Sō Yamamura
Also Known As: Hirosada Koga, 山村聡, 山村聰, Со Ямамура, 山村聪, Soh Yamamura
Biography: Sō Yamamura (山村聰, Yamamura Sō, 24 February 1910 – 26 May 2000) was a Japanese actor and film director. He appeared in more than 110 films between 1947 and 1991, and directed four films. He was also known by the name Satoshi Yamamura, while his actual birth name is Koga Hirosada. In the US, he is well known for his portrayals of Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto of the Combined Fleet, in Tora! Tora! Tora!, and of Mr. Sakamoto, the CEO of Assan Motors in Gung Ho.
Department: Acting
Place of Birth: Tenri, Japan
Birthday: February 24, 1910
Deathday: May 26, 2000
Adult: No
Gender: Male
Popularity:
Known For:
Kin no tamago: Golden Girl
Overview: Once an average and seemingly ordinary Tokyo girl, she suddenly finds herself as a TV star owing to her discovery by a casting company, which noticed photographs that her cousin had sent. When another actress falls ill she is given the role instead. Her first film is a success propelling the young actress to popularity, her own fans, money and a house. While everything looks dandy from the outside not all is well within the family however.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1952-05-14
Popularity:
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Overview: In the summer of 1941, the United States and Japan seem on the brink of war after constant embargos and failed diplomacy come to no end. "Tora! Tora! Tora!", named after the code words used by the lead Japanese pilot to indicate they had surprised the Americans, covers the days leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, which plunged America into the Second World War.
Genres: War History Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1970-01-26
Popularity:
Early Spring
Overview: A young Tokyo salary man and his wife struggle within the confines of their passionless relationship while he has an extramarital affair.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1956-01-29
Popularity:
Striving to Live
Overview: Yasuichiro Isa, who works in the labor section of Sone Mining Tokyo Headquarters, paid a monthly fee for his younger brother, Reiji, who was in trouble because he had a bonus of 10,000 yen more.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1955-02-25
Popularity:
The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
Overview: After handing in a report on the treatment of Chinese colonial labor, Kaji is offered the post of labor chief at a large mining operation in Manchuria, which also grants him exemption from military service. He accepts, and moves to Manchuria with his newly-wed wife Michiko, but when he tries to put his ideas of more humane treatment into practice, he finds himself at odds with scheming officials, cruel foremen, and the military police.
Genres: War Drama History
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1959-01-15
Popularity:
Yume de aritai
Overview: 1962 Japanese movie
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-01-14
Popularity:
Police Precinct Part 14
Overview: An elderly woman, Ume Matsumoto, complained to the First Investigation Department that her son Hirasaka, who runs a shoe store, had disappeared. The ominous foreboding of the First Investigation Department hit the mark, it turned out that the discovered unidentified body of the drowned man was Hirasaka. Moreover, the land in front of the station, owned by Hirasaka, was sold by someone. Suspecting that this is a planned murder, the Investigative Group, fearing the escape of the criminal, begins to act secretly, without creating an investigation headquarters.
Genres: Mystery Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1960-06-21
Popularity:
Gung Ho
Overview: When a western Pennsylvania auto plant is acquired by a Japanese company, brokering auto worker Hunt Stevenson faces the tricky challenge of mediating the assimilation of two clashing corporate cultures. At one end is the Japanese plant manager and the sycophant who is angling for his position. At the other, a number of disgruntled long-time union members struggle with the new exigencies of Japanese quality control.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1986-03-14
Popularity:
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
Overview: The Futurians, time-travelers from the 23rd century, arrive in Japan to warn them of the nation's destruction under Godzilla. They offer to help erase Godzilla from history by preventing his creation. With Godzilla seemingly gone, a new monster emerges as the Futurians' true intentions are revealed.
Genres: Action Adventure Science Fiction
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1991-12-14
Popularity:
Victory and Defeat
Overview: After the boxing champion retires, the head of a powerful gym, Minegishi (So Yamamura), recommends Yamanaka (Hiroshi Kawaguchi), who is no longer in top form and is ranked number one, for a title fight, but his comrade Hata (Kojiro Hongo) is not happy with this choice, and so he moves to the gym run by the criminal businessman Goda (Toru Abe) and burning desire to beat Yamanaka.
Genres: Drama Action
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1960-04-27
Popularity:
Riverside Fish Market Empire
Overview: Obscure Japanese movie by director Kyotaro Namiki
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1952-03-14
Popularity:
Duel in the Sun
Overview: A film by Kiyoshi Saeki
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1950-03-07
Popularity:
Tenpo Suikoden - Otone's Night Fog
Overview: Jidai-geki by Kiyoshi Saeki
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1950-11-18
Popularity:
The Love of the Actress Sumako
Overview: The stage director Shimamura, who is bringing western theatre to Japan, falls in love with the outspoken actress Sumako Matsui, and leaves his family to be with her, while trying to keep his Art Theatre solvent.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1947-08-16
Popularity:
Musume to watashi
Overview:
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-04-01
Popularity:
Who Will Judge Me?
