released: December 30, 1987
Type: Movie
Known as the ”Last Samurai” Saigo Takamori was a stout giant of a man with a huge head and a neck like a bear. As the leader of Satsuma’s anti-Western faction, he was instumental in establishing the Sat-Cho Alliance dreamed of by Sakamoto Ryoma. After the fall of the Tokugawa, Saigo rose to major prominence before falling in disfavor. In 1876 Saigo Takamori resigned from his government post and went back to Kagoshima. He founded a local military school and dissatisfied samurai gathered around him in large numbers. In late 1876 it came to an open conflict when samurai rebels raided and occupied ammunition and weapon depots of the central government. The samurai rebels urged and proclaimed Saigo Takamori as their leader. While the Tom Cruise movie fictionalized Saigo’s life story, this is history come to life in the most exciting rendition with an all-star cast that is not to be missed!
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There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
Title: There Goes Benio, the Smart Girl
Released: December 12, 1987
Type: Movie
Benio, a peppy tomboy, is surprised to learn that she has been secretly betrothed by her grandfather to a young officer named Shinobu Ijuin. Because of his family’s noble status, Benio must first undergo rigorous training to learn how to be a proper bride and wife before she can marry. However, because of her vivacious personality, this proves to me more challenging than anyone imagined.
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Twilight of the Cockroaches
Title: Twilight of the Cockroaches
Character: Grandpa (voice)
Released: November 21, 1987
Type: Movie
The cockroaches of Saito's apartment live in peace with their human host, who gives them lots of space to breed and plenty of leftovers to munch on. In the midst of these high living times, Naomi and Ichiro plan to get married and start a family. But when a hard-bitten stranger roach named Hans appears with news of war with the humans across the lawn, it foretells disruption-not only of Naomi and Ichiro's relationship, but of the hive's entire way of life.
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You're My Destiny
Title: You're My Destiny
Released: November 16, 1987
Type: Movie
Naomi, a corporate heiress from Japan, vacations to Hong Kong with her two colleagues. Bored, she sneaks out to visit the city and befriends a local rock band and, appreciative of the company, later helps the members with their debit issues. Meanwhile, Naomi's colleagues received news that the big boss of their company succumbed to a heart attack and that Naomi must sign a document to prevent the company from being turned over to a corrupt executive. The colleagues try to locate Naomi, just as a relationship develops between her and the band leader.
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Shinran: Path to Purity
Title: Shinran: Path to Purity
Released: June 2, 1987
Type: Movie
In the 12th century, Buddhism was still a relatively new religion in Japan. At that time, one school (Shingon) offered extensive training in complex and very demanding practices which might eventually bring about spiritual purification and realization. Various Zen schools offered students a lengthy path, literally composed of a blank wall and unceasing meditation. Yet another school (Tendai) emphasized complex metaphysics and the study of philosophical systems. Basically, all of them were designed to cater to the few who were able to give up everything else in their lives and focus on liberation, such as scholars and noblemen. In this historical and biographical drama, this is the situation that the young Shinran (1173-1263) discovered when he began exploring Buddhism as an alternative to the violence and ceaseless civil wars that racked Japan at the time.
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Night Train
Title: Night Train
Character: Isaburo Tamura
Released: January 17, 1987
Type: Movie
A woman faces betrayal, which tests her love.
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Title: Byakkotai
Character: Jinbo Kuranosuke
Released: December 30, 1986
Type: TV
Byakkotai was part of Aizu's four-unit military, set up in the domain's drive to finalize its military modernization, in the wake of the Battle of Toba-Fushimi. The other three units were Genbutai, Seiryūtai, and Suzakutai. Each of the four was named after the protecting gods of compass directions. Byakkotai was meant to be a reserve unit, as it was composed of the young teenage 16 to 17 year old sons of Aizu samurai in a group around 350, who fought in the Boshin War (1868–1869)
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The White Tiger Battalion
Title: The White Tiger Battalion
Released: August 25, 1986
Type: Movie
The Byakkotai was part of Aizu’s four-unit military, set up in the domain’s drive to finalize its military modernization, in the wake of the Battle of Toba-Fushimi. The other three units were Genbutai, Seiryūtai, and Suzakutai. Each of the four was named after the protecting gods of compass directions. Byakkotai was meant to be a reserve unit, as it was composed of the young teenage 16 to 17 year old sons of Aizu samurai in a group of around 350, who fought in the Boshin War (1868–1869).
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Be Free!
Title: Be Free!
Character: Keizo Hasegawa
Released: August 9, 1986
Type: Movie
Adventures of a young high school teacher and his oddball students.
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April Fish
Title: April Fish
Character: Panapora Chief Handa
Released: May 31, 1986
Type: Movie
A Francophile filmmaker in a creative rut tries to pass off a free-spirited young actress as his movie-star wife in order to fool a chief from the South Seas.
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Cabaret
Title: Cabaret
Character: Yakuza boss
Released: April 26, 1986
Type: Movie
A young jazz musician's desire to advance in his career runs afoul of organized crime in this thriller from Haruki Kadokawa. After a saxophonist starts playing at a particular nightspot, a thug from the Yakuza adopts him as a special friend for no greater reason than he plays one of his favorite songs well. As the dangerous life of the gangster intertwines with that of the musician, it brings harm to the musician's girlfriend, who is raped. This changes the young saxophonist's attitude about his patron, but his Yakuza "friend" is still too embroiled in his own problems to worry about anything else.
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Title: Inochi
Character: Takahara Masamichi
Released: January 5, 1986
Type: TV
The drama begins in August 1945, three days after the end of the Pacific war. A freight train completely jam-packed with passengers heads for Aomori from devastated Tokyo. On the train is Takahara Miki and her sister Sachi. Miki and Sachi are the daughters of a wealthy landlord living in a village in the Tsugaru area in Aomori prefecture, but they have been living in Tokyo since before the war to attend school. After seeing her village does not have a doctor, Miki is determined to become a rural doctor.
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Title: Tokugawa Chronicles: Ambition of the 3 Branches
Character: Naruse Hayatonosho
Released: January 2, 1986
Type: TV
The story of the battles between the 3 related families Kishu, Mito, and Owari, as each vies for the shogun’s seat in the line of succession. Highlighting the series are many fights between the young lord’s Negoro ninja helpers and their mortal enemies, the Koga ninja. History comes alive with the bloody blades of the three families at war within the highest levels of government as the search for a new shogun continues!
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Vendetta of Obligation
Title: Vendetta of Obligation
Released: December 30, 1985
Type: Movie
This is the story of the 47 ronin of the Ako clan who rose up to avenge the brutal death of their beloved master Asano Takumi-no-kami after his failed attack on the vile Lord Kira led to his being ordered to commit ritual suicide in a garden on the grounds of the shogun's palace.
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The Last True Yakuza
Title: The Last True Yakuza
Character: Kazumasa Tashiro
Released: November 16, 1985
Type: Movie
A made man during the height of Hiroshima's yakuza turf war must maneuver through the violence and betrayal inside the criminal underworld.
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Shiosai
Title: Shiosai
Released: October 10, 1985
Type: Movie
Lonely youth Shinji meets Hatsue, a pretty pearl diver, on the beach and the two fall in love. But Shinji has a rival for Hatsue's affections, Yasuo. Yasuo spreads unpleasant gossip about his rival, and Hatsue's father forbids her to see Shinji. But when the boy saves the passengers on a boat owned by Hatsue's father, his luck in love begins to change. —Jim Beaver
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Title: Sanada Taiheiki
Character: Sanada Masayuki
Released: April 3, 1985
Type: TV
The drama tells the story of the Sanada family. Originally serving the Takeda Clan they ruled the northern district of Shinano. The story begins right after the death of Takeda Shingen, continues through the rise of Tokugawa Ieyasu who founded the Tokugawa shogunate and covers roughly the period 1580-1610.
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Love: Starting on a Journey
Title: Love: Starting on a Journey
Released: January 26, 1985
Type: Movie
A girl suffering from an incurable disease get in a coma, while her boyfriend visit her to the hospital, she visits the beyond.
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Nezumi Kozō kaitō den
Title: Nezumi Kozō kaitō den
Released: December 28, 1984
Type: Movie
Japanese comedy film.
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The Story of a Man Among Men
Title: The Story of a Man Among Men
Released: November 17, 1984
Type: Movie
During the Showa era, a young yakuza survives war and injury and rises to become a clan boss with the help and respect of his sworn brothers.
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Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta
Title: Kōgen ni ressha ga hashitta
Released: September 29, 1984
Type: Movie
High school movie
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Fireflies in the North
Title: Fireflies in the North
Character: Ishikura
Released: September 1, 1984
Type: Movie
Set in the icy wilderness of Hokkaido during the early days of the Meiji era, where the brutal warden of Kabato Prison terrorizes convicts sentenced to forced labor to build the roads needed to open up the territory.
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Zero
Title: Zero
Character: Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Released: August 11, 1984
Type: Movie
Two young men are recruited into the Japanese air force just before outbreak of WW2 by the test pilot of Japans new super fighter - the Zero. The movie is told in reverse from the point of one of the young men who don't qualify for the pilot training and instead joins the ground crew. It chronicles the entire history of the famous fighter from the first prototype test flights all through the war.
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Kukai
Title: Kukai
Released: April 13, 1984
Type: Movie
The life and times of Kûkai, a Japanese monk who studies Esoteric Buddhism in the far reaches of India, China and Tibet, then uses their combined influence to establish the Shingon school during the Heian period in early 9th Century AD.
