1973 signaled Sadao Nakajima's first and last collaboration with Atg, with “Aesthetics of a Bullet” featuring some of the trademark elements of the company, including punk aesthetics, a genuine anti-hero, social commentary, while the artistic freedom Atg always granted its filmmakers, allowed Nakajima to retain his favorite Yakuza theme and include intense exploitation elements.
The movie starts with a rather impressive scene, where under a loud punk track that is also an ode to the overall punk philosophy, Nakajima sets the frame the story of the movie takes place in, showing people overbying, overeating, overpolluting while enjoying themselves in sex shows and hostess clubs. The protagonist, Kiyoshi Koike, is a direct product of this setting, as we first meet him peddling supposedly dwarf-rabbits on the street, only to make enough money to waste on drinking and gambling. His girlfriend, a prostitute, loves him dearly and is even willing to continuously...
The movie starts with a rather impressive scene, where under a loud punk track that is also an ode to the overall punk philosophy, Nakajima sets the frame the story of the movie takes place in, showing people overbying, overeating, overpolluting while enjoying themselves in sex shows and hostess clubs. The protagonist, Kiyoshi Koike, is a direct product of this setting, as we first meet him peddling supposedly dwarf-rabbits on the street, only to make enough money to waste on drinking and gambling. His girlfriend, a prostitute, loves him dearly and is even willing to continuously...
- 8/9/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Sadao Nakajima passed away from pneumonia on 11th June, 2023. He was 88 years old. Active as a director until just four years before his passing, Nakajima left behind legacy of work that most directors would dream of. Alongside Kinji Fukasaku and Junya Sato, he is credited as being one of the main names to define the Yakuza genre, with some of his greatest works coming within that genre for Toei Studios, showcasing a range of styles and narrative complexities while at it. Outside of the yakuza genre as well though, Nakajima made a number of terrific features, mixing a range of genres and filmmaking styles effectively over an illustrious career that lasted a little under 60 years, starting from his debut in 1964 all the way until his swansong in 2019.
Without further ado, we list 12 essential films by Sadao Nakajima that are not in the Yakuza genre, in chronological order.
1. Female Ninja Magic...
Without further ado, we list 12 essential films by Sadao Nakajima that are not in the Yakuza genre, in chronological order.
1. Female Ninja Magic...
- 7/11/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Sadao Nakajima passed away from pneumonia on 11th June, 2023. He was 88 years old. Active as a director until just four years before his passing, Nakajima left behind legacy of work that most directors would dream of. Alongside Kinji Fukasaku and Junya Sato, he is credited as being one of the main names to define the Yakuza genre, with some of his greatest works coming within that genre, showcasing a range of styles and narrative complexities while at it. Having joined Toei Studio in 1959, he worked primarily at Toei's Kyoto studio, despite running his contract out and going independent in 1967. In fact, the majority of the titles we list here are productions from after he left Toei as a contracted director and yet continued to work for the Studio as a freelancer, likely because of the freedom it provided him and his relationship with their existing roster of actors and crew,...
- 6/21/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
by Nathan Stuart
On June 11 2023, Sadao Nakajima sadly passed away in Kyoto after a bout of pneumonia at the age of 88. He leaves behind a rich and deep cinematic legacy, one that has rightly been praised in his home of Japan, but one that has never received its proper recognition in the West, much in part to his work being overshadowed, ironically, by that of his friend Kinji Fukasaku. Outside of niche circles of fans who have zealously consumed as much of his work as possible via bootlegs, not much has been said or written about Nakajima, despite his 1976 Jitsuroku classic ‘Okinawa Yakuza War' already having a cult following, even without a legitimate disc release.
Born in Togane City in 1934, he lost his father at the age of 10 to the Second World War and would go on to graduate from Tokyo Metropolitan Hibiya High School in 1954, before spending a further...
On June 11 2023, Sadao Nakajima sadly passed away in Kyoto after a bout of pneumonia at the age of 88. He leaves behind a rich and deep cinematic legacy, one that has rightly been praised in his home of Japan, but one that has never received its proper recognition in the West, much in part to his work being overshadowed, ironically, by that of his friend Kinji Fukasaku. Outside of niche circles of fans who have zealously consumed as much of his work as possible via bootlegs, not much has been said or written about Nakajima, despite his 1976 Jitsuroku classic ‘Okinawa Yakuza War' already having a cult following, even without a legitimate disc release.
