Sayoko is desperate to bear a child of her own, but her live-in boyfriend Shinsaku strenuously objects to the idea. One day, someone leaves behind a six-year-old child at their door, claiming that Shinsaku—or four other men—is the child's father! Sayoko and Shinsaku set out on a journey to find the real father.
戦後、東大法学部の学生が設立した金融会社“太陽クラブ”は急成長を遂げたが、メンバーの隅田がヤミ金融容疑で検挙され焼身自殺を図る。残された鶴岡は新たに六甲商事を設立し、企業から次々と金を騙し取った。東京地検の福永検事は鶴岡をマークするが、彼は証拠を残さずに犯罪を繰り返すのだった。
Genzo Okaya
舞台は昭和25年。終戦直後、米軍占領下の北九州・小倉。エスカレートする岡源組と橋伝組のヤクザ抗争を解決するため、警察署長の提案で抗争に代えてヤクザ対抗野球大会が(平和的に)開かれることになる。主人公、岡源組の加助は、橋伝組の攻撃を頭を使って抑えるが、痺れを切らした橋伝組は、秘密兵器の銀次を登板させる。彼は女がらみで指を詰めさせられヤクザになった投手であり、彼の投げる魔球に一転岡源組は苦戦を強いられる。
A travelling group of young people running a pirate radio station from a small truck encounter an eccentric elderly couple who are on the run from the law.
Tonosama
「男はつらいよ」シリーズ第19作。旅先の寅さんは、伊予の国大洲で、わけありの若い女性・鞠子（真野響子）に親切にする。その後、大洲の城跡で浮世離れした老人と知り合うが、その老人こそ、世が世なら伊予の殿様・藤堂久宗（嵐寛壽郎）であった。饗応を受けた寅さんは、殿様の「次男の未亡人に一目会いたい」という願いを安請け合い。しばらくして殿様は、とらやに「寅次郎君はおりますか」とやってくるが…
Onitora
空手ブームに新風を吹き込んだ超人アクション映画「直撃！地獄拳」の第2弾。先祖ゆずりの甲賀忍法を駆使する甲賀、自称世界一の金庫破り・桜、元警視庁刑事・隼たちが宝石“ファラオの星”を巡ってマフィアの殺し屋と対決、果ては大空中戦を繰り広げる、スリルとスピード、パンチと笑いに満ち溢れたダイナミック・アクション巨編！
A boy born in a poor village in Tokushima spends his days idly until a chance meeting sets him on the road to becoming boss of Japan's largest gang.
Seizô Ôgi
Ocho is accidentally captured by a drug trafficking cartel who use Chinese women to smuggle drugs into Japan by hiding it in their vaginas. She is tortured, and manages to escape, fighting both the male yakuzas and a gang of female thieves.
Renouncing any normal life the samurai has become the feared bounty hunter, "Devil" Hogan, the Mute Samurai. A master swordsman, Kiichi Hogan, wanders Japan in search of the Spanish swordsman who murdered his parents and slashed his throat 18 years before.
Moriyama
丹波篠山の旧家の三男の淳は、家を守ることを母に言いきかせられ、忠実に働きつづけていた。実の母がお手伝いとも知らず。一方、財産の山林を手放し、自分たちの代で終わりにしようとするのが、長男・康と次男・徹。長男夫婦は、康の淡白さに妻・夏子は不満が募り、ある時、住み込みの書生とお手伝いとの情愛を目撃し、淳を誘惑していく…。
Fujiko wanders aimlessly through the country, seeking vengence on the man she onced loved, who betrayed her, and destroying her family and her life. When she discovers that man had already died, she loses her will to live. But in a twist of fate, she meets Tatsumi, a raising star in the Horikawa Family. She quickly falls in love with him and his yakuza lifstyle. But when Tatsumi is chosen to but the next Boss of the family, his jealous sworn brother Morito kills him with the help of a mysterious man behind the scenes. Now Fujiko becomes a Bakuto, a wandering yakuza gambler, and once again, walks the bloody path of vengence...