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Title: 水曜ドラマ 宮本武蔵
Character: 平田無二斎
Released: April 4, 1984
Type: TV
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Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
Title: Choshichiro's Edo Diaries: The Yagyu Conspiracy
Character: Yagyu Munefuyu
Released: January 1, 1984
Type: Movie
Rumors are circulating that the shogunate is losing control of some feudal domains. Lord Yagyu Munefuyu is assigned to deal with the problem and the rebellious clans will be crushed! Meanwhile, a former vassal of the Kazama clan is shot and killed. Moments later a second man is killed by a mysterious master swordsman. Matsudaira Choshichiro and his companions arrive at the crime scene and find a new type of repeating gun. The carved seal on the gun stock belong to the Saiga; a ninja clan abolished by the shogunate many years ago. The blame for the murders is placed on the Kazama clan. Are they guilty or is this a wise cunning plan by Lord Yagyu to be able to destroy the Kazama clan? Choshichiro sets out to reveal the truth and try to save the doomed Kazama clan! In his way are the Owari, Lord Yagyu and his ninja assassins, and the mysterious master swordsman! Will Choshichiro prevail against impossible odds...?
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L・O・V・I・N・G
Title: L・O・V・I・N・G
Released: December 24, 1983
Type: Movie
Murder case.
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A Madcap Corporation
Title: A Madcap Corporation
Released: December 17, 1983
Type: Movie
A comedy of a yakuza family that goes into show business.
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The Tale of Saikaido
Title: The Tale of Saikaido
Released: September 30, 1983
Type: Movie
Set in the Kyushu area of the Edo period. This is a large-length bizarre story that incorporates elements such as mysteries and adventures surrounding hidden gold mines.
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The Geisha
Title: The Geisha
Character: Kochi Notable
Released: September 10, 1983
Type: Movie
Yokiro was the most successful Geisha house in Western Japan during the first half of the 20th century and remains open to this day. At its peak, it was home to over 200 geisha, however behind the fabulous facade, there were many battles - between family members, men and women, and with the Yakuza. Momokawa was sold to Yokiro at age 12, and despite being the top geisha, her many complicated relationships provide unending challenges throughout her glamorous but turbulent life.
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The Duel in the forbidden territory
Title: The Duel in the forbidden territory
Released: September 9, 1983
Type: Movie
The wandering swordsman, Ino Heihachiro, defeats Ichima, the youngest of the famed swordsmanship trio, the Nikis, but sustains an injury. In the mountains of Tohoku, he is aided by a young boy named Shosuke. Heihachiro finds refuge in the home of the boy's parents, Magoichi and Shino, only to discover that Magoichi was a skilled ninja from Koga. The peaceful days with the family are short-lived as Ichima, bent on revenge, along with his brothers Kurodo and Ryuma, pursue Heihachiro. Heihachiro and Magoichi head towards the duel's location, but the village headman, Seibei, blinded by the allure of gold dust in the mountains, abducts Shino...
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Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun
Title: Samon’s Hell Revenge: Unauthorised Jutte Records 2 - The Assassination of the Shogun
Released: July 10, 1983
Type: Movie
Samon Kamiyama, a yoriki of the Minami-machi magistrate infiltrates the Denzū-machi prison disguised as Mushuku Sahēji. Samon is mistaken for a snitch and about to be beaten up when he was saved by the quick thinking of a ferryman Sanji. The infiltration is the plan of Samon and chief elder Abe Isenokami, who has asked Samon to obtain smuggling evidence against shipping whole retailers Kawachiya Senemon and his son Sennosuke.
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Battle Anthem
Title: Battle Anthem
Character: Yamamoto
Released: June 4, 1983
Type: Movie
The story of Japan's victory in the battle of Tsushima Strait.
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Title: Marco Polo
Character: Saiamon
Released: December 5, 1982
Type: TV
Marco Polo is an American-Italian television miniseries originally broadcast by NBC in the United States, by Antenne 2 in France and by RAI in Italy in 1982. It starred Kenneth Marshall as Marco Polo, the 13th-century Venetian merchant and explorer. The series also featured appearances by Denholm Elliott, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Ian McShane, Leonard Nimoy, and others. It was originally broadcast in four episodes, where episodes 1 and 4 were twice as long as episodes 2 and 3. The series is sometimes divided into six equally long episodes.
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To Trap a Kidnapper
Title: To Trap a Kidnapper
Released: September 25, 1982
Type: Movie
Hideyuki Mitamura, a student at a private school near Osaka, is kidnapped on his way home from school.
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Suspicion
Title: Suspicion
Character: Kanetaka Okamura
Released: September 11, 1982
Type: Movie
A car going at 25 mph plunges into the sea at Shinko Harbour, Toyama prefecture. Inside is the local business magnate Fukutaro Shirakawa, who perishes. Riding alongside him and surviving unhurt is his second wife, Kumako. It soon comes to light that Kumako’s husband was insured for 300 million yen and she is arrested on suspicion of murdering her husband for the insurance money. The newspapers denounce her as an evil woman, while the public is in no doubt about Kumako’s crime. Ritsuko Sahara is chosen as her defence attorney but the pair clash over almost everything...
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The Imperial Japanese Empire
Title: The Imperial Japanese Empire
Character: Hideki Tojo
Released: August 7, 1982
Type: Movie
Story of three people, a barber, a Christian and a graduate of the Tokyo Military Academy during the 2nd World War.
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The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
Title: The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
Released: July 23, 1982
Type: Movie
Kotiyama is a swindler and extortionist, the head of a whole gang of crooks, usually posing as a poor monk; once he really took vows, but he was kicked out of the monastery long ago. He is enterprising, smart and not too cruel, so his accomplices love him. Posing as an envoy from the abbot of the Kennei Temple, Kotiama plays a show in front of Lord Matsue with an income of 150,000 koku, and extorts money from him. The film is based on the famous play by Kawatake Mokuami.
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Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
Title: Onimasa: A Japanese Godfather
Character: Uichi Suda, The Big Boss
Released: June 5, 1982
Type: Movie
Onimasa is the egocentric boss of a small yakuza clan on Shikoku Island, whose criminal duties conflict with his self-image as a chivalrous samurai. His struggles with his boss, the Shikoku Godfather, and the tumultuous life of his adopted daughter, Matsue, form the backdrop of this epic tale of justice, obedience, and bloody vengeance.
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Title: Matsudaira Ukon Jikencho
Released: March 28, 1982
Type: TV
In this gripping period drama, Matsudaira Ukon, the younger brother of the 11th Tokugawa Shogun Ienari, lives in the city as Yabutaro, a doctor in the Ukiyo Koji district, while fighting the evil that has infested the city of Edo.
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Call from Darkness
Title: Call from Darkness
Character: Sugibayashi
Released: September 26, 1981
Type: Movie
Keiko Inagawa (Asami Kobayashi) pays a visit to neurologist Aizawa about her fiancé Tatsuo Tamura (Kaoru Kobayashi). A mysterious case involving the disappearance of Tatsuo’s three brothers, one after the other, is yet to be resolved and now Tatsuo, seized with the idea that he too may disappear, has had a nervous breakdown. Aizawa suggests that Tatsuo recount his dreams as a means of solving the mystery, since human beings have an instinct that foretells the near future in the form of a dream. Keiko and Tatsuo eventually discover that the three disappearances have a strange connection…
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The Wild Daisy
Title: The Wild Daisy
Character: Gozaburo Saito
Released: August 8, 1981
Type: Movie
Saito Masao reminisces on the days of his youth more than 50 years ago and his forbidden love of his older cousin Tamiko. When he was 15, Tamiko moved in to take care of his sickly mother. The two quickly fell in love with each other but were inevitably forced by their family to live separate lives.
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The Imperial Navy
Title: The Imperial Navy
Character: Jisaburo Ozawa
Released: August 8, 1981
Type: Movie
A lavish retelling of the true story of the final voyage and ultimate destruction and sinking of the battleship Yamato, Japan's greatest flagship during the Second World War.
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The Bushido Blade
Title: The Bushido Blade
Character: Lord Yamato
Released: June 19, 1981
Type: Movie
A steel samurai blade that was to be given to the American ambassador by the Emperor of Japan is stolen. American sailors and Japanese samurai are sent to find it.
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Samurai Reincarnation
Title: Samurai Reincarnation
Character: Muramasa
Released: June 6, 1981
Type: Movie
After surviving the slaughter of many Christians 350 years ago, a samurai denounces God for ignoring the pleas of believers. He sells his soul to Satan and receives the power to resurrect the dead to join him in a murderous rampage.
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Flames of Blood
Title: Flames of Blood
Released: January 1, 1981
Type: Movie
The story is set in Bakumatsu and revolves around the Bunta Sugawara character, a yakuza (of course :) but instead of a modern yakuza/gangster, he's a gambler/bakuto). After he kills someone and gets wound, is saved by a blind woman (Mitsuko Baishô), who took care of him. They has a happy time under the protection of the Tomisaburo Wakayama character, an oybun. But of course, happy time doesn't last long. The story is also related to Okada Izo and the Shinsengumi (w/ Kondo Isami played by Makoto Sato)
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Shogun's Ninja
Title: Shogun's Ninja
Character: Tozawa Hakuunsai
Released: November 15, 1980
Type: Movie
In the middle of the 16th century, Hideyoshi, a power hungry warlord sets out to destroy the Momochi clan. He sends his war commander in search of the clan's hidden gold only to find that two daggers are the key to the hiding place of the treasured gold. Spanning decades, the quest for the missing daggers takes Shiranui through war and ancient tradition.
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Drive for the Future
Title: Drive for the Future
Character: Akiji Nishikawa
Released: October 25, 1980
Type: Movie
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Port Arthur
Title: Port Arthur
Character: Gentaro Kodama
Released: August 2, 1980
Type: Movie
Depicts the bloody siege of the fortress of Port Arthur, one of the most strongly fortified positions in the world, during the Russo-Japanese War of (1904 - 1905). In the story dominated the character Lt Takeshi Kogyo (Teruhiko Aoi), teachers, and a reserve officer who became commander of the platoon and later company. At the same time monitors the conduct of the army commander general Nogi (Tatsuya Nakadai), which was commissioned of the emperor Matsuhito (Toshirô Mifune) to the conquest of the fort.
