Mineko Maruhira
Also Known As: 丸平峯子
Biography: Biography not available
Department: Acting
Place of Birth: Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture, Japan
Birthday: June 16, 1940
Adult: No
Gender: Female
Popularity:
Known For:
Yakuza Ladies
Overview: While her husband is in prison doing time, Tamaki, the wife of a yakuza capo, runs her spouse’s gang with an iron hand. Meanwhile, Makoto, her younger sister, marries a member of a rival band after being raped by him. The two sisters, united by blood ties but married to enemy yakuzas, will ultimately have to decide whose side they’re on.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1986-11-15
Popularity:
Three Yakuza
Overview: A tale of three Yakuza gamblers who traveled Japan during the samurai era living by their wits and sword skills. Told in 3 separate vignettes, each part tells the story of a different drifter’s life. Part 1: A man is on the run after killing two Hasshu Officials to avenge his Boss. He must make a life or death decision as he is asked to protect a gang from attack. Part 2: A pair of gamblers chased out of a crooked game must fight not only their pursuers, but the ghosts of their pasts as well. Part 3: A wanderer who wants to live according to the Yakuza Code, but is not sure that he can do so when asked to save a town from an evil official.
Genres: Action Adventure
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1965-05-22
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Silk Hat Boss
Overview: In a strange outfit and full of youthful energy, the explosive Boss Kumatora raises hell like there's no tomorrow. The first movie of a new series starring Wakayama Tomisaburo as everybody's favorite character Boss Kumatora from the Red Peony Gambler series. Having made a fortune in the Russo-Japanese War, the Kumatora Family migrates to Kyushu to take on a military-related job. There they encounter the evil and malicious interference of the Chindai family of Kumamoto, and Boss Kumatora boldly fights back with the help of O'Ryu the Red Peony. A super entertaining film with non-stop comedy and action directed by Suzuki Norifumi.
Genres: Action Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1970-06-25
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The Villain from Edo Kochiyama Soshun
Overview: Kotiyama is a swindler and extortionist, the head of a whole gang of crooks, usually posing as a poor monk; once he really took vows, but he was kicked out of the monastery long ago. He is enterprising, smart and not too cruel, so his accomplices love him. Posing as an envoy from the abbot of the Kennei Temple, Kotiama plays a show in front of Lord Matsue with an income of 150,000 koku, and extorts money from him. The film is based on the famous play by Kawatake Mokuami.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1982-07-23
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Confessions of Lady Mantis
Overview: Midori Satsuki stars as a serial seducer who destroys one man’s life after another. Finally she seduces a professional killer, with disastrous consequences.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1975-11-01
Popularity:
Brothers Serving Time
Overview: While imprisoned, Tatsu encounters Danshi, a man who is a big honcho in the prison pecking order. After initial conflict they become sworn brothers. Tatsu and the sworn brothers he acquires weren’t really gangsters before their prison time, just ruffians. Prison, however, introduces them to plenty of gangland characters and three years later, they’re out of prison and enmeshed in the yakuza world.
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1969-05-03
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Story of a Nymphomaniac
Overview: Natsu, the older of two sisters, has a relationship with Yonosuke, the local kimono trader. Unlike her more conservative sister Oshichi she tries to use sex as a means to climb to a better social position. To even attempt that she first needs to get out of the Buddhist monastery she is working at...
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1975-10-14
Popularity:
Yakuza of the Present
Overview:
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1973-10-27
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A History of the Japanese Underworld
Overview: The hero tries to unite various gangs.
Genres: Thriller Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1968-01-14
Popularity:
Code of Wolves
Overview: In gangster-infested 1920s Yokohama, gambler Ishiguro gets in with the local gang -- but his view of life changes after the Great Kanto Earthquake.
Genres: Crime Action
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1974-10-05
Popularity:
Gambling Den Heist
Overview: After eight years in prison, Takeshi’s mission is a big heist from his own clan’s gambling parlor.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1975-06-21
Popularity:
The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry
Overview: Third part of Nihon Kyokakuden series is set in Kanto in 1924. Ken Takakura playing a ship's mate befriending fish shop owners harassed by yakuza.
Genres: Action Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1965-08-12
Popularity:
A Savage Beast Goes Mad
Overview: Test driver Hayami loses control of his car and rolls over. His company then learns that he has kept secret that he is visually impaired, and he is fired. Without the prospect of returning to his old job he makes a plan to rob several jewelry stores. A few days later, Hayami escapes with stolen goods worth 80 million yen in a violin case on a Kyoto city bus. A wild chase ensues.
Genres: Action Drama Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1976-05-15
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Doberman Cop
Overview: Joji Kano is a loose cannon cop from backwoods Okinawa, sent to Tokyo to investigate the grizzly murder of an Okinawa woman. As he probes deeper into the sleazy world of flesh-peddling, talent agency corruption and mob influence, Kano uncovers the shocking truth.
