The visuals and the soundtrack were brilliant in
this forgotten 2005 Kiyoshi Kurosawa J-Horror
and the film was better than i remembered when
re-watching it in 2023. But the acting in some roles
could've been better (looking at you Toyokawa)

Loft (Rofuto)

Direction and script: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, production: 2005

Cast: Miki Nakatani, Etsushi Toyokawa, Ren Osugi
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Malayan PMP Entertainment DVD edition

Four Magnificent visually exquisite ghost stories
with a genius soundtrack by Toru Takemitsu make
this collection of weird tales something extra.
Won the Jury Prize in Cannes 1965

Kwaidan (Ghost Stories / Weird Tales)

Direction: Masaki Kobayashi, production: 1964

Cast: Rentaro Mikuni, Michiyo Aratama, Katsuo Nakamura
Blu-ray in japanese audio with english subtitles, region B
Nordic Soul Media Nonstop Entertainment bluray 2022 edition

Artmovie Drama Horror about dark and evil times in
16th century Japan where panic stricken soldiers are
roaming around fleeing from the war. Masterpiece
about two peasant women, two predators in a grass
field determined to stay alive by killing the soldiers
and selling their armour for food

Onibaba (The Hole/The Demon/Devil Woman)

Direction, script and production: Kaneto Shindo 1964

Cast: Nobuko Otowa, Jitsuko Yoshimura, Kei Sato
Blu-ray in japanese audio with swedish subs, b/w, region B
Nordic Soul Media Nonstop Entertainment bluray 2022 edition

Sweet, beautiful and delightfully quirky little mystery
story about the friendship of two teenage girls and
their endeavour to solve the problem with the missing
boy. Free animated adaption sequel to his 2004 film

The Case of Hana & Alice (Hana & Alice Satsujin Jiken)

Direction, story, script, music, edit: Shunji Iwai, production 2015

Cast Animated film: voices - Anne Suzuki, Yu Aoi
Blu-ray in japanese audio with english subtitles, region B
UK All The Anime bluray 2020 edition

Sci Fi alien invasion thriller drama.
Maybe too long but pretty good to be nowadays
KK and with that somewhat whimsical and quirky
quality that some of his classics one's once had

Before We Vanish

Direction and co-script: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, production: 2017

Cast: Masami Nagasawa, Ryuhei Matsuda, Amano Takasugi
Blu-ray in japanese audio with english subtitles, region B
Arrow Video bluray edition

Visual Film Dynamite & an Absolute Masterpiece.
A Disturbing and painfully beautiful indie drama about
troubled youths. A totally unique viewing experience
with Out of this World Cinematography by Noburo
Shinoda. An emotional and visual full frontal attack

All About Lily Chou Chou (Riri Shushu no subete)

Direction, story, script, edit: Shunji Iwai, production: 2001

Cast: Hayato Ichihara, Shugo Oshinaro, Yu Aoi, Ayumi Ito
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, region 1
US Home Vision Entertainment 2005 DVD edition

Horror-thriller where crime psychologist cop
turned professor Takakura with wife has moved
into a new house. Everything well if not for that
creepy neighbour Mr. Nishino

Creepy (Itsuwari no rinjin)

Direction and co-script: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, production: 2016

Cast: Hidetoshi Nishijima, Yuko Takeuchi, Teruyuki Kagawa
Blu-ray in japanese audio with english subtitles, region B
UK Eureka bluray and DVD combo edition

Visually dreamlike from Tokyo by night, and
a crime story too, when Belgian Angela works
as a hostess in a nightclub. Chloé Winkel is a
goddess, Tuva Novotny is fine and the ST and
cinematography are exquisite. Unjustly obscure

The Stratosphere Girl

Direction, script: M. X. Oberg, production: 2004

Cast: Chloé Winkel, Tuva Novotny, Jon Yang, Rebecca Palmer
DVD in english & japanese audio with english subs, region all
US TLA Releasing unrated DVD edition

A flimsy and whimsical but charming crime
story made for Japanese TV (50 minutes)
about the search for a missing and super rare
tropical fish with Tadanobu Asano in an early
role. Chara sings the beautiful Break These Chain

Fried Dragon Fish (Thomas Earwing's Arowana)

Direction & script: Shunji Iwai, Fuji Television production: 1993

Cast: Miyoko Yoshimoto, Asano Tadanobu, Hiroshi Ohguchi
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Panorama DVD edition

Powerful drama of the hardships of
a woman in the 17th century.
Kinuyo Tanaka is fantastic in the
role as Oharu, as a royal court
woman, a courtesan and a degraded
middle-aged prostitute