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The Sand Boat
Title: The Sand Boat
Released: May 31, 1980
Type: Movie
A Young couple find a boad buried under a beach,and are taken to another world where they must face a Deadly cult who want to sacrifice them.
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Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
Title: Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Saga
Character: Tatsuo Akashi
Released: April 5, 1980
Type: Movie
The 224-minute compilation edition of Battles Without Honor and Humanity compiles these four movies: Battles Without Honor and Humanity, Deadly Fight in Hiroshima, Proxy War, Police Tactics.
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The Way to The Gold Medals
Title: The Way to The Gold Medals
Character: President Sakakibara
Released: April 5, 1980
Type: Movie
About Soviet and Japanese volley-ball players who are both rivals and friends. The events cover the period from the 1976 Montreal Olympics to the eve of XXII Olympics in Moscow.
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The Shogun Assassins
Title: The Shogun Assassins
Character: Kato Kiyomasa
Released: September 1, 1979
Type: Movie
This is a film about a real person. Sanada Yukimura fought a war against Tokugawa Ieyasu.
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Dead Angle
Title: Dead Angle
Released: July 4, 1979
Type: Movie
Elite college graduates commit perfect financial crimes though loopholes in the law during the 1950s.
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Hunter in the Dark
Title: Hunter in the Dark
Character: Okitsugu Tanuma
Released: June 17, 1979
Type: Movie
Yataro Tanigawa, a one-eyed hired assassin, impresses yakuza boss Gomyo Kiyoemon with his skill. Gomyo hires Tanigawa as his bodyguard, or yojimbo, to protect him during an inter-clan conflict. Tanigawa quickly rises in stature in the clan, but finds his boss's enemies almost overwhelming.
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Nichiren
Title: Nichiren
Released: March 10, 1979
Type: Movie
An epic drama about Nichiren's life. Nichiren was a Buddhist monk who lived for 60 years during the Kamakura period (1185-1333) in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment. Because of his devout belief, Nichiren is met with opposition throught his travels, with life on the line, can Nichiren accomplish his goal?
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The Fall of Ako Castle
Title: The Fall of Ako Castle
Character: Yanagisawa
Released: October 28, 1978
Type: Movie
This is the story of "The Forty-Seven Ronin." Based on historical events in 1701-2, the movie tells the tale of the Asano clan's downfall and the revenge of its former samurai on the perpetrator of the catastrophe. Lord Asano was goaded, or tricked, into drawing his sword inside the Shogun's palace -- a crime which carried the death penalty. The newly installed Shogun was furious at Asano and ordered all his clan's assets seized, meaning some 20,000 samurai and commoners were unemployed and landless at a stroke. Forty-seven of these ronin (masterless samurai) banded together to take attempt revenge on Lord Kira, who had goaded Asano into drawing his sword.
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August without Emperor
Title: August without Emperor
Character: Army General Mikami
Released: September 23, 1978
Type: Movie
Taking the Chilean coup as an example, a group of young officers plan to overthrow the Japanese government on V-J Day. They aim to abolish the post-war constitution, restore the national army and revive the traditional spirit of Japan. As the conspiracy is exposed, the coup squadrons are wiped out one by one. The remaining squadron takes over a night train bound for Tokyo.
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Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
Title: Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron
Character: Kichibei
Released: July 1, 1978
Type: Movie
Kumokiri Nizaemon, a former samurai warrior, has abandoned his class to become the leader of a gang of thieves. He leads his outlaws in an attempt to rob the castle of his former clan.
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The Incident
Title: The Incident
Character: Lawyer Kikuchi
Released: June 3, 1978
Type: Movie
The body of Sakai Hatsuko, a woman of 23 who has been slain with a knife, has been found in a forest. Some days later, Ueda Hiroshi, a 19-year-old shipyard worker, is arrested and charged with the murder. At Ueda's trial, a complex story unfolds.
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Message from Space
Title: Message from Space
Character: Ernest Noguchi
Released: April 29, 1978
Type: Movie
The peaceful planet of Jillucia has been nearly wiped out by the Gavanas, whose leader takes orders from his mother rather than the Emperor. King Kaiba sends out eight Liabe holy seeds, each to be received by a chosen one to defend the Gavanas. Each recipient, ranging from hardened General Garuda to Gavana Prince Hans to young Terrans Meia, Kido, and Aaron all have different reactions to being chosen.
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Shogun's Samurai
Title: Shogun's Samurai
Character: Ogasawara Gensinsai
Released: January 21, 1978
Type: Movie
Following the death of the second Tokugawa shogun, it is revealed that he was poisoned by retainers of his son Iemitsu in hopes of gaining him the shogunate despite the stammer and birthmark which undermine his respect. Iemitsu and his brother Tadanaga become bitter rivals for the shogunate, and the land is split into factions, eventually erupting into warfare. Iemitsu's mentor, his fencing instructor Yagyu, is fixated upon securing Iemitsu the shogunate and ends up betraying everyone, even his own family, in pursuit of the goal.
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Title: Ōgon no Hibi
Character: Imai Sōkyū
Released: January 8, 1978
Type: TV
Luzon Sukezaemon is a merchant who imports vases from the Philippines. The vases are highly valued as tea utensils and he makes a huge profit. This was the first taiga drama to concentrate on the lives of commoners and the reviled merchant class of the Tokugawa period. It documents the rise and fall of the merchant city of Sakai, as seen by its most famous resident, the semilegendary Luzon.
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Sugata Sanshiro
Title: Sugata Sanshiro
Character: Iinuma
Released: October 29, 1977
Type: Movie
The story of Sanshiro Sugata, a young man who wants to learn the new art of judo. A wise teacher reveals to Sanshiro that judo is not merely a means of combat nor a demonstration of physical skill, but an art which reveals the artist to himself.
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High Seas Hijack
Title: High Seas Hijack
Character: Captain Munekata
Released: October 20, 1977
Type: Movie
Terrorists hijack an oil tanker and threaten to blow it up unless Japan meets their demands.
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Mount Hakkoda
Title: Mount Hakkoda
Character: Colonel Kojima
Released: June 4, 1977
Type: Movie
Two infantry regiments of the Imperial Japanese Army—210 men overall—tackled Mt. Hakkoda in the winter of 1902 to prepare for war with Russia.
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Flickering Flames
Title: Flickering Flames
Released: February 26, 1977
Type: Movie
In the early hours of April 13th, a five year old hemophiliac child was kidnapped by someone from Tanemura General Hospital in Tokyo, Setagaya. Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Inspector Kitahara, who received the report, goes quickly to the Tanemura home, along with other police to speak to the family of the child. Then, suddenly, the phone rings. The kidnapper wants money.
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The Alaska Story
Title: The Alaska Story
Character: Arashuk
Released: January 22, 1977
Type: Movie
A Japanese sailor finds a colony of Eskimos in the Arctic and decides to stay with them. He comes off at a certain moment to look for his luck in the gold rush in Alaska. But he does not forget them.
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Murderer!
Title: Murderer!
Character: Nīto Kouken
Released: October 16, 1976
Type: Movie
A cowardly samurai is sent as an official executioner targeting the clan's former sword instructor, a man whose sword and spear skills are second to none.
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Zero Fighter
Title: Zero Fighter
Character: Captain Saito
Released: October 2, 1976
Type: Movie
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The Corporation
Title: The Corporation
Released: August 14, 1976
Type: Movie
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The Classroom of Terror
Title: The Classroom of Terror
Released: July 1, 1976
Type: Movie
Yusaku Matsuda plays an ex-boxer who killed an opponent during a fight. He is brought into a school to deal with a gang of disruptive students led by Hiroshi Tachi.
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Human Revolution II
Title: Human Revolution II
Released: June 19, 1976
Type: Movie
Dramatic story of one man trying to make a difference.
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Operation Plazma in Osaka
Title: Operation Plazma in Osaka
Released: January 31, 1976
Type: Movie
Amidst Japan's postwar economic boom, yakuza factions in Osaka fight for survival when Japan's largest crime syndicate plans a hostile takeover.
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The International Gang of Kobe
Title: The International Gang of Kobe
Character: Rinsei
Released: October 14, 1975
Type: Movie
In 1947, in Kobe, Japan, a local street gang fights for their survival when its turf is overrun by United States occupation forces and international gangs.
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Company Buggers
Title: Company Buggers
Released: August 9, 1975
Type: Movie
Hiroshi, a small-time racketeer, makes a name for himself extorting vulnerable companies and their directors for financial gain.
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Conflagration
Title: Conflagration
Character: Captain Munekata
Released: July 12, 1975
Type: Movie
Global South guerrillas hijack the Japanese oil tanker Arabian Light, threatening to blow it up in Tokyo Bay, unless the cabinet complies with an economically devastating ultimatum.
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The Bullet Train
Title: The Bullet Train
Character: Sunaga
Released: July 5, 1975
Type: Movie
A Japanese bullet train is threatened with a bomb that will explode automatically if the train slows below 80 km/h, unless a ransom is paid. Police race to find the bombers so the train crew can learn how to defuse the bomb.
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All Men Are Brothers
Title: All Men Are Brothers
Character: Lu Chun I
Released: May 10, 1975
Type: Movie
Based on one of China's enduring epic novels, written in the 14th century, "All Men Are Brothers" continues the patriotic story of righteous warriors battling despotic leaders, featuring mythic characters familiar to every Chinese, and with a cast that has achieved an equally celebrated status among Shaw Brothers devotees.
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The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
Title: The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
Character: Shugi
Released: December 28, 1974
Type: Movie
When a priceless jewel owned by rich heiress Sabine is stolen, along with her daughter, Professional thief and hired killer Ryuichi Koga and his gang are hired to retrieve both. At a ransom exchange, the team save the girl but lose the money and the jewel. When Sabine decides to deal directly with the thieves and obtains the jewel on her own by paying the ransom, Koga, having been stiffed of his fee by Sabine, steals the jewel. Little does he know, it’s a fake. Now, Koga and the team must break into a high security bank to steal the real jewel.
