Akira Emoto

Akira Emoto

Born: November 3, 1948
in Chūō, Tokyo, Japan
Old good "Emo-chan" of modern Japanese cinema. Emo's father was a close friend of legendary episode player Taji Tonoyama in elementary school days. His mother's grandfather ran a shamisen store in Ginza, Tokyo. Both parents like movies and theaters. After graduating from Machinery Department of Tokyo Industrial High School, Emoto got a job at a trading company. However, he became an actor and became a student of the acting classes of the theater company "Marui", which is headed by Nobuo Kaneko, and met Yusaku Matsuda who was in the same class. In 1999, he won the Japanese Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Dr. Akagi. He also won the award for best supporting actor at the 7th Hochi Film Award for Dotonbori River and Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san.

Movies for Akira Emoto...

Muromachi Burai
Title: Muromachi Burai
Released: January 17, 2025
Type: Movie
Set in war-torn 15th century Kyoto, on the eve of the Onin War, the movie centers on a band of outlaws led by Hyoe (Oizumi) a scoundrel whose lethal sword skills place him at the tip of the spear in a deadly uprising against the corrupt Shogunate and its army, led by former friend-turned-archrival, Doken (Tsutsumi).
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Houtei Yugi
Title: Houtei Yugi
Released: November 10, 2023
Type: Movie
Kiyoyoshi Kuga attends law school, aiming to work in the legal field as a lawyer. His childhood friend Mirei Orimoto also attends the same law school. One day, a leaflet is distributed by an anonymous person at their law school. The leaflet makes accusations about the past of Kiyoyoshi Kuga and Mirei Orimoto. Soon, unpleasant cases takes place around them. Kiyoyoshi Kuga talks to Kaoru Yuki, who is an extremely smart classmate and in charge of the mock trials. These three people chase after the truth, but they face an unexpected situation.
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Title: 満天のゴール
Character: トクじい
Released: September 19, 2023
Type: TV
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September 1923
Title: September 1923
Character: Teiji Igusa
Released: September 1, 2023
Type: Movie
Based on the murder of nine street peddlers in the aftermath of the Great Kanto earthquake.
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Manten no Goal
Title: Manten no Goal
Released: July 15, 2023
Type: Movie
A single mother who returned to her hometown at the lowest point of her life, and a doctor who is energetically working in remote areas. While helping the local elderly, they begin to move forward to overcome the wounds they carry in each other’s hearts. Life, death, and hope intersect.
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Ripples
Title: Ripples
Character: Taro Kadokura
Released: May 26, 2023
Type: Movie
Yoriko Sudo believes in new religious group Midoriinochikai, that worships water. She lives peacefully, praying everyday and studying about Midoriinochikai. One day, her husband, who has been missing for long time, comes back to her. Due to that, her emotions, that she suppressed, explode out.
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Hard Days
Title: Hard Days
Character: Yutaka Senba
Released: May 19, 2023
Type: Movie
After going to extremes to cover up an accident, a corrupt cop's life spirals out of control when he starts receiving threats from a mysterious witness.
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Touken Ranbu 2
Title: Touken Ranbu 2
Released: March 31, 2023
Type: Movie
In the year 995, due to a secret talk between Michinaga Fujiwara (Akira Emoto) and Seimei Abe (Terunosuke Takezai), Yorimitsu Minamoto (Kanji Tsuda) is ordered to subjugate ghost Shutendoji, who lives in Oe Mountain. Yorimitsu Minamoto and his men soon encounter difficulties in carrying out their mission due to the appearance of strangers. These strangers are handsome warriors Munechika Mikazuki (Hiroki Suzuki), Kunihiro Yamanbagiri (Yoshihiko Aramaki), Hasebe Heshikiri (Masanari Wada), and Toushirou Honebami (Fuma Sadamoto) and they are trying to protect history.
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Do Unto Others
Title: Do Unto Others
Character: Shosaku Shiba
Released: March 24, 2023
Type: Movie
A community is shocked when the bodies of an elderly man and the manager of a home-visit nursing centre are found. The passing of 42 elderly patients is connected to Shiba, a caretaker recognised for his affection and dedication.
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Yudo: The Way of the Bath
Title: Yudo: The Way of the Bath
Character: regular customer
Released: February 23, 2023
Type: Movie
Two estranged brothers inherit Marukin Hot Springs, a small-town bathhouse. One sees it as an homage to their late father; the other—a struggling architect—as lucrative real estate for condos. Their eclectic collection of townsfolk customers show them the value of the bath goes way beyond a scrub and soak.
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Shylock's Children
Title: Shylock's Children
Character: Hajime Sawazaki
Released: February 17, 2023
Type: Movie
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Egoist
Title: Egoist
Character: Yoshio Saito
Released: February 10, 2023
Type: Movie
After losing his mother at the age of 14, Kōsuke spent his depressed adolescence hiding his gay identity in a rural town. Now working as a fashion magazine editor, he spends his free time with his close friends. One day, he meets Ryūta, a personal trainer who works in part to support his aging mother.
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Umami
Title: Umami
Character: Salaryman
Released: February 9, 2023
Type: Movie
Following a near-death experience France's leading chef throws himself into a quest seeking the flavor that has confounded his life since he was defeated by a Japanese chef's bowl of noodles as a young man.
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Title: Get Ready!
Character: Hiroshi Bojo
Released: January 8, 2023
Type: TV
This dark medical drama examines the meaning of human life, centring on a team of unidentified black-market doctors who undertake any kind of surgery with superhuman surgical skills and exorbitant medical expenses. Hazama Eisuke, also known as "Ace", is a genius surgeon who works as a patissier during the day. He has an operating room equipped with the latest equipment in the basement of his patisserie, where he performs surgeries on patients who have been abandoned by others. Shimoyamada Jo, also known as "Joker", is a brilliant international lawyer and a negotiator with patients.
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A Man
Title: A Man
Character: Norio Komiura
Released: November 18, 2022
Type: Movie
Akira works as a lawyer. One day, he meets with his former client Rie, who asks Akira to perform a background check on her late husband Daisuke.
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The Setting Sun
Title: The Setting Sun
Character: Dr. Miyake
Released: November 4, 2022
Type: Movie
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Title: Japanese Style
Character: Hifuji Umekoshi
Released: October 22, 2022
Type: TV
30-year-old Kakioka Tetsuro returns home for the first time in 10 years to save his family’s traditional inn Niji no Ya after he hears that his father has been hospitalized. But he is lost for words when he sees that it has completely changed. The dignity and service of the inn, which boasts a 100-year heritage, has totally vanished. It has transformed into a haunt where employees who are not easy to deal with linger around. There is Terakado Lucy Kazuko, a flamenco dancer who says a stream of offensive things; Kageshima Shunsaku, a germaphobe manager who hates hot springs; Asatsuki Momoyo, the head waitress who is a single mother devoted to her son Ringoro; Ringoro, a boyish employee who loves his mother and unicycle; Uno Kanata, a chef who has a UNO addiction; and Umekoshi Hifuji, an old-timer who has clung on to the inn for 40 years.
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No Place to Go
Title: No Place to Go
Released: October 8, 2022
Type: Movie
Michiko used to work as a live-in part-timer at an izakaya, but suddenly lost her job and her house at the same time due to COVID-19 pandemic. There are no new jobs because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and diners and internet cafes are closed. Michiko is at her wits' end, but there in front of her is a bus stop that stands slightly brightly in the darkness, illuminated only by the streetlights.
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Title: Goodbye My Dear
Character: Hiroshi Yamawaki
Released: September 22, 2022
Type: TV
“Who is the last person you would like to see?” When junior high school teacher Sakuraba Ayako wakes up, she sees a man standing there. Calling himself a guide of this mysterious place that extends in front of them, he tells her that this is “goodbye’s other side”. As his words sink in, Ayako recalls that she has died. She lets slip that she had never thought she would die in this manner. Visitors to this other side can meet people of this world one last time within a 24-hour time period. Ayako immediately thinks of her son Yuta and husband Hirotaka. However, the guide says the ones she can meet are only those who still do not know about her death. Ayako goes to the house of her former teacher Ishibashi Nobuyoshi. She is greeted by his daughter Megumi, but Nobuyoshi passed away about two years ago…
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Title: The New Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga: Classmates are Warriors
Character: Yotaro Befunokami
Released: July 24, 2022
Type: TV
A story about a high school full of delinquents, and its elite class that has clones of famous warlords from Japan's Warring States period fighting it out.
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Title: 混声の森
Released: July 23, 2022
Type: TV
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Title: Lost Man Found
Character: Himself
Released: June 26, 2022
Type: TV
Satoru Matsudo moves to Tokyo in hopes of becoming an actor. He has trouble breaking into the industry, but his luck begins to change when he finds an airplane ticket belonging to a talent agency CEO. Time passes, and Satoru makes a name for himself as an actor. He gets a call from America. Hoping it is a Hollywood offer, he instead hears about his estranged older brother.
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Wandering
Title: Wandering
Character: Agata
Released: May 13, 2022
Type: Movie
In a park on a rainy evening, a 19-year-old university student, Fumi, offers an umbrella to a soaking wet 10-year-old girl, Sarasa. Realizing her reluctance to go home, Fumi lets her stay in his place, where she spends the next two months in peace.
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海の見える理髪店
Title: 海の見える理髪店
Character: 老店主
Released: May 9, 2022
Type: Movie
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Title: Teen Regime
Character: Washida Tsuguaki
Released: May 7, 2022
Type: TV
In the year 202X, Japan feels a deep sense of stagnation and has been branded by the world as a country on the decline. Wanting to break free of this endless situation, Prime Minister Washida sets up an experimental project Utopi-AI. Commonly known as the UA concept, leaders are selected from all over the country by AI and made to govern cities that have degenerated. It has been said that the reason why young people cannot take charge of politics is their lack of experience. AI has a massive amount of data that one person cannot possibly “experience”. In other words, AI can supplement any amount of “experience”. As if to prove it, AI chooses 17-year-old Maki Aran who is immature and wants an ideal society, to be the Prime Minister. The other members are all young people around the age of 20. Maki and his compatriots use AI to push forward reforms to regenerate the degenerated regional cities as the experimental city UA.
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Title: Ten Count to the Future
Character: Kenzo Ashiya
Released: April 14, 2022
Type: TV
When Kirisawa Shogo was a high school student, he was a brilliant amateur boxer. He won 4 boxing tournaments and he seemed to have a bright future in the sport. During his university student days, he quit the sport of boxing. Life went on for Kirisawa Shogo. But, after his beloved wife died, his life has now become a total mess. He doesn't have any hope or desire to live. He just spends his days working part-time jobs to make a living. One day, his friend asks him to coach the boxing team at the high school where they attended. Kirisawa Shogo accepts the coaching position. Being around the young boxers, who work extremely hard, Kirisawa Shogo begins to feel alive once again.
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Title: The Honest Realtor
Character: Tetsuo Kishi
Released: April 5, 2022
Type: TV
Saichi Nagase is the number one salesperson at a real estate agency whose biggest fault is being overly honest and unable to lie.
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Noise
Title: Noise
Character: Shoji
Released: January 27, 2022
Type: Movie
Shishikari is a remote island, which is behind the times. The island suffers from a decreasing population and declining industries. Keita Izumi (Tatsuya Fujiwara) begins to produce black fig on Shishikari Island. Because of his well received product, the island is close to receiving a 5 billion yen grant from the government, which is part of the goverment's policy to reinvigorate rural economy. The residents of the island are excited, but their peaceful days changes by the appearance of Mutsuo Komisaka. Keita Izumi and his friends Jun Tanabe (Kenichi Matsuyama) and Rookie Police Officer Shinichiro Moriya are suspicious about him. One night, Keita Izumi's daughter goes missing. Due to that, Keita Izumi, Jun Tanabe and Shinichiro Moriya happen to kill Mutsuo Komisaka. They decide to hide Mutsuo Komisaka’s murder to protect the future of the island and their families. It turns out Mutsuo Komisaka was a psycho killer. Police officers come to Shishikari Island to catch Mutsuo Komisaka.
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Girls, Guns and Gangsters: Shinji Somai & Sailor Suit & Machine Gun
Title: Girls, Guns and Gangsters: Shinji Somai & Sailor Suit & Machine Gun
Released: November 17, 2021
Type: Movie
A documentary featuring actor Akira Emoto, film scholar Chika Kinoshita, Somai biographer Tatsuya Kimura and Sailor Suit assistant director Koji Enomoto discussing the making of the film, its director and its legacy.
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Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai
Title: Baragaki: Unbroken Samurai
Character: Shop Owner
Released: October 15, 2021
Type: Movie
Set in the 19th century, "Moeyo Ken" follows the life of Toshizo Hijikata. He was the vice-commander of the Shinsengumi and fought against the Meiji Restoration.
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Title: Bullets, Bones and Blocked Noses
Character: Hadashi no Tyosuke(裸足のチョウスケ)
Released: September 17, 2021
Type: TV
Police dog handler Ippei Aoba has a problem. It's called Oliver. To others, Oliver is a genius police dog that comes from a long line of geniuses, but, to Ippei, he appears—literally—as a lazy, foul-mouthed, middle-aged man in a dog costume.
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祈り ―幻に長崎を想う刻―
Title: 祈り ―幻に長崎を想う刻―
Released: August 20, 2021
Type: Movie
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The Great Yokai War: Guardians
Title: The Great Yokai War: Guardians
Character: old man
Released: July 1, 2021
Type: Movie
Kei Watanabe is a fifth grade elementary school student. He has inherited the hunter's blood to hunt yōkai. To save the world from being destroyed, Kei Watanabe challenges a war against the yōkai.
