It’s a battle of good versus evil in the frozen north when former prison inmate Katsuji takes on Boss Tamaru Read More »
Tag Archives: Ken Takakura
The Domain: The Naniwa Story AKA Nihon Kyokaku-den: Naniwa-hen (1965) Masahiro Makino, Ken Takakura, Hideo Murata, Asao Uchida
Osaka, 1920. A sailor returns from several years at sea to see his brother Read More »
The Man from Abashiri Jail Strikes Again AKA Shin Abashiri Bangaichi (1968) Masahiro Makino, Ken Takakura, Tatsuya Mihashi, Hiroyuki Nagato
Former soldier, Suehiro Katsuji (Ken Takakura) fights violent gangs and powerful Chinese merchants during the post war period in Japan… Read More »
The Japanese Yakuza AKA Nihon kyôkaku-den (1964) Masahiro Makino, Kinnosuke Nakamura, Ken Takakura, Minoru Ôki
A timber merchant and haulage firm in late 19th century Tokyo is in trouble. Read More »
The Sand City in Manchuria AKA Sabaku o Wataru Taiyo (1960) Kiyoshi Saeki, Sô Yamamura, Ken Takakura, Koji Tsuruta
A young doctor must save townspeople from a threatening plague. Read More »
Brothers Serving Time AKA Chôeki san kyôdai (1969) Kiyoshi Saeki, Bunta Sugawara, Ken Takakura, Kyôsuke Machida
While imprisoned, Tatsu encounters Danshi, a man who is a big honcho in the prison pecking order. Read More »
The Prickly Mouthed Geisha and the Girl of Osaka AKA Beran me-e geisha to Osaka musume (1962) Kunio Watanabe, Hibari Misora, Ken Takakura, Tatsuya Ishiguro
In one of her best movie roles, super-star singer/actress Misora Hibari Read More »
Buddies AKA A un (1989) Yasuo Furuhata, Ken Takakura, Eiji Bandô, Sumiko Fuji, Yasuko Tomita
Based on a celebrated book by Kuniko Mukoda, this film directed by Yasuo Furuhata tells of a close friendship undone by love. Read More »
The Chivalrous Life AKA Kyokotsu ichidai (1967) Masahiro Makino, Ken Takakura, Sumiko Fuji, Minoru Ôki
This is yet another ninkyô yakuza film that seems to be (unconsciously?) trying to deal Read More »
Abashiri Prison: Saga of Homesickness AKA Abashiri bangaichi: Bôkyô hen (1965) Teruo Ishii, Ken Takakura, Hiroko Sakuramachi, Naoki Sugiura
Shin’Ichi returns home to visit his mother’s grave. Upon returning he finds the mess that his previous reckless behavior left behind. Read More »
Brutal Tales of Chivalry 4 AKA Shôwa zankyô-den: Chizome no karajishi (1967) Masahiro Makino, Ken Takakura, Ryô Ikebe, Sumiko Fuji
Fourth film in the “Shôwa Zankyôden” series. This expression means duty, obligations, and rules obeyed by gangsters and outlaws in the pre-Shôwa era. Read More »
Brutal Tales of Chivalry 3 AKA Showa zankyo-den: Ippiki okami (1966) Kiyoshi Saeki, Ken Takakura, Ryô Ikebe, Sumiko Fuji
Takei Shigejiro belongs to the Shimazu family. When his boss gets killed, he takes revenge and ends up in prison. Read More »
Samurai Geisha (1969) Kôsaku Yamashita, Sumiko Fuji, Ken Takakura, Tomisaburô Wakayama
Popular geisha Shinji (Fuji Junko) must defy a gang who plot to steal a lucrative coal business Read More »
Brutal Tales of Chivalry (1965) Kiyoshi Saeki, Ken Takakura, Ryô Ikebe, Yoshiko Mita
After World War II, their town was a pile of rubble. Read More »
Great Jailbreak (1975) Teruo Ishii, Ken Takakura, Nana Kinomi, Bunta Sugawara
A group of prisoners attempts to break the Abashiri Prison. Read More »