The gangster code slowly consumes series of men each trying to do the right thing but hamstrung by the actions of others in Kosaku Yamashita’s yakuza tragedy.
Mar 31, 2023 • Subscribe
More like this
The Tattooed Hitman (山口組外伝 九州進攻作戦, Kosaku Yamashita, 1974)
An old-school footsoldier finds himself left behind by his friend’s unstoppable rise in the realms of corporatised gangsterdom in Kosaku Yamashita’s jitsuroku gangster picture.
Motoshinkakarannu (沖縄エロス外伝 モトシンカカランヌー, NDU, 1971)
The Nihon Documentarist Union visits Okinawa on the brink of its reversion and capture a sense of anxiety of those caught at a moment of transition.
Father of the Kamikaze (ゝ決戦航空隊, Kosaku Yamashita, 1974)
Koji Tsuruta stars in an uncomfortably nationalistic biopic of Admiral Onishi
The Story of a Man Among Men (修羅の群れ, Kosaku Yamashita, 1984)
An intensely noble gangster attempts to preserve yakuza idealism in the turbulence of the mid-20th century in Kosaku Yamashita’s ninkyo eiga throwback
The Sea of Genkai (任侠外伝 玄海灘, Juro Kara, 1976)
A petty gangster finds himself confronted by the traumatic past on discovering a stowaway aboard his smuggling boat in Juro Kara’s infinitely bleak drama.
Casino, The (1972)
Director: Chang Tseng-chai Starring: Yueh Hua, Lily Ho, Shih Kien, Fan Mui-shang, Chiang Nan Entering a casino and casually cleaning out the House, Luo (Hua) demonstrates his gambling…
Crest of Betrayal (忠臣蔵外伝 四谷怪談, Kinji Fukasaku, 1994)
An ambitious samurai finds himself corrupted by the times in which he lives in Fukasaku’s etherial fusion of Yotsuya Kaidan and the Chushingura
Winter 2021 Pledge Drive
Whenever Jerry pops up, you know what's coming next... Read more
Operation Plazma in Osaka (実録外伝 大阪電撃作戦, Sadao Nakajima, 1976)
An attempt at a hostile takeover from corporatised Kobe gangsters destabilises the precarious balance of post-war Osaka in Sadao Nakajima’s anarchic jitsuroku eiga.
The Fearless Avenger (1972) review
A satisfying sequel to `Trail Of Blood` that delivers everything a fan of the genre desires – blood, betrayals and lots of sword-fighting.
Summer 2024 Pledge Drive (and Reflection)
"If you don't like sad kittens, I hope you'll step up."
Summer 2024 Pledge Drive (and Reflection)
"If you don't like sad kittens, I hope you'll step up."
1972: The Year Anime Got Groovy
Japanese animation, anime, cartoons, manga, 1960-1990, Tezuka, Miyazaki, Ishinomori, Matsumoto, Yamato, Gatchaman, Star Blazers, Captain Harlock
PLAMAX MF-02 Shunya Yamashita
I didn’t mean to get this. But it was cheap, and she looked cute. So, I figured why not. This is a 1/20 figure and is a unique…
室外機室
室外機室 collects four gorgeously illustrated magical realist stories drawn by an otherwise unpublished artist who goes by Chome. The stories transport the reader to a reality slightly removed…
New Moomin 33/52 - Pappa All Alone (ひとりぽっちのパパ) (1972) (English subtitles)
Pappa is feeling underappreciated. Moomin and Mamma did not tell him about a fire, and his idea to take them on vacation for a day conflicts with Moomin's…
YU-GEKI~side story of “Love’s Twisting Path”~ (遊撃 -「多十郎殉愛記」外伝-,Tatsuya Matsubara, 2021)
Tatsuya Matsubara’s wide raging documentary explores the career of legendary director Sadao Nakajima as he steps back into the director’s chair after 20 years away on Love’s Twist…
番外編：The Mill House Murders
detective fiction, 推理小説、games, mystery, murder, locked room, Japanese, translations,
New Moomin 36/52 - Grandpa Is the Best In the World (おじいちゃんは世界一) (1972) (English subtitles)
Snork's grandfather is visiting, and Moomin wishes he had a grandpa as amazing as him. Thereafter, the Ancestor drops in to be Moomin's grandpa, and quickly proves to…
Trail Of Blood (1972) review
Ikehiro stylishly celebrates the Matatabi film of the past and offers the chanbara-enthusiast enough sword-fighting action to satisfy him/her.