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Title: Re: The End of the Tiny World - Half a Year Later
Character: Kawabata
Released: January 29, 2021
Type: TV
Six months ago, life went dark for the underworld negotiator Kida when his lifelong friend and fellow former outcast Makoto became embroiled in a deadly plot. Makoto had risen to become the head of a powerful trading firm, but the events that unfolded on Christmas Eve put an end to all that. Since then, Kida has continued to drift through life without a single bright spark to light up his life. Nobody cares if he lives or dies except his underworld boss, who values Kida’s inimitable skills.
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The End of the Tiny World
Title: The End of the Tiny World
Character: Kawabata
Released: January 29, 2021
Type: Movie
Kida and Makoto grew up together because they have it in common that they don't have parents. And a transfer student, Yotchi, also gets along with them because she has a similar background, which is that they come from not such a good home environment. They spent their school life supporting each other. But, at the age of 20, Yotchi disappeared. Then Lisa, the daughter of a politician and a top model, appears in front of the two men. Makoto takes an unusual romantic interest in Lisa, who lives in a different world from them, and asked her out to dinner, but she does not take him up on it at all. Kida warns Makoto to give up on her because they live in different worlds, but Makoto quits his job and vanishes without a trace.
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Title: てにあまる
Released: January 5, 2021
Type: TV
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Underdog: Part One
Title: Underdog: Part One
Character: Sakuro
Released: November 27, 2020
Type: Movie
Tells the story of three bottom-dog boxers who gets used as punching bags. Pro boxer Suenaga Akira fell off the path to greatness but still tries to crawl his way to the top. Omura Ryuta is a youngster who grew up in foster care. Miyagi Shun, a TV celebrity with famous parents, takes a shot at boxing as part of a TV show. Three underdogs with very different back stories put their pride on the line as they exchange blows.
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Wonderful Paradise
Title: Wonderful Paradise
Character: Homeless
Released: November 20, 2020
Type: Movie
In consequence of his professional mistakes and declining career, Shuji and his family, the Sasaya’s, are forced to leave the wealthy suburb of Tokyo. The move is slow, long and heartbreaking, and the two Sasaya children, an old teenager and a young adult, unwittingly turn the grieving process into an exuberant and unpredictable farewell party!
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Living in the Sky
Title: Living in the Sky
Character: Concierge Kondo
Released: October 23, 2020
Type: Movie
In the time after Naomi’s parents suddenly die, she happens to meet and bond with the popular actor Morinori Tokito who lives in the same apartment building.
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Nosari: Impermanent Eternity
Title: Nosari: Impermanent Eternity
Released: July 11, 2020
Type: Movie
A young man wanders and makes calls to elders who live alone. Saying “Granny, it’s me,” he lies to them that he is their grandson. An old lady, who runs a music shop in the declining shopping area in Amakusa, answers his call and warmly accepts him. Pretending as her grandson, he settles down in the town. He gets used to his friendship with young villagers, the sound and landscape of Amakusa, and the old lady’s everyday life.
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I Never Shot Anyone
Title: I Never Shot Anyone
Character: Takashi Renjo
Released: July 3, 2020
Type: Movie
Renji Ishibashi, starring in the movie for the first time in 18 years, plays a hero with two faces, a dull novelist and a legendary killer. Susumu Ichikawa, an obsolete writer with no manuscript at all, had another face - a legendary hitman. But the truth of the matter is... he had never shot a person. One day, he receives a murder request from a friend. Seeing this as an opportunity to achieve the ideal hard-boiled novel, he decides to hire a real hitman and demands that he report to him the assassination situation as it was.
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Stardust Over The Town
Title: Stardust Over The Town
Character: Kumabe Rokuzo
Released: March 6, 2020
Type: Movie
Story of the struggling chorus group "Yamada Osamu and the Hello Nights", who gain an unexpected new member in the young Ai, who pursues her dream of becoming a singer.
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The Promised Land
Title: The Promised Land
Character: Goro Fujiki
Released: October 18, 2019
Type: Movie
A girl is kidnapped and the perpetrator roams freely. When a similar case occurs along the same road and in similar circumstances a suspect is identified leading to the accused running away and going into hiding.
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Show Me the Way to the Station
Title: Show Me the Way to the Station
Released: October 18, 2019
Type: Movie
A young girl, Sayaka, develops a heartwarming friendship with an old man named Hasu. Based on an award-winning novel by Ijuin Shizu.
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They Say Nothing Stays the Same
Title: They Say Nothing Stays the Same
Character: Toichi
Released: September 13, 2019
Type: Movie
Toichi is a boatman who ferries the villagers to a town on the other side of the river. Besides rowing a boat for the villagers all day long, he barely communicates with anyone except Genzo, a young neighbour. Upstream, a large bridge is being constructed. Everyone is excited, but Toichi has mixed feelings about it. One day, Toichi meets a mysterious girl. Having no family and no place to go, Toichi lets her stay with him, but this encounter starts to bring about changes to Toichi's life.
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Title: Banjo no Himawari
Released: September 8, 2019
Type: TV
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It Feels So Good
Title: It Feels So Good
Character: Kenji's father (voice)
Released: August 23, 2019
Type: Movie
When it rains it pours. Kenji divorced his wife, lost his job and his old squeeze Naoko is getting married back home in the north of Japan, specifically in Akita. He returns there in order to attend her wedding. Naoko surprises him by proposing that they have sex again. The one night stand is the new beginning.
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Iwane: Sword of Serenity
Title: Iwane: Sword of Serenity
Character: Urakusai
Released: May 17, 2019
Type: Movie
Iwane Sakazaki returns to his homeland and gets caught in the middle of an incident that results in the tragic death of two of his best friends from childhood. He decides to leave his domain, parting with his fiancée Nao, and becomes a vagrant masterless samurai with nothing more to lose. Iwane drifts to Edo, filleting eels during the day and working as a bodyguard at night for Imazuya, a reputable money exchanger. He gradually wins the trust of the people around him because of his mellow nature, the chivalrous way he treats everyone with courtesy, and his skills of swords. One day, he learns that Imazuya is being targeted in a conspiracy to sabotage a new monetary system implemented by the government, and Iwane decides to protect the people who have given him support.
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Title: Villain: Perpetrator Chase Investigation
Character: 铃本茂树
Released: May 12, 2019
Type: TV
Saeki Shuichi was a detective, but he quit his job. He now works at a detective agency. One day, a couple asks the detective agency to find a man named Sakagami. The man killed the couple's son and served at a youth detention center. Kogure Masato is the director of the detective agency. He tells Shuichi to work on the case. Shuichi is also part of a victim's family. When he was a child, his older sister was murdered. While Shuichi watches Sakagami, the couple asks him to find some materials which will allow them to forgive Sakagami or not.
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Godot of the Emotos
Title: Godot of the Emotos
Released: April 20, 2019
Type: Movie
The acting family, the Emotos, are the subject of this documentary following Emoto Akira and his sons.
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Title: In Hand
Released: April 12, 2019
Type: TV
Tetsu Himokura is a parasitologist. He enjoys researching the lives of parasites at his home laboratory and he barely leaves his home. He also has assistant Haruma Takaie to help him. Tetsu Himokura's right hand is a robotic prosthetic hand. He is very smart, but blunt to others.
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Castle of Sand
Title: Castle of Sand
Character: Chiyokichi
Released: March 28, 2019
Type: Movie
A bruised and battered corpse in Shibuya, Tokyo has the attention of the local cops. A veteran detective is assigned to the case. The last utterance of the victim is one clue that detective Imanishi has to work on. Yet, the case becomes more tangled quickly. Elsewhere, a prodigy named Waga Eiryo is composing an orchestral piece. Remake of The Castle of Sand (1974).
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BON-UTA, A Song from Home
Title: BON-UTA, A Song from Home
Character: (voice)
Released: February 15, 2019
Type: Movie
Taiko drummer, Hisakatsu Yokoyama, and fellow evacuees of Futaba, Fukushima fight to keep their beloved “Futaba Bon-Uta” alive after their hometown, is wiped out by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit the Töhoku region in Japan.
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Oz Land
Title: Oz Land
Character: Boss
Released: October 26, 2018
Type: Movie
Kurumi is hired at a high-end hotel, but is instead dispatched to work at fun fair that is connected to the business network. The new work is out in the country and there is not much else to do or places to go. The go-to employee is one Yoshiko. Kurumi wants to be successful and valued and is eager to learn from Yoshiko. All is not as it seems on the surface however.
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Title: Good Doctor
Character: Akira Shiga
Released: July 12, 2018
Type: TV
Minato Shindo has savant syndrome. His memory is amazing, but he has difficulty communicating with other people. When Minato was little, he dreamed of becoming a doctor. He met Doctor Akira Shiga and he wanted to become a pediatric surgeon. Akira was surprised by the 7-year-old's memory of the human organs and he decided to support Minato in achieving his dream. Eventually, Minato graduated from medical school and passed the national exam for medical practitioners. Now, Akira works as a director at a large hospital. He suggests to Minato to work in the pediatric surgery department at the hospital where he works.
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Recall
Title: Recall
Character: Seiji Nomura
Released: June 15, 2018
Type: Movie
A woman was killed by a truck wheel, which flew off while the vehicle was in motion. As the freight company which owns the truck becomes the target of the public and the media’s wrath, Tokuro Akamatsu, the president of the freight company, realizes that a structural defect within the truck itself may have been to blame. A conspiracy of the wheel manufacturer's attempts to cover up a defective product is uncovered.
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Shoplifters
Title: Shoplifters
Character: Yoritsugu Kawado
Released: June 2, 2018
Type: Movie
After one of their shoplifting sessions, Osamu and his son come across a little girl in the freezing cold. At first reluctant to shelter the girl, Osamu’s wife agrees to take care of her after learning of the hardships she faces. Although the family is poor, barely making enough money to survive through petty crime, they seem to live happily together until an unforeseen incident reveals hidden secrets, testing the bonds that unite them.
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Color Me True
Title: Color Me True
Character: Tadashi Honda
Released: February 10, 2018
Type: Movie
Kenji is a young aspiring movie director. He falls in love with Princess Miyuki, who came from a black‐and‐white movie.
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Evil and The Mask
Title: Evil and The Mask
Character: Detective Aida
Released: January 13, 2018
Type: Movie
Kuki Fumihiro is a son from a wealthy zaibatsu (conglomerate) family. His father raises him to become pure evil. Kuki kills his father to protect his adopted sister Kaori. Afterward, Kuki disappears. He undergoes plastic surgery and takes the identity of Koichi Shintani. He watches Kaori and faces the great evil that exists within the Kuki family.
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Title: Segodon
Character: Ryu Samin
Released: January 7, 2018
Type: TV
Saigo Takamori, the hero of the Meiji Restoration, was born to a poor, low-ranking samurai family in the Satsuma domain (present day Kagoshima Prefecture). His simple honesty caught the attention of its charismatic feudal lord of Satsuma, Shimazu Nariakira. Nariakira’s assertion that the love of people is what will enrich and strengthen the nation captivated Saigo who took on Nariakira’s secret mission and eventually became a key person for Satsuma. Not a portrait of him survives today and much of his life is a mystery. He is a man who was twice exiled and thrice married. He overthrew the Tokugawa Shogunate with exceptional bravery and action. Although he accomplished the restoration, he lost his life in a fight with the new Meiji government.
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Kodokunogurume ōmisoka supesharu ~ tabe-osame! Setouchi shutchō-hen ~
Title: Kodokunogurume ōmisoka supesharu ~ tabe-osame! Setouchi shutchō-hen ~
Released: December 31, 2017
Type: Movie
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Title: Home Sweet Tokyo
Character: [Ramen Shop Owner]
Released: November 19, 2017
Type: TV
Englishman Bryan Jenkins was living peacefully with his Japanese wife Itsuki and daughter Alice in London, when his Japanese mother-in-law suddenly passes away, and the family decides to uproot to Tokyo to look after his father-in-law Tsuneo.
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Mukoku
Title: Mukoku
Character: Seppo Mitsumura
Released: June 3, 2017
Type: Movie
Kengo was gifted in Kendo (Japanese martial art) but he quits after a tragic incident. He works as a security guard and spends his days drinking. One day, he encounters a high school student Toru, who has a natural ability in Kendo. Toru revives the spirit of the sport in Kengo and he resumes practice again.
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Neko Ninja
Title: Neko Ninja
Character: Kariyazaki
Released: May 20, 2017
Type: Movie
Kagerota is a young ninja who embarks on his first mission: stealing the goldfish from a wealthy samurai. He succeeds, but then a mysterious fat cat starts following him. His distinctive red nose leads Kagerota to believe that the feline stalker is actually the reincarnation of his long last father, a legendary ninja who left him when he was ten years old.
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Lu Over the Wall
Title: Lu Over the Wall
Character: Ashimoto's Grandfather (voice)
Released: May 19, 2017
Type: Movie
In a small fishing village, a gloomy middle school student named Kai meets a mermaid named Lu.
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The Dog Bridegroom
Title: The Dog Bridegroom
Character: Kenkichi Okumura
Released: May 13, 2017
Type: Movie
Ninomiya Azusa is a depressed elementary school teacher in Tokyo, who has problems both at work and in her personal life. One day, she suddenly hears a voice saying "If you go to Imore Island, you will get what you want.", so she decides to give it a try.
