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Cinema  of  Japan

          flag of Japan
Foreign Cinema Page
Cinema of Asia Page
Cinema of Canada Page
Cinema of China Pages
Cinema of France Pages
Cinema of Germany Page
Cinema of India Pages
Cinema of Italy Pages
Cinema of Mexico Page
Cinema of Russia Page
Cinema of Spain Page
           battle scene from Kurosawa's "Ran" [1985]           here on page 1:

books about Japanese cinema

filmmakers of Japan

actors & others of Japan

links

on page 2: {top of page}

movies of Japan
samurai genre
yakuza genre
'Chushingura'
'Godzilla' series

selected movies
1950s1970s
RECENT movies & coming soon


Japanese Films on DVD at Amazon.com
Japanese Films on VHS at Amazon.com

Cinema of Japan at Wikipedia

Japanese Movie Database { in Japanese }


Books  About  Manga  &  Anime  &  Japanese  Cinema

Japanese Film / Art & Industry   "The Japanese Film: Art & Industry" [1983]
by Joseph L. Anderson & Donald Richie

Princeton Univ Press 8½x5½ pb [2/83] for $25.05
Princeton Univ Press hardcover [2/83] out of print/used
Archetypes in Japanese Film book by Gregory Barrett  "Archetypes In Japanese Film: The Sociopolitical and Religious Significance of The Principal Heroes & Heroines" [1989] by Gregory Barrett
Susquehanna Univ Press 10x7 hardcover [6/89] out of print/scarce
Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo!  "Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo!: The Incredible World of Japanese Fantasy Films" [1998] by Stuart Galbraith IV
Feral House 8¼x10 pb [5/98] out of print/used
Japanese Cinema Essential Handbook by Thomas Weisser & Yuko Mihara Weisser  "Japanese Cinema: The Essential Handbook" [1998]
by Thomas Weisser & Yuko Mihara Weisser

Vital Books 8¼x5½ pb [8/98] for $19.36
Contemporary Japanese  "Contemporary Japanese Film" [1999]
by Mark Schilling

Weatherhill 9x6 pb [10/99] for $16.47
Word & Image in Japanese Cinema book edited by Dennis Washburn & Carole Cavanaugh  "Word and Image In Japanese Cinema" [2000]
Edited by Dennis Washburn & Carole Cavanaugh

Cambridge Univ Press 9¼x6¼ hardcover [10/2000] for $110.00
Anime Encyclopedia   "The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide To Japanese Animation Since 1917" [2001]
by Jonathan Clements & Helen McCarthy

Stone Bridge Press 9x7 pb [rev 11/2006] for $20.67
Stone Bridge Press 9x7 pb [9/2001] for $18.96
Hundred Years of Japanese Film book by Donald Richie  "A Hundred Years of Japanese Film" [2002]
by Donald Richie

Oxford Univ Press revised edition 9x6¼ pb [8/2005] for $14.96
Kodansha 8½x7 hardcover [2/2002] for $30.00
Japanese Movie Posters   "Japanese Movie Posters: Yakuza, Monster, Pink & Horror" [2003]
by Chuck Stephens, Tetsuya Masuda & Kairakutei Black

D.H. Publng 12x8¼ pb [9/2003] for $13.57
Cinema of Japan & Korea   "The Cinema of Japan and Korea (24 Frames Series)" [2004]
Edited by Justin Bowyer

Wallflower Press 9x7½ pb [9/2004] for $29.50
Wallflower Press 9¼x7½ hardcover [12/2004] for $80.00
Midnight Eye Guide To Japanese Film   "The Midnight Eye Guide To New Japanese Film" [2004]
by Tom Mes & Jasper Sharp

Stone Bridge Press 9x7 pb [10/2004] for $16.29
Midnight Eye website
New History of Japanese Cinema   "A New History of Japanese Cinema: A Century Of Narrative Film" [2005]
by Isolde Standish