Genres: Crime Action
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1977-07-02
Popularity:
Fireflies in the North
Overview: Set in the icy wilderness of Hokkaido during the early days of the Meiji era, where the brutal warden of Kabato Prison terrorizes convicts sentenced to forced labor to build the roads needed to open up the territory.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1984-09-01
Popularity:
Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Police Tactics
Overview: As Japan gears up for the 1964 Olympic games, the cops start to crack down on the gangs, under pressure from the public and the press, adding a new dimension in the war for power among the yakuza families of Hiroshima.
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1974-01-15
Popularity:
Sure Death 4
Overview: Having been demoted for failing to prevent the murder of one of his superiors, Mondo is startled by a group of masked thugs who are soon attacked in turn by an unseen force. He begins to suspect the work of assassins, but whose side are they on?
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1987-06-06
Popularity:
Yakuza Graveyard
Overview: A police investigator cracks down on yakuza business, but once he realizes the police are in negotiations with certain factions, he sides with his own syndicate of choice.
Genres: Action Crime Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1976-10-30
Popularity:
Red Peony Gambler: Flower Cards Game
Overview: The third chapter of the ‘Red Peony Gambler’ saga depicts the happiness and sadness of Red Peony Oryu’s life as she seals her femininity with a red peony tattoo and lives in world of chivalry and honor of the yakuza. This story takes place in the middle of the Meiji era in Nagoya. Oryu is wandering the country, training herself to reinstate her family name. With a written recommendation from Kumatora, she appears at the door of the Nishinomaru family. At the same time, the family is preparing for the gambling competition at the Netsuda Shrine Festival, which they have been hosting for generations. Meanwhile, the crooked Kinbara family is plotting to take over the competition. And now Oryu is forced to get involved in the struggle…
Genres: Action Crime Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1969-02-01
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Red Peony Gambler: Oryu's Return
Overview: Oryu searches for blind child she left behind and get involved in a Yakuza turf war that takes place in the Tokyo Theater.
Genres: Action Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1970-03-05
Popularity:
Fall Guy
Overview: Ginshiro, threatened by poor repute and upcoming star Tachibana, forces his friend Yasu to marry Konatsu, Ginshiro's pregnant mistress; Yasu becomes a stuntman to make ends meet.
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1982-10-09
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Female Color Master
Overview: Pinku from 1965.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1965-12-07
Popularity:
Red Peony Gambler: Gambler's Obligation
Overview: A local yakuza boss of a silk farming town shows kindness to the wandering gambler Oryu by letting her stay at his residence. When a rival yakuza gang, who wants to take over the town's businesses, murders him, Oryu is obliged to protect his children and business.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1968-11-22
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Red Peony Gambler: Biographies of a Gambling Room
Overview: Junko Fuji returns as Oryu the Red Peony, a wandering female yakuza on a soul-searching journey after the death of her father. After collecting her sickly follower from jail, she is taken in by a fishing village. Feeling indebed to their generosity, she stays to work for the village and promises to leave her yakuza ways behind. When a dispute breaks out for the gambling rights to a local festival, the villagers are harrassed by a gang of thugs. When the harrassment turns violent, Oryu must decide wither to keep her promise or protect the villagers.
Genres: Action Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1969-10-01
Popularity:
Kogarashi Monjiro 2: Secret of Monjiro's Birth
Overview: Monjiro, reunited with his long lost sister, is pursued by a yakuza gang because he killed their boss. He also meets a fellow gambler who idolizes Monjiro. The gambler and Monjiro's sister are pulled into a conspiracy to get to Monjiro, but do things go as planned?
Genres: Action Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1972-09-14
Popularity:
Samurai Geisha
Overview: Popular geisha Shinji (Fuji Junko) must defy a gang who plot to steal a lucrative coal business from struggling miners during the turbulent Meiji Era. With a stellar all-star cast, thrilling story and Takakura Ken's violent swordplay, makes this into a classic Yakuza movie!
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1969-07-31
Popularity:
Bloodiest Flower
Overview: A dramatic captivating tale tells of widowed Tei (Junko Fuji), she has become a coalmine operator and is determined to be successful despite mining being a predominately male domain. Overcoming the natural hardships, a more serious threat to Tei and her mine, the menacing presence of rival mining gangs who sense her vulnerability... Nihon jokyo-den:ketto midarw-bana is an outstanding drama, highlighted by wonderful characterizations/performances. Yamashita's excellent direction maintains a rich emotional flow from the opening seconds to the last. Intense and bloody encounters punctuate throughout the engaging multi layered tale!