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Title: Frankenstein's Love
Character: Tsurumaru
Released: April 23, 2017
Type: TV
A monster was created from an incident that took place 100 years ago. He possesses super physical ability and can live forever. He yearns for humans and listens to the radio. He picks up things thrown away by other people. The monster dreams of living as a human. One day, he meets a young woman Tsugaru. He falls in love with her.
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Random Lives
Title: Random Lives
Character: Hanamura
Released: January 28, 2017
Type: Movie
Questioning the meaning of people's lives, the multiple stories include the work of a manga artist, old men get involved in a fight and a murder, a bus incident which affects those who survive it, fishing, cherry-blossom viewing and more
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Title: A Life
Character: Danjo Toranosuke
Released: January 15, 2017
Type: TV
When Okita Kazuaki was starting out as a doctor, he was forced to resign from the hospital. He left his girlfriend Danjo Mifuyu behind and went to the US alone. 10 years go by and he comes back as a surgeon with outstanding skills to save his former teacher from illness. His teacher is none other than his ex-girlfriend’s father. In the time that Okita was away, Mifuyu had married his own good friend Masao, who is now the deputy director and the heir of the hospital. To make matters worse, this friend was the one who plotted to drive him out form the hospital 10 years ago. Okita has to face all sorts of ordeals to save his teacher. But he never gives up amid the swirl of love, desire, friendship, jealousy and pride. Okita may be awkward but deals with patients with all his heart. His way of life gets the people working at the hospital to start asking themselves what real healthcare is.
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Title: Silver and Gold
Character: Hitoshi Kuramae
Released: January 7, 2017
Type: TV
Morita, a man who never succeeds in anything, takes his anger out in gambling. He meets an underworld fixer named Ginji Hirai, who introduces him to the underworld trade, where billions of yen changes hands every moment, and speculators and other influential people bet their lives for greed.
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Survival Family
Title: Survival Family
Character: Sasaki Shigeomi
Released: December 12, 2016
Type: Movie
A world wide electrical outage occurs. Everything that requires electricity comes to a stop. Tokyo is nearly ruined. Yoshiyuki Suzuki decides to escape from Tokyo with his family.
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Shippu Rondo
Title: Shippu Rondo
Character: Masaomi Togo
Released: November 26, 2016
Type: Movie
An illegal biological weapon K-55 is stolen from a university lab. The university lab can't even call the police because the secret nature of the weapon. The school lab then receives a message stating that the entire country is now being held hostage and they must pay a ransom of 300 million yen.
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Sniper
Title: Sniper
Character: Tatsuyuki Miyata
Released: October 2, 2016
Type: Movie
Detective Ryoko Kozuki receives a demotion after having an affair with a superior. She succeeds in arresting a rapist in an undercover operation that puts her at risk. Her achievement immediately becomes the talk of the precinct, but no one approaches her because of her past. Ryoko is determined to bring criminals to justice. She takes on “The Prime Ministerial Candidate Snipe Case” which took place 15 years earlier.
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Black Widow Business
Title: Black Widow Business
Character: Jun Sakurada
Released: August 27, 2016
Type: Movie
Kozo Nakase attends meetings for single widowers looking to remarry. He meets Sayoko Takeuchi and eventually marries her. Not longer after their marriage, Kozo Nakase suddenly collapses and dies. Kozo Nakase leaves everything to Sayako. The rest of his family are left out of his will including his daughter Tomomi. Tomomi hires a private investigator, Honda, to find out more about Sayoko.
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A Grain of Wheat
Title: A Grain of Wheat
Character: Honda
Released: August 26, 2016
Type: Movie
“A Grain of Wheat” is a story of two bakeries in Yokohama. A French baker, Eriko, makes a sudden visit to Honda who is the owner of a historical bakery in Yokohama. They have different attitudes towards the craft of bread making but they start to feel mutual respect as they make bread together.
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Shin Godzilla
Title: Shin Godzilla
Character: Ryuta Azuma : Chief Cabinet Secretary
Released: July 29, 2016
Type: Movie
When a massive, gilled monster emerges from the deep and tears through the city, the government scrambles to save its citizens. A rag-tag team of volunteers cuts through a web of red tape to uncover the monster's weakness and its mysterious ties to a foreign superpower. But time is not on their side - the greatest catastrophe to ever befall the world is about to evolve right before their very eyes.
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The Mohican Comes Home
Title: The Mohican Comes Home
Character: Osamu Tamura
Released: April 9, 2016
Type: Movie
Eikichi left his hometown in Hiroshima for Tokyo. He tried to find success with his music band, but failed. Several years later, Eikichi goes home to tell his father, Osamu, that his girlfriend is pregnant. His father curses him out, but he is also excited to have a grandchild. Osamu has a party to celebrate the news, but, at the party, he collapses and goes to the hospital. Eikichi struggles to make his father happy.
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Title: Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
Character: Sfar
Released: March 19, 2016
Type: TV
The heroine Balsa is a skilled bodyguard and a masterful spear-wielder. One day she rescues Prince Chagum who has fallen into a river. The prince is carrying a mysterious spirit egg in his body, and is in danger of being assassinated by his father, the Mikado, who fears this will damage his imperial prestige. Balsa embarks upon a perilous journey when she accepts the queen’s plead to protect her son from her husband.
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Title: Love That Makes You Cry
Character: Masahiko Hayashida
Released: January 18, 2016
Type: TV
Follows the story of love, friendship and growth of six young men and women who move from countryside to the big city of Tokyo, each with their own dreams and aspirations. Among them is Sugihara Oto and Soda Ren. After her mother died, Oto was raised by adoptive parents in Hokkaido. Although she has given up on having any high hopes or big dreams for her future, she still remains positive and faces life with optimistic attitude. One day, she finds out the fact that her adoptive parents are planning to marry her to the wealthy man in town in order to solve their financial debt. Soda Ren was raised by his grandfather in Fukushima. Ren works hard on one job after another in order to earn the money to buy back his grandfather's land so that they can start farming again. By chance, Oto and Ren meet in Hokkaido and they decide to move to Tokyo to find new life to change their fate and future. However, as soon as they arrive Tokyo, they get separated in the crowds...
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A Living Promise
Title: A Living Promise
Character: Zenzo Takeda
Released: January 9, 2016
Type: Movie
Yuma Nakahara is the CEO of an IT company and he is a workaholic. He is focused only on expanding his company. He receives a phone call from his former co-worker and friend Kouhei, but Kouhei doesn't say anything. Yuma gets the sense that something is wrong and heads to Kouhei's hometown of Shinminato, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. In Shinminato, Yuma meets other people and becomes involved in the Shinminato Hikiyama Festival. His outlook on life begins to change.
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Journey to the Shore
Title: Journey to the Shore
Character: Mr. Hoshitani
Released: September 30, 2015
Type: Movie
Mizuki’s husband Yusuke went missing for 3 years. He suddenly comes back home one day and asks Mizuki to go on a trip with him. Their trip consists of visiting the people that helped Yusuke on his previous travel. While travelling together, Misuki sees, touches and feels what Yusuke did for those 3 years.
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The Big Bee
Title: The Big Bee
Character: Murofushi
Released: September 12, 2015
Type: Movie
Set in 1995. A helicopter, operated remotely, is hovering in the sky over a nuclear power plant. The power company, prefectural government and media all receive a fax. The fax contains a threat that if the nuclear power plant is not taken offline the helicopter will be dropped. 8 hours is given as the deadline. Making the situation even more dire, a young child is in the helicopter.
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The Pearls of the Stone Man
Title: The Pearls of the Stone Man
Character: Kumaji Ueda
Released: June 20, 2015
Type: Movie
Atsushi and Ryoko are a married coupled. They decide they want to live around nature and move to Biei in Hokkaido, Japan. Atsushi isn't sure what to do with his free time, so Ryoko asks him build a stone wall around their house. Atsushi experiences tragedy, but later gets closer to his estranged daughter, Satoko. Atsushi continues building the stone wall.
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Vampire in Love
Title: Vampire in Love
Character: Sojiro
Released: April 17, 2015
Type: Movie
Kiira seems like an ordinary young girl, who likes to talk with her friends and to dress up. Her ultimate goal is to become the world's best baker, but what differentiates her from others is that she is a vampire. She has never told anyone her secret, including her childhood friend Tetsu, whom she played with everyday and liked as a child. After her parents died when Kiira was only 12-years-old, she had to go live with her relatives and lost contact with Tetsu. Now, 8 years later, Tetsu appears at the bakery where Kiira is working part-time. Kiira is ecstatic to see her first love again. Soon, they are dating and Kiira dreams of having a family with Tetsu. Kiira also becomes filled with worries because she is vampire.
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GARO -Gold Storm- Sho
Title: GARO -Gold Storm- Sho
Character: Priest Soutatsu
Released: March 28, 2015
Type: Movie
Ryuga and Makai Priest Rian attempt to cleanse the Golden Armor when they are confronted by living weapons- the Madou– who have another way to free the world from Horrors. In the process, Ryuga will unlock a new stage of power referred to as Garo Sho.
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Living Rights
Title: Living Rights
Released: March 7, 2015
Type: Movie
The fifth work of the "Kita-Shirakawa school movie" in which a student of Kyoto University of Art and Design, a professional film staff, and a cast team up to make a film. With a certain big disaster, people are struggling for love while holding their own circumstances, and as a result, they ask what it is to "live correctly" even in a vague and uneasy era. Ittoku Kishibe played Yanagida, the protagonist of the protagonist who created and exhibited objects that incorporate radioactive materials to create and display indiscriminate terrorism.
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Title: 新 法廷荒らし 猪狩文助〜終の棲家〜
Released: January 1, 2015
Type: TV
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A House on a Hill
Title: A House on a Hill
Character: Yoshitarō Terashima
Released: December 6, 2014
Type: Movie
Rieko Sugita, a young and beautiful hairdresser who happens to visit a bedding shop owned by Yoshitaro (Emoto) and the latter becomes so besotted with her that they begin an affair without his wife's knowledge. On the other hand, Rieko hates her late mother (Fueki Yuko) for sleeping around with other men but is actually following in her footsteps by sleeping with men for money. One day, she reunites with her first love Naoki (Ozawa) who has become an assistant professor and shares a dark secret with her. Soon, the romance between them is rekindled. However, Yoshitaro who has lost his fortune and is about to lose Rieko, becomes consumed by jealousy which brings Rieko, Naoki and him to the point of no return. -- Dorama World
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0.5 mm
Title: 0.5 mm
Character: Takeshi Sasaki
Released: November 8, 2014
Type: Movie
Sawa, a home helper for a middle class family with an elderly infirm grandfather, is forced to stretch her morals to keep her job. As a result, she finds herself broke and out on the street. She survives her first night by striking up an ambiguous friendship with a kindly old man, gaining access to a portion of the immense wealth held by Japan's aging population. She continues with similar encounters, and while these begin as scams or revenge on rampant sexism, they ultimately become vulnerable intergenerational exchanges.
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Cold
Title: Cold
Character: Jin Ichinose
Released: September 27, 2014
Type: Movie
Genius scientist Kikuo Himura (Yosuke Kubozuka) succeeds in developing a miracle cure for the cold virus. There are now people who are after Kikuo Himura's cold vaccine. Doctor Ichinose (Akira Emoto) is jealous of Kikuo Himura and tries to get the formula which is only in Kikuo Himura's head. Dougen (Chris Peppler) is a high-ranking member of a secret organization. Him and his subordinate try to get the vaccine source by any means necessary. Meanwhile, a mysterious woman, Sakurako (Manami Konishi) approaches Kikuo Himura.
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Time Trip App
Title: Time Trip App
Character: Ryuzo Yanagita
Released: July 26, 2014
Type: Movie
In 1868, a battle between new government forces and shogunate forces are about to take place in Edo. Katsu Kaishu wants to avoid useless bloodshed and sends a peace envoy to Takamori Saigō, but Katsu Kaishu is unable to get a response from Takamori Saigō. One day, Katsu Kaishu meets high school teacher Mikako and her student Masaya who is captivated by the shogunate. Mikako and her student Masaya tells Katsu Kaishu that they are from the future. Katsu Kaishu takes care of Mikako and her student Masaya, while Mikako hopes to go back to the future where she came from.
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Oh! Father
Title: Oh! Father
Character: Hayashi Tomita
Released: May 24, 2014
Type: Movie
Yukio is a typical high school student in every way except that he's an only child in a family of five. This is because he has four fathers, each with their own unique personalities and interests. The only thing they share in common is their love of their son. When Yukio witnesses a robbery, he becomes involved in a bizarre string of incidents involving his fathers.
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Wood Job!
Title: Wood Job!
Character: Toshiro Yamane
Released: May 10, 2014
Type: Movie
After failing his university entrance exam, Yuki Hirano sets his eyes on the role of a forestry trainee. Setting off for training he doubts his decision many times, but eventually after passing the training course, he is sent to Kamusari Village for a year of work experience - where he becomes assimilated with the beauty of nature and the warm-hearted people of the village.
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Title: The Long Goodbye
Character: Heizo Harada
Released: April 19, 2014
Type: TV
Tamotsu is suspected of murdering his actress wife Shizuka Harada. He flees to Taiwan and commits suicide. Tamotsu’s friend Banji Masuzawa works as a private detective, and has doubts about Tamotsu’s death, but the case is covered up by powerful media mogul Heizo Harada.
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A Woman from Ashio
Title: A Woman from Ashio
Released: January 18, 2014
Type: Movie
A story about a woman from Yanaka Village, Tochigi Prefecture, which was abolished by the government due to the Ashio Copper Mine pollution incident in the late Meiji Period. The drama depicts the struggle of the woman who gradually matures as a person through her encounters with versatile figures, including socialists and writers, after moving to Tokyo.