Shinbori
The Ni Family is the most well know and respected group of firefighters in the Kanto region. When their leader dies and the successor disappears, Tsuruji, a beautiful yet tough geisha, becomes the boss. But will she be able to confront a yakuza gang trying to take over the area?
A high-ranking yakuza rises to national notoriety.
End of the Taisho period. In the city of Kiryu, where the wind is constantly blowing, the heads of the yakuza families of Kanhasshu (eight Kanto provinces) were to raise funds for the construction of the Chuji Kunisada monument. Responsible for the fundraiser was Jokichi from the Asami family, but Matsugoro from the Kuromatsu family, who wanted to become the greatest boss of the Kanhasshu yakuza, is trying to take over the textile market that Jokichi controls and intercept the fundraiser.
Hidegoro Omaeda
The seventh chapter of the stunning Hibotan Bakuto series. Many years have passed since Oryu the Red Peony began her soul-searching journey after her father was killed. In her travels, she meets villagers whose crops and livelihoods are being destroyed by pollution from a local factory. They seem to work out an agreement, but Oryu must help the poor villagers when the greedy factory owner and corrupt politicians betray them…
Zenhachiro Minami
When the aging leader of the yakuza gang Maeda-gumi decides to retire, many of the gang members have no confidence in the young man he has chosen to replace him. A fight for the succession begins.
昭和初期、兄貴分の妹と駆け落ちした主人公が、その幸せもつかの間、愛する妻に死なれて一人息子を連れて旅を続けるが、恩義ある親分が殺されたのを知り、幼い子どもと彼を慕う娘をふり切って、仇討ちのために単身殴り込む！
主演の高倉健が、見事なドスさばきを魅せながら、テキ屋魂を画面いっぱいに叩き付ける任侠娯楽大作。メガホンをとる小沢茂弘監督が、渡世の義理と人情の板ばさみに苦悩する男の哀愁や、人情の機微を描き出した意欲作。
Teppokyu
Oryu searches for blind child she left behind and get involved in a Yakuza turf war that takes place in the Tokyo Theater.
Hyoroku
映画ファン待望の2大スター対決が実現し、シリーズ最大のヒットを記録した第20作。蓮華沢の里を3年ぶりに訪れた盲目の渡世人、座頭市。だが村の平和は、小仏の政五郎と生糸問屋の烏帽子屋弥助という2大勢力の対立によってすっかり脅かされていた。市が里に戻ってきたと知った政五郎は、早速、凄腕の用心棒・佐々大作に市の暗殺を命じ、大作もまた100両の金に釣られてその仕事を請け負う。かくして両者はひとたびあいまみえるが、お互いの実力を見てとった2人は、再度の勝負を約束して一旦は別れるが...。
Tazaemon
The second Bounty Hunter film, when master killer Shikoro Ichibei takes up the cause of a group of farmers being driven to despair by the vile Lord Ozeki. The villainous lord has driven them to mounting their last stand at a deserted fort against an army of attackers. Wakayama Tomisaburo is superb as an expert in killing and military tactics, who leaves his medical practice at a clinic for the poor in order to counter the vicious tactics of that vile lord.
Yanagikichi Inubushi
Beginning of the Showa era, Takasaki City in Joshu (Gunma Province). Gambler Inufushi Yoichi continues to lose at Takamasa's gambling house. The authoritative female gambler Ai gives him money and advises him to think seriously about his life. She has to leave Takamasa because of him. She travels to Tomioka for advice from Matsumiya Seiji, who previously helped her. However, the latter is killed due to a conflict with the Kaizu-gumi yakuza family, making his wife Tane a widow...