Continuum International Publng 8½x5½ pb [5/2006] for $26.80
Continuum International Publng 9x6¼ hardcover [4/2005] for $47.29
Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film   "Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film" [2005]
by Chris Desjardins

I.B. Tauris 9¾x7 pb [7/2005] for $15.56
I.B. Tauris 10x7 hardcover [7/2005] for $69.95
Reading A Japanese Film  "Reading A Japanese Film: Cinema in Context" [2005]
by Keiko I. McDonald

Univ Hawaii Press 8x6 pb [10/2005] out of print/used
Univ Hawaii Press 9x6 hardcover [8/2005] for $37.50
Japanese Period Film book by S.A. Thornton  "The Japanese Period Film: A Critical Analysis" [2007]
by S.A. Thornton, Foreword by Donald Richie

McFarland & Co. 9x6 pb [10/2007] for $35.95
Japanese Cinema: Texts & Contexts book edited by Alastair Phillips & Julian Stringer  "Japanese Cinema: Texts and Contexts: [2007]
Edited by Alastair Phillips & Julian Stringer

Routledge 9x6 pb [12/2007] for $32.35
Routledge 9x6¼ hardcover [12/2007] for $140.00
One Thousand Years of Manga book by Brigette Koyama-Richard  "One Thousand Years of Manga" [2008]
by Brigette Koyama-Richard

Flammarion 11x9½ hardcover [2/2008] for $34.46
Toho Studios History & Complete Filmography bo0ok by Stuart Galbraith  "The Toho Studios Story: The History and Complete Filmography" [2008]
by Stuart Galbraith IV

Scarecrow Press 11x8¾ hardcover [5/2008] for $120.00
Introduction to Japanese Horror Film book by Colette Balmain  "Introduction To Japanese Horror Film" [2008]
by Colette Balmain

Edinburgh Univ Press 9¼x6pb [10/2008] for $32.03
Edinburgh Univ Press 9x6¼ hardcover [3/2009] for $115.00 {sic}
Critical Handbook of Japanese Film Directors book by Alexander Jacoby  "A Critical Handbook of Japanese Film Directors: From The Silent Era To The Present Day" [2008] by Alexander Jacoby, Foreword by Donald Richie
subject directors include Yutaka Abe, Kinji Fukasaku, Juzo Itami, Akira Kurosawa, Takashi Miike, Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujiro Ozu, Yoji Yamada & Isao Yukisada
Stone Bridge Press 9x6 pb [10/2008] for $16.76
Japanification of Children's Popular Culture book edited by Mark I. West  "The Japanification of Children's Popular Culture: From Godzilla To Miyazaki" [2008]
Edited by Mark I. West

Scarecrow Press 8½x6 pb [10/2008] for $40.07

Magic Lantern's 'Godzilla' Movies Page
Magic Lantern's Hayao Miyazaki Page

Essential Anime Movies Ultimate Guide book by Helen McCarthy  "500 Essential Anime Movies: The Ultimate Guide" [2009]
by Helen McCarthy

Harper Design 8x6 pb [1/2009] for $24.95
Collins Design 7¾x6 bargain price pb [1/2009] for $9.98
Culture of Japanese Fascism book edited by Alan Tansman  "The Culture of Japanese Fascism" [2009]
Edited by Alan Tansman

The book includes two chapters on pre-war Japanese cinema.
Duke Univ Press 9x6 pb [3/2009] for $19.96
Duke Univ Press 9¼x6¼ hardcover [3/2009] for $99.95

see also the Fascists & Barbarians Pages at Working Minds Philosophy website

The Martial Arts Book by Laura Scandiffio & Nicolas Debon  "The Martial Arts Book" [YA ages 11 & up; 2010]
by Laura Scandiffio, Art by Nicolas Debon

Annick Press 10½x8½ pb [8/2010] for $13.45
Annick Press hardcover [8/2010] out of print/used
Japanese Animation: From Painted Scrolls to Pokemon book by Brigette Koyama-Richard  "Japanese Animation: From Painted Scrolls To Pokémon" [2010]
by Brigette Koyama-Richard