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Sleeping Forest
Title: Sleeping Forest
Character: Daisuke Ota
Released: January 2, 2014
Type: Movie
A man is found dead in a office of Takayanagi Ballet Company. The suspect is a female dancer at the ballet company. The Takayanagi Ballet Company insists that the incident is a self defense case, but after an investigation there's doubts in that claim. Then, the director of the Takayanagi Ballet Company is poisoned to death. Are the cases related?
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Title: オリンピックの身代金
Released: November 30, 2013
Type: TV
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Fly, Dakota, Fly!
Title: Fly, Dakota, Fly!
Released: October 5, 2013
Type: Movie
In January 1946 a British military transport plane departs from Shanghai on its to Tokyo, Japan. During the flight the airplane makes an emergency landing on Sado Island. The residents on the island have heard stereotypes of the British soldiers and have mixed feelings about the their new "guest." Nevertheless, for the next 40 days the islanders take care of the crew members until the plane can take off once again. This includes Chiyoko Morimoto who is the daughter of the inn owner where some of the British crew members stay.
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Present for You
Title: Present for You
Released: October 4, 2013
Type: Movie
Shigeru Kajiwara (Joe Odagiri) works part-time at a company that sells mysterious health food. One day, the other employees run off with the company's money.
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Unforgiven
Title: Unforgiven
Character: Kingo Baba
Released: September 13, 2013
Type: Movie
An old swordsman, his former comrade and a young braggart are hired by prostitutes to track down bandits who mutilated one of the women.
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Title: Hanzawa Naoki
Character: Keiji Minobe
Released: July 7, 2013
Type: TV
Hanzawa Naoki works as a loan manager at the Osaka Nishi branch of Tokyo Central Bank. One day, Hanzawa makes a loan contract for 500 million yen with Nishi Osaka Steel Company. Hanzawa didn't want to approve the loan, but he had to due to the branch manager's order. Nishi Osaka Steel Company seems financially stable, but the company actually hides massive amounts of debt through fraudulent accounts. The company is caught. Three months later, Nishi Osaka Steel Company goes bankrupt. The bank's branch manager is Asano. He is an ambitious man and tries to shift the blame to Hanzawa. Hanzawa then attends an inquiry about the loan failure at the bank's headquarters in Tokyo. Hanzawa denies fault and promises to retrieve the 500 million yen loan. He did this because it's the only way for Hanzawa to survive as a banker.
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The War and a Woman
Title: The War and a Woman
Character: client of woman
Released: April 27, 2013
Type: Movie
Set towards the end of World War II, Nomura (Masatoshi Nagase) is a writer who is in despair. A woman works in bar and is a former prostitute. Many years ago, her father sold her to a brothel due to the family's severe financial hardships. The writer and the woman then agree to live as husband and wife until the war ends. The woman doesn't feel sexual pleasures due to her past, while the man lusts for the woman's body. Meanwhile, Ohira (Jun Murakami) fought for Japan in China. He participated in unconscionable acts against civilians in the name of war. He returns to Japan with only one arm. Ohira then begins to prey on innocent women.
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Title: Kumokiri Nizaemon
Released: April 10, 2013
Type: TV
During the Kyoho period in the reign of Tokugawa Yoshimune, there is a gang of thieves active not just in Edo but also the Tokaido and the Nakasendo, and all across the Kansai region, stealing large sums of money with skillful techniques. They only target the very wealthy and never kill or injure people. They appear with the clouds and disappear like the mist. On the night that the beautiful Ochiyo is to become the bride of a dry goods dealer, a large amount of money hidden inside the shop is stolen. The gang disappears without injuring anyone. It was a two-year plan to marry Ochiyo off so that she could bring them in. The leader of this gang is Kumokiri Nizaemon, the greatest bandit of all time. He keeps a rein on his highly-skilled and notorious followers Nanabake no Ochiyo, Kinezumi no Kichigoro, Subashiri no Kumagoro, Ingakozo Rokunosuke and others.
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Yellow Elephant
Title: Yellow Elephant
Character: Arechi
Released: February 2, 2013
Type: Movie
Married couple Aiko Tsumari and Ayumu Muko live a happy and peaceful life. Aiko is bit naive, while Ayumu works as a not so popular novelist. One day, a letter arrives for Ayumu. Because of this letter, the couple become estranged...
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Title: Black Kite
Character: Kaiun
Released: January 13, 2013
Type: TV
Yasu's mother passed away when he was very young and his father abandoned him. Yasu's wife, Misako, also lost both her parents when she was young. The two spend their days in happiness, watching their young son, Akira, grow up. Unfortunately, a freakish accident occurs that results in Misako sacrificing her life to protect her son. Yasu loses himself in grief and remorse, but recovers as he vows to raise his 3 year-old son as best as possible.
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Banana, Gloves and Whale Shark
Title: Banana, Gloves and Whale Shark
Released: January 1, 2013
Type: Movie
Banana, Gloves and Whale Shark
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Humanoid Monster, Bem
Title: Humanoid Monster, Bem
Character: Kao no nai otoko
Released: December 15, 2012
Type: Movie
Bem, Bela and Belo arrive at a new town plagued by a series of mysterious, unsolved cases which, as they discover, are caused by another youkai, one more powerful than they have ever encountered. The story will also focus on Belo's first love, and his increasing desire to become human. In the meantime, Bem and Bela have found a way to become human, but are conflicted about whether to let just Belo turn human, or along with Belo, become humans themselves.
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One Day in January
Title: One Day in January
Released: November 17, 2012
Type: Movie
Every year on the fourth of January, Shobei's soba restaurant serves "Sanada Soba"; soba noodles topped with grated spicy daikon radish. Even regulars refrain from coming to the restaurant because of the extra spicy soba. But on year, a stranger comes in and finishes the bowl, announcing that it tastes familiar. The man begins to visit every year on the 4th of January to eat Sanada Soba. Shobei develops a warm feeling towards the peculiar customer he interacts with once a year.
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Title: Platinum Town
Released: August 19, 2012
Type: TV
Tetsuro Yamasaki returns to his hometown to find that it is in financial crisis. He quits his job and settles in his hometown to help the town get out of this crisis.
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The Life of Budori Gusuko
Title: The Life of Budori Gusuko
Character: Narrator / Dr. Kūbō (voice)
Released: July 7, 2012
Type: Movie
The fairy tale follows a young man named Gusukō in the Tōhoku forests of northeastern Japan in the 1920s. After an onslaught of droughts and natural disasters, Gusukō is forced to leave his home and search for a better life elsewhere. Gusukō joins a group of scientists at the Ihatov Volcano Department, which deals with the same natural disasters that drove Gusukō from his home.
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Casting Blossoms to the Sky
Title: Casting Blossoms to the Sky
Character: Seijiro Nose
Released: May 12, 2012
Type: Movie
In the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, a journalist arrives in Nagaoka, a city decimated during a WWII air raid and by the 2004 Chūetsu earthquakes, to report on the disaster; there, she learns about the experiences of its inhabitants and stumbles upon a stage play written by an enigmatic student of her ex-boyfriend.
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Title: Folktales from Japan
Released: April 1, 2012
Type: TV
Hometown Rebuilding: Folktales from Japan is a Japanese anime television series that adapts various traditional stories from Japan. The narration and all character voices are provided by veteran Japanese film actors Akira Emoto and Yoneko Matsukane. An English-subtitled version began "simulcast" availability on the streaming service Crunchyroll March 12, 2012.
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A Sower of Seeds
Title: A Sower of Seeds
Character: Shuzo Morikawa
Released: March 3, 2012
Type: Movie
Kinjiro, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, is a good-natured fellow who goes around the country helping farm families. At his new appointment in Usuki City, Oita Prefecture, he visits a tea-growing family he has known for a long time. There, he finds the family head's granddaughter Minori, who lost her job in Tokyo and has just returned home.
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Ace Attorney
Title: Ace Attorney
Character: Saibancho (Judge)
Released: February 11, 2012
Type: Movie
Based primarily on the first game in the series, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, the film focuses on rookie defense attorney Phoenix Wright, as he strives to protect his clients in various murder trials, including the death of his mentor, Mia Fey, and the accusation of rival prosecutor, Miles Edgeworth. Phoenix's greatest ally is Mia's younger sister Maya, a spirit medium whose body is possessed by Mia to communicate with him.
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Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet
Title: Isoroku Yamamoto, the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet
Character: Yoneuchi
Released: December 23, 2011
Type: Movie
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (1884-1943) was the Japanese Naval commander who was given the order to attack Pearl Harbour, an order he was duty bound to obey which went against his own personal beliefs. While this infamous attack is a low point in Japanese and US history it wouldn’t have happened if the Japanese government had listened to Yamamoto in 1939 and searched for a more peaceful way to end their war campaign, proving his many ominous presages of the outcomes of the attack to come true.
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Life Back Then
Title: Life Back Then
Character: Masashi Inoue
Released: November 19, 2011
Type: Movie
Kyohei Nagashima (Masaki Okada) has shut away the world. During his high school days he was the target of bullying and experienced horrifying moments. Now as a young adult Kyohei takes a new job. He works for a company that specializes in cleaning out the homes of recently deceased individuals. With his new job Kyohei meets co-worker Yuki (Nana Eikura). Yuki has also experienced a traumatizing event as a teen and has also shut herself away from the world. These two young people form a bond as they go through the homes of the recently departed people. They gradually open up to each other and in the process to the world. Yet, their fragile psyches may or may not be ready for such changes ...
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Title: Humanoid Monster Bem
Character: Nameless Man
Released: October 22, 2011
Type: TV
Bem, Bela, and Belo are not "monsters," nor "humans," but "humanoid monsters." They usually disguise themselves as a human family living together, but their appearances transform into ugly monsters when their emotions become uncontrollable due to intense anger or extreme sorrow. Even if they save humans out of a sense of justice, they are feared and hated by humans just because they are humanoid monsters. They have lived in this manner for centuries, and their only wish is to become humans as soon as possible. One night, Bem saves a man, and becomes friends with detective Natsume. At Natsume's house, he finds a photo of a man who may hold a clue as to how to become humans. They go to meet the man, Ogata, who denies any knowledge and disappoints them. Meanwhile, the case of the man Bem had saved, rapidly unfolds, and Natsume finds himself in trouble. Can Bem save Natsume?! Will Bem and his sidekicks' dream come true?!
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Karate-Robo Zaborgar
Title: Karate-Robo Zaborgar
Character: Dr. Akunomiya
Released: October 15, 2011
Type: Movie
An evil criminal organisation called Sigma kidnap prominment business leaders to harvest their DNA and only Karate-Robo Zaborgar can save them.
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Title: HUNTER - Women After Reward Money
Character: Shogo Ooiwa
Released: October 11, 2011
Type: TV
On a return flight to Japan, cabin attendant Isaka Rei arrests a thief at Narita Airport’s International Terminal, and receives a reward of 1 million yen. However, she is half-forced to resign from her job as a cabin attendant because of this roundup. Furthermore, her younger sister, Akane, has made her a guarantor and disappeared, leaving her 10-year-old daughter, Haru behind. Rei starts to live with a reluctant Haru at ‘Shunkato’, the small eating house that Akane has been running. There is a firsthand account of Akane meeting a ‘Shunkato’ customer on the day she went missing. Rei brings the photograph of the man whom Akane met to Tsukishima Police Precinct, and learns that there is a 1 million yen bounty because he is a wanted criminal. The lack of motivation of the attending detective, Gondo Takeshi of the precinct’s Community Safety Division, spurs her to decide that she has to arrest this criminal who has some sort of connection to her sister. And so, Rei becomes a bounty hunter together with the ladies who gather at ‘Shunkato’.
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Shikei Kijun
Title: Shikei Kijun
Character: Kyusaku Tsushima
Released: September 25, 2011
Type: Movie
Do criteria exist for the death penalty? Yusuke Mito, a law faculty lecturer who did not become a lawyer even though he passed the bar exam, the famous lawyer Kojiro Otomo who advocates the abolition of the death penalty, and the public prosecutor Mariko Nagase studied law together. Each have their own thoughts about the death penalty. One day, Otomo’s wife is murdered by someone. Shinzo Sabae who is resentful of a lawsuit that Otomo had been in charge of, is arrested as a suspect. Otomo reverses the stance he had had until now and seeks the death penalty against Sabae. This prompts Mito to make the decision to become a lawyer and stand in the court. However, the first case Mito takes charge of is the defence of Sabae, who murdered the wife of his good friend, Otomo…
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In His Chart
Title: In His Chart
Character: Doctor
Released: August 27, 2011
Type: Movie
There is a degree of realism when a professional in the field writes about his vocation and such is the case here. Adopted from a novel written by a doctor and set in Nagano, doctor Kuriharai is overwhelmed by the number and variety of patients he has to see due to a shortage of physicians where he practices. He aspires to work somewhere more convenient, specialize and see more of his wife, but faces a dilemma many other doctors experience.
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Ninja Kids!!!
Title: Ninja Kids!!!
Released: July 23, 2011
Type: Movie
The film stars Seishiro Kato as Rantaro who is sent to a ninja training school by his parents. During the summer, their teacher is invaded by a group of rival ninjas culminating in a race to ring a bell on top of a mountain.