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The Castle of Sand
Title: The Castle of Sand
Character: Detective Eitaro Imanishi
Released: October 19, 1974
Type: Movie
Two detectives are tasked to investigate the murder of an old man, found bludgeoned to death in a Tokyo rail yard.
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Karafuto 1945 Summer
Title: Karafuto 1945 Summer
Released: August 17, 1974
Type: Movie
The film is set in Karafuto after the radio broadcast of the Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War. On August 15, 1945, Soviet forces invaded Karafuto. On August 20, the postal telegraph office in Maoka suspended operations and nine of the twelve telephone operators committed suicide by taking potassium cyanide while the city was being invaded.
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Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus
Title: Secret Prophecies of Nostradamus
Character: Himself
Released: July 25, 1974
Type: Movie
A documentary about the 1974 film Prophecies of Nostradamus, released to coincide with the latter's release. It featured several prophets and experts on meteorology and food ecology giving their respective takes on the 1999 apocalypse which Nostradamus predicted. Performers Hiroshi Itsuki, Shizue Abe and Linda Yamamoto appeared as well as the film's stars, Tetsuro Tanba, Yoko Tsukasa, Toshio Kurosawa and Yumi Kaoru.
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Prophecies of Nostradamus
Title: Prophecies of Nostradamus
Character: Dr. Nishiyama
Released: July 13, 1974
Type: Movie
Professor Nishiyama, after studying and interpreting the prophecies of Nostradamus, realizes that the end of the world is at hand. Unfortunately, nobody listens to him until it is too late. As the effects of mankind's tampering of the earth - radioactive smog clouds, hideously mutated animals, destruction of the ozone layer - rage out of control, the world leaders hurtle blindly toward the final confrontation. The film sparked controversy in Japan and was subsequently pulled out of circulation, with no official video release of the uncut film.
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Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
Title: Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
Character: Nagumo
Released: May 21, 1974
Type: Movie
Agent Zero is a cop that uses her own methods for dealing with criminals. After she unlawfully kills a rapist in a violent fashion, she is sent to prison and stripped of her badge. But very soon after, a rich politician's daughter is kidnapped by a ruthless gang. Agent Zero is let out of prison with the mission of going undercover to find the politician's daughter and return her safely. Using her deadly red handcuffs, she disposes of the criminals one by one.
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Violent Streets
Title: Violent Streets
Character: Shimamura Kansai
Released: April 13, 1974
Type: Movie
With a Kansai syndicate setting their sights on Tokyo, a former yakuza boss gets dragged back into a world of violence.
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Submersion of Japan
Title: Submersion of Japan
Character: Prime Minister Yamamoto
Released: December 29, 1973
Type: Movie
A team of geophysicists investigating seismic activity on the seafloor discover that the islands of Japan, after suffering from massive volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, will be pulled into the ocean, killing millions.
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The Ando Gang Documentary Film
Title: The Ando Gang Documentary Film
Released: December 1, 1973
Type: Movie
This biopic of notorious yakuza-turned-actor Noboru Ando focuses on the days leading to his arrest after the shooting of businessman Hideki Yokoi.
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Wild Cop 2
Title: Wild Cop 2
Released: December 1, 1973
Type: Movie
Based on the comic Gokuburi Deka.
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Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
Title: Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War
Character: Tatsuo Akashi
Released: September 25, 1973
Type: Movie
Shozo Hirono has managed to separate from the Yamamori family and create his own small family, and extend his circle of acquaintances. These new friendships include a powerful underboss of the Muraoka family, Noboru Uchimoto.
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The Human Revolution
Title: The Human Revolution
Released: September 8, 1973
Type: Movie
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Japan's Top Gangster
Title: Japan's Top Gangster
Character: Noboru Yamaguchi
Released: August 11, 1973
Type: Movie
A boy born in a poor village in Tokushima spends his days idly until a chance meeting sets him on the road to becoming boss of Japan's largest gang.
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The School Deviate Waru
Title: The School Deviate Waru
Released: March 31, 1973
Type: Movie
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Quarreling with Yakuza
Title: Quarreling with Yakuza
Released: March 3, 1973
Type: Movie
Set loose in a postwar world with no rules, an ex-juvenile delinquent begins building the most powerful gang in Tokyo's glittering Shibuya ward.
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Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
Title: Bohachi Bushido: Code of the Forgotten Eight
Character: Shino
Released: February 3, 1973
Type: Movie
A Ronin with a death wish reluctantly joins the Clan of the Forgotten Eight, a nasty crew of ronin who are wrapped up in a clan war over local prostitution.
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Informal Dress
Title: Informal Dress
Released: October 12, 1972
Type: Movie
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Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
Title: Shadow Hunters 2: Echo of Destiny
Character: Kagemetsuke
Released: October 10, 1972
Type: Movie
The great Daimyo enlists the aid of the three Shadow Hunters in ensuring the delivery of an illegal cannon in this sequel to Toshio Masuda's bloody adaptation of the manga by Takao Saito. Despite the Shadow Hunters's remarkable skill, this mission is no walk in the park, and in order to survive they must face a relentless army of ninjas and female warriors willing to sacrifice their lives to disrupt the delivery and claim the cannon for themselves.
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Yakuza Skirmishes
Title: Yakuza Skirmishes
Released: September 29, 1972
Type: Movie
In the gaudy world of 1930s Shinjuku, a violent youth known as Bakudan Match tangles explosively with prostitutes, politicians and the police.
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New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm
Title: New Abashiri Prison Story: Honor and Humanity, Ammunition That Attracts the Storm
Released: August 12, 1972
Type: Movie
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Shōwa Gokudōshi
Title: Shōwa Gokudōshi
Released: June 15, 1972
Type: Movie
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Shadow Hunters
Title: Shadow Hunters
Released: June 10, 1972
Type: Movie
Set during the declining years of the Tokugawa shogunate, Shadow Hunters details the questionably noble exploits of three ronin who act as "Shadow Hunters". These three ronin are not your normal ornery ruffians who are looking for a drink, a broad and someone to jab a sword into, but are in fact former samurai who, rather than follow their destroyed fiefs and murdered masters into death via seppuku, have dedicated their combined sword prowess to stopping the government from raping its daimyos for valuable resources.
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Organized Crime: Killer's Glory
Title: Organized Crime: Killer's Glory
Released: May 27, 1972
Type: Movie
A professional lone-wolf hitman comes to his blood brother's aid when his boss is brutally murdered by an unknown yakuza faction.
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The Water Margin
Title: The Water Margin
Character: Jade Unicorn, Lu Chun I
Released: March 17, 1972
Type: Movie
The corruption in the Sung Dynasty of 11th century China is so rampant that it inspires a band of Oriental Robin Hoods - the Honorable 108. Mountain bandits who nevertheless live by a scrupulous code of conduct, the Honorable 108 pledge to end the repression of the brutal overlords.
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Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
Title: Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
Character: Sergeant Katsuo Togashi
Released: March 12, 1972
Type: Movie
A war widow determined to clear the name of her disgraced husband, who was court-martialed for desertion and executed. Official records have been destroyed, and the ministry that distributes benefits continues to deny her a pension. Twenty-six years after the war, she seeks out four survivors of her husband's garrison. Each tells a dramatically different story about her husband's conduct, but she is determined to learn the truth.
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Silence
Title: Silence
Character: Cristóvão Ferreira
Released: November 13, 1971
Type: Movie
Two Jesuit priests encounter persecution when they travel to Japan in the 17th century to spread Christianity and search for their mentor.
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The Armed Organization
Title: The Armed Organization
Released: November 10, 1971
Type: Movie
Violent Gang Re-Arms is a rousing tale of friction in yakuza and labor interactions with Koji Tsurata as a yakuza supervising a dockworker's union. He finds himself between a rock and a hard place, at odds with both the dockworkers' leader (Tomisaburo Wakayama) and sadistic, unprincipled bosses (Fumio Watanabe and Tetsuro Tamba).
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Troops of Darkness
Title: Troops of Darkness
Released: November 10, 1971
Type: Movie
A disgraced yakuza member, framed for the murder of his boss, emerges from prison eight years later with revenge on his mind.
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The Wolves
Title: The Wolves
Character: Genryu Asakura
Released: October 30, 1971
Type: Movie
After going to prison for killing the boss of the Kanno gang, Seji Iwahashi (Tatsuya Nakadai) gets released early -- only to find that his former gang has merged with the Kannos. But with bitter resentments lingering on both sides, how long will it be before the bloodshed begins anew? Set in 1926 Japan, this serpentine crime thriller from director Hideo Gosha also stars Toshio Kurosawa and Isao Natsuyagi as Iwahashi's closest ally.
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The Gambler's Counterattack
Title: The Gambler's Counterattack
Character: Chief Inspector
Released: October 14, 1971
Type: Movie
Aiba is a gang boss who has just got out of jail, and finds everything has changed. His old gang has broken up, and only a few people still respect him. So he becomes a consultant to another gang who are about to be clobbered by a much larger gang moving in from out of town. Aiba proves a crafty tactician, and does very well at playing gangs off against each other in order to save the smaller gang. His advice is not always taken by those he tries to help, but he is generally proved right.
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The Battle of Okinawa
Title: The Battle of Okinawa
Character: Lieutenant General Isamu Cho
Released: August 14, 1971
Type: Movie
The Americans are swiftly closing on Okinawa, an island just south of the Japanese mainland. The Imperial command sends top generals and several army divisions to defend it at all costs. The mission quickly degenerates as vital resources and troops are diverted to other islands. After a civilian evacuation ends in tragedy most of non-combatants are forced to remain on the island. Many convert to soldier status. Tokyo sends mixed messages that squander time and resources, as when they order the defenders to build an airstrip for aircraft that never come. The truth soon becomes obvious: the high command decides that the island cannot be held and effectively abandons the Okinawan defenders. When the Americans land many troops are deployed in the wrong places. As the slaughter mounts, a suicidal attitude takes hold. Okinawa becomes a death trap, for civilian volunteers and non-combatants as well.