Shinkichi Hirata
When Keiji Takama returns to Nagasaki, he finds many changes. The rights of the entertainment field that had been held by his family have been taken over by the Matsui Group, a new gangster setup. So he becomes head of the Takama Group to regain lost territory. With the cooperation of all the Bosses from Tokyo to Nagasaki, who had known his father, Keiji recovers the rights to put on shows at the City Hall. As he had feared, however, Matsui begins to interfere with his plans. Keiji's men are furious, but he knows better than to take up the cudgels with Matsui at this important time. Whatever Matsui does, Keiji goes one better. Frustrated and bitter, Matsui calls in the help of Koiwa, a killer. Now, having tried his best to oust Keiji but finding that he is made of sterner stuff than he had counted on, he decides to have Koiwa do away with him for good.
After the war, Kijima (Bunta Sugawara) returns to Tokyo where he meets Ôba (Noboru Andô), an Ex-Kamikaze pilot, and the two ruffians gather hooligans to join their group. In Ginza, the Togawa gang have taken over Sakurada's territory. After several fights Kijima and Ôba gain control of the territory by chasing out the notorious Togawa Group in the name of Sakurada. But Kijima is arrested for assaulting an American soldier. A few years pass. Kijima has served his prison term and the sears of war have been erased from Ginza. Ôba is now president of a company specializing in collection of bad debts, cheque frauds and everything that means money. People call their organization the “Private Police,” and Kijima begins to work for Ôba. Now the Takegami gang waits a chance to seize the Ginza territory.
Follows the struggles of a yakuza wife after his husband gets hurt in a knife fight.
Yojiro Kawabe
The industrual revolution comes to Japan with the introduction of the railroad system. This led to clashes between boatmen, who livihoods are threatened, and the railroad construction workers. Oryu the Red Peony returns to her home in Kumamoto to accept her position as second generation leader of the Yano Family. But the ceremony is interrupted by fighting between local boatmen and railroad works. And it seems a rival family is pulling the strings behind the clashes.
Teijiro Sugiyama
「緋牡丹博徒」シリーズ第3弾。明治中期、渡世修行中のお竜（藤純子）は、熱田神宮大祭の勧進賭博を控える名古屋随一の西之丸一家に草履を脱ぐが、賭博を仕切る貸元の座を狙う金原一家に恩義のある渡世人・花岡（高倉健）と、双方の仁義なき抗争に巻き込まれていく。
Yamamori Futori
現代文明と隔絶しているある南の島。二十数年前、島は暴風と津波が猛威を振るう。嵐が過ぎ去ると、根吉の作っている神田に真っ赤な巨岩が出現していた。島民たちは凶事の原因について話し合い、島の神事を司る根吉が妹ウマと淫らな関係にあるためだと彼らを罰する。そんなある日、東京から技師が開発工事の事前調査に訪れた。しかし、調査はことごとく島民の妨害に遭ってしまう。
Rokurō starts a part-time job on a fishing boat, but the ship has an engine failure in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
A man from Osaka comes up to Tokyo to fight gangsterism.
Continuation of the film Once and For All about two yakuza brothers Joji and Goro.
Onitora
Inosuke, a former gangster, and his friends struggle to make a living as simple fishermen in this tale of chivalry and friendship among yakuza in the northern regions.
Ninkyo with Kôji Tsuruta. An elderly yakuza brother tries to clear an underling’s name.
Film concerning warring yakuza families.
「網走番外地」シリーズの名コンビ、高倉健主演、石井輝男監督で贈る第8弾。網走刑務所での5年の刑を終え、行く当てもない旅を続ける橘。ある事情でノサップのサガレン炭鉱に辿り着いた橘は、汽車で出会った少女・チエの父親の代わりに鉱山で働くことに。
Bungo is released from prison to find his son Kenichi in the care of strangers. Teruko, the woman originally looking after the boy, was forced to leave town and sell herself into prostitution. Bungo and Kenichi, in their search for Teruko, arrive in a new place and find work running a peddling stall for the upright Tatsumaki family. However, the drifting father and son soon find themselves caught up in a struggle for territory. Boss Negishi, the head of the yakuza family responsible for the death of the former Tatsumaki leader, will stop at nothing to take over the marketplace. Sickened by the injustice, Bungo takes on the rival boss knowing it might cost him his newly acquired freedom..