Overview: Directed by Senkichi Taniguchi
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1951-05-18
Popularity:
Repast
Overview: Michiyo lives in the small place Osaka and is not happy with her marriage; all she does is cook and clean for her husband.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1951-11-23
Popularity:
Sound of the Mountain
Overview: An ingratiating bride develops warm ties to her father-in-law while her cold husband blithely slights her for another woman.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1954-01-15
Popularity:
Japan's Longest Day
Overview: Following the detonation of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese military and the government clash over the demand from the Allies for unconditional surrender. Minister of the Army Anami leads the military officers who propose to fight on, even to the death of every Japanese citizen. Emperor Hirohito, however, joins with his ministers in asking the unthinkable, the peaceful surrender of Japan. When the military plots a coup to overthrow the Emperor's civilian government, Anami must face the choice between his desires and loyalty to his Emperor.
Genres: Drama History War
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1967-08-03
Popularity:
Antarctica
Overview: Two Japanese scientists, Ushioda and Ochi, develop a bond with their sled dogs while on an expedition in Antarctica.
Genres: Drama Adventure
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1983-07-23
Popularity:
The Barbarian and the Geisha
Overview: Townsend Harris is sent by President Pierce to Japan to serve as the first U.S. Consul-General to that country. Harris discovers enormous hostility to foreigners, as well as the love of a young geisha.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1958-09-30
Popularity:
Tokyo Story
Overview: The elderly Shukishi and his wife, Tomi, take the long journey from their small seaside village to visit their adult children in Tokyo. Their elder son, Koichi, a doctor, and their daughter, Shige, a hairdresser, don't have much time to spend with their aged parents, and so it falls to Noriko, the widow of their younger son who was killed in the war, to keep her in-laws company.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1953-11-03
Popularity:
Shinobi no Mono 2: Vengeance
Overview: [Period covered: 1582-1594]. As the film opens, the warlod Nobunaga Oda rides to Iga Ayanokuni shrine. He is asked if he thinks he has destroyed all the ninja who opposed him and answers that he suspects that there may be more. A servant brings water and tests it first. The paige dies and we hear gunshots as two ninja flee the scene. His suspicions confirmed, Nobunaga oversees the execution of captured ninja and decides that, in the future, he needs a much crueler method of execution. The daimyo Hideyoshi comes to visit.
Genres: Action
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1963-08-06
Popularity:
Song of Love
Overview:
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1950-04-09
Popularity:
Gonin no totsugeki tai
Overview:
Genres: War
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-04-26
Popularity:
The Estuary
Overview:
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-07-26
Popularity:
Tokyo Twilight
Overview: Two sisters find out the existence of their long-lost mother, but the younger cannot accept the fact that she was abandoned as a child.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1957-04-30
Popularity:
The Munekata Sisters
Overview: Setsuko is unhappily married to Mimura, an engineer with no job and a bad drinking habit. She had always been in love with Hiroshi but both of them failed to propose when Hiroshi left for France a few years ago. Now he is back and Mariko tries to reunite them. She too is secretly in love with Hiroshi.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1950-08-08
Popularity:
Hell's Companion
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1959-06-01
Popularity:
Princess Yang Kwei Fei
Overview: In eighth century China, the Emperor is grieving over the death of his wife. The Yang family wants to provide the Emperor with a consort so that they may consolidate their influence over the court. General An Lushan finds a distant relative working in their kitchen whom they groom to present to the Emperor. The Emperor falls in love with her and she becomes the Princess Yang Kwei-fei. The Yangs are then appointed important ministers, though An Lushan is not given the court position he covets. The ministers misuse their power so much that there is a popular revolt against the Yangs, fueled by An Lushan.
Genres: Romance Drama History
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1955-05-03
Popularity:
White Beast
Overview: The critical establishment was clearly not prepared to accept a woman's prison film featuring former prostitutes recovering from venereal diseases, unwanted pregnancies, and estranged lovers. With its cat fights, hysterical tantrums, film noir lighting, and dramatic music, White Beast is indicative of the new influences of the Hollywood psychological thriller on Naruse. Caged (John Cromwell, 1950) initiated a cycle of women's prison movies in the United States that may or may not have been shown in Japan, but the stylistics of White Beast draw on the same paranoid woman's films and film noir conventions that preceded the American cycle.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1950-06-03
Popularity:
Oban kanketsu hen
Overview: Ushinosuke returns to Tokyo with new ambitions. Fourth and final part of the film adaptation of Bunroku Shishi’s novel, Oban.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1958-07-01
Popularity:
The Last War
Overview: A Japanese family is torn apart by the tensions of an avoidable nuclear world war between the superpowers.
