YAKUZA APOCALYPSE

Takashi Miike x Creators of Killers x Mad dog from the Raid

Directed by Takashi Miike Cast: Hayato Ichihara, Yayan Ruhian

At the helm of “Yakuza Apocalypse” is director Takashi Miike. One of Japan’s most successful filmmakers, Miike has wowed audiences worldwide with such hits as “Audition” (1999), “Thirteen Assassins” (2010), and “Ichi the Killer” (2001). His last film “The Mole Song: Undercover Agent Reiji” (2013) generated more than two-billion yen in box office returns. With “Yakuza Apocalypse,” Miike returns to the hard-driven style of his early filmmaking career and the genres that first put him in the international spotlight.

The central character of “Yakuza Apocalypse” is played by Hayato Ichihara (“Rookies: Graduation”). Ichihara is known in Japan as an actor who blends a tougher-than-nails personality with superior acting skills. In “Yakuza Apocalypse” he plays Akira Kageyama, an underling with a serious case of hero worship for his boss, the legendary yakuza Kamiura. For his role, Ichihara underwent a difficult training program in order to meet the grueling demands of the “Yakuza Apocalypse” production.

Co-starring is Yayan Ruhian, great Indonesian action actor, very well known as a Mad-dog from The Raid and The Raid 2. It will be his first film not to act in the foreign film, but also in the film of new director.

In recent years, Japanese cinema has been plagued by manga derived productions. “Yakuza Apocalypse” sets itself apart from this trend. The film features an original script written by Yoshitaka Yamaguchi, a former assistant director of Miike’s and a director in his own right.

“Yakuza Apocalypse” aims to reinvent both the yakuza genre and the vampire legend by pulling them together under the guidance of one of the world’s surest directors and create something never seen before. “Yakuza Apocalypse” starts shooting on 17 April 2014 for a 2015 theatrical release in Japan.

“Take a hike, boring Japanese productions! Against everyone’s wishes, I’m going back to my roots on this one, and plan to go on a real rampage with ‘Yakuza Apocalypse.’ I hope my cast and crew, and even myself make it out alive!” – Takashi Miike

“I have never seen such a wild and unusually plotted movie before. I am grateful for the opportunity to star in ‘Yakuza Apocalypse,’ the latest film from Japan’s top director and will meet head on any rampage Miike dishes out.” - Hayato Ichihara

In Post-production, coming in 2014… Are you ready for the world’s first yakuza vampire movie?

Story: Wild tales have always abounded in the world of the yakuza, but those surrounding boss Genyo Kamiura are the stuff of legend. He is said to be so powerful that neither knives nor guns can take him down. Little do his rivals suspect that this is because Kamiura is in fact a vampire – a vampire yakuza boss!

Within Kamiura’s organization is Akira Kageyama, a half-baked yakuza looked down upon by fellow gang members due to sensitive skin that prevents him from getting even the simplest of tattoos. However, Kageyama’s loyalty is never in doubt and he does whatever asked of by his boss.

One day, an assassin called Kyoken (Yayan Ruhian) arrives from Indonesia. Aware of the truth behind Kamiura’s identity, he is there to deliver an ultimatum: return to the international syndicate he left years earlier, or die. A fierce battle erupts, climaxing with Kamiura being torn limb from limb.

Arriving in time to witness the violent demise of Kamiura, Kageyama rushes to his remains. With his last ounce of strength, Kamiura bites Kageyama on the neck, sending his vampire essence into his two-bit underling. With that, Kageyama collapses dead beside the remains of his beloved boss.

Days later, Kageyama wakes up in a mortuary to find himself not dead after all. In fact, he is now in possession of superhuman ability and, to his joy, finds the brilliant tattoo of a phoenix burning brightly on his back. Determined to avenge the death of his boss, Kageyama seeks out his killer. But his quest for revenge will not be easy, as the killer is teamed with a slew of outrageous assassins each with their own unusual abilities and an unquenchable thirst for murder!

2015 / DCP / Color / Japanese / TBD ©2015 YAKUZA APOCALYPSE F.P. Delivery : early Spring 2015 Japanese theatrical release : Summer 2015

CONTACT: Nikkatsu Corporation 3-28-12 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033 TEL: +81 3 5689-1014 / FAX: +81 3 5689-1044 http://www.nikkatsu.com e-mail: [email protected] In Post-production, coming in 2014…