Magic Lantern Video & Book Store
 | Cinema of Japan
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![Toshiro Mifune (with two helpers) meets the Princess, from 'The Hidden Fortress' [1958]](images/hidden-fortress-header-framed.jpg "Toshiro Mifune (with two helpers) meets the Princess, from 'The Hidden Fortress' [1958]")
Japanese Films on DVD at Amazon
Japanese Films on VHS at Amazon
Japanese Movie Database { in Japanese }
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
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Canada
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China
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France
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Germany
India
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Italy
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Mexico
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Russia
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Spain
Samurai Genre
Magic Lantern's Samurai Films Festival Page
Magic Lantern's Kurosawa/Mifune Films Page
Magic Lantern's 'Zatôichi The Blind Swordsman' Film Series Page
Magic Lantern's 'Lone Wolf & Cub' Samurai Film Series Page
Samurai / Period Drama Films entry at Wikipedia
 | "The Samurai Film" [1984] by Alain Silver
Overlook 10x6¾ pb [6/86] for $11.01 Overlook 10x7¾ pb [10/2006] for $20.40 Overlook hardcover [3/84] for $23.95 Overlook 10x8 hardcover [11/2005] for $34.00 |
Pink Genre
There is a popular 'Pink Movies' genre of Japan that needs no help from this website.
'Chushingura' (Tale of The 47 Rônin)
This ancient story has been brought to the screen more than 80 times in Japan, with the latest version released
in December 2013; Magic Lantern's separate 47 Rônin Film Festival Page was started in mid-2012.
Chüshingura entry at Wikipedia
historical 47 Ronin entry at Wikipedia
JNC's history of 'Chushingura'
"Chushingura - Hana no Maki Yuki no Maki"
aka "47 Rônin" [Toho Japan Nov 1962]
 | A classic tale in Japan, filmed many times: Out of loyalty to a wrongfully-disgraced lord, 47 samurai attack his enemies, knowing that they are courting certain death.
Directed by Hiroshi Inagaki, starring Koshiro Matsumoto, Yuzo Kayama, Tatsuya Mihashi, Akira Takarada, Yosuke Natsuki, Makoto Satô, Chûsha Ichikawa, Toshirô Mifune, Eisei Amamoto, Hiroshi Koizumi, Kenji Sahara, Tadao Takashima, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Takeshi Shimura, Yuriko Hoshi, Kumi Mizuno, Yumi Shirakawa & Mie Ham
Image Ent. widescreen b&w DVD [2/2001] for $26.09 Home Vision b&w VHS [7/97] 2 tapes for $49.95 Image Ent. b&w widescreen VHS [2/2001] 2 tapes for $29.98 full credits from IMDb • 1962 movie entry at Wikipedia |
"47 Rônin" [Universal Pictures Xmas 2013?]
Long in development, further official details announced March 2011: script by Chris Morgan to be directed in 3-D by
Carl Erik Rinsch; starring Keanu Reeves, with Hiroyuki Sanada as clan chief Oishi, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Kora,
Rinko Kikuchi as mysterious Lady Mizuki, and Kou Shibasaki as Reeves's love interest; added 8/2012: bumped again,
for Xmas Day 2013 release •
latest info at IMDb
Yakuza Genre
Yakuza Films entry at Wikipedia
keyword 'yakuza' listing at Internet Movie Database
 | "The Yakuza Movie Book: A Guide To Japanese Gangster Films" [2003] by Mark Schilling Stone Bridge 9x7 pb [6/2003] for $15.56 |
"Godzilla" Series
Godzilla has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Godzilla entry at Wikipedia
"Godzilla" in 3-D [DUE 2014?]