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King of Pornography
Title: King of Pornography
Released: May 2, 1971
Type: Movie
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Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
Title: Men and War I: Prelude to Destiny
Released: August 14, 1970
Type: Movie
The upstart Godai family conglomerate plans to strengthen ties with the hardliners in the Kwantung Army as they plan military expansion into Manchuria.
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Postwar Secrets
Title: Postwar Secrets
Character: Kuroki
Released: June 4, 1970
Type: Movie
Everybody's chasing a diamond in Sadao Nakajima's crime/action/drama. It was a based on a novel by Tsusai Sugawara, who was a Japanese writer and political figure campaigning against drugs, prostitution and sexually transmitted diseases.
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Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
Title: Cherry Blossoms in the Air - The Suicide Raiders - Oh, Buddies!
Released: May 16, 1970
Type: Movie
In 1943 Japan is facing defeat. This makes Shinkichi, a straight, selfless student-patriot, ever more restless. He can no longer stand his soft "behind-the- gun" role of munition factory worker. School-mates one after another are going to the front, where he feels he should be. The last straw is an official report of his father's death in the Battle of Attu in the Aleutian Islands. He rushes to the naval air corps training camp at Tsuchiura along with his close school-mates Naito, Yamada, Saito and Tagawa as Volunteer pilot trainees leaving his mother and sweetheart weeping and helpless.
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The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
Title: The Scandalous Adventures of Buraikan
Character: Soshun Kochiyama
Released: April 18, 1970
Type: Movie
An outlaw pushes the residents of Edo's red light district to rebel against a growing number of stifling, moralistic laws.
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Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive
Title: Crimson Bat - Oichi: Wanted, Dead or Alive
Character: Hyoe
Released: April 8, 1970
Type: Movie
Oichi the Blind helps a woman escape the clutches of a high government official to go off with the man she loves. The official puts a reward on her head of fifty gold pieces and soon a menagerie of bounty hunters are after her skin. Three of them band together to accomplish this, one an expert swordsman, another a huge judo master and the third is deadly with a chain. To escape, she heads for the fishing town of Itso but soon comes face to face with Sankuro, the swordsman...
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Rise and Fall of Chivalry
Title: Rise and Fall of Chivalry
Released: February 21, 1970
Type: Movie
A reformed gangster agrees to help a former yakuza member.
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Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
Title: Japan's Violent Gangs: The Boss and the Killers
Released: November 20, 1969
Type: Movie
An honorable yakuza syndicate deeply rooted in Kyoto fights for survival when a new breed of gangsters threaten their very existence.
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The Five Man Army
Title: The Five Man Army
Character: Samurai
Released: October 16, 1969
Type: Movie
At the behest of local revolutionaries, a mercenary enlists four specialists in various combat styles to help him rob a Mexican Army train carrying $500,000 in gold.
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Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
Title: Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
Released: October 1, 1969
Type: Movie
Junko Fuji returns as Oryu the Red Peony, a wandering female yakuza on a soul-searching journey after the death of her father. After collecting her sickly follower from jail, she is taken in by a fishing village. Feeling indebed to their generosity, she stays to work for the village and promises to leave her yakuza ways behind. When a dispute breaks out for the gambling rights to a local festival, the villagers are harrassed by a gang of thugs. When the harrassment turns violent, Oryu must decide wither to keep her promise or protect the villagers.
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Lone Rebel
Title: Lone Rebel
Released: September 13, 1969
Type: Movie
Nomi-gumi, who plans to control Tama City, has begun to hurt Takase-gumi. Muraki, an executive, was entrusted with the destruction, but he was a brother of Takase-gumi's substitute, Tsukada. Muraki, who missed Tsukada and the old days at Tsukada's wife Shizue's shop, took the future of turning to the enemy painfully.
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The Private Police
Title: The Private Police
Released: September 6, 1969
Type: Movie
After the war, Kijima (Bunta Sugawara) returns to Tokyo where he meets Ôba (Noboru Andô), an Ex-Kamikaze pilot, and the two ruffians gather hooligans to join their group. In Ginza, the Togawa gang have taken over Sakurada's territory. After several fights Kijima and Ôba gain control of the territory by chasing out the notorious Togawa Group in the name of Sakurada. But Kijima is arrested for assaulting an American soldier. A few years pass. Kijima has served his prison term and the sears of war have been erased from Ginza. Ôba is now president of a company specializing in collection of bad debts, cheque frauds and everything that means money. People call their organization the “Private Police,” and Kijima begins to work for Ôba. Now the Takegami gang waits a chance to seize the Ginza territory.
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Penitentiary Brothers
Title: Penitentiary Brothers
Released: July 26, 1969
Type: Movie
Authentic action drama of modern gangsters.
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Sky Scraper!
Title: Sky Scraper!
Released: May 14, 1969
Type: Movie
A film about the construction of the Kasumigaseki Building, the first high-rise building in Japan.
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Goyokin
Title: Goyokin
Character: Rokugo Tatewaki
Released: May 1, 1969
Type: Movie
A guilt-haunted samurai warrior attempts to stop a massacre taking place.
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Black Lizard
Title: Black Lizard
Character: Kuroki
Released: July 31, 1968
Type: Movie
A detective tries to outwit a jewel thief who has kidnapped the daughter of a jeweler to get to an exquisite diamond.
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Snake Woman's Curse
Title: Snake Woman's Curse
Character: Commander
Released: July 12, 1968
Type: Movie
An old man dies of heartbreak when a cruel landlord is about to repossess his land. The old man haunts the landlord from the grave. Since the man died in debt, his wife and daughter are indentured servants and are forced to work in the landlord's factory.
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The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
Title: The Young Eagles of the Kamikaze
Released: June 1, 1968
Type: Movie
The film is dedicated to the souls of flight school graduates killed in World War II. Young boys dream about becoming pilots and apply to flight schools. However, the flight schools have extremely demanding, harsh training, and once they finally become pilots, they must become suicide bombers and give their lives for their homeland.
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The Bad Boss
Title: The Bad Boss
Released: May 6, 1968
Type: Movie
The first in what would become Toei's most successful, longest-running bosozoku film series. It lasted from 1968 till 1972 through sixteen films.
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Blackmail Is My Life
Title: Blackmail Is My Life
Released: February 28, 1968
Type: Movie
Though he has come from a rough background on the streets, Muraki quickly rises through the ranks by means of his well-honed blackmailing instincts. Desperate to keep rolling with his freewheeling lifestyle, Muraki sees his luck begin to crumble when he sets his sights on the business partners of a powerful gang boss.
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The Code of Man
Title: The Code of Man
Released: February 13, 1968
Type: Movie
Tetsuya Watari, a modern youth idol, co-stars with Tetsuro Tamba for the first time, and a young man who survives freely is an action giant who swings down the iron arm of justice and anger toward evil
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Gambler's Farewell
Title: Gambler's Farewell
Character: Tetsuji Kasai
Released: February 9, 1968
Type: Movie
The story of men devoted to the yakuza lifestyle and their struggles during a time of fading yakuza power.
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Army Intelligence
Title: Army Intelligence
Character: Lieutenant Colonel Akiyama
Released: February 9, 1968
Type: Movie
Kazuo, a Japanese army intelligence agent, reveals a foreign intelligence network in Japan and then sent to Borneo Island with a special mission.
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Game of Chance 3
Title: Game of Chance 3
Released: October 21, 1967
Type: Movie
Bungo, fulfilling his duty as a yakuza, kills a man from a rival gang. Since then, he has escaped the clan's vengeance by staying on the road with his son Kenichi. Tired of running, the two settle in a mountain town. Bungo finds work as a lumberjack for the Iwasaki family and Kenichi becomes a student at the local elementary school. Regrettably, their good fortune doesn't last. The yakuza boss, Tomitaka, wants control of the town's lumber and is willing to destroy the Iwasaki to get it. Natsue, Kenichi's estranged no-good mother, returns wanting to take part in the boy's upbringing. And shortly thereafter, a mysterious stranger arrives in town to lay claim on Bungo's life...
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The Return of the Filthy Seven
Title: The Return of the Filthy Seven
Released: October 21, 1967
Type: Movie
A 1967 crime film
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King of the Gang
Title: King of the Gang
Released: August 25, 1967
Type: Movie
The 11th and final film in the Gang series. Most of the films had different directors and cast, and were only connected by the title and Toei's marketing department. Unlike the early entries, which were jazzy capers, this final entry is a prototype jitsuroku yakuza film. Just back from the war, Noboru Ando leads a gang of war vets turned gangster in the US occupied streets of Tokyo. They get into a conflict with a Chinese gang as well as the military police. Tetsuro Tamba appears as a police chief trying to bring peace to the streets; 1st wave pinky violence star Masumi Tachibana is a girl grieving his dead gangster father.
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Hawk of the Harbour
Title: Hawk of the Harbour
Released: August 12, 1967
Type: Movie
A Nikkatsu Action film with Yujiro Ishihara as the head of a small shipping company who gets harassed by the yakuza.
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Organized Violence II
Title: Organized Violence II
Character: Police Inspector Kitagawa
Released: June 29, 1967
Type: Movie
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Portrait of Chieko
Title: Portrait of Chieko
Character: Kotaro Takamura
Released: June 22, 1967
Type: Movie
Takamura, a poet and sculptor, marries a budding artist named Chieko who dreams of becoming an oil painter. When a series of hardships befall her family, she finds herself unable to confide in her husband, and the pain she carries within begins to weigh heavily on her sanity...
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You Only Live Twice
Title: You Only Live Twice
Character: Tiger Tanaka
Released: June 13, 1967
Type: Movie
A mysterious spacecraft captures Russian and American space capsules and brings the two superpowers to the brink of war. James Bond investigates the case in Japan and comes face to face with his archenemy Blofeld.