Born in Togane City in 1934, he lost his father at the age of 10 to the Second World War and would go on to graduate from Tokyo Metropolitan Hibiya High School in 1954, before spending a further...
- 6/20/2023
- by Guest Writer
- AsianMoviePulse
The school of Yakuza films Kinji Fukasaku set up with Yakuza Papers found a number of students in the following years, implementing his frantic pace in the editing, the intense action, and the occasional news strip presentation of the real events. Sadao Nakajima is one of those “students” with his “Terror of Yakuza” following the path of the second part of the quintology, “Hiroshima Death Match”. The movie was initially banned in Okinawa because the local government feared it would incite too much interest in the local yakuza and reignite the rather violent events the story is based on.
“Terror of Yakuza” is screening at Japan Society
These events took place in Okinawa in December 1971, the year before its reversion to Japan and resulted in the 4th Okinawa conflict. In this setting, Hideo Nakazato, a yakuza who has just been released from prison, is trying to adapt to all the changes that he sees happening,...
“Terror of Yakuza” is screening at Japan Society
These events took place in Okinawa in December 1971, the year before its reversion to Japan and resulted in the 4th Okinawa conflict. In this setting, Hideo Nakazato, a yakuza who has just been released from prison, is trying to adapt to all the changes that he sees happening,...
- 5/7/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Okinawa’s reverting from American to Japan, our friends at New York’s Japan Society will host, from May 13 to June 3, Visions of Okinawa, a retrospective that “documents the dynamic historical, political and cultural spaces of Okinawa around this pivotal point in history through in-person screenings and streamed films exploring the legacies of the Occupation, WWII and imperialism.”
We’re proud to debut the trailer for their series, which mixes “mainland filmmakers, native Okinawans and documentarians,” the series includes Chris Marker’s Level Five and Oshima’s Dear Summer Sister, which I don’t recall ever screening in New York—much less on a 35mm print. The Focus on the Nihon Documentarist Union (Ndu) documentaries will be screening for the first time outside Japan and streaming worldwide (except Japan and Taiwan). Being that Go Takamine’s Paradise View (another one I don’t think...
We’re proud to debut the trailer for their series, which mixes “mainland filmmakers, native Okinawans and documentarians,” the series includes Chris Marker’s Level Five and Oshima’s Dear Summer Sister, which I don’t recall ever screening in New York—much less on a 35mm print. The Focus on the Nihon Documentarist Union (Ndu) documentaries will be screening for the first time outside Japan and streaming worldwide (except Japan and Taiwan). Being that Go Takamine’s Paradise View (another one I don’t think...
- 4/25/2022
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Marking 50 years since Okinawa’s reversion from American sovereignty back to Japan, Visions of Okinawa documents the dynamic historical, political and cultural spaces of Okinawa around this pivotal point in history through in-person screenings and streamed films exploring the legacies of the Occupation, WWII and imperialism. Primarily focusing on films made around the time of or dealing with the 1972 reversion, Visions of Okinawa addresses issues of identity, race and borders by presenting diverse and complicated reflections on the prefecture from mainland filmmakers, native Okinawans and documentarians.
In-theater Screenings
All in-person screenings will take place in Japan Society’s auditorium, located at 333 E. 47th Street in New York, NY.
Paradise View
Friday, May 13, 2022 at 7:00 Pm
Dir. Go Takamine, 1985, 117 min., Dcp, color, in Okinawan (Uchinaaguchi) and Japanese with English subtitles. With Kaoru Kobayashi, Jun Togawa, Haruomi Hosono.
North American Premiere of 2021 edit. Go Takamine’s rarely screened first theatrical feature is...
In-theater Screenings
All in-person screenings will take place in Japan Society’s auditorium, located at 333 E. 47th Street in New York, NY.
Paradise View
Friday, May 13, 2022 at 7:00 Pm
Dir. Go Takamine, 1985, 117 min., Dcp, color, in Okinawan (Uchinaaguchi) and Japanese with English subtitles. With Kaoru Kobayashi, Jun Togawa, Haruomi Hosono.
North American Premiere of 2021 edit. Go Takamine’s rarely screened first theatrical feature is...
- 4/15/2022
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
Apparently, “retirement” is not part of Sadao Nakajima’s vocabulary. Reaching the age of 83, the veteran director started the shooting of “Love Twisting Path” in 2018. To this point, it has been 10 years since he made his last film (more than 60 in total). Tatsuya Matsubara follows the shooting and creates a half making-of, half biography kind of documentary and shines a light on the private and professional life of the legendary filmmaker.
Yu-geki ~side story of “Love Twisting Path”~ is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
Archive footage like photagraphies and video excerpts as well as valuable testimonies from colleagues, well-known movie figures, and his son, draw an overall picture of Nakajima’s career. Known for his samurai and yakuza dramas, Nakajima based his career on the grounds of Toei Studios in Kyoto and is one of the last relics from the golden age of Japanese film. Therefore, he sees himself...
Yu-geki ~side story of “Love Twisting Path”~ is screening at Osaka Asian Film Festival
Archive footage like photagraphies and video excerpts as well as valuable testimonies from colleagues, well-known movie figures, and his son, draw an overall picture of Nakajima’s career. Known for his samurai and yakuza dramas, Nakajima based his career on the grounds of Toei Studios in Kyoto and is one of the last relics from the golden age of Japanese film. Therefore, he sees himself...
- 3/23/2022
- by Alexander Knoth
- AsianMoviePulse
Trading platform enables buyers to select films, negotiate rights with sellers, sign contracts and request deliverables directly.
Yokohama-based digital rights trading outfit, Filmination, has launched a platform to provide global VOD acquisitions executives with the ability to buy Japanese films and TV series directly from rights holders.
The site, filmination.jp, builds on the company’s previous browsable catalogue of Japanese films available to global VOD buyers, launched in January 2019. The new platform provides a bilingual marketplace ecosystem, through which buyers can select films, negotiate rights with sellers, sign contracts and request deliverables directly.
Japanese films currently have low penetration on international VOD services,...
Yokohama-based digital rights trading outfit, Filmination, has launched a platform to provide global VOD acquisitions executives with the ability to buy Japanese films and TV series directly from rights holders.
The site, filmination.jp, builds on the company’s previous browsable catalogue of Japanese films available to global VOD buyers, launched in January 2019. The new platform provides a bilingual marketplace ecosystem, through which buyers can select films, negotiate rights with sellers, sign contracts and request deliverables directly.
Japanese films currently have low penetration on international VOD services,...
- 8/18/2020
- by 89¦Liz Shackleton¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Centrepiece Highlight
World Premiere of “Dance With Me”
Director Shinobu Yaguchi, Lead Actress Ayaka Miyoshi in attendance
Opening Night
North American Premiere of Masayuki Suzuki’s mystery thriller, “Masquerade Hotel“
Special Guests:
Star of “Love’s Twisting Path” – Mikako Tabe
Director of award-winning “Born Bone Born” – Comedian Toshiyuki Teruya “Gori”
Director Tatsushi Omori – “When My Mom Died, I Wanted to Eat Her Ashes” and “Every Day a Good Day”
Star of “The Gambler’s Odyssey 2020” – Takumi Saitoh
The samurai, of the cinematic variety, are set to descend on Toronto this summer. They are joined by reluctant sake brewers, yakuza assassins, tea ceremony sages, deadly mahjong-playing robots, dashing hotel detectives, and calculating masters of “corporate kabuki”.
Now in its eighth year, the 2019 Toronto Japanese Film Festival brings Toronto audiences 28 of the finest contemporary Japanese films recognized for excellence by Japanese audiences and critics, international film festival audiences and the Japanese Film Academy.
World Premiere of “Dance With Me”
Director Shinobu Yaguchi, Lead Actress Ayaka Miyoshi in attendance
Opening Night
North American Premiere of Masayuki Suzuki’s mystery thriller, “Masquerade Hotel“
Special Guests:
Star of “Love’s Twisting Path” – Mikako Tabe
Director of award-winning “Born Bone Born” – Comedian Toshiyuki Teruya “Gori”
Director Tatsushi Omori – “When My Mom Died, I Wanted to Eat Her Ashes” and “Every Day a Good Day”
Star of “The Gambler’s Odyssey 2020” – Takumi Saitoh
The samurai, of the cinematic variety, are set to descend on Toronto this summer. They are joined by reluctant sake brewers, yakuza assassins, tea ceremony sages, deadly mahjong-playing robots, dashing hotel detectives, and calculating masters of “corporate kabuki”.