Announced January 2011: Director Gareth Edwards is attached, with Thomas Tull & Jon Jashni producing
for Legendary Pictures, and Warner Bros. distributing in 2014;
latest info from IMDb
Magic Lantern's 'Godzilla' Movies Page
Selected Japanese Films
{ in chronological order }
jump to NEW movies, coming soon
"Mr. Thank You (Arigatô-San)" [Japan Feb 1936]
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A friendly bus driver and his passengers travel from impoverished Japanese coastal villages and over the mountains to the nearest train station for Tokyo. • Written & directed by Hiroshi Shimizu; based on a short story by Nobel-laureate novelist Yasunari Kawabata; music by Keizô Horiuchi; starring Ken Uehara, Ryuji Ishiyama, Einosuke Naka, Michiko Kuwano, Mayumi Tsukiji, Kaoru Futaba, Reikichi Kawamura, Setsuko Shinobu, Kazuji Sakai, Nagamasa Yamada, Kanji Kawahara, Kiyoshi Aono, Shôsuke Agata, Shôtarô Fujimatsu, Masao Hayama, Yoshitarô Iijima, Tsuruhiko Ikebe, Mitsuyoshi Kanai, Shiro Katsuragi, Kimie Kawai, Masae Koike, Yoshiko Kuhara, Fumie Mikami, Kiyoko Minakami, Tomoko Naniwa, Shigeru Ogura, Reikô Tani, Jun Yokoyama/Bakudan Kozô
full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia available on Criterion's "Eclipse Series 15: Travels With Hiroshi Shimizu" DVD Box Set [2009] along with "Japanese Girls At The Harbour" [1933 silent film], "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 |
"Rashômon" [Japan Aug 1950; USA Dec 1951]
  | What is truth? After a killing in the woods, police interrogate four people and obtain four conflicting versions of the events. Co-written & directed by Akira Kurosawa [1910-98]; based on stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa; starring Toshirô Mifune, Machiko Kyô, Masayuki Mori, Takashi Shimura & Minoru Chiaki; won Honorary Oscar for Best Foreign-Language Film
Home Vision b&w DVD [3/2002] for $29.96 Home Vision b&w VHS [5/94] for $29.95 full credits from IMDb • official movie site |
"Ugetsu Monogatari" aka "Tales of Moonlight & Rain"
[Daiei Japan March 1953, U.S.A. Sept 1954]
 | Two peasants in war-wracked feudal Japan migrate to the city to make their fortunes; the ambitious potter becomes entangled with a beautiful ghost; the farmer becomes a famous samurai. Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi; based on classic tales by Akinari Ueda [1734-1809]; starring Masayuki Mori, Machiko Kyô, Kinuyo Tanaka, Eitarô Ozawa, Ikio Sawamura, Mitsuko Mito, Kikue Môri & Ryosuke Kagawa; listed on Time Magazine's All-TIME 100 Movies (5/2005)
Criterion b&w DVD set [11/2005] 2 disks for $34.99 HomeVision b&w VHS [6/2000] for $23.70 full credits from IMDb |
 | "Tales of Moonlight and Rain: A Study & Translation" [1776] by Akinari Ueda, translation & critical text by Anthony H. Chambers Columbia Univ Press hardcover [12/2006] for $27.50 |
 | "Gate of Hell" aka "Jigokumon" [Japan 1954] Directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa; won Honorary Oscar Award |
| | "Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto" [Japan 1955] Directed by Hiroshi Inagaki; won Honorary Oscar Award |
"The Legend of The White Serpent" aka "Byaku Fujin no Yoren"
[Shaw Brothers/Toho Japan July 1956]
Directed by Shirô Toyoda; written by Toshio Yasumi; based on a Chinese tale that existed before the XIVth
Century; starring Shirley Yamaguchi & Ryo Ikebe •
full credits from IMDb •
movie entry at Wikipedia
"The Ballad of Narayama" aka "Narayama-bushi Ko"
[Shochiku Japan June 1958, USA June 1961]