The Life of Oharu

Direction & co-script: Kunji Miziguchi, production: 1952

Cast: Kinuyo Tanaka, Hisako Yamane, Toshiro Mifune
Blu-ray in japanese with english subs, region B
UK Criterion Collection bluray edition

A bewildered widow sees her dead
husband return to home after 3 years
and they embark on a spirital journey
Winner of Best director in Un certain
regard in Cannes 2015, again

Journey to the Shore

Direction: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, prod: Japan-France 2015

Cast: Eri Fukatsu, Tadanobu Asano
Blu-ray in japanese with english subs, region B
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, region 2
UK Eureka! bluray DVD combo edition

A Sad, Tender, Ugly and Beautiful
Masterpiece. 100% Uniquely Iwai.
The Film that no one wants to see
and it is Not a Horror but Fascinating.

Vampire

Direction, script, photo, music: Shunji Iwai, prod: US-Japan 2011

Cast: Kevin Zegers, Adelaide Clemens, Yu Aoi
DVD in english audio with english subtitles, region 1
US Lions Gate DVD edition

Mästerligt stringent kriminaldrama och
polisprocedur när rik företagare inte får
sin son kidnappad men ändå måste be-
tala. Mästerverk efter Ed McBain

High and Low (Heaven and Hell/Tengoku to jigoku)

Direction: Akira Kurosawa, production: 1963

Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Tatsuya Nakadai
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, b/w, region all
Hong Kong Mei Ah DVD edition

Fattiga, smutsiga, sjuka och grälande.
Eländesskildring med svart humor om
utslagna i slumområde efter en pjäs av
Maxim Gorkij - Natthärbärget från 1902

The Lower Depths (Donzoko/Natthärbärget)

Direction: Akira Kurosawa, production: 1957

Cast: Bokuzen Hidari, Toshiro Mifune, Isuzu Yamada
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, b/w, region all
Hong Kong Mei Ah DVD edition

Stiliserat mörkt drama i enastående färg
om en lägre samurajs besatta kärlek till
en redan gift hovdam. Året är 1160 och
detta ödesdrama slutar inte lyckligt
Mångfaldigt prisbelönad bl.a i Cannes

Gate of Hell (Jigokumon)

Direction & script: Teinosuke Kinugasa, prod: 1953

Cast: Hasegawa Kazuo, Kyo Machiko, Yamagat Isao
Bluray in japanese audio with english subs, region B
UK Eureka! Masters of Cinema bluray & DVD edition

Insanely FUNNY comedy about the staging of a Radio
Theatre play and how everything goes absolutely
wrong. Quirky Koki Mitani's 1st and hilarious film
won 3 japanese academy awards. Obscure in the West
but i laughed rolling around on the floor. The funniest
Japanese film i've ever seen

Welcome Back Mr. McDonald (Radio no jikan)

Direction & script: Koki Mitani, production: 1997

Cast: Kyoka Suzuki, Keiko Toda, Masahiko Nishimura
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, region 2
Japanese Toho DVD edition

The Ghost Trial. Vrickat men charmigt nonsens
om en usel brottmålsadvokat som kallar anden
av en 1500-talssamuraj att vittnai en mordrättegång.
Kul bagatell från komedimästaren Koki Mitani

A Ghost of a Chance (Once in a Blue Moon/Suteki na kanashibari)

Direction & script: Koki Mitani, production: 2011

Cast: Eri Fukatsu, Toshiyuki Nishida, Tadanobu Asano
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, region 3
Hong Kong Panorama DVD edition

Briljant och mycket välspelat kriminaldrama
om ett mord och dess efterverkningar på 4 flickor
och på offrets mor.
Kiyoshi Kurosawa återvände till Crime i stor stil

Penance (Shokuzai - TV Series 5 episoder)

Direction & script: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, production: 2012

Cast: Kyoko Koizumi, Yu Aoi, Eiko Koike, Sakura Ando
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, region 3
Hong KongEdko Films DVD edition

Tokyo Sonata

Direction: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, production: 2008

Cast: Teruyuki Kagawa, Kyoko Koizumi, Koji Yakusho
Bluray in japanese audio with english subs, region free
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, region 2
UK Eureuka! Masters of Cinema Series DVD edition

Väl gråtmilt men ett oerhört vackert
filmat drama från nordliga Hokkaido
där pensionerad lärarinna återvänder
till ö och gammal tragedi nystas upp

A Chorus of Angels (Kita no kanariatachi)