Genres: Drama Action Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1971-04-03
Popularity:
House on Fire
Overview: In the 50s, the complicated life of a popular writer who must share his life with his family, his numerous mistresses and his work
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1986-04-12
Popularity:
Appassionata
Overview: This story is based on the novel "Jo no mai" by Tomiko Miyao which is based on the life of painter Shōen Uemura (1875–1949), the first woman to be awarded the Order of Culture. The title refers to the masterpiece bijinga ("picture of a beautiful woman") that Uemura painted at the age of 61. The main character, Tsuya Shimamura, is born in Kyoto as the second daughter of a tea trader who dies before her birth. Tsuya, who loves painting more than anything and is hopeless at housework, attends art school and at age 15 receives the name Shōsui (from the characters for "pine" and "green") from her teacher. The crown prince of England purchases one of her works, propelling her to fame overnight. The novel portrays the remainder of her stormy life, during which she is impregnated by her teacher and raises a fatherless child; through it all she devotes herself to her painting, undaunted.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1984-01-14
Popularity:
Hero of the Red Light District
Overview: A successful textile industrialist from the provinces, who is beloved by his employees for his kindness, cannot find a wife because of a disfiguring birthmark on his face. Even the courtesans in Yoshiwara refuse to entertain him, until an indentured peasant prostitute, Tamarazu, takes the unsavoury assignment and treats him with brash tenderness.
Genres: Drama History
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1960-09-03
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Samurai Reincarnation
Overview: After surviving the slaughter of many Christians 350 years ago, a samurai denounces God for ignoring the pleas of believers. He sells his soul to Satan and receives the power to resurrect the dead to join him in a murderous rampage.
Genres: Action Fantasy Horror
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1981-06-06
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The Viper Brothers: The Blackmailers
Overview: Upon his release from prison, Masa (Bunta Sugawara) is disappointed to not be picked up by his brother Katsu (Tamio Kawaji). After hitching a ride on a bus full of old women, Masa finds out that Katsu tried to fake a car accident and get some money for Masa to live on after prison. Together, the two decide to blackmail the woman (Yoko Horikoshi) who hit Katsu, who happens to be the daughter of a rich company president (Seizaburo Kawazu). 6th film in a series of 8.
Genres: Action Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1973-09-01
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Company Buggers
Overview: Hiroshi, a small-time racketeer, makes a name for himself extorting vulnerable companies and their directors for financial gain.
Genres: Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1975-08-09
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Showdown of Men 2
Overview: Part two.
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1967-03-10
Popularity:
The Decisive Power of Aikido
Overview: It is about the life of Ueshiba - the founder of aikido. We can see how he decided to develop aikido and how he did it. We can see why he developed aikido and where he has learned martial arts.
Genres: History Action
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1975-11-22
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Labyrinth Romanesque
Overview: A serial killing occurs at a port town brothel.
Genres: Mystery
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1988-01-15
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Judo vs. Karate
Overview: A story of friendship between a lone wolf judo expert and a youth.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1966-10-30
Popularity:
The Viper Brothers and the Young General
Overview: The last in the series. Sugawara runs into two mahjong cheaters (Ichiro Araki and Mako Midori + sidekick Takuzo Kawatani) whom he takes for friends in need as his naivety prevents him from seeing their true nature.
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1975-03-01
Popularity:
The Tattooed Hitman
Overview: The most dangerous hired gun in Kyushu's underworld has managed to trigger a vicious gang war, and now, there's a contract on his life. Though nobody is more skilled in the arts of dealing death, can the tattooed hitman fend off the entire Japanese mafia as he searches for the man who wants him dead?
Genres: Drama Action
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1974-04-27
Popularity:
Brave Red Flower of the North
Overview: An exciting tale of action on the distant northern island of Hokkaido around the beginning of the 20th Century starring two of the biggest names in Yakuza film history, Fuji Junko and Takakura Ken. Since the death of death of her father, Yuki who has traveled from her home in the southernmost part of Japan must fight corrupt local officials seeking to fill her late father's post. As her life is in danger a mysterious rifleman, played by Takakura Ken watches from the shadows. Can she finish the work her dear departed father started in an untamed land?
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1970-01-09
Popularity:
Oxen Split Torturing
Overview: Two short stories set in Edo during the Shogun era. The first, during a time when Christians are persecuted vehemently, Iori falls in love with a young Christian girl. When she and her family are captured during a raid, his sadistic master takes her as his personal slave to torment Iori. The second follows Sutezo who, forced to serve the barbarous master of a brothel in order to repay his debts, befriends a young girl. Together, they both escape and struggle to get by on scams and petty theft.
Genres: Horror Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1976-09-04
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Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode
Overview: While Hirono is in prison, his rival Takeda turns his own crime organization into a political party, whose two executives stir up new tensions in their thirst for power.
Genres: Action Drama Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1974-06-29
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The Shogun Assassins
Overview: This is a film about a real person. Sanada Yukimura fought a war against Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Genres: Action Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1979-09-01
Popularity: