Hajime Koshikawa
Also Known As: 越川一, Hajime Etsukawa
Biography: Biography not available
Department: Acting
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: Not available
Adult: No
Gender: Male
Popularity:
Known For:
Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance
Overview: In this first film of the Lone Wolf and Cub series, adapted from the manga by Kazuo Koike, we are told the story of the Lone Wolf and Cub's origin. Ogami Itto, the official Shogunate executioner, has been framed for disloyalty to the Shogunate by the Yagyu clan, against whom he now is waging a one-man war, along with his infant son, Daigoro.
Genres: Drama Action Adventure
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1972-01-15
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Sleepy Eyes of Death 2: Sword of Adventure
Overview: Wandering samurai Nemuri Kyoshiro (Raizô Ichikawa) finds a bulls-eye on his back after befriending the shogunate's tightfisted financial adviser, Asahina, who's earned the wrath of the shogun's self-indulgent daughter for cutting off her allowance. The enraged princess promptly hatches a scheme to have Asahina bumped off -- along with his protector, Kyoshiro. Shiho Fujimura also stars in this installment of the enormously popular film series.
Genres: Action
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1964-01-09
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Sleepy Eyes of Death 3: Full Circle Killing
Overview: A decapitation at the hands of the shogun's monstrous misbegotten son kicks off the action and draws nomadic Nemuri Kyoshiro (Raizô Ichikawa) into more sword-fighting adventures when he's blamed for the beheading. Meanwhile, the head-chopper's mother is busy knocking off the shogun's lawful heirs to secure the shogunate for her son.
Genres: Mystery Drama Action
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1964-05-23
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Sleepy Eyes of Death 4: Sword of Seduction
Overview: A fugitive christian "saint" (female, of course!) and a sadistic drug-addled princess both have their eye on Kyoshiro. The fact that a bunch of ruthless smugglers also want him dead is the least of his problems!
Genres: Action
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1964-10-17
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Sleepy Eyes of Death 6: Sword of Satan
Overview: Sixth film in the series. A little boy who just wants to be a carpenter is at the center of a plot that might topple -- or save -- a mighty Clan, and while the swords of some angry samurai may not cause Kyoshiro much trouble, the deadly wiles of two women may be more difficult to survive!
Genres: Action Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1965-04-30
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Asataro the Crow
Overview: Early film directed by Kenji Misumi.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1956-03-28
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Useless Creature: Fighting Man's Life
Overview: Soft-Boiled Goro is a 1970 film directed by Kazuo Ikehiro
Genres: Action Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1970-11-14
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Third Generation's Loyalty Offering
Overview: 1962 Japanese movie. Remake of Mori's 1942 original movie
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-03-04
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Jirocho Fuji 2: The Chivalrous
Overview: The exciting story of Jirocho and his yakuza gang that controlled the area of the Tokaido during the latter days of the samurai era. Awesome fighting from Katsu Shintaro as One-Eyed Ishimatsu highlights this great tale taken from Japanese history!
Genres: Action Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1960-06-01
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Sabakareru Echizen no kami
Overview: 1962 Japanese movie
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-04-06
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The Fiery Magistrate
Overview: Film adaption by Kenji Misumi
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1956-09-19
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Akado Suzunosuke: Dokuro dentaiji
Overview: 1958 Japanese movie
Genres: Fantasy Action
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1958-12-21
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A Certain Killer
Overview: A former soldier, reduced to working at a restaurant post-war, becomes a contract killer for the yakuza gangs he's in contact with.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1967-04-29
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Scars of Honor
Overview: Japan, 1643, as the Kato clan of Aizu falls from power two brave samurai will settle a dispute in the time-honored tradition of their clan, by drawing their blades in a duel to the death.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1960-09-20
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Sōran wataridori
Overview: 1962 Japanese movie
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-05-27
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Kumoemon to sono tsuma
Overview: 1962 Japanese movie
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-06-24
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Shogun's Holiday
Overview: During the reign of Hidetada, the second shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty, the advisor Okubo Hikozaemon (Ganjiro Nakamura) entrusts the young Takechiyo (Hiroshi Kawaguchi) to the fishmonger Isshin Tasuke (Kazuo Hasegawa) to help him understand the world. Tasuke, who does not know that Takechiyo is the shogun's heir, trains him harshly. Tasuke's wife Naka (Michiko Ai) is concerned about his harsh teaching style, but Takechiyo gains strength day by day and adapts to his new life. Soon, Takechiyo begins secretly talking about love with a city girl named Otoyo (Hitomi Nozoe), but...
Genres: Drama History
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1958-02-12
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An Actor's Revenge
Overview: In Edo Japan, a kabuki actor seeks revenge against the three men who drove his parents to their deaths years ago.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1963-01-13
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Rampaging Dog
Overview: Abare inu is a 1965 action-comedy film directed by Kazuo Mori. It is the fourth film in the series.