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Once and For All
Title: Once and For All
Released: May 20, 1967
Type: Movie
Film concerning warring yakuza families.
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Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
Title: Gamblers: The Dragon Tattoo
Released: May 3, 1967
Type: Movie
The second part of the Gamblers series.
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Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
Title: Abashiri Prison: Duel in Hokkaido
Released: April 20, 1967
Type: Movie
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Dissolution Rites
Title: Dissolution Rites
Character: Sakai
Released: March 31, 1967
Type: Movie
Sawaki is released from prison after serving eight years for murdering a rival gang leader in order to obtain the land rights to a landfill for the Kotaki clan and he discovers that the world has changed significantly in that time. The police have forced the disbanding of all yakuza groups in and around Tokyo and most of the former yakuza have moved on to legitimate jobs. Sawaki is disgusted that his yakuza brothers have abandoned their codes of honor and are abusing their newfound power in the legitimate business world to exploit the poor. Sawaki feels partly responsible for making them so powerful and enabling their corruption, so he decides to follow his traditional code of honor to save the residents of a small town where his former lover lives.
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Organized Violence
Title: Organized Violence
Released: February 25, 1967
Type: Movie
A war breaks out on the streets between rivalry Yakuza clans.
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Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
Title: Spycatcher J3: SOS Close Shave
Character: J1 (TULIP Japan Branch Chief)
Released: August 3, 1966
Type: Movie
TULIP (The Undercover Line of International Police) is a New York-based international police force in direct opposition to the criminal organization TIGER (The International Group of Espionage and Revolt). Shunsuke Dan is agent Spycatcher J3 of the TULIP Japan Branch. Spycatcher J3 stands against TIGER's machinations.
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Tokyo Drifters
Title: Tokyo Drifters
Released: June 19, 1966
Type: Movie
Japanese crime film.
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The Kii River
Title: The Kii River
Character: Shintani Kosaku
Released: June 11, 1966
Type: Movie
Epic saga of an idealistic land-owning family dealing with militarism, war, social change and economic reform.
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Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
Title: Greatest Boss of the Showa Era
Released: May 30, 1966
Type: Movie
Somewhat unique as it appears to be one of the very rare appearances of master thespian Itô in a yakuza role.
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Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
Title: Sazen Tange and The Secret of the Urn
Character: Lord Tsushima Yagyu
Released: May 25, 1966
Type: Movie
Loyal samurai Samanosuke is attacked, mutilated, and left for dead while carrying out a mission for his clan. He recovers but has lost an eye and an arm. Taking a new identity as Tange Sazen, he searches for a stolen urn which has hidden significance to his clan. But Tange Sazen has his own reasons for seeking the urn.
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Thirst for Love
Title: Thirst for Love
Character: Kosuke Aso
Released: April 1, 1966
Type: Movie
Natsuko, a Tokyo bar proprietress, and Yuki, a Kyoto Ryokan owner, vie for the affections of an advertising professional.
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Blood of Revenge
Title: Blood of Revenge
Character: Yutaro Nomura
Released: September 18, 1965
Type: Movie
Osaka, 1907: Asajiro lives between a rock and a hard place: he has to keep his business clean and running, tame his late oyabun’s hot-blooded son and suffer the throes of his impossible love for beautiful geisha Hatsue.
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Blood and Law
Title: Blood and Law
Released: August 29, 1965
Type: Movie
Based on the autobiography of Noboru Andô .
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The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
Title: The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
Released: August 12, 1965
Type: Movie
Third part of Nihon Kyokakuden series is set in Kanto in 1924. Ken Takakura playing a ship's mate befriending fish shop owners harassed by yakuza.
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The Gambler
Title: The Gambler
Released: July 10, 1965
Type: Movie
A crime film released in 1965
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Samurai Spy
Title: Samurai Spy
Character: Sakon Takatani
Released: July 10, 1965
Type: Movie
Years of warfare end in a Japan unified under the Tokugawa shogunate, and samurai spy Sasuke Sarutobi, tired of conflict, longs for peace. When a high-ranking spy named Tatewaki Koriyama defects from the shogun to a rival clan, however, the world of swordsmen is thrown into turmoil. After Sasuke is unwittingly drawn into the conflict, he tracks Tatewaki, while a mysterious, white-hooded figure seems to hunt them both. By tale’s end, no one is who they seemed to be, and the truth is far more personal than anyone suspected. Director Masahiro Shinoda’s Samurai Spy, filled with clan intrigue, ninja spies, and multiple double crosses, marks a bold stylistic departure from swordplay film convention.
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Ankoku gai jingi
Title: Ankoku gai jingi
Released: June 13, 1965
Type: Movie
A big American boss landed in Japan in search of funding sources. A lone wolf trying to stop it ends up fighting against his big brother's organization and emerging powers. A huge gangster story depicting a three-way turf war on a large scale.
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Abashiri Prison
Title: Abashiri Prison
Character: Tsumaki
Released: April 18, 1965
Type: Movie
Abashiri Prison is located in the coldest place in Japan. Two men, handcuffed together have escaped from the prison, one a yakuza, the other a petty criminal, and although they hate each other they must work together if they are to evade capture in this harshest of climates.
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Tale of Ninja Duty
Title: Tale of Ninja Duty
Character: Mumyo Tsunataro
Released: February 25, 1965
Type: Movie
Mumyo Tsunataro killed his betrayed fiance Orie and He flees to Utsunomiya. On his way he happens to saves Chisaka Hyobu's daughter Oyu (She is exactly like Orie) be attacked by ninja. Thus he stays Chisaka's residence in Yonezawa. Chisaka was just trying to stop Forty-seven ronin's revenge against Kira Kozukenosuke by female ninja's sexual entrapment. Chisaka asks Tsunataro to lead female ninja. Tsunataro accepts the request on condition of marriage to Oyu.
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Kwaidan
Title: Kwaidan
Character: Warrior (segment "Hoichi the Earless")
Released: January 6, 1965
Type: Movie
Taking its title from an archaic Japanese word meaning "ghost story," this anthology adapts four folk tales. A penniless samurai marries for money with tragic results. A man stranded in a blizzard is saved by Yuki the Snow Maiden, but his rescue comes at a cost. Blind musician Hoichi is forced to perform for an audience of ghosts. An author relates the story of a samurai who sees another warrior's reflection in his teacup.
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Gamblers and Racketeers
Title: Gamblers and Racketeers
Released: December 24, 1964
Type: Movie
Komatsu Takioka is boss of a Yakuza group rival to Masakichi Kijima boss of the Kikuya group which supports the town vendors unlike Takioka, who will stop at nothing to undermine the vendors and take over the territory. Masakichi will do all he can to protect and support the people. Ryutaro Kijima is senior son to Masakichi, though disowned, he keeps interest in the family from a distance. He will be there for his father and his hot tempered younger brother Katsuo, if they should need his loyal help.
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Samurai from Somewhere
Title: Samurai from Somewhere
Released: December 7, 1964
Type: Movie
Young Lord Takenaka stands to succeed his father until a series of violent actions lead his retainers to think that he has gone mad with blood-lust. Never offering any explanation, he continues his seemingly unprovoked attacks until he is sent away from his domain.
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Detective
Title: Detective
Released: December 5, 1964
Type: Movie
The first film with Tetsuro Tamba as a detective. An exciting drama about the pursuit of a criminal, which takes place in Yokohama. Tamba enthusiastically plays a police inspector who pursues a criminal who kidnapped his sister.
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Revenge
Title: Revenge
Character: Shume Okuno
Released: November 1, 1964
Type: Movie
An innocuous comment during a weapon inspection wounds the pride of low-ranking samurai Shinpachi, leading to an argument with his superior. The situation snowballs out of control, leading to a deadly duel and political fallout which threatens the entire clan. Declared mentally unstable by the corrupt authority, Shinpachi begins his descent into true insanity…
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The Great Duel
Title: The Great Duel
Released: September 5, 1964
Type: Movie
In this gritty tale of gamblers battling in the samurai era, Okawa Hashizo gives perhaps his greatest performance as a gambler returning to his home town. Swearing allegiance to his fiancée’s father, a decent boss, he had taken to the road after a gang fight until things cooled down. While honing his sword skills in his travels, everything in the town had changed and he descended into a virtual hell of violence. Opponents were being slaughtered by a former samurai ‘Bodyguard’ played by Tanba Tetsuro at the height of his amazing career. While these two master swordsmen are fated to meet, before that can even happen they must survive one of the longest, bloodiest swordfights in movie history!
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The 7th Dawn
Title: The 7th Dawn
Character: Ng
Released: September 2, 1964
Type: Movie
Political and personal intrigues surround a group of characters in Malaya, after the close of the Second World War.
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The Shogun's Vault
Title: The Shogun's Vault
Released: August 13, 1964
Type: Movie
Okawa Hashizo is 'Red Peony' Hanji who is thrown into a prison cell where he gets involved in a plot to steal government gold from the Shogun's vault. A tough fighter, he has to show his ability in order to keep from getting himself killed by the prisoners, too. Co-starring some of the biggest name in movies at the time, including Kataoka Chiezo and Tanba Tetsuro this film is loaded with surprises. From the opening moments when prisoners carry out their own form of justice, killing a crooked ex-constable, it is clear that this is the work of a visionary filmmaker.
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Assassination
Title: Assassination
Character: Hachiro Kiyokawa
Released: July 4, 1964
Type: Movie
Assassination begins with the events of 1853 when "four black ships" anchored at Edo Bay, sparking civil unrest and the major political manoeuvring that saw the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate. At a time when assassination had become a disturbing political tool, Shinoda's film follows Hachiro Kiyokawa, an ambitious, masterless samurai whose allegiances drift dangerously between the Shogunate and the Emperor.