Genres: Drama Science Fiction
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-10-08
Popularity:
Star of Hong Kong
Overview: Wang Xinglian returns from her studies in Japan to visit her father in Hong Kong where she has an encounter with the young Japanese Hasegawa Toru. The two meet again and fall in love in Hokkaido when Wang and her best friend Sugimoto Kanako are going on a holiday. Urged by her friend Zhang Yingming to concentrate on her studies, Wang remains ambivalent about the relationship, and is even more upset to realise that Sugimoto is in love with her fellow countryman. Feigning an engagement with Zhang, Wang initiates a break-up with Hasegawa and finds work in Singapore after graduation. Hasegawa learns the real cause of the break-up from Sugimoto in Hong Kong. A frenzy search finally leads to a reunion and a proposal in Kuala Lumpur. However, their love is doomed by a twist of fate as Wang must leave to see her desperately ill father in Hong Kong while Hasegawa has to leave for America to pursue his career.
Genres: Romance
Original Language: zh
Release Date: 1962-07-14
Popularity:
あの空の果てに星はまたたく
Overview: 1962 Japanese movie
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-05-20
Popularity:
The Inheritance
Overview: A dying businessman intends to will his fortune to his three illegitimate children, whose whereabouts are unknown, so a bevy of lawyers and associates scheme to take advantage of the situation.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-02-16
Popularity:
Kanei Command Performance
Overview: During the reign of Shogun Iemitsu, a great martial arts tournament was held to determine whether or not Iemitsu was to remain in power or cede it to his uncle, Yornobu, the 10th son of Ieyasu. Among the contestants were many expert swordsmen who have become well-known to this day. Warriors such as Yagyu Jubei (Kaga Takeshi), and Miyamoto Musashi (Matsukata Hiroki) headed up the slate. This was to be the all-star samurai match of the century. An amazing TV movie with non-stop action as Yagyu Jubei must save an emissary of the Ming and reach Edo in time to fight the crucial match.
Genres: Action Drama History
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1983-08-05
Popularity:
Shadow Warriors: Hattori Hanzo
Overview: The tale takes place around 1650, after the death of the third Tokugawa shogun, when ronin were expelled from Edo, the military capital. During the political instability following the death of Iemitsu Tokugawa, Hanzo's Iga ninja clan battles against the Koga clan as various factions vie to seize power. The child shogun Ietsuna is kidnapped but turns out to be hidden under (or over) everyone's noses in a castle turret which is reinforced by a comic book villain, the fire-spitting black ninja. The good ninja has to get through all the traps & save the child.
Genres: Action War Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1980-02-23
Popularity:
Hole in One
Overview: A female reporter is fired for writing about police corruption; to make money while hiding from the press, she posts a bounty upon herself.
Genres: Comedy Mystery
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1957-09-15
Popularity:
With Beauty and Sorrow
Overview: When the man who seduced the famous painter Otoko as a teenager--and then wrote a bestselling novel about it--reappears in her life, her pupil--and lesbian lover--hatches a plot to destroy the man and his family.
Genres: Romance Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1965-02-28
Popularity:
Little Peach
Overview: Anzukko (Little Peach) is the daughter of a successful writer. She turns down each one of her suitors, until she marries a beginning writer named Ryokichi. Their life quickly sinks into despair.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1958-05-13
Popularity:
Love's Family Tree
Overview:
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-11-22
Popularity:
Kagebōshi
Overview: On the night the shogunate's treasury was breached, the guard Utsugi had already been taken down. His colleague Ryunosuke felt responsible and decided to catch the culprit, not only for the sake of the beautiful wife of Utsugi, Chika, but also for his own honor. Chika's younger brother Shinjiro and the powerful Uechi family living near Ryunosuke's abode, join hands to support Ryunosuke. Counterfeit coins begin to surface—a scheme by the corrupt faction led by Yanagisawa. The henchman behind this is Koyamada Tesshin, who gathers ronin to amplify Yanagisawa's power. Among those ronin is Tendo Sakon—a man who drinks silently and plays the flute when in a mood.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1950-01-03
Popularity:
Passion Fire
Overview: The time was the first year of Keio (1865). Upon hearing the news that the Imperial Army was approaching Hida Takayama, the district head Shimizu Uzen fled to Edo. Local officials like Yoshida Bunsuke and Yoshizumi Hironoshin showed their allegiance by welcoming them. The commander at the time, Umemura Hayami, was a former member of the Tengu Party and had previously been pursued in the town. He took refuge in a restaurant named Kabuya, and owing to a tip-off from a woman named Oraku, he was almost captured for her lover, Yoshizumi. Oraku and Yoshizumi probably feared revenge from that previous encounter, but Umemura had come back to Hida because he couldn't forget Oraku.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1952-12-10
Popularity:
Modern People
Overview: A section chief at the Bureau of Construction is in a shady relationship with a construction company. Then a new, young and honest subordinate is assigned to work under the section chief. Once he learns about the shady relationship, however, the new subordinate skillfully conceals the corruption and joins the corrupt, shady relationship.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1952-09-03
Popularity:
Women of Tokyo
Overview:
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-03-01
Popularity:
Dancing Girl
Overview: The troubled relationship between a writer and his ballet teacher wife, who has for years loved another man, finally leads to the breakup of the family.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1951-08-17
Popularity:
An Inlet of Muddy Water
Overview: A Japanese woman writes down three stories she has witnessed or heard of in her diary, each about the difficult situation a young woman finds herself in.