Flammarion-Pere Castor 11¾x9 hardcover [10/2010] for $35.03
Japanese Animation book by Chris Robinson  "Japanese Animation: Time Out of Mind" [2010]
by Chris Robinson

Indiana Univ Press 9x6 pb [12/2010] for $22.76

see also Magic Lantern's Animation Pages

Classical Japanese Cinema Revisited book by Catherine Russell  "Classical Japanese Cinema Revisited: A New Look At The Canon" [2011]
by Catherine Russell

Continuum 8¾x6 pb [6/2011] for $22.07
Continuum 9x6¼ hardcover [6/2011] for $90.00
World Film Locations, Tokyo book by Chris MaGee  "World Film Locations: Tokyo" [2011] by Chris MaGee
Series book spotlights fifty location-specific scenes from classic & contemporary films shot in Tokyo, with particular emphasis on filmmakers such as Akira Kurosawa, Samuel Fuller & Sofia Coppola
Intellect Books U.K. 9¾x6 pb [8/2011] for $12.24

"Mangatopia: Essays On Manga and Anime In The Modern World" [10/2011] by Martha Cornog & Timothy Perper
http://www.amazon.com/Mangatopia-Essays-Manga-Anime-Modern/dp/1591589088/

"Watching Anime, Reading Manga: 25 Years of Essays and Reviews" [5/2011] by Fred Patten & Carl Macek
http://www.amazon.com/Watching-Anime-Reading-Manga-ebook/dp/B004ZGZBDG/

The Atomic Bomb in Japanese Cinema Critical Essays book edited by Matthew Edwards  "The Atomic Bomb In Japanese Cinema: Critical Essays - Illustrated" [2015]
Edited and largely written by Matthew Edwards

Kindle Edition from McFarland & Co. [7/2018] for $16.49
McFarland & Co. 10x7 pb [6/2015] for $35.00
Encyclopedia of Japanese Horror Films book by Nobuhiro Ogata, Jr.  "An Encyclopedia of Japanese Horror Films" [2016]
by Nobuhiro Ogata, Jr.

CreateSpace 11x8½ pb [2/2016] for $39.95
Encyclopedia of Japanese Horror Films book edited by Salvador Murguia   "The Encyclopedia of Japanese Horror Films" [2016]
Edited by Salvador Murguia

Kindle Edition from Rowman & Littlefield [7/2016] for $69.82 {sic}
Rowman & Littlefield 10¼x7½ hardcover [7/2016] for $85.41 {sic}
Apocalypse Then / Atomic Cinema book by Mike Bogue  "Apocalypse Then: American and Japanese Atomic Cinema, 1951-1967" [2017]
by Mike Bogue, Foreword by Allen A. Debus

Kindle Edition from McFarland [8/2017] for $11.99
McFarland 10½x7¼ pb [8/2017] for $39.95

more info on the Atomic Film Festival Page at Spirit of America Bookstore

Terror of The Lost Tokusatsu Films book by John LeMay  "Terror of The Lost Tokusatsu Films: From The Files of The Big Book of Japanese  5/2018
Giant Monster Movies" [2018] by John LeMay, Foreword by Colin McMahon

Kindle Edition from Bicep Books [5/2018] for $7.95
CreateSpace 8½x5&frac pb [5/2018] for $16.95

Books on Foreign Cinema   •   Books on Asian Cinema   •   Books on Canadian Cinema
Books on Chinese Cinema   •   Books on French Cinema   •   Books on German Cinema
Books on Cinema of India   •   Books on Italian Cinema
Books on Mexican Cinema   •   Books on Russian Cinema   •   Books on Cinema of Spain

Japanese  Filmmakers

NOTE: Oscar Awards for Best Foreign Language Film are not attributed
by A.M.P.A.S. or IMDb to the director or producer, but to the country of origin.

