The Symbol of a Man

The Pinkie(ja)

Since they were both five, Ryosuke has been stalked by Momoko - the ugliest girl in the village. Her love for Ryosuke is so boundless that she has her face surgically altered to suit his taste - but still he wants nothing to do with her. Ryosuke goes in for fleeting romance - for example, with the girlfriend of a gangster boss. But when he finds out about their affair, he has Ryosuke's little finger hacked off. Magically, the finger falls into Momoko's hands, and she uses it to clone Ryosuke, so she can finally have him (or almost him) for herself. And this is just the first five minutes of Lisa Takeba's short-but-powerful feature debut. Just like in her previous short films, the director - who cut her teeth in the advertising world and as the writer of a video game - throws a lot of genres and techniques into the mix: from science fiction to gangster films, from hospital eroticism to animation. Hectic and absurd, but with its heart in the right place. © IFFR

Dolls(ja)

Dolls takes puppeteering as its overriding motif, which relates thematically to the action provided by the live characters. Chief among those tales is the story of Matsumoto and Sawako, a young couple whose relationship is about to be broken apart by the former's parents, who have insisted their son take part in an arranged marriage to his boss' daughter.

Jesus is My Boss(ja)

A warring Yakuza awakens to Christianity and becomes an evangelist. The film is modelled on the real-life "Mission Barabbas," a Christian evangelistic group of ex-Yakuza.

New Third Gangster III(ja)

The Shineikai, headed by Goro Numata, was doing his best in partnership with the Taiwan Mafia. In order to suppress the runaway, Reiniro Masaki, the second chairman of the Wuxia Association, stands up with the men in the back cup.

New Third Gangster IV(ja)

The martial arts leader is kidnapped. At the same time, an uneasy shadow attacks Reiniro Masaki, the second generation of the Wuxia novels. When a new conflict breaks out again, Masaki's own shocking past becomes clear.

New Third Gangster V(ja)

A martial arts executive, Hashiguchi, was attacked by someone. In addition, danger creeps into the body of Reijiro Masaki, the second generation of the Wuxia Association. And finally, even Masaki's stripes have been destroyed ... Who is the true identity of the mysterious man, the bat, who moves in the shadow of the conflict? Also, what is the unexpected relationship between Dr. Tonomura and bats ...! ??

New Third Gangster VI(ja)

The second generation Todo-gumi Wakato Hattori is taken to Johoku Medical College, where there are many suspicions of drugs due to angina. Hattori asks Masaki to act as a young head just in case. However, dissatisfied with the procedure, Ejima teamed up with the Mafia and started aiming for Masaki's defeat! !!

New Third Gangster VII(ja)

Shabs and weapons leaked from a US military base in Bando-gumi's Shima. It was due to a plot of the Kenyukai aiming at the Bando group's Shima. The Kenyukai sends a young head, Takenouchi, to Masaki, the second generation of the Wuxia Association, who tries to stop the plot.

New Third Gangster VIII(ja)

The 8th installment of the "New Third Gokudo" series, which is a visualization of the work of Kazuhiko Murakami, which depicts the stories of men living in the world of gangsters. In the wake of the shooting of Todo-gumi Wakato and Hattori, disturbing movements began to appear around Masaki, the second generation of the Wuxia Association. Masaki, who explores the situation, finds out the existence of the mysterious organization "Sakurakai", but behind it, there is an even bigger one!

New Third Gangster IX(ja)

The Ryuna group's gambling ground was devastated by the Todo group Kishibe group. Tatsunami Ayatsu, acting leader of the Ryuna group, was prepared to fight with the Kishibe group, but responded by arbitration by Masaki. At that point, Kishibe, the leader of the Kishibe group, is killed by someone, and suspicion is turned to Masaki. A conspiracy theory drives Masaki into a corner.

New Third Gangster X(ja)

New development of rage! The army of backpacks is now starting to move toward the great evil that is trying to dominate the dark world! An unidentified group claiming to be the Untenichi faction begins to judge the shab at the Munakata group's sima. Reijiro Masaki, the chairman of the Wuxia Association, begins to hunt down the Untenichi faction with Naoji Hanai, a member of the Munakata group.

New Third Gangster XII(ja)

The army of backstory reunites in the evil of darkness that pollutes Jinyoshi for his own desires! The final 12th installment of the super popular series based on Kazuhiko Murakami! !! Masaki, the young head of the Todo group, tries to drop Nagoya via the Murota group as a stepping stone to conquer the whole country, but the members are killed in a series of mysterious accidents, and even the leader of the Murota group is finally assassinated.

New Third Gangster XI(ja)

The death of Todo-gumi Wakato and Hattori Retsu broke out in the Todo-gumi over the next young head. A fierce bargain between the Wuxia Association Chairman Reijiro Masaki and the Arase faction, which is in opposition to the Masaki faction, takes place.

Motorpsycho!(en)

A vengeful veterinarian and a grieving widow join forces to track down violent bikers after they commit heinous acts against their loved ones.

Life of Hishakaku(ja)

After eloping with a prostitute named Otoyo, Hishakaku takes refuge in the Kogane family’s turf. Indebted to Boss Kogane for his kindness, Hishakaku swears to dedicate himself to protect the Koganes in time of crisis. Hishakaku’s humble life comes to a sudden halt when the Kogane family becomes involved in a fatal feud with their rival, and Hishakaku’s services are called upon.

Enlisted Yakuza(ja)

It is the third film in the Gokudo series. In this episode, set in 1937, the main character of the series gang leader Shimamura is drafted into the military and fight in China.

In the Realm of the Senses(ja)

A passionate telling of the story of Sada Abe, a woman whose affair with her master led to an obsessive and ultimately destructive sexual relationship.