 | Examines the practice of ubasute – abandoning a parent – which may not have been common, even in times of drought or famine, yet remains part of Japanese folklore; filmed in a deliberate kabuki style, all but one scene created on sound-stages; digital restoration in 2011 Adapted & directed by Keisuke Kinoshita; based the novel by Shichirô Fukazawa; starring Kinuyo Tanaka, Teiji Takahashi, Yuko Mochizuki, Danko Ichikawa, Keiko Ogasawara, Seiji Miyaguchi, Yunosuke Ito, Ken Mitsuda; won Kinema Junpo Awards for Best Film, Best Director & Best Actress; won Mainichi Film Concours Awards for Best Film, Best Director & Best Film Score
Criterion Collection widescreen color Blu-ray [2/2013] for $19.49 Criterion Collection widescreen color DVD [2/2013] for $13.99 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia watch official Japanese-language trailer [11/2014 upload; 5:50] online at YouTube |
"Hakuja-den" aka "The Tale of The White Serpent"
[Toei Doga Japan Sept 1958; USA release July 1961 as "Panda & The Magic Serpent"]
 | The first-ever color animé feature film, made in Japan; based on a Chinese tale that existed before the XIVth Century, with the addition of two cute pet panda characters Co-directed by Kazuhiko Okabe; co-written & co-directed by Taiji Yabushita Digiview color DVD [4/2004] for $9.98 full credits from IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia |
"Tokyo Drifter" aka "Tôkyô Nagaremono"
[Nikkatsu Japan April 1966]
 | A yakuza boss decides to retire, and the opposition gang leader offers his top assassin a job. But the assassin refuses and is forced to run. He survives many attempts to kill him, and then is betrayed, so he returns to Tokyo to confront his former boss. Suzuki's wild use of color here caused Nikkatsu to restrict him to black & white for his next films. Directed by Seijun Suzuki; starring Tetsuya Watari, Chieko Matsubara, Hideaki Nitani, Ryuji Kita, Tsuyoshi Yoshida, Hideaki Esumi, Tamio Kawaji & Eiji Go
Criterion color DVD [2/99] for $24.99 HomeVision color VHS [6/2000] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb |
"Branded To Kill" aka "Koroshi no rakuin"
[Nikkatsu Japan June 1967]
 | When the #3 assassin of Japan's yakuza crime organizations fails an assignment, the #1 assassin is sent to kill him. Black & white movie with Pop Art visuals and a surreal, psycho-sexual nightmare plot. Directed by Seijun Suzuki; starring Jo Shishido, Mariko Ogawa, Annu Mari, Koji Nambara, Isao Tamagawa & Hiroshi Minami
Criterion b&w DVD [2/99] for $19.99 HomeVision b&w VHS [6/2000] out of prodn/used full credits from IMDb |
"Japan's Longest Day"
[Toho Japan Aug 1967, USA March 1968]
 | This is the true story of 15 August 1945, as Japan's government considered surrender to the Allies; the 2-hour 40-minute film is broadcast in Japan every year on the anniversary of the surrender. After the atomic bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki, Japan's Army Minister Anami proposed to fight on, even to the death of every Japanese citizen. Emperor Hirohito and his other ministers considered the unthinkable – the peaceful surrender of Japan. When Anami learned of a military plot to overthrow the Emperor's civilian government, he faced the choice between his desires and his loyalty to the Emperor. Directed by Kihachi Okamoto; adapted by Shinobu Hashimoto from the 1965 book; starring Toshirô Mifune, Koshiro Matsumoto {as Emperor Hirohito}, Sô Yamamura, Chishu Ryu, Seiji Miyaguchi, Takashi Shimura, Toshio Kurosawa, Shogo Shimada, Susumu Fujita, Rokko Toura, Yûnosuke Itô, Daisuke Katô, Etsushi Takahashi, Jun Tazaki, Takao Inoue & Nobuo Nakamura; won Kinema Junpo Award for Best Script
Animeigo widescreen b&w/color DVD [9/2006] for $26.99 full credits from IMDb |