Direction: Junji Sakamoto, production: 2012

Cast: Sayuri Yoshinaga, Mirai Moriyama, Ryuhei Matsuda
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, region 3
Hong Panorama DVD edition

Finkänsligt och lite vemodigt ungdomsdrama
där en pojke slits mellan flicka och ett stort
sommar-fyrverkeri

Fireworks, Should We See it on the Side or Bottom

Direction: Shunji Iwai, production: 1993
Cast: Yuta Yamazaki, Megumi Okina
VCD in japanese audio with english subs, region all
Hong Kong Platinum Classics Video CD edition

Stilrent och underhållande kriminal- mysterium där en industrimagnats arv leder till en hel räcka med dödsfall

The Inugami Family

Direction: Kon Ichikawa, production: 1976

Cast: Koji Ishizaka, Yoko Shimada
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, region 3
Hong Kong IVL Kadokawa DVD edition

Shunji Iwai's warm-hearted homage to the Film Master
Kon Ichikawa (1915-2008). An experimental style
drama-dokumentary in black & white with white text
against black narration, stop motion photos and some
film clips. Beautiful 2 disc edition with a booklet

The Kon Ichikawa Story (Ichikawa Kon monogatari)

Direction, script, editing: Shunji Iwai, production: 2006

Cast: Kon Ichikawa
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, b/w, region 2
Japan Pony Canyon 2 disc DVD edition

Klassisk våldsam Female Revenge swordplay
med legendariska Kaji på Koike's mangaserie
läs mer på bildlänken om filmen och
om Meiko Kaji - kultaktrisen Nr. 1

Lady Snowblood (Shura Yukihime/Fighting Lady Snow)

Direction: Toshiya Fujita, production: 1973

Cast: Meiko Kaji, Toshio Kurosawa, Masaaki Daimon
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, region 1
US AnimEigo DVD edition

Meiko Kaji's legendary and luscious looking
WIP-Female Revenge films after Toru
Shinohara's manga comic.
Läs mer om Meiko Kaji, Hasebe
och Scorpion filmerna på bildlänken

Female Prisoner 701 Scorpion Collection (3 disc edition)

Direction: Shunya Ito/Yasuharu Hasebe, production: 1972-1973

Cast: Meiko Kaji, Toshiyuki Hosokawa, Yayoi Watanabe m fl
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, region 1
US Media Blasters unrated 3 disc DVD edition

Mizoguchi's Masterpiece. A Dark and poetic
drama about illusions and the madness of War.
One of the greatest films ever made

Ugetsu monogatari (Tales of Ugetsu/Sagor om en blek
mystisk måne efter regnet)

Direction: Kenji Mizoguchi, production: 1953
Cast: Masayuki Mora, Machiko Kyo
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, b/w, region 6
China DVD edition

Hysterically inspired cyberpunk experimental
classic and Rock' N' Roll insanity in the same
vein as his groundbreaking Burst City or the
Tetsuo films by Shinya Tsukamoto

Electric Dragon 80000 Volt

Direction: Sogo Ishii, production: 2001

Cast: Asano Tadanobu, Masakutsu Funaki, Masatoshi Nagase
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, black & white, region 1
US Discotek 2 disc unrated DVD edition

Briljant och upplyftande drama om en
något knubbig kvinna i sina bästa år
på flykt från polisen
This could be anunknown film masterpiece ?

Face (Kao)

Direction: Junji Sakamoto, production: 2000

Cast: Naomi Fujiyama, Etsushi Toyokawa, Jun Kunimura
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, region 1
US Home Vision Entertainment DVD edition

Tiden är i olag för unga Kazuko i ett märkligt
och romantiskt Sci-Fi drama.
Baserad på den mycket populära berättelsen av
Tsutsui Yasutaka

Girl of Time (The Little Girl Who Conquered Time)

Direction: Nobuhiko Obayashi, production: 1983

Cast: Tomoyo Harada
DVD in japanese audio with english subs, region 3
Hong Kong IVL DVD edition

Klassisk spökhistoria där onda jordägare,
utsugare, drabbas av en förbannelse från
den andra sidan

Snake Woman's Curse (Kaidan hebi onna)

Direction: Nobuo Nakagawa, production: 1968

Cast: Sizaburo Kawasu, Yukie Kagawa, Sachiko Kuwahara
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
US Synapse Panik House DVD edition

A Ghost Story in the special style of Kurosawa
where a tired cop investigates murders where
the evidence points at himself as the perp.
With our eternal favourite Koji Yakusho

Retribution (Sakebi)

Direction: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, production: 2006

Cast: Koji Yakusho
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Asia Video DVD edition

