An accidental gangster finds himself on a downward trajectory amid the changing fortunes of late 20th century Japan in Miike’s take on the Fukasaku classic
May 27, 2021 • Subscribe
More like this
Graveyard of Honor (仁義の墓場, Kinji Fukasaku, 1975)
A renegade gangster slowly implodes amid the turbulent winds of the post-war era in Kinji Fukasaku’s anarchic take on the life of Rikio Ishikawa
Yakuza Graveyard (やくざの墓場 くちなしの花, Kinji Fukasaku, 1976)
A maverick cop finds himself sympathising with noble yakuza when confronted by entrenched corruption in Kinji Fukasaku’s jitsuroku-esque gangster drama.
Takashi Miike - A "Bloody" Good Director
Takashi Miike is a truly one-of-a-kind film director, not only in terms of the outrageous and freaky films that he makes, but also the asto...
The Mole Song: Final (土竜の唄 FINAL, Takashi Miike, 2021)
Undercover cop Reiji finds himself increasingly conflicted in his mission to take down Todoroki in the final instalment of the comedic trilogy.
New Films from Kôji Wakamatsu and Takashi Miike Included in Cannes 2012 Lineup
by Marc Saint-Cyr This past Thursday, April 19th, the main section lineups for the 65th Cannes Film Festival were finally revealed, sati...
The Great Yokai War: Guardians (妖怪大戦争 ガーディアンズ, Takashi Miike, 2021)
An anxious little boy discovers his inner hero and saves the world through kindness in Takashi Miike’s warmhearted return to the world of folklore
SPY x FAMILY CODE: White (劇場版 SPY×FAMILY CODE: White, Takashi Katagiri, 2023)
The Folgers take a holiday but soon end up embroiled in conspiracy in this big screen outing for the popular TV anime
Badge of Honor
detective fiction, 推理小説、games, mystery, murder, locked room, Japanese, translations,
Doing Time (刑務所の中, Yoichi Sai, 2002)
A mild-mannered middle-aged man sent to prison for a firearms violation treats his time inside as an anthropological expedition in Yoichi Sai’s quirky dramedy.
Woman of Design (その場所に女ありて, Hideo Suzuki, 1962)
Post-war women find themselves constrained by a relentlessly patriarchal society in Hideo Suzuki’s workplace melodrama
Shinyaku Ribon no Kishi, Volume 1 (新約・リボンの騎士)
Today’s review is in part thanks to the constant evangelizing of Raybon No Kishi on Twitter, who alerted me to some interesting plot complications in this recent reworking…
Graveyard of The Fireflies Novelist passes away
A tragic announcement yet another great icon in Anime and Manga industry is taken from us. Akiyuki Nosaka, the Naoki Prize-winning author of Grave of the Fireflies, was discovered…
Graveyard Smash: Kemono Jihen
Kemono Jihen is an anime that succeeds in just about everything it aims to do. As a shounen action series with a bit more of an otaku bent…
Episode 13: Ricefucker Graveyard
I would tell you you could skip this episode, but it's so short you may as well listen just to tide you over until the meaty motherfucker coming…
The Pass: Last Days of the Samurai (峠 最後のサムライ, Takashi Koizumi, 2021)
Holding fast to samurai ideals a progressive retainer realises his era is at an end in Takashi Koizumi’s homage to classic samurai cinema
Takashi Nakamura spotlight
Yoshinori Kanada might be the most influential Japanese animator, but he isn’t the only one whose work revolutionized anime. Almost as important as him is Takashi Nakamura. Nakamura…
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Shashinkan, The Hakkenden: Legend of the Dog Warriors, Catnapped, Fantastic Children
DitO (Takashi Yuki, 2024)
A dejected boxer’s life is overturned when his estranged daughter comes to stay with him in Takashi Yuki’s sporting drama.
Yakuza Graveyard Now Streaming on Arrow
The good people from alternative streaming service Arrow have sent us details about a film just released this July. Yakuza Graveyard tells t...
Nishizaki vs. Matsumoto, 2002
The story of the legal battle over Yamato‘s authorship is a sketchy one with many details still unknown more than 20 years later. But fleeting glimpses of it…
Chocolate Confusion by Seisou Natsume / Miike Romuko
I very rarely review straight romances, but I was looking for stories that featured Valentine’s Day and I liked the look of this one. It also features one…
Village of Eight Gravestones (八つ墓村, Yoshitaro Nomura, 1977)
A young man is called to the country to inherit a cursed fortune in Yoshitaro Nomura’s eerie adaptation of the Seishi Yokomizo mystery.
Honor Among Thieves
Preview (opens in a new tab) It is often said that Edgar Allan Poe brought us the detective fiction novel, although there had to have been some kind…
Mass release day — In honor of CP!
The ever onslaught of time marches forward, as we are here yet taking another moment on this day to honor the legacy of our dear friend and companion,…
Mass release day — In honor of CP!