Fireworks(ja)

Beleaguered police detective Nishi takes desperate measures to try and set things right in a world gone wrong. With his wife suffering from leukemia and his business partner paralyzed from a brutal gangster attack, Nishi borrows from a yakuza loan shark and then robs a bank to clear his debt.

唄祭けんか道中(ja)

Tattoo(de)

Marc Schrader, a rookie cop caught red-handed with drugs in a police raid of an illegal rave, joins a homicide investigation conducted by Chief Inspector Minks. The victim is a naked young woman with the skin stripped off her back, killed as she staggered into traffic. As Schrader and Minks investigate the murder, the case is complicated by a finger found in the stomach of the victim. Forensic examination proves the finger belongs to Nobert Günzel, who was previously convicted of rape and assault. The police raid Günzel’s residence, and discover a blood-stained table with restraints and bits of human flesh in his basement. They also find video equipment and preserved, tattooed skin from the victim’s back. Soon, they found dead bodies buried in the garden. Günzel then goes missing.

Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima(ja)

Repeatedly beat to a pulp by gamblers, cops, and gangsters, lone wolf Shoji Yamanaka finally finds a home as a Muraoka family hitman and falls in love with boss Muraoka's niece. Meanwhile, the ambitions of mad dog Katsutoshi Otomo draws our series' hero, Shozo Hirono, and the other yakuza into a new round of bloodshed.

Battles Without Honor and Humanity(ja)

In the teeming black markets of postwar Japan, Shozo Hirono and his buddies find themselves in a new war between factious and ambitious yakuza.

House of Bamboo(en)

Eddie Kenner is given a special assignment by the Army to get the inside story on Sandy Dawson, a former GI who has formed a gang of fellow servicemen and Japanese locals.

The Outsider(en)

A former American G.I. joins a yakuza family after his release from prison in post-World War II Osaka.

Late Autumn(ja)

A woman and her daughter are each forced to contend with an increasing pressure to marry, particularly from three men who knew her late husband.

Zatoichi's Pilgrimage(ja)

Zatoichi's trek through 88 temples to atone for his violent past is interrupted as he stumbles into a village terrorized by a violent yakuza boss.

The Magic of Ordinary Days(en)

Pregnant out of wedlock, an educated young woman is pressured by her father into an arranged marriage with a lonely farmer in this drama set during WWII.

High and Low(ja)

A Yokohama shoe executive faces a wrenching choice when kidnappers mistakenly seize his chauffeur’s son but demand the ransom anyway.

The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice(ja)

The arranged marriage between a capricious woman from Tokyo high society and a quiet and rustic man is tested by a marital crisis.

Samurai Rebellion(ja)

The mother of a feudal lord's only heir is kidnapped by the lord. Her husband and his samurai father must decide whether to accept the unjust decision, or risk death to rescue her.

The Tale of Zatoichi(ja)

The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur and master swordsman. Zatoichi targets a yakuza-controlled village, because war with a neighbouring town's smaller gang is brewing.

Jigen Daisuke(ja)

Feeling unhappy with his gun, Jigen is looking for the world’s best gunsmith. He finally finds out that Chiharu, who runs a watch shop, is the person he’s been seeking. Then, Jigen meets Oto, who comes to Chiharu’s shop looking for a gun. Jigen finds out about Oto's secrets and the mysterious organization that’s after her. After Oto is kidnapped, Jigen gets into a desperate battle to save her.

Hardball(en)

An aimless young man who is scalping tickets, gambling and drinking, agrees to coach a Little League team from the Cabrini Green housing project in Chicago as a condition of getting a loan from a friend.

Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance(ja)

Official Shogunate executioner Ogami Itto has been framed for disloyalty to the Shogunate by the Yagyu clan, against whom he now is waging a one-man war, along with his infant son, Daigoro.

Samaritan Zatoichi(ja)

Zatoichi is forced to kill a young man who owes a debt to a yakuza boss. Moments later, his sister Osode arrives with the money she earned (prostituting herself) to pay his debts. The bosses true motives are revealed and he attempts to steal Osode even though the debt is paid. Zatoichi realizes his grievous error and protects the girl from the gang. Osode and Zatoichi are caught in a dilemma as she must rely on her brother's killer for protection and Zatoichi wrestles with the injustice he has caused.

Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Final Episode(ja)

While Hirono is in prison, his rival Takeda turns his own crime organization into a political party, whose two executives stir up new tensions in their thirst for power.

The Tale of Zatoichi Continues(ja)

Returning to the village where a year before he had killed Hirate, a much-admired opponent, Zatoichi encounters another swordsman and former rival in love.

A Hen in the Wind(ja)

Tokiko patiently awaits her husband's return from WWII when her four-year old son falls ill. She takes him to the doctor but has no means of paying, so she resorts to prostitution. A month later, her husband returns to find his desperate wife, who tells him the truth. Together, they must deal with the consequences.

New Tale of Zatoichi(ja)

Wishing to find peace, Zatoichi travels to his old village but only finds trouble when he ends up in a love triangle and finds old scores have followed him home.

Zatoichi's Vengeance(ja)

Zatoichi comes upon a dying man who asks him to give a bag of money to "Taichi". Zatoichi has no idea who this is but when he comes upon a small town harassed by gangsters, he finds that "Taichi" was the man's young son. Along his travels he also met a blind monk who makes Zatoichi question his murderous lifestyle. In trying to help the town, Zatoichi kills some gangsters and becomes a hero to the boy. He must make a choice of whether to use non-violence and set a good example, or violence and set the boy on the wrong path in life.