Shimazu
A gang lord hires Kamimura, a hit man, to take out a rival boss who's gotten greedy.
伊藤一の原作を、神波史男と松田寛夫が共同で脚色し、「神火101・殺しの用心棒」の石井輝男が監督した“番外地シリーズ”の第七弾。撮影は同シリーズ「網走番外地 南国の対決」の稲田喜一。
Japan-Hong Kong co-production.
A story of friendship between a lone wolf judo expert and a youth.
伊藤一の原案を「大悪党作戦」の石井輝男が脚本にし、監督した“網走シリーズ”の第六作目。撮影はコンビの稲田喜一。
橘真一と秀が「網走刑務所」を出所した。行くあてもなく、ぶらりと顔を出したのが道南射撃大会の会場。ひょんなことからその決勝戦に出場するハメになった橘は、名射撃手の鮫島を相手に勝ち進み、優勝商品の仔馬を手に入れた。しかし、これには訳があり、影で栗田という男が、橘と同時に発射し優勝させていたのだ。狙いは商品の仔馬である。それを売った金を折半しようと言うのだ。前祝いとして浴びるほど酒を飲んでいる三人のところへ鮫島が現れて争いとなるが意気投合。すっかり酔っ払っていると、信という男が現れて仔馬を言い値で買おうと言い出した。
Tadazo Onogawa
Also known as "History of a Man’s Face" and "By a Man's Face Shall You Know Him" . Immigrant gangs terrorize a Japanese town with their threats, loud jazz, and tasteless fashion sense, and only the tough but suave Dr. Amamiya (Ando) can stop them, as long as he gets rid of his silly peace-loving ideals.
In a Toei all-star effort, Matsukata Hiroki, Otomo Ryutaro, and Konoe Jushiro combine to create an exciting black and white sequel to the classic story of 17 Ninja, one of the most famous films from that noted studio. In the year 1651 the Kishu clan is about to rise against the Tokugawa shogunate using a stash of muskets being guarded by Jinza the leader of the Koga ninja. The Iga ninja are called upon to stop the revolt under the leadership of Hattori Hanzo setting off a spy versus spy battle of silent ninja stealth. Through all the turmoil, Shizaburo and Yuka have broken the taboo of ninja falling in love and strive to achieve the forbidden life of happiness that is denied to all members of the ninja class.
北海道北端の網走刑務所。殺人傷害8年の刑で服役していた橘真一は、所内で起った脱獄騒ぎには眼もくれず、雑居房の仲間たちの羨望の眼差しに送られて仮出獄となった。さしあたって行くあてもない橘は「社長が俺の保釈金を出してくれる筈だ」という病身の葉山の願いをかなえてやろうと、釧路港の志村運送店へ赴くが、そこは運送店とは名ばかりでオンボロトラックが一台あるきり、とても保釈金を出す余裕などなかった。
Koshikawa
やくざ稼業から手を引き、原爆で打ちのめされた長崎港の再建に着手して規模を拡大した旭統一率いる旭組。それに眼をつけた安井は、縄張りをもぎとろうと悪行の限りを尽くす。そのあくどさに我慢出来なくなった旭組の橘真一は、統一に内緒で殴りこみ、安井に重傷を負わせて刑務所送りになる。まだ17、8才のガキだった。それから数年後、刑期を終え、すっかり立ち直った長崎港の桟橋に降り立った橘真一だが、相も変わらず横暴を極める安井組に、再度の網走づとめを覚悟して、単身殴りこみをかける。
Onitora
Two convicts just released from prison find a green bauble filled with diamonds — and try to prove they didn't steal it.
Hukuichi Emoto
Osaka, 1907: Asajiro lives between a rock and a hard place: he has to keep his business clean and running, tame his late oyabun’s hot-blooded son and suffer the throes of his impossible love for beautiful geisha Hatsue.