Foreign Filmmakers   •   Filmmakers of Asia   •   Filmmakers of Canada
Filmmakers of China   •   Filmmakers of France
Filmmakers of Germany   •   Filmmakers of India   •   Filmmakers of Italy
Filmmakers of Mexico   •   Filmmakers of Russia   •   Filmmakers of Spain

·            ·

Yutaka  Abe [1895-1977]
IMDb listingWikipedia

"The Makioka Sisters" [1950]


Kinji  Fukasaku [1930-2003]
IMDb listingWikipedia


director  Yasuo  Furuhata
IMDb listing


director  Ishiro Honda []
http://www.amazon.com/Mushroom-Clouds-Men-Fantastic-Cinema/dp/1449027717/


director  Kon  Ichikawa
IMDb listingWikipedia


director  Shohei  Imamura  [1926-2006]
IMDb listingWikipedia

Shohei Imamura screenings [2007] at Northwest Film Forum in Seattle, WA

"Stolen Desire" [1958]
"Endless Desire" [1958]
"Pigs and Battleships" [1961]
"The Insect Woman" [1963]
"Intentions of Murder" [1964]
"The Pornographers" [1966]
"A Man Vanishes" [1967]
"The Profound Desire of The Gods" [1968]
"A History of Postwar Japan As Told By A Bar Hostess" [1970]
"Karayuki-san: The Making of A Prostitute" [1975]
"Vengeance Is Mine" [1979]
"Eijanaika" [1981]
"Ballad of Narayama" remake [1983]
"Zegen" [1987]
"Black Rain" [1989]
"The Eel" [1997]
"Dr. Akagi" [1998]
"Warm Water Under A Red Bridge" [2001]

"Shohei Imamura's Japan" 6-film traveling exhibition [2007-2008]
"Pigs and Battleships" [1961]
"The Insect Woman" [1963]
"Intentions of Murder" [1964]
"The Pornographers" [1966]
"Eijanaika" [1981]


director  Hiroshi  Inagaki   [1905-80]
browse booksIMDb listingWikipedia

'Samurai Trilogy' series: new DVD boxed set | VHS | DVD


director  Juzo  Itami  [1933-97]
videos/DVDs'AsiaWeek' obitIMDb listingWikipedia


director  Keisuke  Kinoshita  [1912-98]
IMDb listing • no entry on Wikipedia

"Ballad of Narayama" [1958]
"The River Fuefuki" [1961]


author-performer-director  Takeshi  'Beat'  Kitano
browse booksIMDb listingWikipedia

Beat Takeshi vs. Takeshi Kitano  
"Beat Takeshi vs. Takeshi Kitano" [2002]
by Casio Abe, translated by William O. Gardner & Takeo Hori

Muae/Kaya Press 7½x6 pb [1/2005] for $17.55

"Outrage (Autoreiji): Way of The Modern Yakuza"
[Japan June 2010, Magnet USA Dec 2011]
Japanese poster for 'Outrage' 2010 yakuza gangster movie by Takeshi Kitano  The chairman of the business-oriented Sanmo-kai clan of Tokyo yakuza learns that a subordinate has aligned with the drug-dealing Murase clan, and events soon lead to a rash of killings while corrupt police stand by. Exec produced, written, directed by & starring Takeshi Kitano; also starring Jun Kunimura, Renji Ishibashi, Sôichirô Kitamura & Tomokazu Miura
Region 1 DVD/Blu-ray not yet available
full credits at IMDbofficial movie sitemovie entry at Wikipedia

The sequel "Outrage 2" is already in production [2011] /tt1724962/


animator  Satoshi  Kon
no browse/Amazon entry • credits at IMDbofficial website {in Japanese}Wikipedia


won Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for "Rashômon" [1950]  won Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for "Derzu Uzala" [1975]  won Oscar for Lifetime Achievement in 1990    Magic Lantern's
director  Akira  Kurosawa  [1910-98] Page