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A Honeymoon in Hell: Mr. & Mrs. Oki's Fabulous Trip
Title: A Honeymoon in Hell: Mr. & Mrs. Oki's Fabulous Trip
Character: wet guy
Released: May 14, 2011
Type: Movie
Although Nobuyoshi and Saki just got married and moved into a new apartment, their relationship still lacks spark. Things start to change as they meet a weird fortune-teller who also happens to operate tours to hell. Without further ado the young couple books a honeymoon trip which takes them to the most bizarre, colorful and fun vision of hell you could ever dream of.
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Postcard
Title: Postcard
Character: Yukichi Morikawa, the Father-in-Law
Released: October 27, 2010
Type: Movie
Toward the end of World War II, middle-aged soldier Keita is entrusted with a postcard from a comrade who is sure he will die in battle. After the war ends, Keita visits his comrade's wife Yuko and bears witness to the tragic life she has led.
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Cast Me If You Can
Title: Cast Me If You Can
Character: Homeless guy
Released: October 23, 2010
Type: Movie
An actor, who always plays supporting roles and lives in the shadow of his famous playwright father, falls in love with an energetic aspiring actress and rediscovers himself.
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The Lightning Tree
Title: The Lightning Tree
Character: Kakunoshi Enokido
Released: October 22, 2010
Type: Movie
Set during the Edo Period, a young man from a noble family meets a young woman under a special tree called "Raiou" (the tree was struck by lightning at one time with the broken part eventually sprouting out cherry blossoms). The young woman lived freely in the mountains after she was abducted as a young child. The couple soon fall in love under the Raiou tree, but become acutely aware of their different social positions & the ramifications it has on their relationship.
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Title: Mori no Asagao
Character: Keizukuri Hukahori
Released: October 18, 2010
Type: TV
New prison officer Naoki Oikawa is assigned to the death-row section. When he observes the death row inmate's fear of their impending executions (they can be carried out without forewarning), he thinks about the death penalty system. Naoki Oikawa then encounters new death row inmate Mitsuru Watase. Mitsuru Watase is on death-row for killing a man who attacked his parents. Naoki and Mitsuru were also on the same baseball team as children.
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Sakurada Gate Incident
Title: Sakurada Gate Incident
Character: Magojiro Kaneko
Released: October 16, 2010
Type: Movie
Mito Domain Samurai Seki Tetsunosuke must pay the consequences for his role in the assassination of Great Elder Ii Naosuke. Based on true events.
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Heaven's Story
Title: Heaven's Story
Character: Souichi
Released: October 2, 2010
Type: Movie
A young girl named Sato watches on television as a man named Tomoki states brazenly at a press conference that he hopes convicted murderer Mitsuo is eventually placed back into society so that he can kill him with his bare hands.
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Villain
Title: Villain
Character: Yoshio Ishibashi
Released: September 11, 2010
Type: Movie
Shimizu Yuichi is a shy and lonely day laborer looking for love. He aimlessly spends time corresponding with girls via telephone dating services and going on random encounters with girls looking for spending cash. His world is shattered one day when he is involved in the murder of one of his former encounters, the sweet-faced Ishibashi Yoshino who, after being jilted by playboy Masuo Keijo, berates and mocks the troubled loner.
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Hutch the Honeybee
Title: Hutch the Honeybee
Released: July 28, 2010
Type: Movie
Hutch the Honey Bee and friends set on an adventure to find Hutch's missing Queen Bee Mother, whom he lost during a surprise attack by a group of Hornets. In the process Hutch makes friends with various other animals. At a town called Sepiatown he even befriends Amy, a kindhearted human girl who can talk with insects ...
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A Crowd of Three
Title: A Crowd of Three
Released: June 12, 2010
Type: Movie
A Crowd of Three tells the story of two men, Kenta & Jun, who grew up as almost brothers at a children's facility. Kenta & Jun now works as part of a demolition crew but become fed up with their jobs. The friends then decide to take a road trip up north to visit Kenta's brother at the Abashiri prison.
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A Lone Scalpel
Title: A Lone Scalpel
Character: Matsuo Okawa
Released: June 5, 2010
Type: Movie
Dr Toma, a skilled surgeon, starts work at a regional hospital in Japan. After performing an operation to remove a patient’s liver cancer, something that normally would not be done at this hospital, he quickly gains a very good reputation amongst the town’s people. Some of his colleagues become so jealous they are resentful and waiting patiently for the perfect opportunity to crucify him. Soon they get their chance as Dr Toma considers performing a controversial operation…
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Haru's Journey
Title: Haru's Journey
Character: Michio Nakai
Released: May 22, 2010
Type: Movie
Stuck in a fishing village in Hokkaido, Tadao's grand-daughter Haru is desperate to visit Tokyo, a trip Tadao is reluctant to make.
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Title: Absolute Zero
Character: Sosuke Kagami
Released: April 13, 2010
Type: TV
Izumi Sakuragi is a new police sergeant with the Special Investigations Office, which was set up within the Metropolitan Police in November last year. The new investigation team uses DNA analysis and the latest in forensics science to investigate cold cases as well as cases suspected to involve missing persons.
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After the Flowers
Title: After the Flowers
Character: Soan Nagai
Released: March 13, 2010
Type: Movie
Ito, daughter of a clan official, encounters Magoshiro Eguchi. Magoshiro is a low ranking samurai sparks an attraction with Ito. Ito challenges Magoshiro to a sword match using bamboo sticks. Mahoshiro accepts. The pair's duel causes sparks to fly an attraction from both sides. Meanwhile, Ito faces an arranged marriage with Saisuke Katagiri and Magoshiro is with Kayo...
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Golden Slumber
Title: Golden Slumber
Character: Hodogaya Yasushi
Released: January 30, 2010
Type: Movie
When easy-going Aoyagi meets an old friend for a fishing trip, he ends up drugged, framed for the Prime Minister's assassination, and on the run from corrupt cops. It's only the beginning of what quickly becomes the worst, weirdest day of his life. But he'll get by with a little help from his friends, who include a famous pop diva, a rockabilly deliveryman, a crippled old gangster, and the world's most cheerful serial killer.
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Yona Yona Penguin
Title: Yona Yona Penguin
Character: Jii (voice)
Released: December 23, 2009
Type: Movie
Rintaro directs a tale of three children who visit a land of wonder. This is the first "3D anime" that Madhouse has produced. Oh, and there are penguins.
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Boku to Mama No Kiiroi Jitensha
Title: Boku to Mama No Kiiroi Jitensha
Character: Shotaro
Released: August 22, 2009
Type: Movie
Taishi lives with his father Kazushi. His mother left home when Taishi was very young and he barely has any memories of her. He believes that his mother left home to study in Paris. His favorite moments come once a week when he receives a letter from his mother. But one day, during Taishi's summer vacation, he learns that his mother isn't in Paris but in Shodoshima, Japan. Taishi then decides to take his pet dog with him and bicycle from his hometown of Yokohama all the way to Shodoshima. On his 500 kilometers trip to Shodoshima, Taishi meets various peoples and touches their hearts, while leaving behind small miracles. What Taishi doesn't know about his mother is that she suffers from memory loss and that's why she lives apart from her family. Taishi's father Kazushi soon learns that his son has left for Shodoshima and he sets out to find his son.
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April Bride
Title: April Bride
Character: Teishi Nagashima
Released: May 9, 2009
Type: Movie
On April 5, 2007, a couple married in a church. At first glance, it was a typical wedding. The bride, however, was suffering from late-stage breast cancer and had been given only a month to live. A young woman is diagnosed with breast cancer but keeps the information from her boyfriend. When he finds out, he decides to plan a wedding even though she only has one month to live. Based on the true story of Chie Nagashima, a women afflicted with breast cancer and her husband Taro Akasu.
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Rain Fall
Title: Rain Fall
Character: Tatsu Ishikura
Released: April 24, 2009
Type: Movie
A hit man looks to protect the daughter of one of his victims against CIA assassins.
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John Rabe
Title: John Rabe
Character: Matsui Iwane
Released: April 2, 2009
Type: Movie
A true-story account of a German businessman who saved more than 200,000 Chinese during the Nanjing massacre in 1937-38.
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Asahiyama Zoo Story: Penguins in the Sky
Title: Asahiyama Zoo Story: Penguins in the Sky
Character: Itsuro Usui
Released: February 7, 2009
Type: Movie
Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido, is the northernmost zoo in Japan. The unpopular zoo welcomes a new zoo keeper, young Yoshida (Yasuhi Nakamura), who has more affection for insects than people after years of being bullied at school when he was young. Yoshida soon realizes that Asahiyama Zoo is facing a financial crisis and the zoo director Takizawa (Toshiyuki Nishida) has been doing everything in his power to save the zoo from closing down. Moved by Takizawa's passion, Yoshida and other zoo keepers came to share the zoo director's belief that one's dreams can come true, and together they tackle this seemingly impossible task of revitalizing Asahiyama. A breakthrough arrives in the form of “Behavioral Exhibition,†a method that is pioneered by Ashiyama's zoo keepers and which eventually makes the zoo renowned throughout the world.
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Happy Flight
Title: Happy Flight
Character: Saito
Released: November 15, 2008
Type: Movie
A variety of aviation professionals such as pilots, flight attendants, the ground crew, mechanics, dispatchers, controllers, and the bird patrol crew all support a single flight. They have only one mission: to secure the safety of the passengers.
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ICHI
Title: ICHI
Released: October 25, 2008
Type: Movie
Ichi is a blind entertainer that travels the countryside with her traditional Japanese guitar and walking stick. She’s in search for the kind man that brought her up as a child, but because of her beauty she encounters problems every step of the way. Fortunately for Ichi, she is also a gifted swordswoman and carries a lethal blade within her walking stick.
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Title: Ties of Shooting Stars
Character: Togami Masayuki
Released: October 17, 2008
Type: TV
Based on a novel by mystery writer Keigo Higashino, Ryūsei no Kizuna tells the story of three orphans, whose parents were murdered long ago. Together, the three vowed on a shooting star to one day avenge their parents. After many years, the two brothers have found the murderers, and are set to carry out their plan for vengeance when they realize they've made a serious miscalculation; you see, their sister...
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Teacher and Three Children
Title: Teacher and Three Children
Character: Yoshio Ichikawa
Released: September 27, 2008
Type: Movie
The 95-year-old director shot the film in his hometown of Ishiuchi, Hiroshima. The story is based on a teacher he had when he was a child.
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Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit
Title: Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit
Character: Counselor
Released: September 26, 2008
Type: Movie
In an attempt to spur citizens into taking more productive roles in society, the Japanese government issues death messages, or "ikigami", informing them that they have only 24 hours left to live. The film follows a young man tasked with delivering these messages, as well as the victims.
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The Cycling Genius Is Coming!
Title: The Cycling Genius Is Coming!
Released: September 6, 2008
Type: Movie
Teru (Yuya Endo) has been brought up in a hill town and spent his childhood conquering the slopes on his bicycle. Being a cycling fanatic, who resents defeat, he joins Kamegaoka High School, which used to boast a powerful cycling club. There he meets Hatomura (Yuichi Nakamura), an ace of the club who wants to turn around the club which has deteriorated to the point of dissolution, and Yuta (Hiroki Suzuki), an aloof cycling genius with unshaken confidence in his speed who does not allow others to follow him. Meeting a rival that is faster than him for the first time, Teru joins the club in order to challenge them. His only interest, however, is his own cycling speed. Joining the club teaches Teru the importance of teamwork to support the lead cyclist and to place priority on the victory of the team. --AsianWiki
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The Taste of Fish
Title: The Taste of Fish
Character: Shojiro Sanada
Released: June 7, 2008
Type: Movie
It may sound cliché, but Japanese people really do love their fish. If Japan has the best and freshest fish in the world, then Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market is where you're most likely to find them. It's the home of Japan's biggest daily fish auction, and it's a place of fierce competition between fish merchants that have been in the business for generations. Based on a comic series, The Taste of Fish follows businessman Shuntaro, who has a successful career in a trading company and is in a steady relationship with girlfriend Asuka. One day, Shuntaro has to help out at the fish wholesaler store run by Asuka's father, and he immediately falls in love with the world of Tsukiji Fish Market. Soon, Shuntaro quits his job and devotes all of his time to running the business while learning about the market's fascinating set of long-standing traditions. However, he must first also learn to distinguish the tastes of different fishes before he can survive in the competitive world of Tsukiji.
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All Around Us
Title: All Around Us
Character: kunimasa Yasuda
Released: June 7, 2008
Type: Movie
Kanao, a courtroom portrait artist, observes crimes, scandals and the decline of Japanese values without passing judgement. As he and his wife endure the tragedy of their first child’s death, hope slowly unfolds and their love story flickers to life once again.
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The Most Beautiful Night In The World
Title: The Most Beautiful Night In The World
Character: Journalist
Released: May 24, 2008
Type: Movie
Betrayed and disgraced, big-city reporter Kazuya Mizuno is banished to a desk at Kaname's boring little town newspaper. But Kaname isn't as boring as it seems on the surface. Not with characters around like Shimeko, a girl genius with a childlike lack of propriety, and her ace fisherman/folk-singer dad. Or the overbearing and unpleasant local Shinto priest, a former Christian cultist. Or Endo, Kazuya's new colleague, a bitter drunk after his son's suicide. Or Kin, a former terrorist, now a hermit on his boat engaging in secret "research." Or perhaps most importantly Teruko, the hypnotically beautiful bar owner, the focus of all manner of innuendo and intrigue. Something mysterious, even mystical, is going on Kaname, and hapless Kazuya is about to be thrown into the middle of it.
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The Chasing World
Title: The Chasing World
Character: Doctor
Released: February 22, 2008
Type: Movie
A teenager is transported to a parallel world where everyone who shares his family name is being hunted down by the dictatorial government.