網走刑務所に入れられた新入りの受刑者・橘は、自分の組の親分のために傷害事件を起こし、懲役3年の刑を言い渡されたヤクザ。殺人鬼・鬼寅の義兄弟と称して幅を利かせる受刑者・依田や、同じ新入り受刑者である権田と衝突しながらも、真面目に毎日を過ごす。そんな橘が仮釈放を受けられる見込みが立ったころ、妹から母親が難病にかかったとの連絡が届く。一方、刑務所の所内ではベテラン受刑者の間で脱走計画が進行していた。
Mondonosuke, a young sword student, has a bad dream about his sensei being killed in a duel.Consequently, he quickly returns to his sensei's dojo in Edo, where he has not set foot in three years.
Saheita Kuranaga
A sadistic Daimyo (feudal lord) rapes a woman and murders both her and her husband, but even when one of his own vassals commits suicide to bring attention to the crime, the matter is quickly hushed up. Not only will there be no punishment, but because the Daimyo is the Shogun's younger brother, he will soon be appointed to a high political position from which he could wreak even more havoc. Convinced that the fate of the Shogunate hangs in the balance, a plot is hatched to assassinate the Daimyo. The two most brilliant strategic minds of their generation find themselves pitted against each other; one is tasked to defend a man he despises, and has a small army at his disposal. The other is given a suicide mission, and has 12 brave men. They are the 13 Assassins.
First ninkyo yakuza picture at Toei directed by Teruo Ishii
Commander Ushijima
The last fight put up by remaining forces and a special volunteer nursing corps in 1944-5.
Kondo Isami
1961 Japanese film about the Shinsengumi.
Tokugawa Ieyasu
The plot is based on the novel "Akechi Samanosuke no Koi," the final work in a trilogy by Hiroshi Kato about the forced suicide of Oda Nobunaga at the temple Honnoji. Historically, the general Akechi Mitsuhide is credited with causing Nobunaga's downfall. Kato's novel focuses on Mitsuhide's nephew Samanosuke, who fought alongside his uncle during the assault on Honnoji.
Sennosuke Sakura
Japanese action film.
Enma
仏教系の大学に通う清水四郎は、恩師の矢島教授の下で彼の一人娘の幸子と婚約していたが、謎めいた笑みを浮かべる同窓の田村がしつこくつきまとってくるため、彼の誘惑から逃れようとして逆に次々と罪を重ねていく。まもなく、幸子を自動車事故で亡くしてしまった四郎は実家へ戻るが、そこに住む画家の谷口円斎の娘で幸子にそっくりなサチ子と恋に落ちる。しかし、田村に加えて四郎に轢き逃げされたヤクザの志賀恭一の情婦が復讐しようと後を追ってきたため、四郎は吊り橋でもみ合っているうちに2人を殺害してしまう。
その晩、四郎の父の剛造が経営する老人ホーム「天上園」の創立十周年記念パーティーでは集団食中毒が発生し、入所老人たちが全員死亡。更に復讐にやってきた志賀の母が酒に毒を盛ったことで、四郎も剛造もすべての人間が悶死する。死の間際、地獄へ落ちる幻想を見た四郎は、そこで会った幸子の霊から彼女が四郎の子を身ごもっていたことや、その子も水子になって地獄へ落ちていることを告げられる。四郎は我が子を見つけるべく、八大地獄の修羅場をさまようのだった。
Emperor Jinmu / Hideki Tojo
Japanese war film.
After the massacre of Christians at Shimabara, followers of Amakusa Shiro band together in a plot to overthrow the shogunate in order to exact revenge on the Tokugawa. At the same time there is a succession dispute in the Kuroda clan, as one faction tried to usurp the rightful heir and take over the honored clan. Before his untimely death, the lord of the Kuroda bestowed “Nihongo”, a magnificent spear, on his finest warrior, which ultimately brings him into contact with two of Japan’s most famous historical figures, Yagyu Jubei and Miyamoto Musashi. Can the three masters of martial art join forces to defeat their enemies and save the nation?