Magic Lantern's Kurosawa/Mifune Films Page


director  Kiyoshi  Kurosawa
IMDb listingWikipedia

"Cure [1997] /tt0123948/
"Pulse" [2001] /tt0286751/
"Tokyo Sonata" [2008] /tt0938341/

"Shokuzai {Redemption)" TV mini-series [WoWow-TV Japan Jan 2012]
Based on the book by Minato Kanae; four students witness the brutal murder of their classmate, but cannot
remember the killer’s face; 5-episode mini-series directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa
full credits at IMDbofficial movie site


director  Takashi  Miike
IMDb listingWikipedia

"Audition"
"Ichi The Killer"
"The City of Lost Souls"
"Ninja Kids!!!" [Shochiku/Warner Bros. 2011] /tt1644655/

Cinema of Takashi Miike  
"Agitator: The Cinema of Takashi Miike" [2004]
by Tom Mes

Fab Press pb [6/2006] for $19.77
Fab Press pb [5/2004] out of print/used
Sukiyaki Western Django  "Sukiyaki Western Django: An Epic Tale of Blood, Lust & Greed"
[Dentsu-Toei Japan Sept 2007, USA Aug 2008]

The white clan and the red clan battle for a hidden treasure in a remote mountain town; a lone gunman drifts into town and both factions compete for his help. {Sounds an awful lot like the Dashiell Hammett "Red Harvest" [1929] - Akira Kurosawa "Yojimbo" [1961] - Coen Bros. "Miller's Crossing" [1990] - Walter Hill "Last Man Standing" [1996] plot structure.} Co-written & directed by Takashi Miike; music by KMoji Endo; starring Hideaki Ito, Koichi Sato, Yusuke Iseya, Masanobu Ando, Takaaki Ishibashi, Yoshino Kimura, Teruyuki Kagawa, Masato Sakai, Quentin Tarantino & Kaori Momoi
First Look Pictures widescreen color DVD [11/2008] for $19.99
First Look Pictures color DVD [11/2008] for $19.99
imported Crown soundtrack CD [9/2007] for $49.99
full credits from IMDbofficial movie site {requires Flash}


director  Kenjo  Misumi  [1921-75]
IMDb listing • no entry at Wikipedia

film series include 'Baby Cart', 'Zatôichi' & 'Nemuri Kyoshiro'


won Oscar for Best Animated Feature for "Spirited Away&quote; [2001]    Magic Lantern's
animator  Hayao  Miyazaki Page

principal at Studio Ghibli of Japan


director  Kenji  Mizoguchi  [1898-1956]
IMDb listingWikipedia

Kenji Mizoguchi screenings [2007] at Northwest Film Forum in Seattle, WA

Mizoguchi and Japan  
"Mizoguchi and Japan" [2008]
by Mark Le Fanu

British Film Institute 9x6¾ pb [1/2008] for $27.95
British Film Institute 9¼x6¾ hardcover [1/2008] for $85.95