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The Shadow Spirit
Title: The Shadow Spirit
Character: mimasaka koushirou
Released: December 21, 2007
Type: Movie
A series of murders of beautiful girls occur in Tokyo not long after the end of the war. Also the daughter of a retired actress, Yuzuki Yoko, has gone missing. In the meantime, a religious cult that claims to shut away misfortunes in a box has been gaining popularity, displaying an eerie aspect. Yoko's daughter is alleged to have been run over by a train, and taken into a research institute situated in a gigantic box-shaped building. A private detective Enokizu (Abe Hiroshi), a writer Sekiguchi (Shiina Kippei), a journalist Atsuko and a police detective Kiba each pursues their own case, and Chuzenji (Tsutsumi Shinichi), an owner of a secondhand bookshop, "Kyogoku Do" suspects that all cases are linked to the box-shaped research institute.
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Prodigy
Title: Prodigy
Character: Hisashi Kikuna
Released: September 20, 2007
Type: Movie
Naruse Uta is a "unique" 13 year old child. She possessed the talent to read sheet music even before she could speak, but has now come to the point where she hates playing the piano. Her father was also a piano virtuoso, but mysteriously disappeared from her life at a young age. Because of her father's disappearance Uta's mother had to move out of their posh home and into a far modest working class neighborhood. In this working class neighborhood there is a local grocer. The grocer's son Kikuna Oto happens to be a budding musician, but lacks the drive to truly succeed. That is until Uta Naruse comes into his life...
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Life Can Be So Wonderful
Title: Life Can Be So Wonderful
Character: Haeo
Released: September 15, 2007
Type: Movie
Five short stories of life's joys and sorrows are brought together in this omnibus drama from Japan.
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Three for the Road
Title: Three for the Road
Released: July 11, 2007
Type: Movie
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The Go Master
Title: The Go Master
Character: Kensaku Segoe
Released: May 24, 2007
Type: Movie
The life of Go master Wu Qingyuan from his meteoric rise as a child prodigy to fame and fortune as a revolutionary strategic thinker, as well as the tumultuous conflicts between his homeland of China and his adopted nation of Japan.
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Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad
Title: Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad
Character: Doctor from Sasazuka Clinic
Released: April 14, 2007
Type: Movie
Adapted from the bestselling Japanese autobiography of the same title, this gentle coming-of-age drama concerns an adolescent boy, Boku - Masaya, torn between the inherited recklessness of his father Oton and the inherited responsibility, wisdom and emotional strength of his mother Okan. Following a period of intensely rebellious behavior, Boku learns that his mom has contracted cancer; suddenly, his mother comes to live with him in Tokyo the entire emotional landscape of his life is altered.
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Starfish Hotel
Title: Starfish Hotel
Character: Mr. Trickster
Released: February 3, 2007
Type: Movie
Office drone Arisu finds his own life imitating the mystery novels of his favourite writer when his wife disappears and he finds he is being pursued by a sinister figure in a rabbit suit.
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The Happiness
Title: The Happiness
Released: November 23, 2006
Type: Movie
the story of a vagrant (Ishibashi) who arrives in a town in Hokkaido. With only a threadbare suit, an old pair of sneakers and a bag containing all his worldly possessions the proprietors of a local convenince store (played by Jun Murakami and Akemi Sakurai) taske pity on the man and bring him in.
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The Summer of Stickleback
Title: The Summer of Stickleback
Released: October 14, 2006
Type: Movie
Set in Kyoto, 1990. Mizuho Oshima is a high school girl who hates her alcoholic mom, adores her father, and has a crush on school swim team member Sho Sugimoto. Her father lives with another women, but Mizuho hopes to reunite her family. Her mother then takes up with an Amerian soldier named Charlie and they become an item. This crushes Mizuho's hopes of reuniting her family. Mizuho then seduces her mother's lover ...
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Japan Sinks
Title: Japan Sinks
Released: July 15, 2006
Type: Movie
In the aftermath of a major earthquake, scientists predict that Japan will sink into the sea. As further disasters follow, politicians plead with other countries to take refugees, while scientists struggle to save Japan itself.
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It's Only Talk
Title: It's Only Talk
Released: June 10, 2006
Type: Movie
Based on an award winning novel, It's Only Talk is about the life of Yuko, a 35-year old woman. She is single and unemployed, and suffers from manic depression. The movie begins with Yuko moving to Kamata Town.
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Memories of Matsuko
Title: Memories of Matsuko
Character: Tsunehiro Kawajiri
Released: May 27, 2006
Type: Movie
While combing through the belongings of his recently deceased aunt, Matsuko, nephew Sho pieces together the crucial events that sank Matsuko's life into a despairing tragedy.
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Title: Tokumei! Keiji Dongame
Released: April 10, 2006
Type: TV
Toshiyuki Nishida plays the role of Don Kameda, A.K.A “Don-Game”. Don-Game is a cafe owner who loves jazz and long epic songs. But that’s actually him in disguise. He’s in fact the chief of a secret organization called The Tokyo Police Confidential Investigation Division and works directly under the Tokyo Police Commissioner. With their unique members and exceptional teamwork, TPCID solves mysteries that the police can’t even untangle
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Title: Love and Glory
Character: Hideyoshi Toyotomi
Released: January 8, 2006
Type: TV
Kazutoyo lived during the end of the Sengoku period (1546-1605). He was the first feudal lord of the fief of Tosa on the island of Shikoku. He served Nobunaga Oda, Hideyoshi Toyotomi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Chiyo (1557-1617) was his wife, and was known in history for her dedication and devotion to her husband (like Matsu was to Toshiie in Toshiie to Matsu). She is the daughter of a samurai who served the feudal lord Asai.
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Scrap Heaven
Title: Scrap Heaven
Character: Detective Yabuta
Released: October 8, 2005
Type: Movie
The lives of a young cop, a sanitation worker and a brooding pharmacist violently intersect on a bus that's hijacked by a suicidal political flunky, then cross paths again months later.
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Title: Haru and Natsu
Character: Kotaro Nakayama
Released: October 2, 2005
Type: TV
As Haru emigrates from Japan with her family to the coffee plantations in Brazil, Natsu is left behind in the care of spiteful relatives. Losing all contact, each must make her own way in an unforgiving world. Hardships abound in the struggle to survive in war-torn Japan and in the face of anti-Japanese sentiment in Brazil, financial ruin, familial pressure, abandonment and lost love. However they also experience the precious joy of survival and success. Now, after 70 years, Haru comes back to Japan to find her estranged sister.
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The Suspect: Muroi Shinji
Title: The Suspect: Muroi Shinji
Character: Seigo Tsuda
Released: August 27, 2005
Type: Movie
One day in February, 2005, Metropolitan Police Department Superintendent Muroi (Toshiro Yanagiba) is arrested to take responsibility for a botched murder case he headed. His faithful colleagues, including Arashiro (Toshio Kakei) and Okita (Miki Maya), only exacerbate the situation when they try to help clear his name. Is Muroi guilty as charged or merely taking the fall? What is the truth behind the murder? Two lawyers, one determined to get Muroi, the other resolved to save him, a feud between two police departments, political power plays and legal trappings, all combine to orchestrate Muroi’s downfall.
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The Great Yokai War
Title: The Great Yokai War
Released: August 6, 2005
Type: Movie
A young boy with a troubled home life becomes "chosen," and he stumbles into the middle of a great war of yōkai (a class of mythological creatures), where he meets a group of friendly yōkai who become his companions through his journey. Now he must fight to protect his friends and free the world of the yōkai from oppression. The yōkai originate in Japanese folklore and range from the cute and silly to the disturbing.
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For the coming day
Title: For the coming day
Released: May 6, 2005
Type: Movie
Miyo Hanayama works as a home care nurse, supporting the home care of patients who are close to death. Shigeaki Noguchi complains that his wife has stopped talking to him since he collapsed once. Noriko Imaizumi refuses to undergo surgery because her business has taken off and continues to recuperate at home. And 18-year-old Emi Akizuki insists on visiting the town where she used to live. Everyone is trying their best to live their lives while keeping an eye on their imminent death, which may come at any moment. Meanwhile, Yuki, a nurse like Miyo, discovers she is pregnant.
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Love Is Five Seven Five
Title: Love Is Five Seven Five
Character: Grandfather
Released: March 26, 2005
Type: Movie
A haiku club comprised of five unlikely students aim to win the national high school haiku tournament.
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Tetsujin 28: The Movie
Title: Tetsujin 28: The Movie
Character: Yunosuke Otsuka
Released: March 19, 2005
Type: Movie
One of the true classic's of anime's much-loved robot genre.
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Moon and Cherry
Title: Moon and Cherry
Character: Sakamoto
Released: December 25, 2004
Type: Movie
When an alluring young woman joins an erotic writing class, she begins a game of sexual cat and mouse with a naïve college student. As they venture into more and more unpredictable territory in the bedroom, he begins to think she might be using him as a test subject for her fiction more than anything else.
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The Motive
Title: The Motive
Character: Yoshifumi Katakura
Released: December 18, 2004
Type: Movie
Four people are discovered brutally murdered in an up-scale high-rise apartment. All the victims appear to be family, but as the investigation deepens it is discovered that one of the victims isn't related to the family.
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River of First Love
Title: River of First Love
Character: Hidejiro Tasaki
Released: November 13, 2004
Type: Movie
8-year old boy, Shimpei, who loves fishing and painting, lives with his beautiful mother, surrounded by nature. His mother, Satsuki, has a weak constitution and lost her husband years ago. She takes care of her son lovingly but sometimes strictly, on her own. Shimpei's childhood sweetheart, Sayuri, is deaf, but somehow they can understand each other and they always spend time together.
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Drugstore Girl
Title: Drugstore Girl
Character: Koji Nabeshima
Released: February 7, 2004
Type: Movie
Pharmaceutical student, Keiko witnesses her boyfriend having an affair. Shocked and disappointed, she jumps on a train ("destination anywhere, east or west, she don't care") and ends up in a town named Masao in Tokyo's remote suburbs. There, she gets a part-time job at a newly opened drugstore. What do ya know.. The local shopping district's middle-aged men all fall for the young girl's charms, and they start practicing lacrosse once they have found out that that's her favourite sport.
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Zebraman
Title: Zebraman
Released: January 30, 2004
Type: Movie
A failure as a teacher and a familyman, Shinichi tries to escape everyday live by dressing up as the superhero "Zebraman". Although the TV series was canceled after only 6 episodes, this cannot stop him from acting out his escapist fantasy in a self made zebra-suit. He gets more then he could ever wish for when his black-and-white dressed alter-ego seems to be the only thing to stand between absolute (green) evil and a happy ending.
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Winning Pass
Title: Winning Pass
Released: January 24, 2004
Type: Movie
This is a story about a high school student who had it all going for him. He was great at basketball, he had a love like no other, until a day where he loses the ability to walk. This is the story of his struggle through hardship to regain it all.
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The Lakeside Murder Case
Title: The Lakeside Murder Case
Character: Tomoharu Fujima
Released: January 22, 2004
Type: Movie
Three couples are staying at a lakeside cottage with their children. They want them to prepare intensely for a prestigious high school's entrance exam with the help of a private tutor. One night, one of the wives confesses to her husband that she has killed his mistress.
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The Hunter and the Hunted
Title: The Hunter and the Hunted
Character: Neko
Released: January 17, 2004
Type: Movie
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Title: 竜馬がゆく
Released: January 2, 2004
Type: TV
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Doppelganger
Title: Doppelganger
Character: Murakami
Released: September 27, 2003
Type: Movie
Hayasaki is an inventor working on an Artificial Body. It is not going well and he is stressed out and on the verge of being fired from the research division of his company. His doppelgänger appears to help him out of the rut he has created for himself.
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Worst by Chance
Title: Worst by Chance
Character: Shigeharu Kaneshiro
Released: September 13, 2003
Type: Movie
Hidenori is a Japanese-Korean man with no sense of belonging, destination or education. He drifts around and meanders through life until a death reminds him of his heritage and so begins a journey to South Korea.
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Zatoichi
Title: Zatoichi
Character: Pub Owner
Released: September 6, 2003
Type: Movie
Blind traveler Zatoichi is a master swordsman and a masseur with a fondness for gambling on dice games. When he arrives in a village torn apart by warring gangs, he sets out to protect the townspeople.
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Title: Water Boys
Character: Mama (of a bar)
Released: July 1, 2003
Type: TV
Water Boys is a Japanese television drama series aired in Japan on Fuji Television in 2003. There is a fairly large cast due to the amount of members in each team. There were 32 swimmers in this drama who were carefully chosen to fit their roles, but none of them had ever done synchronized swimming before.
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Farewell, Kuro
Title: Farewell, Kuro
Character: Shuzo Hanazono
Released: July 1, 2003
Type: Movie
Based on a true story set in Matsumoto city, Nagano, during 1960s. A stray dog wanders into a high school's grounds. The dog, named Kuro, stays at the school and becomes a special friend to everyone.
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Teacher's suitcase
Title: Teacher's suitcase
Character: Sensei/Matsumoto Harutsuna
Released: March 11, 2003
Type: Movie
Tsukiko is in her late 30s and living alone when one night she happens to meet one of her former high school teachers, 'Sensei', in a bar. He is at least thirty years her senior, retired and, she presumes, a widower. After this initial encounter, the pair continue to meet occasionally to share food and drink sake, and as the seasons pass - from spring cherry blossom to autumnal mushrooms - Tsukiko and Sensei come to develop a hesitant intimacy which tilts awkwardly and poignantly into love.
