“Chokosoku! Sankin Kotai (Samurai Hustle),” 2014 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 59 minutes.
Directed by Katsuhide Motoki. Starring Kuranosuke Sasaki and Kyoko Fukada.
During the reign of the eighth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, the Yunagaya Domain in the Tohoku region is small but has a gold mine. Sankin-kotai is a custom that requires the daimyo to visit the shogun in Edo. Masaatsu Naito of Yunagaya Domain receives an order to perform Sankin-kotai within five days; however, the time needed to visit Edo for Masaatsu is eight days. He also learns he received the order because a high-ranking government official wants the gold mine. Masaatsu begins an unexpected operation to complete Sankin-kotai in the required time.
“Edokko Hada (Edo Purebred),” 1961 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 26 minutes.
Directed by Masahiro Makino. Starring Hashizo Okawa, Yataro Kurokawa and Hiroko Sakuramachi.
A story of friendship between two rival firefighters, Kichigoro and Jirokichi.
“Hibotan Bakuto Oryu Sanjo (The Valiant Red Peony Gambles Her Life),” 1970 drama, 1 hour and 39 minutes.
Directed by Tai Kato. Starring Junko Fuji and Kanjuro Arashi.
Oryu the gambler travels to find young Okimi who was orphaned after her mother’s death several years ago.
“Jake Shimabukuro: 4-gen ni Kakeru Jinsei (Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings),” 2012 drama, 55 minutes.
Directed by Tadashi Nakamura. Starring Jake Shimabukuro.
“Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings” goes behind the amazing performances to tell the story of the charming musician who has captivated the world with his music. The rise of Hawaii’s ‘ukulele virtuoso from bedroom practice sessions to worldwide acclaim is documented. Jake’s passion for the ‘ukulele helped him cope with his parents’ divorce. His musical skill, relentless touring, effortless charisma, and a little help from YouTube are key elements to his transition to the world stage with an instrument revered in Hawaii, but formerly relegated to novelty acts worldwide. As Jake tours you will witness his development as a man and musician trying to stay humble while dealing with the unique success of being an ‘ukulele master. Japanese subtitled.
“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.
“Kizudarake no Jinsei Furui Yatsu de Gozansu (A Scarred Life 2),” 1971 drama, 1 hour and 33 minutes.
Directed by Shigehiro Ozawa. Starring Koji Tsuruta and Tomisaburo Wakayama.
Members of the same yakuza gang are forced to fight each other.
“Kyodai Jingi Kanto Anikibun (Code Between Brothers 6),” 1967 action film, 1 hour and 27 minutes.
Directed by Sadao Nakajima. Starring Saburo Kitajima and Koji Tsuruta.
Story about a womanizing yakuza during the early 20th century.
“Nihon Jokyoden Kyokaku Geisha (Samurai Geisha),” 1969 drama, 1 hour and 39 minutes.
Directed by Kosaku Yamashita. Starring Junko Fuji, Ken Takakura and Tomizaburo Wakayama.
Popular geisha Shinji must defy a gang who plot to steal a lucrative coal business from struggling miners during the turbulent Meiji Era.
“Ninja Hichou Fukuro no Shiro (Samurai Spies),” 1963 samurai/action film, 1 hour and 31 minutes.
Directed by Eiichi Kudo. Starring Ryutaro Otomo and Minoru Oki.
After surviving an attack, which nearly destroyed his entire clan, Juzo, one of the most skilled Iga ninja, sets out on a quest for vengeance. Convinced that the assassination of the current Shogun, Hideyoshi, will avenge his clan, his mission becomes complicated when a rival Koga ninja, Gohei, is dispatched to stop him.
“Ninjutsu Suikoden Inazuma Kotengu (The Scroll’s Secret),” 1958 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 9 minutes.
Directed by Masaharu Matsuura. Starring Chiyonosuke Azuma and Satomi Oka.
Shogun Yoshitane’s order to recover the secret scroll triggers a series of ninja warfare during the Muromachi period.
“Oedo Senryo Bayashi (Swordsman and the Actress),” 1955 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Directed by Yasushi Sasaki. Starring Hibari Misora, Chiyonosuke Azuma and Ryutaro Otomo.
Famous actress Koharu becomes involved in the search for the Shogun’s treasure.
“Ooka Seidan Yurei Hachijuhachiya (Magistrate Ooka’s Legends),” 1958 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 28 minutes.
Directed by Kiyoshi Saeki. Starring Ryutaro Otomo and Keiko Okawa.
A hotshot investigator solves a series of gruesome murders in this exciting and dark classic.
“Satomi Hakkenden Dai-sanbu (Sorcerer’s Orb, Part 3),” 1954 jidaigeki, 52 minutes.
Directed by Toshikazu Kono. Starring Chiyonosuke Azuma, Kinnosuke Nakamura and Ryunosuke Tsukigata.
Four sacred warriors continue their search for the remaining members while also discovering the magical powers that lay in their own orbs.
“Satomi Hakkenden Dai-yonbu (Sorcerer’s Orb, Part 4),” 1954 jidaigeki, 49 minutes.
Directed by Toshikazu Kono. Starring Azuma Chiyonoske, Nakamura Kinnosuke and Tsukigata Ryunosuke.
Five sacred warriors fated to reunite eight magical crystal orbs continue their adventure to fulfill their ultimate destiny.
“Seishun no Mon (Gate of Youth),” 1981 drama, 2 hours and 21 minutes.
Directed by Koreyoshi Kurahawa. Starring Bunta Sugawara, Keiko Matsuzaka, Tomizaburo Wakayama, Koichi Sato and Saburo Tokito.
A story of Shinsuke, a young man who lives through a stormy life as a poverty-stricken coal miner.
“Tenryu Hahakoi Gasa (Heavenly Dragon),” 1960 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Directed by Eiichi Kudo. Starring Hibari Misora and Hiroshi Mizuno.
An evil boss Kumagoro, who plots to take over lumber dealer Shintaro’s family business, entraps his son.
“Ukyounosuke Junsatsu-ki (On Patrol),” 1963 samurai film, 1 hour and 32 minutes.
Directed by Yasuto Hasegawa. Starring Hashizo Okawa, Kikuko Hojo and Shiro Osaka.
Following the assassination of his father, orphan Ukyou is raised by a group of ninja. Desperate for justice, he learns the art of ninjutsu in hopes of one day avenging his father’s death.
“Yagyu Bugeicho Katame no Jubei (Yagyu Military Art: Jubei’s Redemption),” 1963 jidaigeki, 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Directed by Koukichi Uchide. Starring Jushiro Konoe, Hiroki Matsukata and Shingo Yamashiro.
Jubei must prove the innocence of his family who is suspected of conspiring to take Shogun’s life.
“Yumechiyo Nikki (Yumechiyo),” 1985 drama, 2 hours and 9 minutes.
Directed by Kirio Urayama. Starring Sayuri Yoshinaga, Kinya Kitaooji and Yuko Natori.
Yumechiyo, a geisha house madam recently diagnosed with a terminal illness, yearns to do something constructive with the little time she has left. Through her responsibility lies in taking care of her girls, she finds purpose in providing a man innocent of a false murder charge and in the process discovers love for the first time in his arms.