"The Life of Oharu" aka "Saikaku Ichidai Onna" [1952] /tt0045112/


director  Yoshitaro  Nomura  [1919-2005]
IMDb listingWikipedia

Zero Focus movie directed by Yoshitaro Nomura  "Zero Focus" aka 'Zero no Shoten' [1961]
A week after marriage, the groom leaves on a business trip but does not return; his employer tells the bride that he already returned home; she and her brother set out to find him. Directed by Yoshitaro Nomura; based on a novel by Seicho Matsumoto; starring Yoshiko Kuga, Ineko Arima, Hizuru Takachiho, Koji Nambara, Kô Nishimura, Yoshi Kato & Sadako Sawamura
Homevision widescreen b&w DVD [9/2004] for $17.99
full credits from IMDb
Inspector Imanishi Investigates by Seicho Matsumoto  "The Castle of Sand" aka 'Suna no utsuwa' [Shochiku Japan Oct 1974, USA Oct 1975]
A homicide detective and his new partner investigate a body dumped in a railroad yard, which is soon identified as a policeman on vacation; considered to be one of the masterpieces of Japanese cinema. Directed by Yoshitaro Nomura; based on a best-selling novel by Seicho Matsumoto; starring Tetsuro Tamba, Kensaku Morita, Go Kato, Ken Ogata, Yôko Shimada, Karin Yamaguchi, Seiji Matsuyama & Yoshi Kato; won Kinema Junpo awards for Best Director & Best Script
Panorama color DVD [6/2007] for $23.49
full credits from IMDb + 2004 Japan tv series: series credits at IMDb
"Inspector Imanishi Investigates" [1961 bestseller novel]
Soho Crime 7½x5 pb [11/94] for $10.01

Seicho Matsumoto's The Demon movie directed by Yoshitaro Nomura  "The Demon" aka 'Kichiku' [Shochiku Japan Oct 1978, USA June 1979]
"They'd be better off with strangers" When a husband stops providing his long-time lover with enough money to pay for the care of their three young children, she leaves the children with him and his very surprised and angry wife - and then disappears. Directed by Yoshitaro Nomura; script by Masato Ide, based on a story by Seicho Matsumoto; starring Ken Ogata, Shima Iwashita & Mayumi Ogawa; won Best Director & Best Actor Awards of the Japanese Academy, won Best Actor Award from Kinema Junpo
Homevision widescreen color DVD [9/2004] for $17.99
full credits from IMDb
Three Undelivered Letters mystery film by Yoshitaro Nomura  "Haitatsu Sarenai Santsu no Tegami" aka "The Three Undelivered Letters"
[Shôchiku Eiga Japan Oct 1979, USA Dec 1980]

Story based on Ellery Queen's 1942 novel "Calamity Town", but apparently not containing Ellery or any detective character; someone is poisoning people in a town, and members of the leading family are among the chief suspects. Produced & directed by Yoshitaro Nomura; adapted by Kaneto Shindô; starring Shin Saburi, Nobuko Otowa, Mayumi Ogawa, Komaki Kurihara, Keiko Matsuzaka, Takao Kataoka & Ai Kanzaki; Mayumi Ogawa won Japan Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
DVD/Blu-ray not available • full credits at IMDb


Kihachi  Okamoto  [1923-2005]
IMDb listingWikipedia


Nagisa  Oshima [1932-2013]
IMDb listingWikipedia


Magic Lantern's
Yasujiro  Ozu  [1903-63] Page

"I want to make people feel without resorting to drama."  — Yasujiro Ozu


director  Hiroshi  Shimizu   [1903-66]
IMDb listingWikipedia

Criterion's 'Travels With Hiroshi Shimizu' DVD box set  "Eclipse Series 15: Travels With Hiroshi Shimizu" DVD Box Set [2009]
includes "Japanese Girls At The Harbour" [1933 silent film], "Mr. Thank You (Arigatô-San)" [1936], "The Masseurs and A Woman" 1938, and "Ornamental Hairpin" 1941
Criterion Collection b&w DVD set [3/2009] 4 disks for $29.99
Criterion Collection b&w DVD set [3/2009] 4 disks - out of prodn/used


director  Kaneto  Shindo   [1903-66]
IMDb listingWikipedia


Seijun  Suzuki
IMDb listingWikipedia

"Branded To Thrill: The Delirious Cinema of Suzuki Seijun" [1994]
by Simon Field & Tony Rayns
British Film Institute 8¼x8 pb [4/95] out of print/rare


animator  Isao Takahata
credits at IMDbWikipedia

principal at Studio Ghibli of Japan


Yojiro  Takita
IMDb listingWikipedia
Relatively unknown until recently, when his hit movie "Departures {Okuribito)" won Oscar for Best Foreign Film
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Departures_(film)


