The Yakuza Movie Book

THE YAKUZA MOVIE BOOK

A GUIDE TO JAPANESE GANGSTER FILMS

MARK SCHILLING

STONE BRIDGE PRESS • BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA CONTENTS

11 Foreword 126 Akira Kobayashi (1937-) 127 HirokiMatsukata(1942-) INTRODUCTION 128 JoShishido(1933-) 19 A Brief History of Japanese Yakuza Films 130 BuntaSugawara(1933-) Bunta Sugawara Interview 132 DIRECTOR PROFILES & INTERVIEWS 143 KenTakakura(1931-) 43 Kinji Fukasaku (1930-2003) 145 Riki Takeuchi (1964-) Kinji Fukasaku Interview 46 146 Koji Tsuruta (1924-87) 55 Teruolshii(1924-) 148 Tatsuo Umemiya (1938-) Term Isbii Interview 51 149 Tomisaburo Wakayama (1929-92) 70 Tai Kato (1916-85) 150 Tetsuya Watari (1941-) 73 Takeshi Kitano ("Beat" Takeshi; 1947-)

76 TakashiMiike(1960-) FILM REVIEWS Takashi Miike Interview 78 155 AHomansu(l986) 85 RokuroMochizuki(1957-) Rokuro Mochizuki Interview 87 156 Abashiri Bangaicbi (A Man from Abashiri Prison, 1965) 95 Seijun Suzuki (1923-) Seijun Suzuki Interview 98 156 Abashiri Bangaicbi: Bokyohen (A Man from Abashiri Prison: Going Home, 1965) ACTOR PROFILES & INTERVIEWS 157 Adrenaline Drive (1999) 109 ShowAikawa(1961-) Show Aikawa Interview 110 158 Akumyo (Tough Guy, 1961) 119 Noboru Ando (1926-) 159 American Yakuza (1994) Noboru Ando Interview 121 160 Ankokugai no Kaoyaku (The Big Boss, 123 Junko Fuji (1945-) 1959) 125 Shintaro Katsu (1931-97) 161 Asu Naki Machikado (End of Our Own Real, 1997) 162 Bakuchiuchi Socho Tobaku (Big Gambling 193 Gokudo no Onnatachi (Gang Wives, 1986) Ceremony, 1968) 197 Gokudo no Onnatachi: Kejime (Gang 164 Bakuto Gaijin Butai (Sympathy for the Wives: Decision, 1998) Underdog, 1971) 198 Gokudo Sengokushi Fudo (Fudoh: The 167 Bakuto Kaisanshiki (Gambler's New Generation, 1996) Dispersion, 1968) 200 Gonin (1995) 168 Blood (1998) 201 Gorotsuki (Tough Guys, 1992) 169 Bo no Kanashimi (Hard-Head Fool, 1994) 202 Hana to Arashi to Gang (Flower and 170 Brother (2000) Storm and Gang, 1961) 172 Burai Yori Daikanbu (Gangster VIP, 203 Hana to Doto (Flower and the Angry 1968) Waves, 1964) 173 Chinpira (1996) 206 Harukana Jidai no Kaidan o (The 174 Chinpira (Chinpira/Two Punks, 2000) Stairway to the Distant Past, 1994) 176 Cboeki Juhachinen (Sentence: Eighteen 207 Heitai Yakuza (Hoodlum Soldier, 1965) Years, 1967) 208 Hibotan Bakuto: Hanafuda Sbobu (Red 178 Chuji Tabi Nikki (Diary of Chuji's Peony Gambler: Flower Cards Match, Travels, 1927) 1969) 179 Dead or Alive: Hanzaisha (Dead or Alive, 210 Hibotan Bakuto: Oinochi Itadakimasu (Red 1999) Peony Gambler: Death to the Wicked, 1971) 180 Don e no Michi (The Road to Bossdom, 2003) 211 Irezumi Ichidai (One Generation of Tattoos, 1965) 182 Don o Totta Otoko (The Man Who Shot the Don, 1994) 212 Jingi Naki Tatakai (Battles without Honor and Humanity, 1973) 183 Freeze Me (2000) 214 Jingi Naki Tatakai: Hiroshima Shitohen 183 Fukushu: Kienai Kizu Ato (The Revenge: (Battles without Honor and Humanity 2: •The Scar that Never Fades, 1997) Fight to the Death at Hiroshima, 1973) 184 Full Metal Gokudo (Full Metal Yakuza, 216 Jingi Naki Tatakai: Dairi Senso (Battles 1997) without Honor and Humanity 3: Proxy 186 Fuyajo (Sleepless Town, 1998) War, 1973) 187 Gang tai G-men (Gang versus G-men, 217 Jingi Naki Tatakai: Chqjo Sakusen (Battles 1962) without Honor and Humanity 4: High 188 Gedo (The Outer Way, 1998) Tactics, 1974) 190 Gendai Yakuza: Hitokiri You (Street 218 Jingi Naki Tatakai: Kanketsuben (Battles Mobster, 1972) without Honor and Humanity 5: The Final Episode, 1974) 191 Gokudo Kuro Shakai Rainy Dog (Rainy Dog, 1997) 219 Jingi no Hakaba (Graveyard of Honor, 1975) 193 Gokudo no Ane: Reiko (Gang Lady: Reiko, 1994) 221 Jinsei Gekijo: Hishakaku (Theater of Life: Hishakaku, 1963) 251 Minazuki (Everyone's a Moon, 1999) 222 Jinsei Gekijo: Hishakaku to Kiratsune 252 Minbo no Onna (The Gentle Art of (Theater of Life: Hishakaku and Japanese Extortion, 1992) Kiratsune, 1968) 253 Mukokuseki no Otoko: Chi no Shukaku 224 Jitsuroku Ando Gumi Gaiden: Garo no (Pinocchio: A Man without Nationality, Okite (The True History of the Ando 1997) Gang: Rules of the Starving Wolf, 2002) 254 Narazumono (The Untamed, 1964) 226 Jitsuroku Ando Noboru Outlaw-den: Rekka 255 Nihon Kuroshakai Ley Lines (1999) (Deadly Outlaw: Rekka, 2002) 257 Nihon Kyokakuden: Naniwahen (1965) 227 Juichinin no Gang (Eleven Gangsters, 1963) 258 Nihon Kyokakuden: Shiraha no Sakazuki (1967) 228 Kamikaze Taxi (1995) 259 Nihon Boryokudan: Kumicho (Japan 229 Kanto Mushuku (Kanto Wanderer, 1963) Organized Crime Boss, 1969) 231 Kaoyaku (Boss, 1965) 260 No Way Back: Toso Yugi (No Way Back, 232 Karakkaza Yaro (Afraid to Die, 1960) 1995) 233 Katte ni Shiyagare!! Godatsu Keikaku (Suit 261 Nobody (1994) Yourself or Shoot Yourself: Extortion 263 Oedo Gonin Otoko (Five Men from Edo, Plot 1, 1995) 1951) 235 Kawaita Hana (Pale Flower, 1964) 264 Onibi (The Fire Within, 1997) 236 Keisho Sakazuki (Succession Ceremony, 265 Otoko no Monsho (Symbol of a Man, 1992) 1963) 237 Kids Return (1996) 268 Otokotacbi no Kaita E (The Man with 238 Kishiwada Shonen Gurentai (Boys, Be Two Hearts, 1996) Ambitious, 1996) 269 PornoStar (1999) 239 Kizuna (Ties, 1998) 271 1^(1983) 240 Koroshiya Ichi (Ichi the Killer, 2001) 272 Shiawase ni Naro ne (Let's Get Happy, 241 Kunisada Chuji (1958) 1998) 242 Kurenai no Nagareboshi (The Velvet 274 Shin Jingi Naki Tatakai (Another Battle, Hustler, 1967) 2000) 243 Kuro no Tenshi, Vol. 1 (Black Angel, 276 Shin Jingi Naki Tatakai: Bosatsu (Another Vol. 1, 1998) Battle: Conspiracy, 2003) 245 Kutsukake Tokijiro (1929) 277 Shin Jingi no Hakaba (Graveyard of 246 Kyohansha (Partners in Crime, 1999) Honor, 2002) 247 Let*/(1994) 278 Shin Kanashiki Hitman (Another Lonely Hitman, 1995) 249 Matatabi (The Wanderers, 1973) 280 Shinjuku Kuro Shakai China Mafia Senso 250 Meiji Kyokakuden: Sandai Shumei (Blood (Shinjuku Triad Society, 1995) of Revenge, 1965) 281 Shinjuku Yokubo Tantei (The Hungry 303 Wild Life (1997) Shinjuku Detective, 1994) 303 Yaju no Seishun (Youth of the Beast, 1963) 283 Showa Zankyoden: Shinde Moraimasu 305 Yaju Shisubeshi: Fukushuhen (The Beast (Remnants of Chivalry in the Showa Era: Must Die: Revenge, 1997) I Want You to Die, 1970) 306 Yakuza, The (1975) 284 Shuraba ga Yuku (The Carnage Comes, 1995) 308 Yakuza Keibatsushi: Lynch! (A History of Yakuza Punishments: Lynch!, 1969) 286 Shuraba no Gokudo: Hebi no Michi (Serpent's Path, 1997) 309 Yakuza no Hakaba: Kuchinashi no Hana (Yakuza Burial: Jasmine Flower, 1976) 287 Shuraba no Ningengaku (The Anthropology of a Fight Scene, 1993) 310 Yakuza Way, The (1998) 288 Shuraba no Okami: Kumo no Hitomi (Eyes 311 Yamaguchi Gaiden Kyushu Shinko Sakusen of the Spider, 1997) (The Tattooed Hitman, 1974) 289 Sonatine (1993) 313 Yoidore Tenshi (Drunken Angel, 1948) 291 3-4 XJugatsu (Boiling Point, 1990) 314 Yurusarezaru Mono (The Man in White, 2003) 292 Tokyo Gang tai Hong Kong Gang (Tokyo Gang versus Hong Kong Gang, 1964) 315 Zankyo (Remnants of Chivalry, 1999) 293 Tokyo Mafia: Yakuza Wars (1995) 318 Zatoichi Monogatari (The Tale of Zatoichi, 1962) 295 Tokyo Nagaremono (Tokyo Drifter, 1966) 295 Unlucky Monkey (1998) 323 Glossary 297 Wagajinsei Saiaku no Toki (The Most Terrible Time in My Life, 1993) 325 Bibliography 299 Waka Oyabun (Young Boss, 1965) 326 Video & DVD Sources 300 Wakaki Hi nojirocho (The Young Days of Jirocho, 1962) 328 Finding Guides 301 Watashi no Grandpa (My Grandpa, 2003)