Genres: Action Comedy
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1965-05-06
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風来物語任侠篇
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1959-10-28
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Sisters of Gion
Overview:
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1956-05-18
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Flowery Brothers
Overview: Early film by Kenji Misumi.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1956-06-08
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Zatoichi's Pilgrimage
Overview: Zatoichi's trek through 88 temples to atone for his violent past is interrupted as he stumbles into a village terrorized by a violent yakuza boss.
Genres: Drama Action Adventure
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1966-08-12
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Hell's Assassin
Overview: 1962 Japanese movie
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-11-03
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The Thieves' Who's Who
Overview: In the book of the world's greatest rogues, the number one man can only be one person.
Genres: Action
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1966-02-26
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Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters
Overview: A greedy developer, in league with a corrupt Shrine Magistrate, brutally tries to drive people out of a tenement building and destroy the shrine in back. But he makes the fatal mistake of hosting a 100 Ghost Stories ceremony without the closing cleansing ritual, opening the door for the Yokai Monsters to punish the wicked.
Genres: Horror
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1968-03-20
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Gate of Hell
Overview: Japan, 1159. Moritō, a brave samurai, performs a heroic act by rescuing the lovely Kesa during a violent uprising. Moritō falls in love with her, but becomes distraught when he finds out that she is married.
Genres: Drama History Romance
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1953-10-30
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The Okagura Brothers
Overview: 1946 Japanese movie
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1946-10-22
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The Bride from Hades
Overview: On the night of the summer Obon festival, Hagiwara Shinzaburo meets a beautiful courtesan named Otsuyu. Not knowing she's a ghost, he becomes infatuated by her.
Genres: Horror
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1968-06-15
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The Funeral Racket
Overview: The film portrays a satirical view of today's heartless money-oriented society.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1968-11-04
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The Gambler's Code
Overview: One of Japan's most popular stories is the tale of Kutsukake Tokijiro, a traveling gambler who finds that he must take care of the wife and child of a yakuza he had been forced by the code of the gamblers to fight man to man. In a brilliant performance from super-star Ichikawa Raizo, with strong support from two of the greats from Toho, Shimura Takashi (7 Samurai) and Aratama Michiyo (Sword of Doom) the heartfelt story reaches new heights. Tokijiro, having learned the true nature of the boss to whom he was obligated for having spent a night and eaten at the gang's headquarters takes up arms against them in a running battle fought across the back roads of the entire nation. Another powerful rendition of this superb story, it is not to be missed!
Genres: History Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-06-14
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Assignment Cloud
Overview: A sequel to the popular "The School of Spies", this film continues the adventures of one of the graduates who is assigned to crack a powerful spy ring working out of Kobe. Various people are suspected but, finally, it seems that an Army captain and his geisha friend might lead them to the ring.
Genres: Action War Mystery
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1966-09-17
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Blue Snake Bath
Overview: Last part of the Snake Woman trilogy.
Genres: Horror
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1959-01-22
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Bloody Shuriken
Overview: Ronin samurai Ibuki-san enters a town and sells his skills to the warring families. He falls in love with the beautiful horse stable owner but like all heroes, cannot stay.
Genres: Drama Action
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1965-02-20
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The Temple of Wild Geese
Overview: Satoko is a mistress by trade or fate: when her master, the silkscreen artist of the Kohoan Temple in Kyoto, dies, she is given to the temple's lascivious head priest Kikuchi. She is drawn to a melancholy young acolyte, Jinen, who has observed the profligacy of his cruel master and Satoko's utter dependence on the man. Jinen is both fascinated and disturbed by Satoko's interest in him; he is similarly caught between loathing of Kikuchi and of the dark circumstances of his birth and his own moral weakness. The story unfolds in a dreamlike manner—a flashback inspired by a now-infamous image on a silkscreen in the souvenir shop at the so-called Temple of the Wild Geese.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-01-21
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Shinsengumi Chronicles
Overview: As winds of change sweep Japan, an honest man joins the Shinsengumi out of admiration for its leader, and because he wants to live and die as a samurai. However, as his involvement grows, reality and idealism come into deadly conflict.
Genres: Action Thriller War
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1963-01-03
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Gonpachi
Overview: Early film directed by Kenji Misumi.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1956-12-28
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A Thousand Flying Cranes
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1959-05-20
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Prison Break
Overview: Set up to be the patsy by a rival gang, Furuta Makoto attacks the yakuza boss he thinks is responsible for his father’s murder. He then learns it was all a plot to take over his father’s turf and he seeks vengeance against the puppet master behind the entire conspiracy. His quest for justice leads him to prison where he must fend off the attack of a master assassin before he can make his escape and go after the true killer!
Genres: Action Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1969-08-30
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The Fencing Master
Overview: The Fencing Master tells the story of a man trying to survive as the only world he knows is becoming increasingly irrelevant. Danpei Ichikawa lives for swordfighting – he was once a renowned kabuki swordfight choreographer, and as the Chairman of the New National Theatre Company, he wants nothing more than to choreograph the swordfights for the modern plays put on by the company.