Hiroshi Teshigahara  [1927-2001]
IMDb listingWikipedia

Three Films by Teshigahara DVD set  "Three Films By Hiroshi Teshigahara" [2007]
Criterion Collection b&w DVD set [7/2007] 4 disks for $54.99
includes "Pitfall" [1962] directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara; script by Kôbô Abe, based on his novel; starring Hisashi Igawa, Sumie Sasaki, Sen Yano, Hideo Kanze, Kunie Tanaka, Kei Sato & Kazuo Miyahara; "Woman In The Dunes" [1964] directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara; script by Kôbô Abe, based on his novel; starring Eiji Okada, Kyôko Kishida & Hiroko Ito; Oscar nominations for Best Foreign Language Film & Best Director; and "The Face Of Another" [1966] directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara; script by Kôbô Abe, based on his novel; starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Machiko Kyô, Mikijiro Hira, Kyôko Kishida, Eiji Okada & Miki Irie
Antonio Gaudi  
"Antonio Gaudí" [indep 1984]
Co-produced, directed & edited by Hiroshi Teshigahara
Criterion Collection color DVD [3/2008] 2 disks for $34.99
full credits at IMDb
Wikipedia entry on Spanish architect Antonio Gaudí [1852-1926]


Yoji Yamada
IMDb listingWikipedia


Isao Yukisada
IMDb listing


Actors  &  Others  of  Japan

Foreign Actors   •   Actors of Asia   •   Actors of Canada   •   Actors of China
Actors of France   •   Actors of Germany   •   Actors of India
Actors of Italy   •   Actors of Mexico   •   Actors of Russia   •   Actors of Spain

®            ®

Kiyoshi  Atsumi  [1928-96]
IMDb listingWikipedia

'Tora-San' series on IMDb

®            ®

Haruka  Ayase
IMDb listingWikipedia

officiial Haruka Ayase website {in Japanese}
H.S.P. Haruka Ayase fansite {in Japanese}
'Ayase Paradise' fansite {in Japanese}

"Ichi" aka "The Blind Swordswoman"
[Shochiku Japan Oct 2008, USA release not scheduled]
Lady Zatoichi / The Blind Swordswoman  A young blind girl who earns her living playing the samisen protects herself with extraordinary sword-fighting skills. Directed by Fumihiko Sori; starring Haruka Ayase, Shido Nakamura, Yôsuke Kubozuka & Takao Osawa
Funimation Prodns widescreen color Blu-ray [12/2009] for $19.99
Funimation Prodns widescreen color DVD [12/2009] for $18.99
full credits at IMDbofficial movie site {in Japanese}

further info on Magic Lantern's Zatô-Ichi Samurai Films Series Page

®            ®

Sessue Hayakawa  [1889-1973]
IMDb listingWikipedia

®            ®

Raizô  Ichikawa  [1931-69]
IMDb listingWikipedia

®            ®

Shintarô  Katsu  [1931-97]
IMDb listingWikipedia

'Zatôichi The Blind Swordsman' Film Series Page

®            ®

actress Keiko Kitagawa

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Mako has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7095 Hollywood Blvd.  Mako  {Iwamatsu}  [1933-2006]
IMDb listingBroadway creditsWikipedia

co-founder of East West Players theatre company [est. 1965] of Los Angeles, CA

¤            ¤

author Seicho Matsumoto  [1909-92]
Film director Yoshitaro Nomura adapted eight of Matsumoto's novels to film, including
"Castle of Sand" [1974], which is considered to be one of the masterpieces of Japanese cinema.
browse booksIMDb listingWikipedia

Seicho Matsumoto memorial museum

®            ®

actor Toshirô  Mifune  [1920-97]
IMDb listingWikipedia

Magic Lantern's Kurosawa/Mifune Films Page

Toshirô Mifune starred in the original "Seven Samurai" [1954]