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Owl
Title: Owl
Released: February 7, 2003
Type: Movie
A mother and daughter are stranded in small, isolated cabin, and are starving to death. In order to survive, they plan to entice men that happen to stray to their cabin with sex, and kill them. All goes well until a local cop shows up and, then, an old relation.
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Barber's Sorrow
Title: Barber's Sorrow
Released: November 9, 2002
Type: Movie
A S&M comedy about a masochist barber.
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Title: AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo
Character: Hyoue Yarikura
Released: October 9, 2002
Type: TV
Detective Ukyo Sugishita confronts crime on the basis of his own convictions. He has a partner that works for him in the Special Task Unit. For the first 7 seasons, Ukyo’s first partner is Kaoru Kameyama. He is a good-natured, hot-tempered, straightforward and somewhat scattered detective. Beginning in Season 8, Takeru Kanbe replaces Kameyama. Contrary to his predecessor, Takeru is a lanky, cool, conceited and confident detective. From Season 11 to Season 13, Ukyo’s partner is a young detective Toru Kai. Toru is a son of Deputy Director-General of The National Police Agency. But he became a detective by his own effort. And starting with Season 14, Ukyo’s current partner is Wataru Kaburagi, an elite bureaucrat who came to the Metropolitan Police Department on temporary assignment. As the first partner without any career of a police officer, he will face challenging cases together with Ukyo.
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11'09''01 September 11
Title: 11'09''01 September 11
Character: Sakichi Furuhashi (segment "Japan")
Released: September 4, 2002
Type: Movie
Filmmakers from all over the world provide short films – each of which is eleven minutes, nine seconds, and one frame of film in length – that offer differing perspectives on the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
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Title: The Private Detective Mike
Released: July 1, 2002
Type: TV
Mike Hama, Private Detective, is a chain-smoking, wisecracking tough guy with a weakness for the ladies and a soft spot in his heart, especially for his kid sister Akane. Mike's so down on his luck he'll take any case, from finding a lost pet to spying on cheating spouses. But every now and then, along comes a client with dubious and dangerous case… and that's when Mike shows his stuff.
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KT
Title: KT
Character: Hiroshi Uchiyama
Released: May 3, 2002
Type: Movie
This movie is a political/espionage thriller, based on a real kidnapping incident of Korean politician, Kim Dae-Jung.
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Title: Prince Shotoku
Character: Anahobe no miko
Released: November 10, 2001
Type: TV
In the late 6th century the leaders of the Yamato Dynasty had no clear plan for the creation of a unified state. Battles still raged among various warrior clans. Shotoku Taishi, second son of Emperor Yomei, strived to create a new nation out of this chaos. NHK captures this great man from a time in history rarely depicted on screen, in a story of epic proportions. Shotoku Taishi is known mainly through legends and myths and has been viewed as more god than man. The elaborate and colorful costumes of the time and the beauty of ancient Japan enhance this fascinating historical drama.
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Turn
Title: Turn
Character: Matsubara
Released: October 13, 2001
Type: Movie
Maki is a talented copper plate artist, however, just before her first gallery show, she gets struck by a truck. When she comes to she is at home. When she ventures outside, the city is deserted and she knows something is deeply wrong. Each day repeats; she wakes up at 2:15 in the afternoon. Gradually things start change, the phone rings, and she finds that she is not alone...
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Waterboys
Title: Waterboys
Character: Mama
Released: September 15, 2001
Type: Movie
In a Japanese school, 5 adolescent geeks join the new sport teacher and take up the challenge to take part in the synchronised swimming competition, in-spite of the mockeries of the real sportsmen.
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The City of Lost Souls
Title: The City of Lost Souls
Character: Kuwata
Released: September 15, 2000
Type: Movie
Brazilian-Japanese gangster Mario rescues his Chinese girlfriend Kei as she's about to be deported from Japan. Desperate to escape, he hides in Tokyo's booming Japanese-Portuguese community and seeks passage from the country from a Russian mobster. To meet his price, they hold up a bigtime drug deal between the Chinese Mafia and the local Yakuza.
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Kaza-hana
Title: Kaza-hana
Character: Hot Spring Inn Owner
Released: September 14, 2000
Type: Movie
An alcoholic civil servant wakes up under a cherry tree in Tokyo next to a bar hostess with whom he's impulsively made a suicide pact. Though he's now changed his mind, he agrees to travel with her to Hokkaido, her preferred site for ending it all.
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The Whispered City
Title: The Whispered City
Character: Artist
Released: July 7, 2000
Type: Movie
Director Jun Ichikawa spins this affectionate portrait of the people who populate Shimokitazawa, a bohemian corner of Tokyo filled with small theater companies and smoky coffeehouses.
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Nagisa
Title: Nagisa
Released: June 10, 2000
Type: Movie
A coming of age story about a 13-year-old girl named Nagisa (Seashore) and the summer when she blooms into a woman.
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Another Heaven
Title: Another Heaven
Character: Doctor Akagi
Released: April 29, 2000
Type: Movie
A pair of hard-boiled Tokyo cops are investigating a gruesome murder: after killing the victim, the murderer cut his skull open and cooked his brain in a stew. As they try to track down the killer, they discover that, quite literally, everybody is a suspect. Will they bring the terror to an end, or will they become part of it themselves?
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Kaizokuban Bootleg Film
Title: Kaizokuban Bootleg Film
Character: Tatsuo
Released: December 1, 1999
Type: Movie
Two best friends—Tatsuo, a retiring Yakuza member, and Kiyoshi, a cop—travel to the funeral of a woman they both loved.
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The Nagaharu Yodogawa Story: A Cineaste's Life in Kobe
Title: The Nagaharu Yodogawa Story: A Cineaste's Life in Kobe
Character: Matashichi
Released: November 7, 1999
Type: Movie
Depicts the life of Nagaharu Yodogawa.
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Round About Midnight
Title: Round About Midnight
Character: Totsuka
Released: November 6, 1999
Type: Movie
Koji, a jazz musician, takes a cigarette break in between sets at a Tokyo nightclub. He witnesses a murder and runs into a girl, Linda, who is being pursued by the killers. For the next two hours, Koji and Linda are running from both the hitmen and the police. Mistakenly identified as prime suspects, they have to solve the crime but time is running out: Koji has to be back to perform in his club by midnight, as a very special guest will be attending.
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Title: Out - Tsumatachi no Hanzai
Released: October 12, 1999
Type: TV
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Will to Live
Title: Will to Live
Character: Doctor
Released: January 15, 1999
Type: Movie
It is based on the story of The Ballad of Narayama updated to the present day, with the substitution of putting a parent into an old people's home for the abandonment of the original. The film won the Golden St. George and the FIPRESCI Prize at the 21st Moscow International Film Festival.
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Title: Genroku Ryoran
Character: Genshiro
Released: January 10, 1999
Type: TV
The 38th NHK Taiga Drama is Genroku Ryoran. The "Forty-seven Loyal Samurai" is one of the most enduring and best loved stories of Japan's history. Generations have grown up hearing the stirring tale of Oishi Kuranosuke, chief councillor of the Ako clan who leads his men through suffering and hardship to ultimately avenge their lord after he is unjustly forced to commit harakiri. NHK's 38th Taiga Drama "Genroku Ryoran" is the ambitious remake of this classic epic and boasts a cast that reads like a Who's Who in Japanese entertainment.
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Title: Yanchakure
Character: 水嶋钦一
Released: October 5, 1998
Type: TV
The 59th NHK Asadora Drama is Yanchakure. Location includes Osaka. In Osaka, "yanchakure" is a bit of an old word which is used to describe tomboyish or mischievous young girls. Mizushima Nagisa happens to be such a girl, that, no matter how well-intentioned her motives nor how hard she tries, Nagisa just seems to end up failing. In fact, she has failed at different things in her life so many times that she has come to see it as a source of personal strength, her philosophy being one of, "It's natural for a human being to fail many times in the course of their life and thanks to those failures we can become adults."
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Legend of the Cat Monster
Title: Legend of the Cat Monster
Character: Ryohei Shimura / Joji Tamura
Released: August 16, 1998
Type: Movie
A legendary actress thought to be dead is discovered living in an isolated mansion. A screenwriter is tasked with writing her comeback film, which leads the two to live under the same roof.
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Love Letter
Title: Love Letter
Released: May 23, 1998
Type: Movie
A romantic film about the spiritual exchange between a gangster and a Chinese woman who got married to him under false pretenses.
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Dr. Akagi
Title: Dr. Akagi
Character: Dr. Fuu Akagi
Released: May 17, 1998
Type: Movie
At the end of WWII, Japanese doctor Akagi searches for the cure for hepatitis in the prisoner-of-war camp.
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The Key
Title: The Key
Character: Soichiro Anzai
Released: October 18, 1997
Type: Movie
Ikuko is a mature, reserved Kyoto woman married for many years to a respectable, now-middle-aged man. The only problem in their relationship has been that her husband is dissatisfied with her lack of passion during lovemaking. All this changes after they meet the young Mr. Kimura
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Body and Soul
Title: Body and Soul
Released: October 18, 1997
Type: Movie
Yoshihiko now lives with a couple of old friends, a married couple, Ryosuke and Aya. They share a past in several senses. It was Ryosuke who walked off with Yoshihiko’s girlfriend Aya. In doing so, he broke up with his own girlfriend, Reiko. Now they are all back together again and old feelings begin to surface.
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Abduction
Title: Abduction
Released: June 7, 1997
Type: Movie
The film opens with kidnappers of a corporate executive making an unusual ransom demand: that a wizened executive from another company haul large bags of money through downtown Tokyo as the media documents his every move. When the first old man almost dies from exhaustion, a second, and eventually a third elderly corporate fat cat is ordered to do the same. The police detective assigned to the case (Tetsuya Watari) and his younger partner (Masatoshi Nagase) are livid with indignation at this sorry spectacle. They learn that these four men were involved in a massive industrial spill that poisoned an entire rural hamlet 20 years previous. Suddenly, the detective -- who studied in the States and apparently absorbed some John Wayne-like mannerisms in the process -- isn't sure who are the victims and who are the villains.
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The Eel
Title: The Eel
Character: Tamotsu Takasaki
Released: May 12, 1997
Type: Movie
A businessman kills his adulterous wife and is sent to prison. After his release, he opens a barbershop and meets new people, talking to almost no one except for an eel he befriended while in prison.
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The Rainbow Seeker
Title: The Rainbow Seeker
Released: December 28, 1996
Type: Movie
A young man fails his company entrance exams and leaves home to work at a run-down cinema in Tokushima, whose owner lives to bring entertaining films to the residents of his small town.
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Free and Easy 8
Title: Free and Easy 8
Character: Yukawa
Released: August 10, 1996
Type: Movie
When Su-san invites his late friend's daughter to come along on a fishing trip, she falls in love with Hama-chan's fishing protégé.
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Shall We Dance?
Title: Shall We Dance?
Character: Detective Miwa
Released: January 27, 1996
Type: Movie
A bored Japanese accountant sees a beautiful woman in the window of a ballroom dance studio. He secretly starts taking dancing lessons to be near her, and then over time discovers how much he loves ballroom dancing. His wife, meanwhile, has hired a private detective to find out why he has started coming home late smelling of perfume.
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Maborosi
Title: Maborosi
Character: Yoshihiro
Released: October 1, 1995
Type: Movie
A tragedy strikes a young woman's life without warning or reason. She continues living while searching for meaning in a lonely world.
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Title: Eighth Shogun Yoshimune
Character: Tokugawa Munenao
Released: January 8, 1995
Type: TV
The drama is depicting the life and times in 17th and 18th century Japan during the rule of the eighth shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune.
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Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla
Title: Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla
Character: Major Akira Yuki
Released: December 10, 1994
Type: Movie
A mysterious extraterrestrial being resembling Godzilla rapidly approaches Earth. The monster, dubbed SpaceGodzilla, lands to challenge the King of the Monsters.
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The Friends
Title: The Friends
Character: Nagatomo
Released: April 9, 1994
Type: Movie
A delightful and moving coming-of-age story. One summer, three young boys take an increasing interest in an eccentric old man who lives alone in a house surrounded by an overgrown garden. The boys form a bond with the recluse and set about weeding and replanting the garden.
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I Can Hear the Duck Singing
Title: I Can Hear the Duck Singing
Released: September 11, 1993
Type: Movie
A man fed up with city life moves to a village in the mountains
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Private Lessons II
Title: Private Lessons II
Character: Oba
Released: March 6, 1993
Type: Movie
An insecure young Asian man meets an interesting sensual European woman who teaches him the secrets of love and life.
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Title: Family Court Judge
Character: Shibuya Naomasa
Released: January 7, 1993
Type: TV
The story centers on the life of Kawata Yoshio, an eccentric judge. The popularity of the series seems to stem from both the good-natured wisdom of its hero, Judge Kawata, and the glimpse it offers of Japan's judicial system as it deals with current social issues ranging from divorce to substance abuse.
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Yamai wa kikara: Byôin e ikô 2
Title: Yamai wa kikara: Byôin e ikô 2
Released: December 19, 1992
Type: Movie
A comedy about a young woman who has terminal cancer.
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Manhattan Kiss
Title: Manhattan Kiss
Released: June 13, 1992
Type: Movie
An adult love story written and directed by Yasushi Akimoto of "Goodbye Mama" and shot on location in New York. Haruko and Natsuko are sisters who get along like friends. One day, her younger sister Natsuko visited her older sister Haruko in New York. However, the real purpose of Natsuko's trip to the United States was to meet her affair partner Mami Okawa, who left her without saying anything and was transferred to New York. Natsuko immediately visits Okawa and introduces her to her older sister .