番外編：Death Within The Evil Eye
detective fiction, 推理小説、games, mystery, murder, locked room, Japanese, translations,
番外編：Death of the Living Dead
detective fiction, 推理小説、games, mystery, murder, locked room, Japanese, translations,
番外編：The Mill House Murders Released
detective fiction, 推理小説、games, mystery, murder, locked room, Japanese, translations,
番外編：The Labyrinth House Murders Released
detective fiction, 推理小説、games, mystery, murder, locked room, Japanese, translations,
Interview: The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window Manga Creator Tomoko Yamashita
ANN spoke to the manga creator Tomoko Yamashita about her approach to creating manga, her feelings on The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window as a BL story, and…
Light & Darkness: Feminist Narratives by Tomoko Yamashita
Left: Ikoku Nikki (Different Country Diary, 2017); Right: Hibari no Asa (Morning of the Lark, 2011) Tomoko Yamashita is the kind of writer who writes what she wants.…
Dr. Mira Simic-Yamashita Considers Mental Health And The Pandemic
Serbian psychologist and hypnotherapist Dr. Mira Simic-Yamashita is tackling mental health issues while encouraging greater psycho-related education in Japan.
Fall 2023 Pledge Drive – Wrap-up and Thank You
We got there in the end. Read more
5 Reasons To Skip: Devilman (1972)
It’s Devilman-themed, but it sure isn’t Devilman.
番外編：Death Within The Evil Eye Released
detective fiction, 推理小説、games, mystery, murder, locked room, Japanese, translations,
Historical drama review: Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)
I’m starting to work on the review of Yuru Camp S3. I should have something to say about it, even if I already wrote about the first two seasons,…
番外編：Death of the Living Dead Released
detective fiction, 推理小説、games, mystery, murder, locked room, Japanese, translations,
PODCAST - Ep. 82: Division Chief Kosaku Shima, by Kenshi Hirokane
An English-language manga only available in Japan? Ooooo!
Animator Spotlight: Hiroyuki Yamashita (Part 1 of 5)
Hiroyuki Yamashita is an artist whose contributions to the Naruto franchise are second only to Masashi Kishimoto himself. Join me in this five part series commemorating his career…
Animator Spotlight: Hiroyuki Yamashita (Part 2 of 5)
Our second part focuses on a pair of promotions for Hiroyuki Yamashita, examining his style and exploring the way in which he would shape the Naruto series from…
Shingo Yamashita【山下清悟】Sakuga MAD
Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_Y4OIWGr4w The main theme of Tetsuwan Birdy Decode 02 is my favorite anime soundtrack of all time, and is attached to one of my favorite shows of all…
Animator Spotlight: Hiroyuki Yamashita (Part 4 of 5) – The Valley of the End
Naruto vs. Sasuke is much more than just a cool fight with exceptional animation. It represents a return to simpler times. The last and best chance to remind…
The Blossom and the Sword (日本侠花伝, Tai Kato, 1973)
A young woman defies the expectations of a patriarchal society in resisting the rising militarism of the Taisho society in Tai Kato’s historical epic.
Fall 2023 Pledge Drive – It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
The fight to keep LiA running is a never-ending one. Read more
Sachiko (さち子） – Lamp
Appears on their album 「Yume」. Sachiko Lyrics by Sakakibara Kaori Composed by Someya Taiyo Performed by Lamp The horizon at the end of summer and the sweet salt wind My newly shorn hair brushes pas…
日本コンテンツと海外プラットフォーム
最近の作成AIコンテンツや物語性を含まない居心地の良いコンテンツ作りを見ていて憂慮するすることは色々ある。 ネットでただで享受できるコンテンツが爆発的に増えただけならいざ知らず、それらを配布するプラットフォームが一点集中し、興行的成功の落差が激しくなっている。これに加えて作成AIを用いることで一見精度の高そうに見える創作物を大量の生み出され、いわばダンピングが行われてしまい、人の手で創る創作…
Legend of the Cat Monster (麗猫伝説, Nobuhiko Obayashi, 1983)
A young writer falls prey to the dream of cinema while tasked with convincing a reclusive actress to return to the silver screen in Obayashi’s gothic tale of…
Animator Spotlight: Hiroyuki Yamashita & Boruto: Naruto the Movie (Part 3 of 5)
Part 1 | Part 2 | < > | Part 4 | Part 5 Kishimoto: After I finished watching The Last: Naruto the Movie [Jump Festa Event, December…
Boruto: Naruto the Movie, Naruto, The Last: Naruto the Movie
Minisode 4: A Short Intro To – The Animation & Direction of Shingo Yamashita
For the fourth minisode in the Short Intro series, let’s look at the amazing animation and direction of none other than Shingo Yamashita! Yamashita opened my eyes to…
Kosaku Kawajiri Blasts Into JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Last Survivor In December
Kosaku Kawajiri will be added as a playable character in the battle royale game, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Last Survivor, in December 2023.
Mermaid Legend (人魚伝説, Toshiharu Ikeda, 1984)
When her husband is murdered by shady businessmen and she’s framed for the crime, a wife plots bloody revenge in Toshiharu Ikeda’s supernaturally charged thriller.
Let’s Go Karaoke! (カラオケ行こ！, Nobuhiro Yamashita, 2023)
An old school yakuza and high school boy find themselves fighting similar battles through the medium of Karaoke in Nobuhiro Yamashita’s zany comedy.
Fall 2023 Pledge Drive – 10/02 Update: Not Quite Panic (Yet)
This marathon is a long way from run. Read more