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Homicide
Title: Homicide
Character: Lieutenant Aikawa
Released: June 20, 1964
Type: Movie
This film tells about the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Aikawa, the head of the Bureau of Military Affairs, about the beginning of the incident 2.26 and the execution of young officers.
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Samurai from Nowhere
Title: Samurai from Nowhere
Character: Gunjuro Ohba
Released: May 20, 1964
Type: Movie
Misawa Ihei (Nagato) is traveling with his wife Tae (Iwashita Shima) who abhors the practice of sword fighting for prize money. Tae is the daughter of the clan's chief counselor who married the low-ranking Ihei to avoid becoming the clan lord's mistress. Into the mix comes Oba Gunjuro (Tetsurō Tamba), a mysterious ronin who will do anything for money. This leads to a fitting climax as the forces of hate and love converge while the couple attempt to break through the border!
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Three Outlaw Samurai
Title: Three Outlaw Samurai
Character: Sakon Shiba
Released: May 13, 1964
Type: Movie
Shiba, a wandering ronin, encounters a band of peasants who have kidnapped the daughter of their dictatorial magistrate, in hopes of coercing from him a reduction in taxes. Shiba takes up their fight, joined by two renegades from the magistrate's guard, Sakura and Kikyo. The three outlaws find themselves in a battle to the death.
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An Outlaw
Title: An Outlaw
Released: April 5, 1964
Type: Movie
Assassin Nanjo goes on a solitary mission to take revenge on the man who trapped him into a complicated drug deal.
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Destroyer Yukikaze
Title: Destroyer Yukikaze
Released: February 16, 1964
Type: Movie
Yutaro Kida, a worker at the Sasebo Naval Arsenal, volunteers for the navy but finds himself a cook's mate in the galley of a gunboat. But his dream is eventually realized when he is transferred to the new and powerful destroyer Yukikaze which he helped to build. When the Pacific War breaks out Yukikaze performs valiantly in the South Pacific, and while on shore leave, Kida meets and falls in love with Yukiko, younger sister of his commander.
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Jakoman and Tetsu
Title: Jakoman and Tetsu
Character: Jakoman
Released: February 8, 1964
Type: Movie
In a village subsisting on its herring fishery, a one-eyed criminal named Jakoman terrorizes the inhabitants. One of them, the son of the head of one of the fish companies by the name of Tetsu, decides to overthrow Jakoman and his cohorts.
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The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
Title: The Kingdom of Jirocho 3
Released: February 8, 1964
Type: Movie
The third part of the story about feudal boss Jirocho and his underlings.
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Tokyo Gang Vs. Hong Kong Gang
Title: Tokyo Gang Vs. Hong Kong Gang
Released: January 1, 1964
Type: Movie
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13 Assassins
Title: 13 Assassins
Character: Doi Ōkō Toshi
Released: December 7, 1963
Type: Movie
A sadistic Daimyo (feudal lord) rapes a woman and murders both her and her husband, but even when one of his own vassals commits suicide to bring attention to the crime, the matter is quickly hushed up. Not only will there be no punishment, but because the Daimyo is the Shogun's younger brother, he will soon be appointed to a high political position from which he could wreak even more havoc. Convinced that the fate of the Shogunate hangs in the balance, a plot is hatched to assassinate the Daimyo. The two most brilliant strategic minds of their generation find themselves pitted against each other; one is tasked to defend a man he despises, and has a small army at his disposal. The other is given a suicide mission, and has 12 brave men. They are the 13 Assassins.
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Tange Sazen
Title: Tange Sazen
Released: November 17, 1963
Type: Movie
In 1730, the Tokugawa Shogunate orders the Yagyu Clan to repair a huge shrine. Since it cannot refuse the Shogunate's request, the impoverished Yagyu Clan tries to raise funds by obtaining a sword which holds the key to a wondrous, hidden treasure. After learning the sword's secret, Tange Sazen sides with the Yagyu Clan, but his motive seems to be more than just pure interest in the treasure...
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Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
Title: Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
Character: Gu Shimizu
Released: October 20, 1963
Type: Movie
A modern gang version of Chushingura, chronicling almost scene for scene the Brave 47 Ronin story, transposed from the Genroku Period to the Showa Era.
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Element of Surprise
Title: Element of Surprise
Released: September 21, 1963
Type: Movie
1963 Toei war / action film.
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Futari dake no toride
Title: Futari dake no toride
Released: March 24, 1963
Type: Movie
Futari dake no toride
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Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
Title: Tokyo Untouchable: Escape
Character: Goro Kawamoto
Released: March 15, 1963
Type: Movie
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Kizu-darake no futeki-sha
Title: Kizu-darake no futeki-sha
Released: March 9, 1963
Type: Movie
1963 Japanese movie
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Gang and G-Men Part 2
Title: Gang and G-Men Part 2
Character: 手塚徹
Released: February 24, 1963
Type: Movie
A gang plans to steal twenty billion yen by safecracking tactics; however, they discover that one of the gang members is an infiltrating cop.
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Eleven Gangsters
Title: Eleven Gangsters
Released: January 15, 1963
Type: Movie
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Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
Title: Uragirimono wa jigoku daze
Released: December 23, 1962
Type: Movie
1962 Japanese movie
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Operation Diamond
Title: Operation Diamond
Character: Kazuo Kasami
Released: December 9, 1962
Type: Movie
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Umineko ga tonde
Title: Umineko ga tonde
Released: December 5, 1962
Type: Movie
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Gang vs. G-Men
Title: Gang vs. G-Men
Character: Toru Tezuka
Released: November 2, 1962
Type: Movie
Two rival gangs of gangsters clash for dominance of a neighborhood.
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Tokyo Untouchable
Title: Tokyo Untouchable
Character: Goro Kawamoto
Released: October 21, 1962
Type: Movie
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Hell's Kitchen
Title: Hell's Kitchen
Released: October 12, 1962
Type: Movie
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A Flame at the Pier
Title: A Flame at the Pier
Released: September 30, 1962
Type: Movie
A young dockworker who owes his life to his boss becomes embroiled in union activity on the Yokohama waterfront. The rebel Saburo works as an errand boy for a shipping company and vents his frustrations by plucking on the guitar.
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Harakiri
Title: Harakiri
Character: Hikokuro Omodaka
Released: September 15, 1962
Type: Movie
Down-on-his-luck veteran Tsugumo Hanshirō enters the courtyard of the prosperous House of Iyi. Unemployed, and with no family, he hopes to find a place to commit seppuku—and a worthy second to deliver the coup de grâce in his suicide ritual. The senior counselor for the Iyi clan questions the ronin’s resolve and integrity, suspecting Hanshirō of seeking charity rather than an honorable end. What follows is a pair of interlocking stories which lay bare the difference between honor and respect, and promises to examine the legendary foundations of the Samurai code.
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Gang vs. Gang
Title: Gang vs. Gang
Released: July 13, 1962
Type: Movie
The plot opens with the hero (Tsuruta) leaving prison, having served time through taking the blame for a fellow gang member’s crime. However, his former gang boss seems to have gone to seed, with people now killing each other and dealing in drugs. The hero then teams up with a lone operator (Tamba) who specialises in shaking down gangsters.
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Four Sisters
Title: Four Sisters
Character: Masao Igarashi
Released: July 1, 1962
Type: Movie
A story about the lives of four sisters and their manipulative mother who must come to terms with each of their decisions in life.
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Zankokuna tsuki
Title: Zankokuna tsuki
Released: May 27, 1962
Type: Movie
1962 Japanese movie
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G-Men in the Pacific
Title: G-Men in the Pacific
Character: Mizuhara
Released: April 22, 1962
Type: Movie
G-men challenge a jewelry smuggling ring. The chase starts in Kyushu and continues to Kobe to Yokohama.
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The Challenge
Title: The Challenge
Character: Takayama
Released: March 28, 1962
Type: Movie
Journalist Kuroki is investigating clandestine arms sales to Southeast Asia. He discovers that the point man in an arms trade was also involved in the cover-up of a murder on an American base during the Allied Occupation. The film rolls along as a suspenseful thriller while offering a critique of political corruption, hypocrisy, and journalistic cowardice in postwar Japan.
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All Rascals
Title: All Rascals
Released: March 21, 1962
Type: Movie
Ishihama is planning a casino robbery with his wife and mother-in-law. They meet a man named Tsuneda who is planning the same robbery and agree to work together.
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Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
Title: Tales of Young Genji Kuro 3
Released: March 7, 1962
Type: Movie
In the third, and final chapter of this epic tale, handsome swordsman Genji helps a vulnerable princess who is in search of a missing scroll that belongs to the Shogun. This is one of the most highly regarded trilogies featuring a youthful Nakamura Kinnosuke in one of his best roles. This was Kinnosuke at the height of his career, with charm, honor and a vicious sword. If you enjoyed the first two films in the series, you can't miss the exciting conclusion. Even without know-ledge of the first two films, this movie stands on its own with great action throughout!
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Kuro to aka no hanabira
Title: Kuro to aka no hanabira
Released: January 14, 1962
Type: Movie
Crime film distributed by Taiho.
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South Pacific Waves Are High
Title: South Pacific Waves Are High
Released: January 9, 1962
Type: Movie
1962 Japanese movie
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Greed in Broad Daylight
Title: Greed in Broad Daylight
Character: Miyahara
Released: November 1, 1961
Type: Movie
After a successful robbery the culprits, from very different backgrounds, at once turn on each other.
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Bridge to the Sun
Title: Bridge to the Sun
Character: Jiro
Released: October 17, 1961
Type: Movie
Tells the true story of Gwen Terasaki, who falls in love with, then marries a Japanese diplomat. When war breaks out they find animosity and trouble from both sides.
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The Yellow Climate
Title: The Yellow Climate
Released: September 23, 1961
Type: Movie
Based on the mystery novel of the same name by Seichō Matsumoto.
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Dai shinrin ni mukatte tatsu
Title: Dai shinrin ni mukatte tatsu
Released: September 23, 1961
Type: Movie
Strife between competing lumber mills.