Shigetaro Shimada
During the naval battle of Midway in WWII, the battleship Mutsu was in its home port in Japan. The ship's officers and crew were frustrated at not being able to take part in the fighting. They had been held back by orders from the Naval Ministry, but there was also a plot by saboteurs, who were trying to prevent the sailing of the Mutsu. Director Komori developed a suspenseful plot by including a fictional adaptation of the Russian spy Richard Sorge, who had been captured in Japan and subsequently executed. Komori brings a fictional Russian spy to the screen by portraying him as a military attaché at the German embassy. As Germany was an ally of Japan in WWII, a secret agent being a mole in the German embassy is a perfect cover. The interaction of the saboteurs and the officers and crew of the Mutsu make an exciting story.
Japanese film.
Katsura Kogoro
Japanese comedy film.
This time around, Sashichi is investigating a case of serial murders believed to be perpetrated by a giant bear.
Emperor Meiji
In January 1904, the situation between Japan and Russia had grown tense. The Emperor Meiji is deeply concerned, for Russia has started to build an invincible fortress at Port Arthur, and the relations between two countries have become strained to breaking point. General Nogi has retired to the first reserve and is now a gentleman farmer, but he is prepared for sudden mobilization. Finally, Japan declares war against Russia and Emperor Meiji appoints General Nogi as the commander of the force to attack Port Arthur. However, in spite of several all-out attacks, the fortress is strong and the casualties increase among the Japanese. Because of these reverses, there are loud cries for a change in command. However, the Emperor places his confidence in General Nogi.
1959 Japanese film, originally released in two parts.
1959 Japanese film.
Hideki Tojo
In 1941, overpopulated Japan faces an economic boycott and its armed forces push further to the south. And despite negotiations between Japan and the U. S. A. war is declared with the attack on Pearl Harbour. Victories follow for Japan on land and sea and her forces push forward to the borders of India. But gradually the tide turns in favour of the Allies and after the atom bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan is compelled to accept the Potsdam Declaration and by the order of the Emperor agrees to unconditional surrender. Under the supervision of the occupation forces the International Military Tribunal opens in Tokyo to try the Japanese war leaders. Established in the cause of justice, and to prevent future aggressive wars the trials drag on for two and a half years. And on December 23, 1948, General Tojo and six other war leaders mount the thirteen steps to the gallows at Tokyo's Sugamo prison.
Japanese film, originally released in two parts.
Japanese film.
Japanese comedy film released to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Shintoho's founding.
Japanese film.
Emperor Meiji
Harada Kai
Harada Kai, the Date clan's Chamberlain attempts to take power from the lord himself.
Japanese film.
Emperor Meiji
Meiji Tenno portrayed the ramp up to the Russo-Japan War. In addition to showing the political events that led to war, it also showed the era from the story of a farm family in rural Japan who sent their son off to war. As such, it could be considered an anti-war movie, showing how, while war is devised by governments, the people do not really understand what war is, and it's combatants often do not know what they are fighting for.
1956 Japanese film, originally released in two parts.
Sôgorô
Kusuo Abe stars in this kaidan.
The 40th and final "Tengu Kurama" feature starring Kanjuro Arashi.
第一部鬼伏峠の襲撃に続いて放つ第二部暁の血戦は、奥平源八郎一族が展開する仇討絵巻で興趣満点の時代劇！ 嵐を呼ぶか浄瑠璃坂！武門の意地が炎と燃えて！苦節三年の悲願なるか！痛快胸のすく暁の討ち入り！
時は寛文年間、父の仇を求め自ら流浪を続ける奥平源八郎とその一門が描く“復讐浄瑠璃坂”は、愛情と恩義に生きる宇都宮浪士の苦悩を鋭く衝いた異色時代劇。
Japanese film released to commemorate the 7th anniversary of Shintoho's founding.