Now in its eighth year, the 2019 Toronto Japanese Film Festival brings Toronto audiences 28 of the finest contemporary Japanese films recognized for excellence by Japanese audiences and critics, international film festival audiences and the Japanese Film Academy.
- 5/22/2019
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Sadao Nakajima’s return to feature films after a 20 year hiatus, (in 2015 he directed the documentary “Chambara: The Art of Japanese Swordplay”), was one of the most anticipated films of 2018, particularly since it is a historical drama centered around sword fighting, the genre that Nakajima has excelled at, in the five decades he has been shooting films.
The story takes place in Kyoto, during one of the most beloved for the genre times, the last years of the Edo Period , where the fight between the forces of the ones who support the Shogun system and the ones the Emperor, is at its apogee, with the first being the ones still in charge, and the second, the “revolutionaries”. In this setting, we are introduced to the protagonist of the story, Tajuro Kiyokawa, once the master of the sword but now a depraved samurai who left his domain putting aside his past ambition,...
The story takes place in Kyoto, during one of the most beloved for the genre times, the last years of the Edo Period , where the fight between the forces of the ones who support the Shogun system and the ones the Emperor, is at its apogee, with the first being the ones still in charge, and the second, the “revolutionaries”. In this setting, we are introduced to the protagonist of the story, Tajuro Kiyokawa, once the master of the sword but now a depraved samurai who left his domain putting aside his past ambition,...
- 12/31/2018
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The Tiffcom market, a sales event adjacent to the Tokyo International Film Festival, always includes the latest film launches from Japan. This year the selection is especially varied and rich. Arranged by sales company, highlights include:
Kadokawa
“Chiwawa”
Scripted and directed by Ken Ninomiya, this mystery about a 20-year-old Instagram star who ends up dead in Tokyo Bay, is based on a popular comic. It features a cast that includes the internationally known Chiaki Kuriyama (“Kill Bill”) and Tadanobu Asano (“The Third Murder”).
“Hard-Core”
Festival favorite, Nobuhiro Yamashita has adapted a cult hit comic about a pair of misfits who are inseparable friends. They encounter a retro-looking robot with astonishing powers, and together embark on a bizarre hunt for long-buried treasure.
“The Antique: Secret of the Old Books”
Yukiko Mishima, director of the acclaimed 2017 drama “Dear Etranger,” has returned with a literary mystery, based on En Mikami’s best-selling novel.
Kadokawa
“Chiwawa”
Scripted and directed by Ken Ninomiya, this mystery about a 20-year-old Instagram star who ends up dead in Tokyo Bay, is based on a popular comic. It features a cast that includes the internationally known Chiaki Kuriyama (“Kill Bill”) and Tadanobu Asano (“The Third Murder”).
“Hard-Core”
Festival favorite, Nobuhiro Yamashita has adapted a cult hit comic about a pair of misfits who are inseparable friends. They encounter a retro-looking robot with astonishing powers, and together embark on a bizarre hunt for long-buried treasure.
“The Antique: Secret of the Old Books”
Yukiko Mishima, director of the acclaimed 2017 drama “Dear Etranger,” has returned with a literary mystery, based on En Mikami’s best-selling novel.
- 10/23/2018
- by Mark Schilling
- Variety Film + TV
Romantic drama is directed by Akiko Oku, whose last film won the audience award at Tiff 2017.
Japan’s Free Stone Productions has sold romantic comedy Marriage Hunting Beauty to China’s Lemon Tree Media and CatchPlay for Taiwan.
Based on a popular web comic, the film is directed by Akiko Oku whose last film, Tremble All You Want, won the audience award at last year’s Tokyo International Film Festival (Tiff).
Mei Kurokawa heads the cast of the film, playing a web designer in her 30s, who tries online dating to find a husband, but finds herself torn between an...