Again, a Kiyoshi quirky and unique Drama and a
Crime Comedy based on the Doppelganger motive,
and with Koji Yakusho as the high-strung inventor
of a robotic chair

Doppelgänger (Dopperugenga)

Direction: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, production: 2003

Cast: Hiromi Nagasaku, Koji Yakusho, Akira Emoto
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean Cinexus DVD edition

An unusual but fascinating and beautiful drama
about Yuji and Mamoru, a murder and a red
jellyfish. The images just get stuck in your mind and
especially the haunting ending with the Jellyfish

Bright Future (Akarui mirai/Jellyfish Alert)

Direction: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, production: 2003

Cast: Asano Tadanobu, Jo Odagiri, Tatsuya Fuji
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean Cinexus DVD edition

Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Apocalyptic Masterpiece
of artmovie horror one of the absolute highlights
the mindblowing Japanese Golden Era

Kairo (Pulse)

Direction: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, production: 2001

Cast: Haruhiko Kato, Kumiko Aso
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 1
US Magnolia Pictures DVD edition

Fine Crime Drama (made for TV?) about a
medium, her husband and a kidnapped girl.
From the time of the Genius Kurosawa

Séance (Korei: ushiro o miru na)

Direction: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, production: 2000

Cast: Koji Yakusho, Jun Fubuki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 1
US Home Video Entertainment DVD edition

Another unique masterpiece from KK.
A fascinating, enigmatic and delightfully
quirky Eco Drama Thriller with a burnt out cop
and the strange things going on in a forest

Charisma (Karisuma)

Direction: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, production: 1999

Cast: Koji Yakusho, Ren Osugi, Jun Fubuki
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 1
US Home Vision Entertainment DVD edition

Maybe the masterpiece of Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
A fascinating psychological art-horror-thriller
with a cop investigating a series of apparently
unrelated murders. Just mindblowing stuff.
Interview with the director

Cure (Kyua) -ett kriminalfilmsmästerverk!

Direction: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, production: 1997

Cast: Koji Yakusho, Tsuyoshi Ujiki, Masato Hagiwara
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 1
US Home Video Entertainment DVD edition

Visually impressive about a series of hypnosis
related murders and with somewhat odd locations
and an interesting soundtrack. A precursor to
his apocalyptic horror masterpiece Kairo/Pulse.
letterbox, 2.0

Direction: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, production: 1997
Cast: Koji Yakusho, Tsuyoshi Ujiki, Masato Hagiwara
VCD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
Hong Kong Universe Video CD edition

Psycho horror-slasher made in the unique style
of Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Quirky and with black
humour. Akiko starts the new job where a guard
is murdering the employees

The Guard From the Underground (Jigoku no keibiin)

Direction: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, production: 1992

Cast: Makiko Kuno, Matsushige Yutaka, Ren Osugi
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 1
US Artsmagic edition - NO! A Bad quality DVD edition

The first entry in a delicious series of Female
Revenge Action, and where Junko Miyazono
deals with her tormentors

The second entry in the Female revenge action
series where Junko Miyazono avenges the evil
deeds done to her by male devils

A Feverish Punk Rock Futurama Drama
by the young Sogo Ishii, and this indie
experiment would have a big influence on
the modern Japanese indie filmmaking
and the coming of Cyber Punk Cinema

Burst City (Bakuretsu toshi)

Direction: Sogo Ishii, production: 1982

Cast: Michirou Endo, Shigeru Izumiya, Takanori Jinnai
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 1
US Discotek Media DVD edition

Absurd and surrealistic entertainment based
on the theme of Doppleganger. The elder
Kitano reflects over his own career

Takeshis

Direction: Takeshi Kitano, production: 2005

Cast: Beat Takeshi Kitano, Ren Osugi, Kyono Kotomi
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 2
Japanese Emotion DVD edition

Brilliant and disturbing Drama Thriller where
a child gets in trouble being torn between two
parents
From the creator of the excellent Castle of Sand

The Demon

Direction: Yoshitaro Nomura, production: 1978

Cast: Shima Iwashita, Ken Ogata, Hiroki Iwase
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region ?
US Home Vision Entertainment DVD edition

Brilliant, beautiful and atmospherical haunting
crime drama about a murder investigation in a
hot Japanese summer with clues backwards in
time and an old stigma. Masterful after a novel
by Matsumoto Seicho. Unfortunately with a
messed up fullscreen ratio .... aaargh!