Genres: Drama Action Adventure
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-09-30
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Buddha
Overview: An Indian prince leaves his world of comfort and riches behind to wander and meditate for six years in search of spiritual enlightenment. Siddartha (Cojoin Hong) turns his back on the old religion when people are starving needlessly and holy rituals include human sacrifices. During his meditations, he is tempted by erotic dancing women, demons, and the evil machinations of his criminal cousin. Devastate to attain the spiritual perfection and become the Buddha. He travels to convert followers by his kindness and wisdom, gaining a multitude of believers when he stops an elephant from crushing a local priest. Buddha of course goes on to become one of the great religious leaders of the world.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-10-31
Popularity:
Bronze Magician
Overview: Yoso is truly a lost classic, set in the Nara Era (710-794), from Kinugasa Teinosuke the same writer/director who gave us the recognized classic Gate of Hell (Jigokumon, 1952) & the milestone silent surrealist masterpiece A Page of Madness (Kurutta Ippeji, 1926).
Genres: Drama Fantasy
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1963-10-05
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A Lustful Man
Overview: Fascinated with women from an early age, Yonosuke had his first sexual encounter at the age of seven. From that day on, he recklessly and forwardly pursues women, feeding his fascination and experience. As Yonosuke's salacious behavior brings much cause for shame to the family, his father eventually breaks relations with him. Expelled from the family, 19-year-old Yonosuke embarks on a pilgrimage of lust, traveling far and wide to acquaint himself with women of all walks.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-03-21
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Blood End
Overview: Sentaro is been severely beaten for his defiance of the government and the high taxes during a time of famine. He is befriended by Kada Gentaro, a leader in the Mito Tengu group, which plans to overthrow the shogunate.
Genres: Drama Action Thriller Romance History
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1969-11-15
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The Snow Woman
Overview: A master sculptor and his apprentice are trapped in a bad snow storm after finding a special tree for carving a statue for the local temple. Finding refuge in an abandoned hut they celebrate their luck in finding the tree but soon they are visited by the Snow Witch who freezes the sculptor to death but takes pity on the apprentice. He must promise to never speak of this or she'll return and kill him.
Genres: Horror Fantasy Romance
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1968-04-20
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The Invisible Swordsman
Overview: A coward boy fencer becomes invisible and matchless through a magic pill.
Genres: Adventure Action Fantasy
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1970-03-21
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The Front Line Showdown
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1966-07-13
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Ugetsu
Overview: In 16th century Japan, peasants Genjuro and Tobei sell their earthenware pots to a group of soldiers in a nearby village, in defiance of a local sage's warning against seeking to profit from warfare. Genjuro's pursuit of both riches and the mysterious Lady Wakasa, as well as Tobei's desire to become a samurai, run the risk of destroying both themselves and their wives, Miyagi and Ohama.
Genres: Fantasy Drama Mystery
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1953-03-26
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The Tale of Zatoichi
Overview: The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur and master swordsman. Zatoichi targets a yakuza-controlled village, because war with a neighbouring town's smaller gang is brewing.
Genres: Adventure Action Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-04-18
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Zatoichi and the Doomed Man
Overview: Blind swordsman Zatoichi, jailed briefly, is implored by another prisoner to aid him in proving his innocence of a crime for which he is sentenced to death. Zatoichi is reluctant to get involved, because he knows how often such involvement has led to trouble in the past. But events conspire to thrust him repeatedly into involvement, and gradually he comes to believe in the man's innocence and determines to free him.
Genres: Adventure Action Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1965-09-18
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Demonfire Palanquin
Overview:
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1957-11-09
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Travel Chronicles of Yaji and Kita
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1956-08-22
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Fighting Letter for 29 People
Overview:
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1957-06-04
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Goblin Courier
Overview: Jida-geki by Santaro Marune.
Genres: History
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1949-01-04
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The Informer
Overview:
Genres: Mystery
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1965-11-13
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Tokyo Gambler
Overview:
Genres: Action Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1967-02-25
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Oniisan to oneesan
Overview: A 1961 film directed by Yoshiyuki Kuroda.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-12-08
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Straw hat of Itako
Overview: A film about young wandering Yakuza. Yukio Hashi's first film role.
Genres: Adventure Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-01-25
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晴小袖
Overview: 1961 Japanese movie
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-01-09
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The Curse of the Ghost
Overview: About 1786 the doings of a demented lord results in many masterless samurai, including Iyemon (Kei Sato) who is used to luxury and cannot adjust to the hand-to-mouth conditions & piecework of umbrella making. Having hired ruffians to make him look like a superior swordsman, he arranges for himself the opportunity of a profitable marriage. He hires the half-blind masseur Takuetsu (Sawamura Sounosuke) to seduce or rape his wife (Kyoko Mikage), so that she can be divorced or killed for adultery. But the masseur takes pity & informs Oiwa of her husband's horrid plot. Assisted by the merchant's daughter he intends to marry, Iyemon disfigures his wife attempting to poison her so he can marry higher. There's a lovingly gruesome sequence as she combs blad patches into her hair, kneeling deformed at her mirror, weeping with bitterness. She eventually cuts her own throat, swearing revenge.
Genres: Horror
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1969-06-28
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Mangorō Tengu
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1957-08-06
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