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Sumo Do, Sumo Don't
Title: Sumo Do, Sumo Don't
Character: Professor Tokichi Anayama
Released: January 15, 1992
Type: Movie
A college senior, Shuhei, is blackmailed by a professor into joining the school's sumo team. He is aided by a group of misfits who must team together to defeat their rivals or face disgrace and the disbandment of the sumo club.
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A Naive History of the Bakumatsu Era
Title: A Naive History of the Bakumatsu Era
Character: Kogoro Katsura
Released: July 6, 1991
Type: Movie
In the last days of the Tokugawa shogunate, there was a cute warrior, Souji Okita, who belonged to the armed police of the shogunate in Kyoto. Very few knew that Souji was not a boy, but a woman. Souji loved the vice-leader of the armed police, Toshizou Hijikata. Souji suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis and coughed up blood during a battle. Toshizou helped her but said that he did not care for the girl with a smell of blood. Souji had a real talent for swordsmanship and no one but Ryouma Sakamoto could compete with her. Ryouma was a liberal intellectual and tried to carry out a revolution without blood. However, the bloody Meiji Restoration broke out and Souji killed Ryouma who lost his dream. Because a friendship had sprung up between Toshizou and Ryouma, Toshizou got angry and slashed at Souji with a sword. Unwillingly, she unsheathed her sword and thought that she might get love if she was killed by the man she loved.
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Dance till Tomorrow
Title: Dance till Tomorrow
Released: June 22, 1991
Type: Movie
Live action adaption of Naoki Yamamoto's romantic comedy manga series.
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Goodbye Mama
Title: Goodbye Mama
Released: April 20, 1991
Type: Movie
A successful office lady, who has made herself sexually available to a doctor, has her routine disrupted when her former boyfriend's son appears in her life. She is not connected to the boy, but his father has been in an accident.
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The Last Frankenstein
Title: The Last Frankenstein
Character: Prof. Sarusawa
Released: April 20, 1991
Type: Movie
Professor Sarusawa and his psychic daughter Mai live together after the suicide of the Professor's wife years earlier - which was caused by a suicide plague running rampant throughout the city. Dr. Aryo lives in a nearby castle with his wife, whom Dr. Aryo created, and a hunchbacked assistant. Dr. Aryo once worked at the same university with Professor Sarusawa but was fired for his morbid experiments. Now, Dr. Aryo may hold the key to unlocking the origins & cure for the suicide virus which Professor Sarusawa may now have. Meanwhile Professor Sarusawa's daughter Mai can be bring to life Dr. Aryo's stitched up cadavers which Dr. Aryo hopes to create a new race with.
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Title: Taiheiki
Character: Moronao Kô-no
Released: January 6, 1991
Type: TV
The drama centers on Ashikaga Takauji's rise to power, overthrowing the Kamakura shogunate and eventually establishing the Ashikaga shogunate.
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Betrayal tomorrow
Title: Betrayal tomorrow
Released: September 14, 1990
Type: Movie
A violent detective who can handle assault and blackmail in a straight forward manner.
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Maria's Stomach
Title: Maria's Stomach
Released: July 21, 1990
Type: Movie
A carnivorous monster lives on the island of Sipang. A group of office ladies band together to fight it.
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Roar of the Crowd
Title: Roar of the Crowd
Released: June 9, 1990
Type: Movie
Based on the non-fiction books by Takushi Ono (the NHK announcer, not the gymnast) and Yoshinari Tobe.
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Universal Laws
Title: Universal Laws
Released: January 27, 1990
Type: Movie
A young man working as a first-class fashion designer decides to give up his business and return to his hometown after the sudden death of his father.
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Fancy Dance
Title: Fancy Dance
Character: Masoho's boss
Released: December 23, 1989
Type: Movie
Yohei, a punk rocker, becomes a Buddhist monk in order to inherit a mountain temple. Though initially rebelling against the tough monastic discipline, he learns to adjust. Then his girlfriend shows up, enticing him to return to his rock 'n' roll roots.
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Beijing Watermelon
Title: Beijing Watermelon
Character: Mr. Teramoto
Released: November 18, 1989
Type: Movie
Shunzo is a popular greengrocer in a town near Tokyo. His life, and the lives of his wife Michi, and their two children, undergoes a dramatic change when he encounters Li, a poor college student from China.
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Battle Heater
Title: Battle Heater
Character: Riichi Hama
Released: November 3, 1989
Type: Movie
Furuchi and Hama are two unsuccessful repair agents and electronic engineers. One day Furichi finds a so-called Kotatsu heater. Soon after this Furichi dies in a traffic accident. But with the help of a stun gun succeed Hama Furichi bring back to life, but also Kotatsu heater comes alive then.
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Tora-san Goes to Vienna
Title: Tora-san Goes to Vienna
Character: Hyoma Sakaguchi
Released: August 5, 1989
Type: Movie
During his wandering throughout Japan, Tora-san meets a suicidal man. He travels with the man to Vienna, but winds up homesick for Japan.
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Mottomo Abunai Deka
Title: Mottomo Abunai Deka
Character: Maeo
Released: April 22, 1989
Type: Movie
Taka and Yuji find evidence in a 15-year-old case, but the statute of limitations expires in four days and they're hunting illicit gun manufacturers.
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Revolver
Title: Revolver
Character: Keisuke Mineya
Released: October 22, 1988
Type: Movie
When a gun belonging to a police officer is stolen, it ends up in the hands of a student, who decides to use it on a yakuza who beat him recently. Now the police officer is hot on the student’s trail, and he’s determined to prevent the gun from going off.
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The Silk Road
Title: The Silk Road
Released: June 25, 1988
Type: Movie
In 1026, students in western China are shanghaied into the forces of crown prince Li Yuanhao of Xi Xia, who wants to control the length of the Silk Road. One student is Zhao Xingde, who becomes the favorite of his commander, Zhu Wangli. While sacking a fortress, Xingde discovers Tsurpia, princess of the Uighur. He hides her; they fall in love. When he's sent away to study Xixian, he leaves Tsurpia in Zhu's care, but returns to find her engaged to Li. Tragedy follows, and he and Zhu enter a pact to take revenge when Li arrives at Dun-Huang, the region's seat of learning and culture. Against overwhelming odds, they find a surprising way to leave a monument to their life and love.
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The Yen Family
Title: The Yen Family
Character: Shinichi Amemiya
Released: May 14, 1988
Type: Movie
Set in Japan during the bubble era, this unique home comedy cheerfully and humorously depicts the daily life of a strange family that works together to accumulate a small amount of money, while mixing irony and satire.
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Angel Guts: Red Vertigo
Title: Angel Guts: Red Vertigo
Character: Yakuza
Released: May 7, 1988
Type: Movie
Nami is a nurse and the unwilling object of her patients' lust. When she is hit by a car whilst fleeing from the home of her unfaithful boyfriend, the driver of the car takes her as a sexual prisoner.
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The Great Department Store Robbery
Title: The Great Department Store Robbery
Released: December 26, 1987
Type: Movie
Katsuyo plans her last gang robbery.
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Bedtime Eyes
Title: Bedtime Eyes
Released: April 25, 1987
Type: Movie
Based on a polemic novel by Amy Yamada, Bedtime Eyes is about the intense love relationship between a second rate Japanese jazz singer and a black American GI on the margins of the law.
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A Tale of Young Elopement
Title: A Tale of Young Elopement
Character: Matsuda
Released: February 7, 1987
Type: Movie
A 30-year-old man's life gets up-ended when his girlfriend accepts an arranged marriage meeting with a more successful man.
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The Heartbreak Yakuza
Title: The Heartbreak Yakuza
Released: January 1, 1987
Type: Movie
A hardened gangster encounters by chance a woman he hasn't seen since childhood. They are both engulfed in the underground world of intergang warfare.
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Congratulatory Speech
Title: Congratulatory Speech
Character: Yasuhei Higashida
Released: December 28, 1985
Type: Movie
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The Second Is a Christian
Title: The Second Is a Christian
Character: Kumashiro
Released: September 14, 1985
Type: Movie
The story of beautiful Christian nun, Kyoko who is the object of affection for two very different men - one the happy-go-lucky yakuza gangster, Haruhiko who is the next-in-line to takeover the ragtag "Tenryu Gumi" gang and the other bumbling police detective Kumashiro. The Tenryu Gumi is a collection of misfits and other troublemakers but are relatively peaceful due to their Christian beliefs. Their bitter rivals are the more traditional "Kuroiwa Gumi", a much more sadistic and violent group led by godfather Kuroiwa.
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I Want To Live Once More: Shinjuku Bus Fire Incident
Title: I Want To Live Once More: Shinjuku Bus Fire Incident
Character: Hirofumi Maruyama
Released: March 2, 1985
Type: Movie
On the night of August 19, 1980, a bus was set on fire by the vagrant Hirofumi Maruyama at the Shinjuku West Exit Bus Terminal. In the burning flames, Mitsuko, who was exhausted by her affair, suddenly thought of suicide. As a result, she escaped too late from the bus and suffered a serious injury. From there, she was hospitalized for a long time. As she gradually recovered, the wife of her affair partner, Soroku Sugihara, died of cancer. Soroku proposed to Mitsuko again, and they lived together. Due to Soroku's mounting debt, they decided to flee to Tojinbo. With the desperate persuasion of her acquaintances, Mitsuko regained her desire to "live again."
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Capone Cries a Lot
Title: Capone Cries a Lot
Character: Ushiemon
Released: February 16, 1985
Type: Movie
Umiemon is a naniwa-bushi singer who travels with his wife to the United States in hopes of achieving fame and fortune.
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Title: 水曜ドラマスペシャル
Released: October 17, 1984
Type: TV
“Monday Drama Special” (Getsuyou Drama Special) is a long-running drama that aired on TBS every Monday from 21:00 to 22:54 (JST) from October 2, 1989 to March 19 , 2001 . program.
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Location
Title: Location
Character: Konno
Released: September 22, 1984
Type: Movie
The melodramatic story of a pink crew’s tragi-comedic adventures on location. A fictionalized adaptation of set photographer Ichiro Tsuda's 1980 book The Location (Za Rokēshon), an illustrated 229-page document about the cameraman’s experiences with pink cast and crew on the sets of several films produced in the late 1970's.
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Make-Up
Title: Make-Up
Character: Kikuo Tsutano
Released: May 2, 1984
Type: Movie
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Double Bed
Title: Double Bed
Character: Tôru Yamazaki
Released: August 5, 1983
Type: Movie
Kato is a small time TV producer. He has a wife Masako, and a young son Taro. Kato also has a friend Yamazaki who he knew since college. Yamazaki has a girl friend Riko who lives with her younger sister Yuko who's an actress. Yamazaki is a lyric writer/womanizer and he starts to have an affair with Masako, but he's still going out with Riko.
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The Man from Shimizu
Title: The Man from Shimizu
Released: December 28, 1982
Type: Movie
On the day his mother dies, young gambler Jirocho swears in front of her grave that he'll never gamble again. But, that night, Jirocho heads to a gambling den, where he bets the condolence money for his mother's funeral. No surprise to learn he loses the lot. Not the hard-boiled yakuza story it seems, this is a comedy featuring many new artists who were making a name for themselves at the time.
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Suspicion
Title: Suspicion
Character: Shigekazu Akitani
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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Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san
Title: Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san
Character: Kondo
Released: August 7, 1982
Type: Movie
During his travels, Tora-san gets drunk with an old man in Kyoto. Though Tora-san never fully comprehends his importance, the old man is a Living National Treasure ceramist. At his home, Tora-san makes a good impression on the old man's maid, who apparently falls in love with Tora-san.
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Lovers Lost
Title: Lovers Lost
Character: Ishizuka
Released: June 12, 1982
Type: Movie
A poignant love story between a 29-year-old woman, who has once been a prostitute but is now the mistress of a wealthy jewelry merchant, and a 19-year-old college student.
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Sailor Suit and Machine Gun
Title: Sailor Suit and Machine Gun
Character: Detective Kuroki
Released: December 19, 1981
Type: Movie
A high-school girl inherits a declining yakuza organization, which seeks to repair its fortunes under her leadership.
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Disciples of Hippocrates
Title: Disciples of Hippocrates
Released: November 21, 1980
Type: Movie
The story revolves around Ogino, who is in the last year of his medical studies. Between lectures, exams, on field training, his commitment as a pro-reformist militant and his girlfriend, Ogino is starting to wonder if he's really cut out to be a doctor.
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Masked Crusader, Mr. Jirenman
Title: Masked Crusader, Mr. Jirenman
Character: Kantarô Iwata
Released: October 6, 1979
Type: Movie
A meek salaryman who gets no respect at home and is belittled at work gets inspiration from Superman and somehow becomes a strangely suited, hugely endowed, masked sexual avenger.
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Shimoochiai Yakitori Movie
Title: Shimoochiai Yakitori Movie
Released: June 23, 1979
Type: Movie
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Fujio Akatsuka's Gag Porno: Once More With Feeling
Title: Fujio Akatsuka's Gag Porno: Once More With Feeling
Character: Daigorô Hatayama
Released: March 31, 1979
Type: Movie
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Rental Family
Title: Rental Family
Released: December 31, 1969
Type: Movie
A down-and-out actor living in Tokyo is hired as a token American guy for a Japanese rental-family company, leading him on an unexpected journey of self-discovery through the roles he plays in other people’s lives.