The Castle of Sand (Suna no utsuwa)
- A Crime Movie Masterpiece

Direction: Yoshitaro Nomura, production: 1974
Cast: Tamba Tetsuro, Kato Go, Morita Kensaku
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Platinum Classics 4:3 ratio DVD edition

The Loose Cannon of Japanese film, the Rebel director and
Bizarro film-maker. The Proto - Takashi Miike and Sion Sono

Deliriously bizarre artmovie horror crime mystery
after the Edgar Allan Poe of Japan, Edogawa Rampo.
From the demented mind of Japanese films Rebel
Film Maker, and long before Miike. A Japanese
Cult Classic. Teruo Ishii died in 2005, 81 years old

Horrors of Malformed Men (Kyofu kikei ningen)

Direction: Teruo Ishii, production: 1969

Cast: Teruo Yoshida, Tatsumi Hijikata, Minoru Ohki
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
US Synapse Panik House DVD edition

The Cult Actress Meiko Kaji as a swordswoman
in a Bizarre Yakuza-horror from the wild outsider
of Japanese film, Teruo Ishii. He was the Proto-
Takeshi Miike & Sion Sono of today.
Read more about Meiko Kaji on the picture link

Blind Woman's Curse (Kaidan nobori ryu/Rising Dragon)

Direction: Teruo Ishii, production: 1970

Cast: Meiko Kaji, Hoki Tokuda, Tatsumi Hijikata
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 1
US Discotek Media DVD edition

A very odd and bizarre Ishii-esque drama
about a loser's inner travel and fantasies
finely acted by the great Tadanobu Asano.
Strange, but Great Fun

Screwed (Neji-shiki/Wind-Up Type)

Direction: Teruo Ishii, production: 1998

Cast: Tadanobu Asano, Miki Fujitani, Yuko Fujimori
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
US Panik House DVD edition

Brilliant and a record bizarre (even for Ishii)
Crime Mystery and Artmovie -Horror based on
the writings of the great Edogawa Rampo, the Poe
of Japan. The Master was 77 years old when
making this film, and what a great title it is

Blind Beast vs. Killer Dwarf (Moju tai issun boshi)

Direction, script, photo & production: Teruo Ishii 2001

Cast: Shinya Tsukamoto, Little Franky, Tetsuro Tanba
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
US Panik House DVD edition

A violent Yakuza film classic from the
acknowledged Master of the genre Kinji
Fukasaku, and where a rockhard cop is
drawn into the mobster world. Meiko Kaji
can be seen in a regular non-sleaze role

Yakuza Graveyard (Yakuza no hakaba-kuchinashi no hana)

Direction: Kinji Fukasaku, production: 1976

Cast: Meiko Kaji, Tetsuya Watari, Nagisa Oshima
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region
US Kino Video DVD edition

Old yakuza film Master Kinji Fukasaku's
controversial Action Masterpiece based on a
Manga. Ultra Violent dystopy about teenage
school kids sent to an island where games is to
be played and only one winner is to survive

Battle Royale

Direction: Kinji Fukasaku, production: 2000

Cast: Takeshi Kitano, Ando Masanobu, Kuriyama Chiaki
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Universe DVD edition

Part 3 in the Youth delinquency street-gang
Stray Cat Pinky violence series with Cult actress
Meiko Kaji as the leader of a really tough girl gang
ledaren av en tuff tjejliga.
Read more on the picture link about director Hasebe
and the legendary actress Meiko Kaji

Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter (Nora neko rokku - sekkusu hantaa)

Direction: Yasuharu Hasebe, production: 1970

Cast: Meiko Kaji, Tatsuya Fuji, Rikiya Yasuoka
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 1
US Home Vision Entertainment DVD edition

A visually exquisite Nunsploitation sleaze Cult
movie about terror going on in a Convent. Possibly
a masterpiece of the genre (even if this genre may
a questionable such). Maya goes undercover in a
Catholic convent and is whipped for her efforts

School of the Holy Beast (Convent of the Sacred Beast)

Direction: Norifumi Suzuki, production: 1974

Cast: Yumi Takigawa, Emiko Yamauchi
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region ?
US Cult Epics DVD edition

Akira Kurosawa's version of Shakespeare's
MacBeth is a Horror Drama Masterpiece, and
often considered to be the maybe greatest
ever film adaption of the Shakespeare Play

Throne of Blood

Direction: Akira Kurosawa, production: 1957

Cast: Toshiro Mifune, Isuzu Yamada, Takashi Shimura
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 6
China DVD edition

Akira Kurosawa's first film in Color and a
really disturbing Feel Bad masterpiece, where
a boy drives an imaginary Tram in a Junkyard.
Extremely depressing and heavy Feel Bad.
Made at a time when Kurosawa is said to have
been trying to commit suicide.