B.F.I.'s Toshirô Mifune webpage
Jerry's Toshirô Mifune fansite

Ultimate Toshiro Mifune DVD Collection  "Toshiro Mifune: The Ultimate Collection" [2006]
Animeigo widescreen color DVD box set [8/2006] 5 disks - out of prodn/used
includes "Samurai Assassin" [1965] directed by Kihachi Okamoto; "Under The Banner of Samurai" 1969] directed by Hiroshi Inagaki; "Akage" [1969] directed by Hiroshi Inagaki; "The Ambush: Incident At Blood Pass" [1970] directed by Hiroshi Inagaki; and "Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo" [1970] directed by Kihachi Okamoto, co-starring Shintarô Katsu
®            ®

Tatsuya Nakadai  [b. 1932]
IMDb listingWikipedia

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Ken Ogata  [1937-2008]
IMDb listingWikipedia

®            ®

Matsunosuke Onoe  [1875-1926]
After great success in kabuki theater, he appeared in over 1,000 films, and has been called the first superstar of Japanese cinema.
IMDb listingWikipedia

"Chushin-gura" [1916 silent]
believed to be the oldest still-existing feature film, although the print is incomplete (missing four scenes)

"The Funeral of Matsunosuke Onoe" documentary [1926]

®            ®

Takashi  Shimura  [1905-82]
IMDb listingWikipedia

®            ®

Miiko  Taka
IMDb listingWikipedia {empty}

®            ®

Ken  Takakura
IMDb listingWikipedia

®            ®

actor Satoshi  Tsumabuki
IMDb listingofficial website {in Japanese}Wikipedia

®            ®

actress Aya Ueto
IMDb listingWikipedia

Movies  of  Japan
Japan's films have received 3 early Honorary Oscar Awards, no Best Foreign Language Oscar® wins,
among 11 Best Foreign Film nominations.
list of Japan's submissions for Oscar consideration

Selected films of:  Asia   •   Canada   •   China   •   France   •   Germany
India   •   Italy   •   Mexico   •   Russia   •   Spain

this section grew large and was split off in August 2018
on page 2: top of pagemovies of Japansamurai genreyakuza genre'Chushingura''Godzilla' series
selected movies: 1950s1970sRECENT movies & coming soon

Japanese  Movie  Studios

Kadokawa Herald Pictures [est. 1942]
Japanese-language websiteWikipedia

Shochiku Films [est. 1895] of Japan

bilingual logo for Studio Ghibli in Japan       
official Studio Ghibli website [in Japanese]
Team Ghiblink's fansite

Toho Company Ltd. [est. 1932] of Japan        Toho Company Ltd. official website
Toho Kingdom fansite

Links  About  Japanese  Cinema
Magic Lantern's Box Office Hits Pages / Japan Section
Japanese Movie Database {Japanese character-set}
Foreign Films [dot] com - Best Japanese Films on DVD
Yahoo! Japan Movies
Japanese Film Studies website at Cornell University
Marty Gross Films - distributors of Japanese art films
Tom Mes's 'Midnight Eye'
Society For The Promotion of Japanese Animation [est. 1991]

Japanese Society of Cinematographers [est. 1954]

G.E. Nordell's Travel & Business Links of Japan Page


here on the Cinema of Japan Pages at Magic Lantern Video & Book Store

on page 1: top of pagebooks about Japanese cinemafilmmakers of Japanactors & others of Japanlinks

on page 2: top of pagemovies of Japansamurai genreyakuza genre'Chushingura''Godzilla' series
selected movies: 1950s1970sRECENT movies & coming soon

back to Foreign Cinema Page   •   Cinema of Asia Page   •   Cinema of Canada Page   •   Cinema of China Pages

Cinema of France Pages   •   Cinema of Germany Page    •   Cinema of India Pages   •   Cinema of Italy Pages

Cinema of Japan {this page}   •   Cinema of Mexico Page   •   Cinema of Russia Page   •   Cinema of Spain Page

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