 | based on the renowned history “Nihon no Ichiban Nagai Hi” [1965] by The Pacific War Research Society & Soichi Oya Kodansha Intl. 7½x5¼ pb [9/2002] for $13.57 Ballantine Books mass pb [9/93] out of print/used |
"Outlaw: Gangster VIP (Burai Yori Daikanbu)" [Nikkatsu/Toho Jan 1968]
 | Based on the writings of ex-gangster Gorô Fujita; a gangster was sentenced to prison for stabbing a hitman of a rival gang; on his release after three years, he finds that his gang is in decline and that the hitman he stabbed is still very much alive . . . Produced by Kaneo Iwai; directed by Toshio Masuda; screenplay by Kaneo Ikegami & Keiji Kubota; starring Tetsuya Watari, Chieko Matsubara, Mitsuo Hamada, Tamio Kawaji, Kyôsuke Machida, Kayo Matsuo, Yasuko Sanjo, Sanae Kitabayashi, Michitarô Mizushima, Akihisa/Hirohisa Toda, Tatsuya Fuji, Yoshiaki Aoki, Kaku Takashina, Shôki Fukae, Bumon Kahara, Hiroshi Ichimura, Kôji Yashiro, Masahiro Kinoshita, Yasuhiro Kameyama, Takashi Nomura, Zan Fujita, Satoko Sato, Shizuko Yoshida, Midori Mori, Nobue Shiina, Takeshi Yoshida, Tessen/Tetsumichi Nakahira, Kokan Katsura, Akira Takahashi, Masaaki Honme, Kiyoshi Ooniwa, Yûzô Harumi, Misako Tominaga Region 1 Blu-ray/DVD not available • full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia watch official trailer w/English subtitles [4/2016 download; 3:07] online at YouTube |
Sequels also based on writings of Gorô Fujita:
"Outlaw: Gangster VIP 2" [April 1968] /tt0203433/
"Outlaw: Heartless (Burai Hijô)" [Aug 1968] /tt0228094/
"Outlaw: Gorô The Assassin (Burai Hitokiri Gorô)" [Nov 1968] /tt0228092/
"Outlaw: Black Dagger (Burai Kuro Dosu)" [Dec 1968] /tt0228095/
"Outlaw: Kill! (Burai Barase)" [March 1969] /tt0228093/
 | "Outlaw Gangster VIP: The Complete Collection" DVD Box Set [2016]
Arrow Video Limited Edition w/English subtitles widescreen color Blu-ray box set [4/2016] 6 disks for $45.02 Arrow Video Ltd Edition w/English subtitles widescreen color Blu-ray box set [4/2016] 6 disks - out of prodn/used contains 6 feature films: "Outlaw: Gangster VIP", "Gangster VIP 2", "Heartless", "Gorô The Assassin", "Black Dagger", and "Kill!" — and lots of extras watch 4/2016 official Arrow Video U.K. collection promo [1:36] online at YouTube |
"Do-desu-ka-den" aka "Clickety-Clack"
[Toho Japan Oct 1970; U.S.A. June 1971]
 | Co-writer/director Akira Kurosawa's first color film, with a rich pallette. The tale is simple but involving, and was perhaps the inspiration for Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing". Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film Home Vision color VHS [11/95] with English subtitles for $29.95 full credits from IMDb |
"Silence" aka "Chinmoku" [Toho Japan 1971]
 | A film about the persecution of 17th-century Portuguese Jesuit priests who travel to Japan to locate their mentor and preach the word of God. Directed by Masahiro Shinoda; adapted by Shusaku Endo from his novel; starring Shima Iwashita, Yoshi Katô, Don Kenny & Mako; won 4 awards at Mainichi Film Concours
Region 1 DVD not available • credits at IMDb |
 | "Silence" [1966] by Shusaku Endo, Translated by William Johnston A historical novel that examines the issues of doubt and faith, in God and in people. Endo's most famous work, generally regarded as his masterpiece; author Graham Greene called this book "one of the finest novels of our time". Taplinger Publng 8¼x5½ pb [2/80] for $9.56 Charles E. Tuttle mass pb [6/79] out of print/used Taplinger Publng 8¼x5½ hardcover [1979] out of print/used book entry at Wikipedia |
"Silence" remake [Warner Bros. 2013? release]