Dodes' ka-den

Direction: Akira Kurosawa, production: 1970

Cast: Yoshitaka Zushi
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
Hong Kong Mei Ah DVD edition

Masterful Imamura about a man and his Eel.
Elegant DVD edition but with the shorter
South Korean version

Unagi (The Eel)

Direction: Shohei Imamura, production: 1996

Cast: Koji Yakusho, Misa Shimizu
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean Spectrum The short 112 min version DVD edition

Chilly, precise and masterful depiction about a
Serial Killer and his tour of murders. Widely
regarded as one of the best Japanese 1970's films

Vengeance is Mine

Direction: Shohei Imamura, production: 1979

Cast: Ken Ogata, Mayumi Ogawa, Rentaro Mikuni
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Platinum Classics DVD edition

Yasujiro Ozu
(1903-1962)

Stillsamt rogivande familjedramer med statisk kamera är minimalistiska
film-mästerverk. Motsatsen till de i väst föredragna filmerna med
högljudda, våldsbenägna och ständigt satta i röreöse samurajer

Peaceful and gripping drama about the sorrow
of two girls because their mother has deserted
them. A Masterpiece

Tokyo Twilight (Tokyo boshoku)

Direction: Yasujiro Ozu, production: 1957

Cast: Hara Setsuko, Arima Ineko, Ryu Chishu
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, b&w, region 1
Hong Kong Platinum Classics DVD edition

A finely tuned drama about the Miwa family
about marriage and good old friends. Film master
Yasujiro Ozo once again penetrates the japanese
family and relations between the generations

Late Autumn (Akibiyori)

Direction and co-script: Yasujiro Ozu, production: 1960

Cast: Hara Setsuko, Tsuka Sayoko, Sada Keiji
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Platinum Classics DVD edition

Delightful drama about the friendship between two
teenage girls and in a much lighter vein than his
powerful and disturbing 2001 All About Lily CC.
135 mins. Iwai made a sort of an animated sequel
in 2015 - The Case of Hana & Alice (see at top)

Hana & Alice (Hana to Arisu)

Direction: Shunji Iwai, production: 2004

Cast: Anne Suzuki, Yu Aoi, Tomohiro Kaku
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Panorama DVD edition

Soundtrack to some Iwai films in a double CD
with Ghost Soup, Undo, Love Letter,
Picnic, Fried Dragon Fish, Fireworks
Read more on the picture link

Original Soundtrack Shunji Iwai Films
(2 disc soundtrack CD)

Music: Remedios m fl
(Korea Pony Canyon CD Soundtrack 2002

An astonishingly beautiful but painful drama
about some really fragile Japanese youngsters
obsessed with the ethereal pop idol Lily Chou
Chou. A much debated film masterpiece from Iwai
and one of the greatest films this millennia

All About Lily Chou Chou (Riri shu shu no subete)

Direction: Shunji Iwai, production: 2001

Cast: Hayato Ichihawa, Takao Osawa, Ayumi Ito, Masanobu Ando
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Panorama DVD edition

Charming every-day drama about a very cute
Hokkaido student (Matsu) who moves to Tokyo,
starts at the University and is hoping for a miracle.
Whimsical and cute Feel Good

April Story (Shigatsu monogatari)

Direction & script: Shunji Iwai, production: 1998

Cast: Takako Matsu, Kahori Fujii, Kazuhiko Kato
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
Korean Daewoori DVD edition

The 3" CD single with the modern Japanese classic
and the title song - Swallowtail Butterfly plus "Mama's
Alright" from Iwais miracle of a unique film.
The Amazing artist Chara sings and plays the role of
Glico, the chinese singer and prostitute in the film

Swallowtail Butterfly (music 3" CD-single)

Music CD: Epic/Sony, production: 1996

Grupp: Yentown Band (Chara, Takeshi Kobayashi, Shunji Iwai)
Musik CD single
Japanese Epic/Sony CD single edition

A phenomenal yarn about dreams and making
music in Yentown where the guest workers live.
From when the Yen ruled the world, and with
magical music from Chara & Takashi Kobayashi.
A miracle of a film and another Iwai masterpiece

Swallowtail Butterfly (Suwaroteiru)

Direction: Shunji Iwai, production: 1996

Cast: Chara, Hiroshi Mikami, Ayumi Ito, Yosuke Eguchi
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Panorama DVD edition

A Cult Classic and a modern film masterpiece
from Shunji Iwai and with Chara, Yen Town and
people on the hunt for a bill prototype