Genres: History Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1953-11-23
Popularity:
Records of loyal vassals
Overview: In the 15th year of the Genroku era (1688), the world praised the 47 ronin who avenged the death of their master Asano Takumi-no-kami. Shogun Tsunayoshi, who ruled at that time, experienced difficulties in what punishment to impose on the soldiers. As a result, it was decided to sentence them to seppuk (ritual suicide).
Genres: Drama History
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-09-09
Popularity:
Murahachibu
Overview: A villager's family is ostracized after he makes an accusation of rigged elections
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1953-03-21
Popularity:
白磁の人
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1957-01-15
Popularity:
The School of Flesh
Overview: A love story about a former noblewoman who greedily enjoys love after breaking up with her unhappy marriage after the war, in pursuit of a wild and pure Japanese man. Three gorgeous 39-year-old single women who are in the same situation get excited about each other’s love affairs. Adapted from Yukio Mishima's novel, with the same title. It's also related to the movie "L'École de la Chair" from 1998, which also is an adaptation of the book and Japanese movie.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1965-02-14
Popularity:
Miniature
Overview: Ginko, a poor cobbler's daughter, becomes a geisha to support her family. She passes from one geisha house to the next, trying to find love and hope in the process. No matter how hard she tries, she just can't escape her sad fate.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1953-04-01
Popularity:
Hahakogusa
Overview: Based on the Nobu Koito story
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1959-04-22
Popularity:
Sara no hana no toge
Overview:
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1955-10-11
Popularity:
春のみづうみ
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1956-03-11
Popularity:
A Roaring Trade
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-01-03
Popularity:
A Public Benefactor
Overview: The intense selfishness of a man brings him fame and fortune but not happiness.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1964-04-04
Popularity:
Tokugawa Ieyasu: The Conqueror of Japan
Overview: The life story of Japan’s greatest leader, Tokugawa Ieyasu, whose shogunate ruled the nation for almost 300 years has never been told like this before. From the early days as a supporter of Imagawa Yoshimoto, then on to his days with Oda Nobunaga, leading to his wars against and ultimate victory over the Toyotomi to become shogun is a fascinating tale of his military genius coupled with a native intelligence that allowed him to become the last of the great warlords and ultimately the leader of the nation. With great performances from an all-star cast featuring names like Kitaoji Kinya and Takahashi Hideki this is history come to life on the screen.
Genres: Drama History
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1992-01-03
Popularity:
A Flame at the Pier
Overview: A young dockworker who owes his life to his boss becomes embroiled in union activity on the Yokohama waterfront. The rebel Saburo works as an errand boy for a shipping company and vents his frustrations by plucking on the guitar.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-09-30
Popularity:
Akitsu Hot Springs
Overview: Yoshida’s first big-budget production and colour film is a haunting tale of unrequited love and postwar disillusion. The story of the fatal attraction between a spineless intellectual and a strong woman is conventional, but its enactment is radically new.
Genres: Romance Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-06-15
Popularity:
Samurai Hawk
Overview: 1716, Yoshimune becomes the 8th Shogun as high Shogunate officials are attacked. While the government tries to keep these incidents under wraps, they must take any means possible to get to the bottom of this mystery and find out who is behind them.
Genres: History Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-03-05
Popularity:
The Lady of Musashino
Overview: Set in post-war Japan, The Lady of Musashino tells the story of Michiko, a disillusioned young woman trapped in a loveless marriage. She confides in her younger cousin, Tsutomo, and the two become close, but decide not to consummate their affair. He instead becomes involved with the flirtatious Tomiko, who is also conducting an affair with Michiko's husband. When Michiko finds that her husband has abandoned her, she decides to take her fate into her own hands.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1951-09-14
Popularity:
Shag
Overview: Shiro Akitsu goes on a relentless search for his abducted 7-year-old daughter, with the aid of an Ainu dog summoned by a whistle she gave him.
Genres: Crime Mystery
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1978-03-31
Popularity:
Night Butterflies
Overview: A traditional bar mistress in Kyoto clashes with her Tokyo rival.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1957-04-01
Popularity:
The Wind Blows Twice
Overview: Kanae, who broke up with her husband and moved to her uncle's house, met two men when her father, a university professor, collapsed. Michihara, a wealthy man and Miyashita, a youth scholar. Kanae is attracted to Miyashita, but ...