Announced 2010: An adaptation of Shusaku Endo’s historical novel to be directed by Martin Scorsese;
starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Benicio Del Toro & Gael Garcia Bernal •
latest info at IMDb
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"Dersu Uzala" [U.S.S.R. 1975]
Directed by Akira Kurosawa [1910-98]; won Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film (a film of Russia) full credits from IMDb |
"Sandakan 8" aka "Brothel No. 8" [Toho Japan 1975]
aka "Sandakan Hachibanshokan Bohkyo"
Directed by Kei Kumai; Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film •
full credits from IMDb
"Kagemusha" [Japan 1980]
Directed by Akira Kurosawa [1910-98]; Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film, won 2 of 4 BAFTA noms,
won Reader's Choice & 5 other Mainichi Film Concours Awards • full credits from IMDb
Kagemusha" Criterion Collection [Blu-ray] /B002AFX52S/
"The Ballad of Narayama" aka "Narayama Bushi-Ko"
[Toei Company Japan April 1983, USA Sept 1984]
 | The practice of ubasute – abandoning a parent – may not have been common, even in times of drought or famine, yet remains part of Japanese folklore; an old woman approaching the age when she must climb the mountain to die must first see that her son is properly married. Adapted & directed by Shôhei Imamura, from the novel by Shichirô Fukazawa; starring Ken Ogata, Sumiko Sakamoto, Takejo Aki, Tonpei Hidari, Seiji Kurasaki, Kaoru Shimamori, Ryutaro Tatsumi, Junko Takada, Nijiko Kiyokawa, Mitsuko Baisho; won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival; won Japan Academy Awards for Best Film, Best Actor, Best Sound, 8 other nominations; won Hochi Film Award for Best Supporting Actress (MB); won Mainichi Film Concours Awards for Best Actor & Best Sound
Animeigo Region 1 widescreen color DVD [6/2008] out of prodn/used full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia watch official Japanese-language trailer [11/2011 upload; 2:31] online at YouTube |
"Grave of The Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka)"
[Toho Japan April 1988, GKIDS USA 2013?]
 | Studio Ghibli made the film on contract to publisher Shinchosha, based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Akiyuki Nosaka; it was released on a double bill in 1988 with "My Neighbor Totoro". Roger Ebert and other critics consider the film a classic anti-war movie. Flashbacks tell of the destruction of Japan at the end of World War II, thru an orphaned brother and sister. Distributor GKIDS acquired North American rights from Toho in late 2012, for a 25th Anniversary theatrical release in 2013. Adapted & directed by Isao Takahata; Japanese voices by Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Yoshiko Shinohara, Akemi Yamaguchi
Section 23 subtitled widescreen color Blu-ray [11/2012] for $16.99 Section 23 subtitled color DVD [3/2012] for $14.93 Section 23 English-dubbed color DVD set [7/2009] 2 disks for $54.27 Central Park Media subtitled widescreen color DVD [10/98] for $30.38 Central Park Media dubbed/subtitled color DVD set [10/2002] 2 disks - out of prodn/used full credits at IMDb • official Japanese-language movie site • movie entry at Wikipedia |
"A Un" or "Buddies"
[Toho/Shochiku Japan Nov 1989, U.S.A. March 1990]
![still photo from Furuhata's "Buddies" [1989]](covers/YFbuddies.gif "still photo from Furuhata's \"Buddies\" [1989]") | A loner industrialist looks forward to the return of his Army buddy to 1937 Tokyo. Directed by Yasuo Furuhata; starring Ken Takakura, Eiji Bando, Junko/Sumiko Fuji & Yasuko Tomita video/DVD not available • full credits from IMDb |
"Battle Angel Alita" aka "Gunnm (Ganmu)"