The ever onslaught of time marches forward, as we are here yet taking another moment on this day to honor the legacy of our dear friend and companion,…
Dreaming of Dreamworks – Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) Review
Rating: 5/10 Plot: In the gorgeous plains of the old west, a stallion named Spirit roams free with his herd. He loves and protects his herd day in…
Yuri Hakaarashi (百合墓荒らし)
With a title translated on the cover as “Lily Grave Vandalism” you just know I had to pick up Yuri Hakaarashi (百合墓荒らし) by Natsuo Tougen. Yutaka hates her…
アニメの新しいゴールデンコンビ – 中村亮介x細居美恵子インタビュー
フランスのジャパン・トゥール・フェスティバルで、アニメ監督の中村亮介とキャラクターデザイナーの細居美恵子の才能ある二人組に出会った。この二人の素晴らしい二人組は、『ねらわれた学園』、『あいうら』、『灰と幻想のグリムガル』などの印象的な作品を生み出した。
Wave, Listen to Me! – 03 – Graveyard Slot
Takarada fires Minare right after the festival, and no amount of ranting or begging can change his mind. After going out for commiseratory drinks with Takarada, he casually suggests…
S3E10 - The Twilight Samurai (2002)
Hello everyone, In this episode of Heroic Purgatory: An Asian Cinema Podcast, John and Jason discuss the 2002 Yoji Yamada (of Tara-san fame) film, The Twilight Samurai. Along with…
S3E10 - The Twilight Samurai (2002)
Hello everyone, In this episode of Heroic Purgatory: An Asian Cinema Podcast, John and Jason discuss the 2002 Yoji Yamada (of Tara-san fame) film, The Twilight Samurai. Along with…
S3E10 - The Twilight Samurai (2002)
Hello everyone, In this episode of Heroic Purgatory: An Asian Cinema Podcast, John and Jason discuss the 2002 Yoji Yamada (of Tara-san fame) film, The Twilight Samurai. Along with…
My Favorite Anime Hat of Each Year (2002-2023)
Hats have been some of my favorite design features in anime. I especially love characters with large hats since they make them stand out in a good way.…
Funniest Anime I Watched of Each Year (2002-2023)
It’s been a while since I made a list like this, where I list off the best and worst of each year. Some years are easy, and others…
500 Word Game Reviews – The King of Fighters 2002
Arcade fighting games really aren’t my thing, but I’ve been enjoying the second series of Hi Score Girl so much that I thought I’d give one a chance.…
The New Morning of Billy the Kid (ビリィ★ザ★キッドの新しい夜明け, Naoto Yamakawa, 1986)
A collection of pop culture icons attempt to safeguard a cafe bar/live house from an assault by savage gangsters in Yamakawa’s anarchic post-modern satire
Mass release day returns! — In honor of CP.
Or that was general idea, before this year went to hell in a handbasket, I need NOT go into details why, but needless to say, that we do…
Mass release day — In honor of CP! 2022,
Yet once again we have ridden our wild blue globe around it’s sun for yet another full circumference, marking yet another year that our dear friend and companion,…
Mass release day returns! — In honor of CP.
Or that was general idea, before this year went to hell in a handbasket, I need NOT go into details why, but needless to say, that we do…
Mass release day — In honor of CP! 2023
Here we are yet again, marking the time of year where we look back on the good, the bad,and the sorrow, how long has it been since our…
Anime Expo 2023 Announces Guests of Honor List
Anime Expo has just announced it's guest list. The event's guest of honor include Koichi Naruse (producer for the work, The Ancient Magus' B...
Mass release day — In honor of CP! 2023
Here we are yet again, marking the time of year where we look back on the good, the bad,and the sorrow, how long has it been since our…
Mass release day — In honor of CP! 2022,
Yet once again we have ridden our wild blue globe around it’s sun for yet another full circumference, marking yet another year that our dear friend and companion,…
Episode 44 - Dr. Takashi Fujitani (Toronto)
In this episode, Dr. Takashi Fujitani traces the origins of Japanese nationalism and imperialism to the Meiji Period and delineates the impacts of nationalism on historical memory in…
Takashi Yamazaki is the GOAT [Editorial]
Even though it has been several months since the premiere of Godzilla Minus One , the fallout dust resulting from warm reception of the film...
Sakuga Expresso – Gundam Unicorn, Takashi Hashimoto
Sakuga analysis of Takashi Hashimoto’s scene in Gundam Unicorn
The theme of self-acceptance in Takashi Nakamura’s early works
This will be a post on the theme that has stayed with me the most from Takashi Nakamura’s early directing works. He is far from one of the…
Tonikaku Cawaii Chapter 213 (Going to Graveyard #Tonikawa)
AstroNerdBoy reviews Tonikaku Cawaii Chapter 213. Nasa's mom asks him to do the cleanup of the Yuzaki family grave site.
ON STAGE (登場, Zhang Yaoyuan, 2021)
Zhang Yaoyuan’s observational documentary follows the Second Hand Roses singer more offstage than on as he prepares for a New Year concert
Azumanga Daioh / Animage magazine (05/2002)
Azumanga Daioh / Animage magazine (05/2002)
Baccano!: 2002 [Side B]: Blood Sabbath
By Ryohgo Narita and Katsumi Enami. Released in Japan by Dengeki Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Taylor Engel. I’ve talked before about the…