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1952-02-14
Popularity:
Yūkyō no mure
Overview: 1948 Japanese movie
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1948-12-28
Popularity:
The 47 Masterless Samurai
Overview: While the story of the Ako Clan's vendetta has been told countless times, never before has there been an array of major motion picture stars to bring new life to this timeless tale. Starting with the corrupt practices of Lord Kira and Yanagi-sawa, the Shogun's Secretary, which in essence led to the incident of Lord Asano's attacking Kira in the Pine Corridor of the Shogun's Palace, this is the definitive version. Asano Takumi no kami was a young lord with high scruples, who refused to join in the general corruption and bribery which ran rampant in the capital at that time. By not giving bribes, he angered Kira Kozuke no suke the elder lord in charge of protocol at the Palace. Refusing to teach the younger man, and giving him false instructions was only the beginning. Insults followed, and a man of honor had no choice but to draw his sword in anger. Forty seven masterless samurai are willing to give their lives to avenge their lord.
Genres: History Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1959-01-15
Popularity:
The Second Is a Christian
Overview: The story of beautiful Christian nun, Kyoko who is the object of affection for two very different men - one the happy-go-lucky yakuza gangster, Haruhiko who is the next-in-line to takeover the ragtag "Tenryu Gumi" gang and the other bumbling police detective Kumashiro. The Tenryu Gumi is a collection of misfits and other troublemakers but are relatively peaceful due to their Christian beliefs. Their bitter rivals are the more traditional "Kuroiwa Gumi", a much more sadistic and violent group led by godfather Kuroiwa.
Genres: Comedy Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1985-09-14
Popularity:
The Prickly Mouthed Geisha Part 2
Overview: Young geisha Kohana scrambles to realize her dream of bringing back her grandmother’s restaurant business.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1960-03-01
Popularity:
The Cannery Boat
Overview: Describes the oppressed life of the crab fishermen and their final revolt which is bloodily suppressed by the Royal Navy.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1953-09-10
Popularity:
The Militarists
Overview:
Genres: Drama War
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1970-09-11
Popularity:
With Songs in My Heart
Overview: Sayuri, a young woman born to a simple life on a farm, moves to Tokyo to pursue a life long dream of becoming a singer. Through dance, music, and songs, this story shows how a girl raised on a farm was able to make her dream a reality, with the love of those around her.
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1958-09-10
Popularity:
The Sand City in Manchuria
Overview: When the plague threatens a small town in Manchuria, a young doctor finds himself struggling to save the lives of his townspeople.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1960-08-24
Popularity:
The Pacific War and Himeyuri Corps
Overview: The last fight put up by remaining forces and a special volunteer nursing corps in 1944-5.
Genres: War
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-04-07
Popularity:
Deep River Melody
Overview: A poignant story about a young couple, Setsu and Chozo, who are torn apart to save Setsu's father's restaurant.
Genres: Romance Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1960-09-13
Popularity:
Sister with Sister
Overview: Yoshiko finds new life and love interests when she takes a new job as an office worker.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1958-12-09
Popularity:
Detective Duel
Overview: A friendly rivalry turns into romance for Yukiko, an elite female detective, and a handsome private eye named Mitamura while both are investigating the missing person's case from a wealthy family.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1958-08-06
Popularity:
The Ataka Family
Overview: Soichi Ataka is the eldest son of Ataka family. Although mentally challenged, he's a person with a gentle heart. Soichi's wife, Kuniko is devoted to her husband and together the couple runs the family farm. Their happy family life comes to an abrupt halt when Soichi's half-brother, Joji returns with his wife Masako after failing in a business.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1952-05-15
Popularity:
Diary of a Mad Old Man
Overview: Utsugi, a seventy-seven-year-old man of refined tastes who is recovering from a stroke, discovers that, while his body is decaying, his libido still rages on -- unwittingly sparked by the gentle, kindly attentions of his daughter-in-law Satsuko, a chic, flashy dancer with a shady past. Pitiful and ridiculous as he is, Utsugi is without a trace of self-pity, and his diary shines with self-effacing good humor.
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-10-20
Popularity:
Okuni and Gohei
Overview: A high-born woman named Okuni travels around the country with Gohei, a samurai retainer who is in service to her. They are in search of Tomonojo, who has killed the man who was Okuni’s husband and Gohei’s master, and they cannot return to their lord’s home until they have fulfilled their duty of hunting down and killing Tomonojo.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1952-04-10
Popularity:
The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku
Overview: A story of an orphan boy who wanted the love of parents so badly, another orphan sincerely pitied him to the point he gives his secret birthright as an illegitimate son to a Shogun as a "gift of hope" to the sad boy. As the orphan boy grew up, his loving heart became bitter and he saw the opportunity to take advantage of this birthright with the help of a man who wanted to use this orphan's desire to be loved, for seizing power in the shogunate by using the imposter. Many obstacles to hurdle along the way of deception, however, will they succeed or will he be exposed?
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-09-13
Popularity:
The Ditch
Overview: Postwar Tokyo. Pin and Toku live in the squatter area of Kappanuma. Pin and Toku are avid gamblers. They take in Tsuru, a slightly demented woman who has run away from a geisha house.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1954-07-27
Popularity:
Whirlwind Magistrate
Overview: One of the most popular history-based characters is back when Magistrate Saemonojo Toyama no Kinsan investigates the tragic shipwreck of the 'Sadomaru' near Cape Kasumigaseki. The ship carrying gold bars from Sado Island to Edo for the shogunate disappeared into the ocean on a day with clear skies and no wind. While it is conveniently blamed on a surprise tornado or whirlwind, the Sado Magistrate asks his lifelong friend Magistrate Toyama to get to the root of the mystery in order to save his reputation and avoid a life of shame.
Genres: Action
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1959-03-10
Popularity:
The Prickly Mouthed Geisha, Part 4
Overview: A comedy of a high-spirited geisha, Koharu, who is at risk of being trapped in a conspiracy to take over a lucrative diamond mine business.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-01-09
Popularity:
Nemuri Kyōshirō
Overview: Kyoshiro rescues Shizu who was being abused by her husband, even since she had been violated by the man posing as Ieyoshi. He then learned that Ieyoshi had been acting oddly ever since returning from Kyoto six months ago. Sir Fumiya's investigation of the O'oku (Shogun's harem in Edo Castle) uncovered the plot and reported that Sir Higo-no-Kami had been controlling the fraud. That's when Kyoshiro heads to Kyoto to find clues...
Genres: Action Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1989-04-22
Popularity:
Life of a Country Doctor
Overview: A skilled country doctor's talents are such that he can even perform operations as difficult and novel as removing a patient's kidney for the first time in Japan. Unfortunately for him, however, his wife's addiction to gambling is of such a magnitude that he is down to selling his underwear to make money. The image sticks and he becomes known as the 'underwear doctor.' On the other hand, his successful surgery's patient is so grateful he himself wants to become a physician.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1960-08-14
Popularity:
The Retreat from Kiska
Overview: In 1943, the Aleutian island of Kiska was fortified by a small contingent of Japanese soldiers. When word arrived of an impending attack by an overwhelming force of Americans, the Japanese Navy attempted one of the most daring and unlikely evacuations in military history. This is that story.
Genres: Drama War
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1965-07-04
Popularity:
Ninja Assassins
Overview: Saotome Mondonosuke pursues the culprit who placed a malicious curse upon Shogun Tsunekichi.
Genres: Action
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1960-06-29
Popularity:
A Woman in the Typhoon Area
Overview: Four unlucky pirates head to a weather tracking station set on a remote island with the intention of holding the weather trackers as hostages and assaulting their next incoming supply ship; but at the station they are told that a serious typhoon is on the way, so the ship will be delayed.
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1948-09-18
Popularity:
The Black Current
Overview: A reporter Takuo, who is sleeping in the newspaper room of the Maichō newspaper company, receives a sudden report from a reporter that the missing Akiyama JNR president was found dead.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1954-08-31
Popularity:
Portrait of Madame Yuki
Overview: A young woman takes up her new job as the servant of a noblewoman and soon discovers that underneath her facade of luxury lies great unhappiness.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1950-10-21
Popularity:
A Geisha's Diary
Overview: A young girl is rigorously trained in the feminine arts so that she can become a geisha. As she struggles through life, she learns to live not just as a woman but as a complete person.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-07-28
Popularity:
Burden of Love
Overview: The female members of the family of the Minister of Health and Welfare, who has just proposed a program of birth control, become pregnant one after the other. - Nikkatsu
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1955-03-18
Popularity:
Main Line to Terror
Overview: Akiyama is an intern, disgusted with the noise pollution caused by the bullet trains and the heart attacks that noise has been causing in older hospital patients, plots to disrupt and, in ten days, destroy a unit of the operation. He warns the Japan National Railway, that, if nothing is done to reduce the noise, he will derail a bullet train. Takigawa is the police detective sent to stop him.
Genres: Drama Thriller
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1975-11-06
Popularity:
Professional Killers
Overview: Two assassins are hired to carry out a hit on the second wife of a candle merchant, but someone is watching...
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1973-06-09
Popularity:
Professional Killers – Assassin's Quarry
Overview: An assassin is mistaken for a doctor and threatened by a band of masterless warriors, but they realize their mistake and retreat into the darkness. Days later, he is asked to kill the doctor's brother. What secrets are these men hiding?
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1973-09-29
Popularity:
Professional Killers – Assignment by Night
Overview: Three assassins take on a band of thieves who specialize in murder.
Genres: Action Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1974-02-16
Popularity:
Typhoon Over Nagasaki
Overview: Pierre Marsac, a French engineer working for the Nagasaki shipbuilding yards, has fallen in love both with Japan and a charming Japanese girl named Noriko. But Françoise Fabre, a French journalist and Pierre's former lover, contacts him while visiting the Land of the Rising Sun. They meet again, find out their love might not be dead. Meanwhile, Pierre gradually becomes estranged from sweet, humble Noriko. One day, a typhoon strikes Nagasaki...
