“Gekijoban SPEC ~Ten~ (SPEC: Heaven),” 2012 drama, 1 hour and 59 minutes.
Directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi. Starring Erika Toda and Ryo Kase.
Saya Toma is a gifted female detective with an IQ of 201 with an innate ability to glean information from any social situation. Her partner Sebumi is a career detective with a distinguished background. They work on cases by postulating the “SPEC” of the unknown criminals and then deduce the criminal’s “SPEC” to make arrests. A mystery occurs when a large number of mummified corpses are found on a cruiser in the ocean. Eventually, this strange incident develops into a major situation.
“Genji Kuro Sassoki Byakko Nitoryu (Tales of Young Genji Kuro, Part 2),” 1958 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 28 minutes.
Directed by Tai Kato. Starring Kinnosuke Nakamura, Keiko Okawa and Kotaro Satomi.
Master swordsman Kuro must defend Lord Yoshitsune’s secret treasures from the treacherous pirates and villains.
“Gokudo no Onna Tachi (Yakuza Ladies),” 1986 drama, 2 hours.
Directed by Hideo Gosha. Starring Shima Iwashita, Rino Katase, Masanori Sera and Riki Takeuchi.
Tamaki, the wife of the Awazu family boss, is thrust into leadership of the family when her husband is sent to prison. Upon the death of the patriarch of the head Yakuza family, the other powerful families conspire to take control over the entire organization. Caught in the middle of the ensuing battle for power, Tamaki must do what it takes to preserve the Awazu family.
“Gokudo Senso Butoha (Yakuza Warfare),” 1991 action film, 1 hour and 55 minutes.
Directed by Sadao Nakajima. Starring Kiichi Nakai and Sonny Chiba.
Two young yakuza make names for themselves in a large gang war.
“Hatamoto Taikutsu Otoko Nazo no Daimonji (The Daimonji Conspiracy),” 1959 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 31 minutes.
Directed by Yasushi Sasaki. Starring Ichikawa Utaemon and Azuma Chiyonosuke.
Master swordsman and loyal vassal Saotome Mondonosuke goes on a mission to find a missing princess.
“Hibari Ohako Benten Kozo (Hibari’s Favorite),” 1960 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 14 minutes.
Directed by Yasushi Sasaki. Starring Hibari Misora, Kotaro Satomi and Tomisaburo Wakayama.
Kikunosuke, a young temple servant, turns to his mother, Ofuji, for protection after being wrongly accused of murder. However Ofuji decides to turn her son into the police to collect a monetary reward. Devastated by this betrayal, Kikunosuke escapes to Edo in hopes of starting over. Once there, he takes on the name, “Benten Kozo” and soon joins a gang led by Nihon Daemon, which will later be known as Shiranami Goninotoko.
“Jirocho to Kotengu Nagurikomi Koshuji (A Revengeful Raid),” 1962 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Kinnosuke Nakamura and Kinya Kitaoji.
Jirocho rescues carefree young man Eijiro from a family feud.
“Judge!” 2014 drama, 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Directed by Akira Nagai. Starring Satoshi Tsumabuki and Keiko Kitagawa.
A major advertising festival is held in Los Angeles each year to determine the best television commercial in the world. Kiichiro Ota, rookie ad man at a big advertising company is asked by his arrogant boss to take his place as a judge on the festival jury. Meanwhile, a coworker also named Ota poses as his wife so that he can attend an open party, which is held nightly. Knowing that he’ll get fired if his company doesn’t win the Grand Prix, he’s forced to resort to a variety of desperate tactics.
“Kashi no Onna Ishimatsu (A Fishwife’s Tale),” 1961 drama, 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Directed by Eiichi Kudo. Starring Hibari Misora and Ken Takakura.
Misora Hibari plays Yoshiko, the popular daughter of a fish market owner. After discovering that she was adopted, she sets out to help her biological father, whom has fallen victim to an evil plot orchestrated by those who would take over his successful business.
“Little Forest – Natsu/Aki (Little Forest: Summer/Autumn),” 2014 drama, 1 hour and 51 minutes.
Directed by Jun’ichi Mori. Starring Ai Hashimoto and Takahiro Miura
Ichiko lived in a big city. She departs city life to return to her small hometown in the Tohoku region. She lives alone in her family home in the fictional village of Komori (which literally translates as “Little Forest”). She is self-sufficient. Ichiko gains energy living among nature and eating foods she makes from seasonal ingredients. This gentle drama about going back to basics is filled with imagery of nature, as a young woman returns to her ancestral roots.