Swallowtail Butterfly (Suwaroteiru)

Direction: Shunji Iwai, production: 1996

Cast: Chara, Hiroshi Mikami, Ayumi Ito, Yosuke Eguchi
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 2
Japan Pony Canyon DVD edition

Visually gorgeous, brilliant and gripping story
about three mental asylum patients and their
journey to the Sea. Like an avantgarde fairytale.
Short feature length movie 68 min and the film
where Chara and Asano became a couple

Picnic (Pikunikku)

Direction: Shunji Iwai, production: 1994, 1996

Cast: Chara, Asano Tadanobu, Koichi Hashizume
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 2
Japan Ponyo Canyon DVD edition

Magnificent and different Love Story Melodrama
from the great Shunji Iwai, and a film that became
a huge Hit in Japan and something as a break-
through for him as a feature film length director

Love Letter

Direction: Shunji Iwai, production: 1995

Cast: Miho Nakayama, Takashi Kashiwabara
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
Korean SRE DVD edition

Obscure but absolutely fascinating artmovie if
short - 58 minutes. Visual fireworks from one of
the most underrated film masters of Japan.
This film flew under the radar. Probably unseen

Dead End Run

Direction: Sogo Ishii, production: 2004

Cast: Iseya Yusuke, Asano Tadanobu, Nagase Masatoshi
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 2
Japan Geneon DVD edition with Fotobook

Slick looking and a different take on the Fantasy
Action Swordplay saga from the great Sogo Ishii
But unfortunately a big flop as most didn't like it

Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle

Direction: Sogo Ishii, production: 2000

Cast: Asano Tadanobu, Masatoshi Nagase, Daisuke Ryu
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 1
US Media Blasters Tokyo shock DVD edition

A Brilliant psychological thriller from the Great
indie filmmaker Master Sogo Ishii. Suggestive
and complex (and i would love to see this on a
Blu-ray with english subtitles)

Angel Dust

Direction: Sogo Ishii, production: 1994
Cast: Kaho Minami, Etsushi Toyokawa, Takeshi Wakamatsu
VCD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
Hong Kong Platinum Classics Video CD edition

Classic claustrophobial Art Horror about a
demented blind sculptor who kidnaps a model.
From the Japanese New Wave director Masumura
and based on the writings of Edogawa Rampo
The Edgar Allan Poe of Japan

The Blind Beast (Moju)

Direction: Yasuzo Masumura, production: 1969

Cast: Eiji Funakoshi, Mako Midori, Noriko Sengoku
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
US Fantoma DVD edition

A controversial teenage drama with critic
against the Japanese society and the growing
prostitution problem along teenage girls, and
the perverted middle-aged men who buys sex

Bounce Ko Gals

Direction Masato Harada, production: 1997

Cast: Yukiko Okamoto, Hitomi Sato, Yasue Sato
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
Korean Infinity DVD edition

A slow and intricately made Thriller about a
faked kidnapping. Nicely made by the Ringu
director in the spirit of Alfred Hitchcock

Chaos (Kaosu)

Direction: Hideo Nakata, production: 1999

Cast: Masato Hagiwara, Miki Nakatani, Ken Mitsuishi
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
Korean Spectrum DVD edition

Masterful Samurai drama dealing with Revenge
and the Japanese suicide ritual Seppuku

Harakiri (Seppuku)

Direction: Masaki Kobayashi, production: 1961

Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai, Shima Iwashita, Tetsuro Tanba
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Platinum Classics black & white DVD edition

Highly stylized surrealistic artmovie about the
professional killer Stray Cat and with fights
between ranked assassins

Pistol Opera

Direction: Seijun Suzukii, production: 2001

Cast: Makiko Esumi, Masatoshi Nagase, Sayoko Yamaguchi
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 1
US Media Blasters DVD edition

Hyllat drama om den från Nordkorea
ättade Sugiharas utanförskap i Japan,
men vars boxningstalang löser
vissa av hans problem.