Ryō Hagiwara movie
Mizutani Seinosuke
Jidai-geki starring Kanjuro Arashi
Umon Kondô
Period film about the legendary detective Umon
東海道を舞台に描いた痛快時代劇。神谷金三郎は松村四海とともに幕府の密命を受け薩摩藩に潜入するが…。
Yasubei Nakayama
Jidai-geki about the life of Yasubei Nakayama, a famous ronin who did participate in the revenge against Lord Kira Yoshinaka as detailed in Japan's famous epic Chushingura
Matashirô Sasai
Jidai-geki by Nobuo Nakagawa. Most likely a star vehicle for Kanjuro Arashi
Ôhara Yûgaku
Jidai-geki by Kiyoshi Saeki
Seikichi
Japanese noir.
元寇の役における博多湾での海戦を、オールスター・キャストで描いたスペクタクル時代劇。 台風シーンは、東宝特撮陣を招いて撮影された。 もはや神風にでも頼らなければ、日本は戦争に勝てないと思って製作されたような気もする、挙国一致の気概をあおる愛国映画である。
Directed by Daisuke Itô.
The rise to power of Toyotomi Hideyoshi from a farmer's son.
The vassals of the Asano clan, who surrendered the castle & became wanderers, deceive the enemy and the public, wait for an opportunity to avenge their master and his family.
This is Kanjûrô Arashi's first film with Nikkatsu after his independent production company went bankrupt (many of these independent companies went bankrupt shortly after the transition to sound). As he is mostly famous for his portrait of Kurama tengu (and on the other hand, he's the definitive actor for Kurama Tengu as well), Nikkatsu made another version of Kurama tengu, co-directed by Masahiro Makino & Sadatsugu Matsuda who are both sons of Shozo Makino. Scripted by Yoshitake Hisa, a jidaigeki specialist who later scripted several Toei All-Star Jidaigeki.
“Dokuro sen” (The Skull Coin) is the first film adaptation of the popular novel by Kikuo Sumita. The story evolves around the seven cursed coins (the Skull Coin) that are supposed to reveal the secrets of the hidden Tokugawa treasure.
An important silent film survives, Kumahiko Nishina's Umon torimonocho rokuban tegara jinenji kidan (The Samurai Detective, aka The Detective Records of Umon, aka Detective Umon Diary: Exploit Number Six, 1930). Umon on his shining white horse stops a conspiracy against the Shogun. Umon was played by Kanjuro Arashi in this early film, & long after in the post-Occupation jidaigeki revival he reprised the role in Kajiro Yamamoto's Muttsuri Umon torimonocho (1955), helping to launch the renewed interest in such films.
'Muttsuri' Umon
The movie begins with a mysterious murder and Umon Kondo, a Doshin, so called drag-ass Umon, who dallies away lying sprawled all day long, launches an investigation.
Kurama tengu
The Frightful Era of Kurama Tengu is a 1928 black and white Japanese silent film with benshi accompaniment directed by Teppei Yamaguchi. It is part of the Kurama Tengu series and features the battle between the title character, Kurama Tengu, and his impostor. The last scene, featuring sword fights of exhilarating speed, is one reason this series was very popular, especially with children.
Kurama Tengu is a 1928 black and white Japanese silent film with benshi accompaniment directed by Teppei Yamaguchi. It is a film which is a part of the series depicting the bold and daring hero Kurama Tengu. The popular series comprises numerous films based on the original novel written by Jiro Osaragi, but those featuring Kanjuro Arashi are considered to be the most valuable. Of note is the last scene in which the main character takes on numerous foes with a sword in each hand.
Lord Asano Takumi-no-Kami Naganori was charged with receiving a group of envoys from the Imperial Court in Kyoto. He was young and slightly inexperienced, so Lord Kira Kozuke-no suke Yoshinako was given the task of instructing Lord Asano in the customs of the ceremony. On the day of the reception, something went terrible wrong, and Lord Asano attempted to kill Lord Kira. For this, Lord Asano was order to commit seppuku. However, in violation of existing law, Lord Kira was not punished. The ruling Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi eventually confiscated Lord Asano's land and dismissed the samurai that had served him so faithfully, effectively making them all ronin. Two years later, Oishi Kuranosuke Yoshi led a group of samurai loyal to Lord Asano in an attack on Kira's compound. Their aim was to capture and kill him.