“Nihon Jokyoden Tekka Geisha (Flint Geisha),” 1970 drama, 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Directed by Kosaku Yamashita. Starring Junko Fuji and Bunta Sugawara.
Young geisha Koshizu’s wish of reuniting with the man, Yukichi, who helped her 10 years ago, comes true. When she learns of the trouble Yukichi’s business is facing, it is time for her to repay the debt.
“Nippon Dorobo Monogatari (Tale of Japanese Burglars),” 1965 drama,
1 hour and 57 minutes.
Directed by Satsuo Yamamoto. Starring Rentaro Mikuni and Yoshiko Sakuma.
The story of Hayashida — a skilled thief who steals to support his family.
“Oedo Shichininshu (Seven from Edo),” 1958 samurai film, 1 hour and 32 minutes.
Directed by Matsuda Sadatsugu. Starring Utaemon Ichikawa, Chiyonosuke Azuma, Hashizo Okawa and Sentaro Fushimi.
When Katsukawa, a low ranking vassal, learns his superior, Tatewaki, has hatched a plan to greedily expand his territory, hen and his comrades decide to take matters into their own hands.
“Oshidori Dochu (Happily Tied to the Road),” 1959 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 28 minutes.
Directed by Yasushi Sasaki. Starring Hashizo Okawa and Kyoko Aoyama.
A wandering gambler Hanjiro saves sisters with no one to depend on.
“Seki no Yatappe (Yakuza of Seki),” 1963 samurai drama, 1 hour and 29 minutes.
Directed by Kosaku Yamashita. Starring Kinnosuke Nakamura, Yukiyo Toake, Ryunosuke Tsukigata and Isao Kimura.
Yatappe, a young yakuza, wanders around the country in search of his long-lost little sister, Oito. While traveling, he rescues a young girl, Osayo, whose father entrusts her to him with his dying wish. To honor his promise to Osayo’s deceased father, Yatappe brings her to safety, and from a distance keeps a watchful eye on her well being.
“Shimizuminato no Meibutsu Otoko Enshumori no Ishimatsu (Man from Shimizu),” 1958 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 38 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Kinnosuke Nakamura and Chiyonosuke Azuma.
The adventures of people’s hero, Mori no Ishimatsu.
“Shinjuku no Yotamono (Thugs of Shinjuku),” 1970 drama, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Shin Takakuwa. Starring Bunta Sugawara and Shingo Yamashiro.
Fresh out of jail, a smart-mouth wise guy Goro takes the name “Big Brother Katsumata.” Not fitting in well with established gangs, he forms a rag-tag gang called “the Shinjuku Brothers.” The members of their gang are thugs who only wish they were traditional yakuza. When they turn up at the funeral for a gangster, they are not welcomed, but a senior boss intervenes to keep things calm. The boss of bosses invites them to join a respected local council of warlords. Katsumata is suspicious of why such powerful men would extend an invitation to lowlife like himself.
“Tarao Bannai Hayabusa no Mao (Foul Play),” 1955 drama, 1 hour and 21 minutes.
Directed by Sadatsugu Matsuda. Starring Chiezo Kataoka and Chizuru Kitagawa.
Private eye Tarao Bannai and his assistant Masako investigate the mysterious murder of a baseball player who was killed in the middle of a game.
“Tsukigata Hanpeita (Mask of the Moon),” 1961 samurai film, 1 hour and 29 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Hashizo Okawa, Kotaro Satomi, Jushiro Konoe and Satomi Oka.
Young swordsman, Tsukigata Hanpeita, longs for the day when rival clans cease their struggles for power and put an end to meaningless feudal wars. When he is appointed to oversee the Choshu Clan, he takes it upon himself to work towards the peace that he has dreamed about. With his affectionate personality and compassion for life, Hanpeita’s popularity grows among the people, making him a threat to those thirsty for conflict and power. A betrayal by those closest to him leaves Hanpeita caught in a trap that could ultimately cost him his life.
“Tsuri Baka Nisshi 7 (Free and Easy 7),” 1994 comedy/drama, 1 hour and 37 minutes.
Directed by Seiji Izumi. Starring Toshiyuki Nishida and Rentaro Mikuni.
Seventh installment of the series of “Tsuribaka nisshi,” which chronicles the adventures of Hama-chan and also his boss Su-san, both fishing fanatics. On a fishing trip, Hama-chan and Su-san meet a beautiful lady and the three have a great time. Later, Su-san gets a toothache, and his dentist turns out to be the woman, whom he secretly takes fishing, lying to Hama-chan in the process. When the two men later run into one another, their friendship is threatened.