Go

Direction: Isao Yukisada, production: 2001

Cast: Yosuke Kubozuka, Kou Shibasaki, Shinobu Otake
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong IVL DVD edition

Vackert atmosfäriskt om en mystisk hednisk
by där kvinnor har kontakt med gamla andar,
gudar, Inugami

Inugami

Direction: Masato Harada, production: 2001

Cast: Yuki Amami, Atsuro Watabe, Koichi Sato
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Universe DVD edition

Blandning av drama och skräck.
Cronenbergskt om tvillingar och en
familjehemlighet efter en berättelse av
Japans Edgar Allan Poe, Edogawa Rampo

Gemini

Direction: Shinya Tsukamoto, production: 1999

Cast: Motoki Masahiro, Asano Tadanobu, Ryo
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Ocean Shores DVD edition

Really intense Cyber-Punk Horror nightmare
where a family man are hunting Cyborgs.
More polished than the wild first film, but
still crazy and entertaining

Tetsuo 2: Body Hammer

Direction: Shinya Tsukamoto, production: 1992
Cast: Shinya Tsukamoto, Tomoro Taniguchi, Kei Fujiwara
VCD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
Hong Kong Asia Video Video CD edition

A Cyber-Punk Masterpiece and an absolute
experimental Cult Classic in the same spirit as
David Lynch's "Eraserhead". Shot in black &
white about a Man turning into Metal

Tetsuo: The Iron Man

Direction: Shinya Tsukamoto, produkcion: 1988
Cast: Kei Fujiwara
VCD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
Hong Kong Asia Video black & white Video CD edition

My least favourite Kitano film at that time, 2002.
Beautiful colors at least when Kitano is intertwining
three storys that are inspired by Japanese theatre

Dolls

Direction: Takeshi Kitano, production: 2002

Cast: Miho Kanno, Tatsuya Mihashi, Hidetoshi Nishijima
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Panorama Entertainment DVD edition

Violent and stylished with Takeshi Kitano as
rock-hard Japanese Yakuza on a visit to the USA.
Pretty entertaining but not as good as his in
Japan made films

Brother

Direction: Takeshi Kitano, production: 2000

Cast: Beat Takeshi, Omar Epps
DVD in japanese & english audio with english subs, region 3
Hong Kong Universal DVD edition

Maybe my favourite Kitano film. A Roadmovie
where the not too enthusiastic Kitano is asked
to escort a little boy who seeks after his mother
who has deserted him. Naive but enchanting

Kikujiro (Kikujiro's Summer/Kikujiro no natsu)

Direction: Takeshi Kitano, production: 1999

Cast: Takeshi Kitano
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Edko Films DVD edition

A burnt-out ex-cop wants to use the time that
is left with his dying wife, but he's threatened
by yakuzas. Violent, pensive and beautiful

Hana-bi

Direction: Takeshi Kitano, production: 1997

Cast: Takeshi Kitano, Yoshitaka Nishi
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean Spectrum DVD edition

Amazing growing up youth drama about dreams
and short-comings. About two friends where
one becomes a Boxer and the other a Yakuza

Kids Return (Kidzu ritan)

Direction: Takeshi Kitano, production: 1996

Cast: Masanobu Ando, Ken Kaneko, Leo Morimoto
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Korean Spectrum DVD edition

A Kitano oddity in his film Oeuvre and a, for
westerners, probably quite bizarre comedy
about a typical Japanese "Comedy Act".
From the Ex-Comic Kitano

Getting Any ? (Minna yatteruka)

Direction: Takeshi Kitano, production: 1994

Cast: Dankan, Shoji Kobayashi, Takeshi Kitano
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Platinum Classics DVD edition

The Yakuza member Marukawa, played by Takeshi
Kitano, is sent to the southern island of Okinawa
where he opposes the local mobster boss.
Masterful about the meaning and Vanitas of life

Sonatine

Direction: Takeshi Kitano, production: 1993

Cast: Takeshi Kitano, Tetsu Watanabe
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Platinum Classics DVD edition

The Deaf-mute Shigeru and his girlfriend are
are drawn to the Sea, and where they become
surfers. Quirky and nice from favourite Kitano

A Scene at the Sea (Ano natsu ichiban shizuka na umi)

Direction: Takeshi Kitano, production: 1991

Cast: Claude Maki, Hiroko Oshima
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region 3
Hong Kong Platinum Classics DVD edition

Violent Crime Drama where a young guy is
taking on the Yakuza, and gets help from
a disturbed ex-yakuza gangster played by
director Takeshi Kitano

Boiling Point (3-4x jugatsu)

Direction: Takeshi Kitano, production: 1990

Cast: Takeshi Kitano, Masahiko Ono, Yuriko Ishida
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
US Winstar DVD edition

Impressive directorial debut from Takeshi Kitano
where Kitano plays the role of Azuma, a film neo-
noirich cop á la Don Siegel's Dirty Harry

Violent Cop (Sono Otoko kyobo Ni Tsuski)

Direction: Takeshi Kitano, production: 1989

Cast: Takeshi Kitano, Maiko Ashikawa, Hakuryu
DVD in japanese audio with english subtitles, region all
US Wellspring DVD edition