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Mist and Shadows
Title: Mist and Shadows
Character: Yusuke Komiya
Released: August 26, 1961
Type: Movie
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Red Flowers of Hell
Title: Red Flowers of Hell
Released: May 3, 1961
Type: Movie
1961 gangster film.
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Kaachan
Title: Kaachan
Released: March 15, 1961
Type: Movie
Home drama about tin craftsmen and their families in downtown Tokyo. Though poor, they do not lose their cheerfulness or give in to oppression.
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Pigs and Battleships
Title: Pigs and Battleships
Character: Slasher Tetsuji
Released: January 21, 1961
Type: Movie
In the city of Yokosuka, Kinta and his lover Haruko, both involved with yakuza, brave the post-occupation period with a goal to be together.
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Daredevil in the Castle
Title: Daredevil in the Castle
Character: Sadamasa Ishikawa
Released: January 3, 1961
Type: Movie
During the raging war between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa clans, the swordsman Mohei (whose family has been completely decimated) is recruited by Toyotomi to overcome the seat of power, Osaka Castle. Mohei's daredevil skills will be put to severe tests.
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Get 'em All
Title: Get 'em All
Character: Tanabe
Released: November 29, 1960
Type: Movie
Gang of robbers quarrel about the loot, but when one of them gets killed, his younger brother seeks them out to ice them one by one.
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The Gambling Samurai
Title: The Gambling Samurai
Character: Fumizo Mitsuki
Released: March 28, 1960
Type: Movie
Chuji Kunisada returns to his home village to find that Jubei Matsui, the corrupt magistrate, has been responsible for virtually destroying Kunisada's family. A final tragedy leads Kunisada to join with a band of rogues living in the forest in robbing from the rich and giving to the poor, always with an eye toward avenging himself on Magistrate Matsui.
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Zero sen no jorō gun
Title: Zero sen no jorō gun
Released: January 13, 1960
Type: Movie
Japanese crime film.
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Female Slave Ship
Title: Female Slave Ship
Released: January 3, 1960
Type: Movie
The year is 1945, months prior to Japan's ultimate defeat in WW2, and military lieutenant Sugawa is sent on a critical mission to deliver micro-fiche war plans to Tokyo from his base in Malaysia. But while flying over Chinese waters his plane is shot down and he is taken aboard a ship bound for Shanghai to deliver its merchandise - a ship filled with Female Slaves kidnapped from Japan. Will he abandon the women to pursue his main objective? Or will he fight foes, spies and pirates to save these women against all odds?
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金語楼の海軍大将
Title: 金語楼の海軍大将
Released: December 27, 1959
Type: Movie
Japanese comedy film.
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Mukeisatsu
Title: Mukeisatsu
Released: April 17, 1959
Type: Movie
Japanese crime film.
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Rajo to satsujin-meiro
Title: Rajo to satsujin-meiro
Character: Senba
Released: January 22, 1959
Type: Movie
Japanese crime film.
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The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal
Title: The Pacific War and the International Military Tribunal
Released: January 3, 1959
Type: Movie
In 1941, overpopulated Japan faces an economic boycott and its armed forces push further to the south. And despite negotiations between Japan and the U. S. A. war is declared with the attack on Pearl Harbour. Victories follow for Japan on land and sea and her forces push forward to the borders of India. But gradually the tide turns in favour of the Allies and after the atom bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan is compelled to accept the Potsdam Declaration and by the order of the Emperor agrees to unconditional surrender. Under the supervision of the occupation forces the International Military Tribunal opens in Tokyo to try the Japanese war leaders. Established in the cause of justice, and to prevent future aggressive wars the trials drag on for two and a half years. And on December 23, 1948, General Tojo and six other war leaders mount the thirteen steps to the gallows at Tokyo's Sugamo prison.
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Kyōen Kobanzame
Title: Kyōen Kobanzame
Released: November 8, 1958
Type: Movie
Japanese film, originally released in two parts.
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Underwater Murder
Title: Underwater Murder
Released: July 27, 1958
Type: Movie
The film marked Yōko Mihara's debut as the star of Shintoho's series of ama films, a role she took over from Michiko Maeda.
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Quick on the Trigger
Title: Quick on the Trigger
Released: July 6, 1958
Type: Movie
Early pinku.
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Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
Title: Emperor & Empress Meiji and the Sino-Japanese War
Character: Keisuke Otori
Released: March 14, 1958
Type: Movie
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A Wicked Woman
Title: A Wicked Woman
Character: Ihei Ôsawa
Released: February 25, 1958
Type: Movie
In 1870's Tokyo, Den steals to support the daughter of her first marriage and her consumptive second husband. She falls in love with a young policeman, but is coerced into becoming the mistress of and procurer for a vice boss.
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Queen of Asia
Title: Queen of Asia
Released: December 28, 1957
Type: Movie
Japanese war film based on the true story of Yoshiko Kawashima, played by actress Miyuki Takakura in her film debut.
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ひばりの三役 競艶雪之丞変化 後篇
Title: ひばりの三役 競艶雪之丞変化 後篇
Released: November 23, 1957
Type: Movie
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Hibari no san'yaku: Kei tsuya yuki no jôhenge
Title: Hibari no san'yaku: Kei tsuya yuki no jôhenge
Released: November 17, 1957
Type: Movie
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The Ghost of Kasane
Title: The Ghost of Kasane
Character: Jinjûrô Ômura
Released: July 10, 1957
Type: Movie
A blind masseur visits a samurai to request the return of a loan. The samurai kills him in anger, then has his servant dump the body in the Kasane swamp. However, the ghost of the masseur returns to haunt the samurai, who kills his wife by mistake and then goes to the swamp and drowns himself. 20 years later, the masseur's daughter unknowingly falls in love with the samurai's son who has been brought up to be a servant. After she is horribly disfigured in an accident, he plots to run away with another woman, but the path of their escape lies by the Kasane swamp...
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Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
Title: Emperor Meiji and the Great Russo-Japanese War
Character: Rear Admiral Shimamura
Released: April 29, 1957
Type: Movie
Meiji Tenno portrays the buildup to the Russo-Japan War. In addition to showing the political events that led to war, it also shows the era from the story of a farm family in rural Japan that sends their son off to war. As such, it could be considered an anti-war movie, showing how, while war is devised by governments, the people do not really understand what war is, and its combatants often do not know what they are fighting for.
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Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
Title: Mysterious Clouds: Legend of Satomi's Heroic Deed
Character: Aboshi Samajirô
Released: January 9, 1957
Type: Movie
Japanese historical horror movie from 1957.
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鬼姫競艶録
Title: 鬼姫競艶録
Released: December 28, 1956
Type: Movie
An exciting historical drama in which a beautiful woman secretly solves the family problems of the Owari clan. Hibari Misora plays two roles: a charming princess and a dashing youngster, performs songs and dances throughout the film until the big decisive battle.
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The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
Title: The Ceiling at Utsunomiya
Character: Kurozumi Tenzen
Released: September 19, 1956
Type: Movie
Ryutaro is a spy employed by the shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, who is the target of assassination attempts that aim to hand power over to his younger brother Tadanaga. Before learning of these plots, Ryutaro discovers himself in a predicament of his own when he rushes to the defence of a local girl who is caught between her boyfriend and a greedy businessman. The situation results in many violent one-on-one skirmishes between Ryutaro and the businessman’s many samurai defendants, one of whom enigmatically refuses to reveal his face or use more than just the one hand. Before long, Ryutaro’s top priority is not protecting Iemitsu as it should be, but rather unearthing the true identity of the mystery samurai.
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金語楼の雷社長
Title: 金語楼の雷社長
Released: September 5, 1956
Type: Movie
Japanese comedy film.
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Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets
Title: Admiral Yamamoto and the Allied Fleets
Released: July 21, 1956
Type: Movie
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto leads the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy to defeat the American Fleet.
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検事とその妹
Title: 検事とその妹
Released: May 18, 1956
Type: Movie
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Kingoro's Soldier
Title: Kingoro's Soldier
Released: May 11, 1956
Type: Movie
Japanese comedy film.
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Speed King
Title: Speed King
Released: April 11, 1956
Type: Movie
Japanese film about motorcycle racing.
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The Fencing Collegian
Title: The Fencing Collegian
Released: February 26, 1956
Type: Movie
Japanese sports comedy film about kendo.
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Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
Title: Kuronekokan ni Kieta Otoko
Released: February 12, 1956
Type: Movie
Comedy-horror film by Masaki Môri.
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花眞珠
Title: 花眞珠
Released: August 22, 1955
Type: Movie
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Twilight Saloon
Title: Twilight Saloon
Character: Morimoto
Released: June 19, 1955
Type: Movie
Takes place in one place, a beer hall, over the course of one evening. Uchida employs this concentration of setting and time to fashion a microcosm for a group portrait of Japan. One by one, the regulars of the bar appear: the pianist who dreams of becoming a composer but has disappeared from the music world after a knifing; a stripper who had planned to be a ballet dancer; an elderly painter trying to make a living at pachinko, and who rues his art having been used for militarist propaganda during the war; a young waitress considering elopement; a colonel turned real estate broker who attempts to rouse the crowd in military song until he realizes the tune has been transformed by marchers in the street into a leftist chant. The "twilight" is more than just a time of day; here, it is a state of being, a suspension between past and present, between the camaraderie of the saloon and the harsh world outside.
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Mysterious Pygmy
Title: Mysterious Pygmy
Released: February 12, 1955
Type: Movie
Horror film about a killer dwarf.
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The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
Title: The Sacrifice of the Human Torpedoes
Released: January 9, 1955
Type: Movie
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Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced
Title: Submarine Ro Hasn't Surfaced
Released: July 13, 1954
Type: Movie
Japanese war film.
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Hanran
Title: Hanran
Character: Captain Koda
Released: January 3, 1954
Type: Movie