original video animation [K.S.S. Japan June 1993]
 | The young cyborg Gally is found on a scrapheap by the cyberdoctor Daisuke Ido; he rebuilds her and becomes her surrogate father; the girl has no memory of her past, but soon displays remarkable fighting skills, starts working as a bounty hunter, and meets a young boy named Yugo . . . • Directed by Hiroshi Fukutomi; written by Akinori Endô, based on the prior manga comics; featuring voices of Miki Itô, Shunsuke Kariya, Kappei Yamaguchi, Mami Koyama, Shigeru Chiba, Ryûzaburô Ôtomo, Kazuhiko Kishino, Kôji Totani, Takumi Yamazaki, Kazuyuki Sogabe, Michitaka Kobayashi, Naoki Makishima, Tomoko Maruo, Shinobu Satouchi; and English voice actors Amanda Winn Lee, Larissa Murray, Guil Lunde, Stuart Milligan, Spike Spencer, Edward Glen, Tamsin Hollo, Laura Chapman, Tristan MacAvery, Rick Peeples, Bryan Bounds, John Bull/John French, Matt Greenfield, John Guerrasio, Aaron Krohn, William Roberts
VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia watch full movie [11/2015 upload; 55:04] online at YouTube |
 | "Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Complete Series Box Set" [2018] by Yukito Kishiro Kodansha Comics slipcover 11&14x7½x6¾" wide hardcover set [12/2018] 6 books for $107.96 {sic} "Gunnm: Battle Angel Alita" manga comics series entry at Wikipedia
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"Twilight Samurai" aka 'Tasogare Seibei'
[Japan 2002, USA April 2004]
 | A quiet, slightly sentimental masterpiece, about a feudal village of 19th century Japan phasing into the new ethos & economics of the Meiji Restoration. • Co-Written & directed by Yoji Yamada; based on sections of 3 Shuhei Fujisawa novels; starring Hiroyuki Sanada, Rie Miyazawa, Min Tanaka, Nenji Kobayashi & Keiko Kishi; Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film; won 12 Japan Film Academy Awards, won 7 Kinema Junpo Awards
Empire Pictures color DVD [12/2004] for $19.99 full credits from IMDb official movie website |
"Zatôichi: The Blind Swordsman"
[Asahi/Shochiku Japan Sept 2003, USA June 2004]
 | color feature film written & directed by and starring Takeshi Kitano; co-starring Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Ookusu, Yui Natsukawa, Daigoro Tachibana, Yuuko Daike, Gadarukanaru Taka, Ittoku Kishibe, Saburo Ishikura & Kohji Miura; won 5 of 9 nominations for Japanese Academy Awards; won Kinema Junpo People's Choice Best Film Award
B.M.G. Intl. soundtrack CD [6/2004] for $28.99 full credits at IMDb • official movie website double bill DVD with "Sonatine" [1993] Miramax color DVD [11/2004] 2 disks for $17.99 |
"Café Lumière" aka "Kohi Jiko" [Japan Sept 2004]
A freelance writer living in Tokyo defies social taboo by choosing life as a single mother in director Hou Hsiao-Hsien's meditative
tribute to acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu; DVD includes hour-long "Métro Lumière" docufilm; full credits at IMDb
"Memoirs of A Geisha" [2005]
full credits from IMDb
"Rail Wars!" anime TV series [Tokyo Broadcasting System July-Sept 2014]
 | All that train fanatic Naoto Takayama has ever dreamed of is becoming a locomotive driver, but when he finally makes the grade and scores a trainee position with the J.N.R., his ambitions are frustrated by assignment to security, where he works with sexy co-workers and escorts sexy celebrities on the trains . . . 12 episodes directed by Yoshifumi Sueda; featuring voices of Jun Fukuyama, Satoshi Hino, Hiromi Igarashi, Manami Numakura, Maaya Uchida Section 23 widescreen color Blu-ray [4/2016] for $24.99 Section 23 widescreen color DVD [12/2015] 2 disks - out of prodn/used series credits at IMDb • novels & anime series entry at Wikipedia watch playlist of all 12 episodes with English subtitles [5/2020 upload] online at YouTube watch complete series with English subtitles [6/2020 upload; 4:50:17] online at YouTube watch official trailer for Hanabee Australia [7/2016 upload; 1:32] online at YouTube watch 4/2014 official Japanese-language trailer [1:08] online at YouTube |