Genres: Drama
Original Language: fr
Release Date: 1957-02-06
Popularity:
Epitaph to My Love
Overview: Ishihara Kiyoshi plans to marry the woman he loves, Chiee, a coffee shop girl. After an accident, Chiee loses her memory. A romance movie whose original work by Ayako Sono was made into a melodrama by a combination of Shinoda Masahiro and Terayama Shuji.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-05-16
Popularity:
When It Rains, It Pours
Overview: Tane, the lady proprietor of an inn for amorous couples, lives there with her three children. When her eldest daughter loses her fiancé due to the fact her mother is a mistress, her despair drives her to become a cabaret hostess.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1957-06-11
Popularity:
The Purple Hood
Overview: Kataoka Chiezo stars as Murasaki Zukin, a mysterious hero of the people who helps those in need. Now under the rule of the evil Tanuma, the people look to Murasaki Zukin more than ever, to confront and punish those who bring misfortune upon the commoners. Will he be able to bring peace to the land? One of the greatest actors from Toei Studios, known mainly for his swashbuckling roles as powerful swordsmen such as Ryunosuke in SOULS IN THE MOONLIGHT, he appeared in 325 films both before and after the war, beginning with CHUSHINGURA in 1928, and including KUNISADA CHUJI in 1933, and DOKUGANRYO MASAMUNE. While best known for his swordplay, Chiezo really did not enjoy the action, but was able to use his menacing presence to stare down his adversaries. Although Kataoka Chiezo passed away in 1983 at the age of 79, he still has many fans today. This film shows him at his best.
Genres: Action Adventure Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1958-10-29
Popularity:
Drunkard's Paradise
Overview: A father and son are both heavy drinkers. However, the son dies in an accident at a bar, leaving behind a fiance…. A unique social satire that focuses on why people drink alcohol.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-02-04
Popularity:
The Orphan Brother
Overview: After their father quarrels with local military men, Anju and Zushio are forced to flee, but they are captured and sold into slavery. When their mother dies, they are sold to Sansho the Bailiff, a cruel man who subjects them to hideous torments. While Anju falls into a lake and is transformed into a swan, Zushio escapes and after being adopted to a nobleman grows to a young man. He will then fight to defeat the evil Dayu and free all the slaves.
Genres: History Animation Family Fantasy Adventure
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-07-19
Popularity:
Seven Masks of Revenge
Overview: The eighth film in the "master detective with seven faces" series. Bannachi patrols the town in his taxi when he sees a man heading into Shiodome Town. Next day the man is found brutally murdered and the mystery starts to unravel.
Genres: Mystery
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1955-07-12
Popularity:
Darkness at Noon
Overview: Police beat a murder confession out of four innocent men who are then sentenced to death. Based on a true story.
Genres: Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1956-03-26
Popularity:
Jigoku bana
Overview: Period drama based on the novel by Saisei Murō.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1957-06-25
Popularity:
The Harbor Lights
Overview:
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-02-26
Popularity:
Born in Sin
Overview: A dark family secret sends a 21-year-old French student (Hoshi) on a journey of self-discovery.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-11-23
Popularity:
The Mysterious Gemini • Y&S
Overview: Youth suspense movie.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1982-12-11
Popularity:
Shingo's Original Challenge, Part 1 and 2
Overview: These are the first two parts of the popular series in which a young samurai learns that he is the illegitimate son of the Shogun. Hoping to reunite with his birth father, Shogun Yoshimune, he heads for the castle.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1959-01-01
Popularity:
Miki, the Swordman
Overview: After mastering swordsmanship at the dojo of Chiba Shusaku, and unable to serve a clan due to his illness, Hirate Miki becomes a ronin who winds up as bodyguard to Shigezo of Sasagawa leading up to an epic battle.
Genres: Adventure Action Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1951-11-02
Popularity:
Men in a Rough Town
Overview: An action-packed, dramatic gangster film.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1959-01-28
Popularity:
Gang Loyalty and Vengeance
Overview: A modern gang version of Chushingura, chronicling almost scene for scene the Brave 47 Ronin story, transposed from the Genroku Period to the Showa Era.
Genres: Crime
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1963-10-20
Popularity:
Glory on the Summit
Overview: A treasury official passed over for promotion and obsessed with careerism interferes in the lives of his three sons, who seek escape from his relentless pressure in the mortal danger of mountain climbing.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-07-29
Popularity:
Till We Meet Again
Overview: Jiro Sone sacrifices all comfort to devote himself to research. Young housewife Yachiyo is disappointed with her husband Kappei, who is more attracted to mountain climbing and another girl. When Yachiyo’s father is introduced to Jiro, all of their lives become intertwined...
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1955-05-29
Popularity:
The Woman Who Touched the Legs
Overview: A screwball tale of a suspected “lady thief” and the detective who is on her trail, following her from Osaka to her home village, where she is going to hold a memorial service for her father. Of course, the detective falls in love with his prey.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1952-11-02
Popularity:
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril
Overview: In the fourth film of the Lone Wolf and Cub series, Ogami Itto is hired to kill a tattooed female assassin and battles Retsudo, head of the Yagyu clan, and his son Gunbei.