Japan’s Free Stone Productions has sold romantic comedy Marriage Hunting Beauty to China’s Lemon Tree Media and CatchPlay for Taiwan.
Based on a popular web comic, the film is directed by Akiko Oku whose last film, Tremble All You Want, won the audience award at last year’s Tokyo International Film Festival (Tiff).
Mei Kurokawa heads the cast of the film, playing a web designer in her 30s, who tries online dating to find a husband, but finds herself torn between an...
- 10/23/2018
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Sitting between the early fall festivals of Toronto and Venice and November’s American Film Market, Busan’s Asian Film Market is either badly timed or brilliantly positioned, depending on your point of view.
There is no doubt, however, that it plays host to a range of hidden gems, and allows buyers to get an early jump on a selection of key titles – both of the artistic and the commercial varieties.
Hong Kong’s Mandarin Entertainment is handling the festival’s big-budget ($28 million production cost) closing film, “Master Z: Ip Man Legacy,” with its starry cast including Dave Bautista, Michelle Yeoh and Tony Jaa. The company is also pre-selling its even bigger “Ip Man 4.” The budget is now confirmed at $52 million and pitches Asian superstar Donnie Yen against British action star Scott Adkins with delivery scheduled in 2019.
Another Hong Kong studio, Edko Films, is touting $40 million China-Australia co-production “The Whistleblower.
There is no doubt, however, that it plays host to a range of hidden gems, and allows buyers to get an early jump on a selection of key titles – both of the artistic and the commercial varieties.
Hong Kong’s Mandarin Entertainment is handling the festival’s big-budget ($28 million production cost) closing film, “Master Z: Ip Man Legacy,” with its starry cast including Dave Bautista, Michelle Yeoh and Tony Jaa. The company is also pre-selling its even bigger “Ip Man 4.” The budget is now confirmed at $52 million and pitches Asian superstar Donnie Yen against British action star Scott Adkins with delivery scheduled in 2019.
Another Hong Kong studio, Edko Films, is touting $40 million China-Australia co-production “The Whistleblower.
- 10/5/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Just like promised the day before yesterday, the full program with (so far?) 38 titles for the 10. Japanese Film Festival Hamburg is now available online. The Jffh will take place from May 27 to May 31.
Cafe Isobe by Keisuke Yoshida (Eröffnungsfilm) Appassionata by Sadao Nakajima Arbol del Tule by Takeya Sekiguchi Balloon Forest by Takashi Miura Takuya Bluebird by Shu Asakawa Captain Tokyo by Kazushi Watanabe Crazed Beast by Sadao Nakajima Cyborg She by Kwak Jae Yong Das Leben von meinem Vater Yoshiari by Mitsuwaha Yusaku Der Buddha, der den Fuchs berührt by Yosuke Kaneko Der Engel im blauen Himmel Der Rote Punkt by Marie Miyayama Detroit Metal City by Toshio Lee Dream of the City by Shunichi Takagi Empty Blue by Kou Hanekawa Escape from Hiroshima Prison by Sadao Nakajima Gelatin Silver Love by Kazumi Kurigami Genius Party by Studio 4°C Genius Party Beyond by Studio 4°C Grotesque by Koji Shiraishi...
Cafe Isobe by Keisuke Yoshida (Eröffnungsfilm) Appassionata by Sadao Nakajima Arbol del Tule by Takeya Sekiguchi Balloon Forest by Takashi Miura Takuya Bluebird by Shu Asakawa Captain Tokyo by Kazushi Watanabe Crazed Beast by Sadao Nakajima Cyborg She by Kwak Jae Yong Das Leben von meinem Vater Yoshiari by Mitsuwaha Yusaku Der Buddha, der den Fuchs berührt by Yosuke Kaneko Der Engel im blauen Himmel Der Rote Punkt by Marie Miyayama Detroit Metal City by Toshio Lee Dream of the City by Shunichi Takagi Empty Blue by Kou Hanekawa Escape from Hiroshima Prison by Sadao Nakajima Gelatin Silver Love by Kazumi Kurigami Genius Party by Studio 4°C Genius Party Beyond by Studio 4°C Grotesque by Koji Shiraishi...
- 4/24/2009
- by Ulrik
- Affenheimtheater
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