 | "Rail Wars! Japanese National Railways Security Force" is a Japanese light novel series written by Takumi Toyoda with illustrations by Vania 600. Sohgeisha Clear Bunko published 13 volumes then the series moved to Jitsugyounonihonsha for 6 more volumes. A manga adaptation titled "Rail Wars! Nihon Kokuyu Tetsudo Koantai The Revolver" was serialized in Mag Garden's Blade Online from 2012 to 2015. •
browse the Takumi Toyoda Store at Amazon
"Rail Wars Official Fanbook" [2014] Sohgeisha Japanese-language 11½x8¼ tankoban hardcover [2014] for $55.07 |
"Railways (Reiruweizu)" [Shochiku Japan May 2010]
 | Full Japanese title: "Reiruweizu: 49-sai de densha no untenshi ni natta otoko no monogatari" – a story of a man who became a train operator at age 49; based on a true story: after his mother dies of cancer and his marriage falls apart, a Japanese office worker quits his job in Tokyo to become a train driver on the rural Ichibata Electric Railway in Shimane Prefecture. Written & directed by Yoshinari Nishikôri; starring Kiichi Nakai, Reiko Takashima, Yuika Motokariya, Shirô Sano & Takahiro Miura Unfortunately, the available videos do NOT have English subtitles (2013). IndieJapan widescreen color Blu-ray/DVD combo [2012] 2 disks - imported/new-used IndieJapan widescreen color Blu-ray [2012] imported/new-used IndieJapan widescreen color DVD [2012] imported/new-used full credits at IMDb • official movie site (in Japanese) • movie entry at Wikipedia watch official trailers at YouTube: 3/2010 trailer #1 [1:14] • funnier 5/2010 trailer #2 [2:01] |
"Emperor" [LionsGate USA March 2013, Shochiku Japan July 2013]
 | Filmed in New Zealand & Japan; after the Japanese surrender in August 1946, General Douglas MacArthur assumes control of the country; one of his first concerns is whether to prosecute the Emperor for 'war crimes', so he assigns young Gen. Fellers to investigate; Fellers's personal mission is to find the Japanese beauty that he met and fell in love with before the war • Directed by Peter Webber; screenplay by Vera Blasi & David Klass, based on a book by Shiro Okamoto; starring Tommy Lee Jones {as MacArthur}, Matthew Fox {as Fellers}, Eriko Hatsune, Kaori Momoi, Aaron Jackson, Takatarô Kataoka (as the Emperor}, Toshiyuki Nishida, William Wallace, Masatô Ibu, Isao Natsuyagi, Nic Sampson, Colin Moy, Shôhei Hino, Masayoshi Haneda & Masatoshi Nakamura
DVD/Blu-ray not available full credits at IMDb • official movie site • watch trailer [1:59] at IMDb |
"Why Don't You Play In Hell? (Jigoku de Naze Warui)"
[Drafthouse Films Japan Sept 2013]
 | A mobster's efforts to woo a young actress are ignored, so he decides to make a movie to impress her; the amateur movie crew inadvertantly ignites an old yakuza clan rivalry . . . • Written & directed & music by Shion Sono; starring Jun Kunimura, Fumi Nikaidô, Shin'ichi Tsutsumi, Hiroki Hasegawa, Gen Hoshino, Tomochika, Itsuji Itao, Hiroyuki Onoue, Tak Sakaguchi, Tetsu Watanabe & Tasuku Nagaoka
Region 1 DVD not available • full credits at IMDb • official movie site • movie entry at Wikipedia watch Japanese-language trailers at YouTube: teaser trailer [0:30] • longer trailer [1:44] |
"Yakuza" [Universal 2014?]
Announced 5/2012: Original script by Chap Taylor, with Josh Fagin & director Gavin O’Connor doing a rewrite;
an American intelligence officer gets caught up in the post-tsunami underworld of Japan, in opposition to
a yakuza godfather • latest info at IMDb
"Your Name (Kimi no Na Wa)" animé feature film
[Japan Aug 2016, USA April 2017]
 | Overcame political tensions to break box-office records across Asia, including Most Popular Animé of All Time in Japan. High school girl Mitsuha lives in a small mountain town and dreams of someday going to live in Tokyo. Tokyo high school boy Taki works in an Italian restaurant and dreams of becoming an artist. One night they wake up in each other's body, which recurs randomly; they adjust and become accustomed to it. One night they are each watching the sky and see a shooting star and begin to want to meet in person. But something seems to prevent their meeting . . . • Written & directed by Makoto Shinkai; English script by Clark Cheng; music by Radwimps; Japanese voice actors include Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Mone Kamishiraishi, Ryô Narita, Aoi Yuki, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Kaito Ishikawa, Kanon Tani, Masaki Terasoma, Sayaka Ohara, Kazuhiko Inoue, Chafûrin, Kana Hanazawa, Etsuko Ichi-hara, Masami Nagasawa; English voice actors include Ray Chase, Marc Diraison, Glynis Ellis, Catie Harvey, Kyle Hebert, Cassandra Morris, Laura Post, Ben Pronsky, H.D. Quinn, Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld, Michelle Ruff, Stephanie Sheh, Michael Sinterniklaas, Katy Vaughn, Scott Williams
DVD/Blu-ray not available • full credits at IMDb • Japan movie site • USA movie site • movie entry at Wikipedia watch 3/2017 official English-dub trailer [1:46] at YouTube |
"A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi)" animé feature film
[Shochiku Japan Sept 2016, UK March 2017]
"Shoplifters (Manbiki Kazoku)" feature film
[Japan June 2018, USA Nov 2018]
won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Festival, won the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Feature Film
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt8075192/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoplifters_(film)
"Alita: Battle Angel" [Lightstorm/Fox Feb 2019]
 | 300 years after The Fall (when warring armies from Mars devastated Planet Earth), cyborg surgeon Dr. Ido finds an intact cyborg brain in a junkyard and attaches a cyborg body; he names the girl Alita and they search for her origins; she falls in love with a street punk who teaches her about some of her probable past and about Motorball, a deadly competition controlled by evil Vector . . . • Filmed in Austin & Dallas, Texas; co-produced by Jon Landau; co-produced & co-written by James Cameron; directed & co-written by Robert Rodriguez; co-written by Laeta Kalogridis; based on the graphic novel series "Gunnm" by Yukito Kishiro; music by Junkie XL; starring Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Keean Johnson, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Edward Norton, Ed Skrein, Jackie Earle Haley, Keean Johnson, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Lana Condor, Idara Victor, Jeff Fahey, Eiza González, Derek Mears, Leonard Wu, Racer Maximiliano Rodriguez-Avellan, Marko Zaror, Rick Yune, Hugo Perez, Casper Van Dien, Billy Blair, Jamie Landau, Dimitrius Pulido, Patrick Gathron, Elle LaMont, Alex Livinalli, Neal Kodinsky, Anthony Bandmann, Alan Nguyen, Sam Medina, Tod Junker, John Wirt, Darcel Danielle, Emma Lindsey, Vincent Fuentes, Michelle Rodriguez
DVD/Blu-ray not yet available • Milan Records vinyl LP soundtrack album [3/2019] for $23.99 Milan Records soundtrack CD album [2/2019] 20 tracks for $14.98 Milan Records soundtrack MP-3 album [2/2019] 20 tracks for $9.49 full credits at IMDb • official movie website • movie entry at Wikipedia watch 11/2018 official trailer [2:27] online at YouTube |
here on the Cinema of Japan Pages at Magic Lantern Video & Book Store
on page 1: top of page • books about Japanese cinema • filmmakers of Japan • actors & others of Japan • links
here on page 2: top of page • movies of Japan • samurai genre • yakuza genre • 'Chushingura' • 'Godzilla' series •
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