Genres: Action Adventure Drama Thriller
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1972-12-30
Popularity:
Ghost Story of Youth
Overview: A melodrama of the ups and downs of youth, based on Bunroku Shishi’s popular novel. Chiharu, a ballerina, and Shinichi, a thorough rationalist and childhood friend. A woman named Tomi Funakoshi appears in front of the two, who are thinking of getting married someday.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1955-04-19
Popularity:
Honoo no hada
Overview:
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1951-10-19
Popularity:
Senka o koete
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1950-09-02
Popularity:
Tange Sazen
Overview: One of Japan's favorite sword stars, Fujita Makoto, returns as the legendary Tange Sazen, the one-eyed, one-armed samurai who is a champion for the common people. Unflappable, except with the ladies, he fights evil in Shogun Yoshimune's Edo. The kokezaru no tsubo (earless monkey jar) has gone missing with a secret hidden inside that could change the course of history. All of Edo's top swordsmen, including Yagyu Genzaburo and Ooka Echizen are involved as villains pursue their evil quest! Superb swordplay highlights this exciting all-star extravaganza!
Genres: TV Movie
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1990-08-16
Popularity:
Hibari no komoriuta
Overview: Hibari no komoriuta (ひばりの子守唄, literally "Hibari's Lullaby") is a 1951 black-and-white Japanese film directed by Koji Shima. The movie is based on Das doppelte Lottchen, a novel later adapted as The Parent Trap.
Genres: Comedy Family Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1951-09-21
Popularity:
Their Legacy
Overview: Heitaro, who had served his firm loyally for 30 years, reaches the retirement age. He has four unmarried daughters and decides to split his retirement allowance he has received from his firm into 500,000 yen for each daughter as a wedding dowry. He considers them all old enough to handle the money, and gives them a free hand to use it as they wish.
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1962-01-03
Popularity:
Prophecies of Nostradamus
Overview: Professor Nishiyama, after studying and interpreting the prophecies of Nostradamus, realizes that the end of the world is at hand. Unfortunately, nobody listens to him until it is too late. As the effects of mankind's tampering of the earth - radioactive smog clouds, hideously mutated animals, destruction of the ozone layer - rage out of control, the world leaders hurtle blindly toward the final confrontation. The film sparked controversy in Japan and was subsequently pulled out of circulation, with no official video release of the uncut film.
Genres: Drama Action Science Fiction Fantasy
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1974-08-03
Popularity:
Kirare no Senta
Overview:
Genres: Drama History
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1949-04-05
Popularity:
The White Orchid
Overview: A Japanese adaptation of Guy de Maupassant's short story Boule de Suif, directed by Kimura Keigo
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1951-03-24
Popularity:
As Long as I Live
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1946-08-01
Popularity:
Love and Duty
Overview: Each one of us lives differently. So, there are many tragedies and comedies in our lives. She feels many conflicts in living her life between truth and love.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1954-03-24
Popularity:
My Wonderful Yellow Car
Overview:
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1953-01-15
Popularity:
A Second Life
Overview: 1948 Japanese drama film.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1948-02-03
Popularity:
Ai Sureba Koso
Overview:
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1955-07-05
Popularity:
Tsukigata Hanpeita
Overview: During the bloody era of the Tokugawa Shogunate collapse, a man appeared capable of overthrowing a corrupt government and ending the feud between the Choshu and Satsuma clans. This is the story of Tsukigat Khanpayit, the sword maker of the Choshu clan, who, along with Katsuro Kogoro and Sakamoto Ryoma, sought to fulfill the dream of a new peaceful era in Japan. Can he realize his ideals or will he die in the chaos of internecine fights...
Genres: Action Romance History
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1956-10-16
Popularity:
Rumba of Passion
Overview: Drama directed by Yasushi Sasaki.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1950-12-29
Popularity:
Hell's Juggler
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-01-15
Popularity:
An Eagle Eyed Lord
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-06-21
Popularity:
Haitoku no mesu
Overview:
Genres: Drama Mystery
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1961-08-06
Popularity:
Roar and Earth
Overview: Roar and Earth
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1957-09-29
Popularity:
Homecoming
Overview: A former naval officer returns to Japan after the Second World War ends, encounters the former mistress who ratted him out, and reconnects with his daughter.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1950-11-25
Popularity:
Across the Darkness
Overview: A journalist decides to do his own investigation after a series of strange murders are committed during a local election campaign.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1959-12-01
Popularity:
Sudden Attack of the Christian Lord
Overview:
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1959-07-12
Popularity:
Zoku kagebōshi ryūkoaiutsutsu
Overview: A continuation of the prior film (影法師).
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1950-01-08
Popularity:
Ganpeki
Overview: 1953 Japanese movie
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1953-04-22
Popularity:
A Young Samurai
Overview: A jidaigeki movie about the strange fate of Ranmaru Mori.
Genres: History Drama
Original Language: ja
Release Date: 1955-03-25
Popularity: