Shōzō Nanbu

Acting

Shōzō Nanbu

Born

1898-06-26 (128)

Place of birth

Hiji, Ōita Prefecture, Japan

Known for

Acting

Credits

61 titles

Known for

Professional Killers poster
8.0

A shikakenin was an under-the-cover trade that undertook killing in Edo. Hanemon of Otowa, an agency that introduced laborers and maids, was also one of these. Katsugoro Iseya was a timber dealer who had come in as a client. His target was the constructions magistrate Hanno, and the Tatsumiya who sipped on the benefits. Hanemon who had a stong code towards killing, where he would only kill those who do no good to be in the world, accepts this request. Baian Fujieda, a needle doctor would carry out the killing. However, the professional killer Baian fails to bring down Tatsumiya. Hanemon then looks to another shikakenin, the ronin Sanai Nishimura for the role. Although Sanai's ability with the sword is good, he lives poorly in a tenement, and accepts this commission on the condition that it is kept a secret from his wife and child. Here, they close in on Hanno and Tatsumiya again...

Professional Killers

1972

Ugetsu poster
8.0

In 16th century Japan, peasants Genjuro and Tobei sell their earthenware pots to a group of soldiers in a nearby village, in defiance of a local sage's warning against seeking to profit from warfare. Genjuro's pursuit of both riches and the mysterious Lady Wakasa, as well as Tobei's desire to become a samurai, run the risk of destroying both themselves and their wives, Miyagi and Ohama.

Ugetsu

1953

Tsuki no kagebōshi: Kieyuku nōmen poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Tsuki no kagebōshi: Kieyuku nōmen

1958

Sansho the Bailiff poster
8.1

In 11th-century feudal Japan, following the exile of an idealistic governor, his wife and children are separated by slave traders; the children, Zushio and Anju, are sold into brutal servitude under the cruel bailiff Sansho.

Sansho the Bailiff

1954

Akebono sō no satsujin poster
NR

A body is found poisoned in a room of a luxury apartment late at night and a beautiful mother turns herself in to protect her rebellious daughter.

Akebono sō no satsujin

1957

Wearing a Long-Sleeved Kimono poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Wearing a Long-Sleeved Kimono

1958

Film credits

1960s · 16 titles

The Betrayal poster
6.5

A naively honorable samurai comes to the bitter realization that his devotion to moral samurai principles makes him an oddity among his peers, and a very vulnerable oddity in consequence. He takes the blame for the misdeeds of others, with the understanding that he will be exiled for one year and restored to the clan's good graces after the political situation dies down. As betrayal begins to heap upon betrayal, he realizes he'll have to live out his life as a ronin, if not hunted down and killed.

The Betrayal

1966

Irezumi poster
6.8

Otsuya, the daughter of a rich merchant, elopes with her lover Shinsuke, an employee of her father's. During their flight, Otsuya's beauty attracts the gaze of Seikichi, a mysterious master tattooist who sees her pristine white skin as the perfect canvas for his art. The image of the large demonic spider that he emblazons across Otsuya's back marks her as the property of another man, radically altering her relationships with all around her as her personality seems to transform under its influence.

Irezumi

1966

The Wife of Seishu Hanaoka poster
6.6

The disturbing story of a physician who conducted the first operation with general anaesthetic, and the women in his life who are both so determined to win his love that they volunteer as subjects for his experiments

The Wife of Seishu Hanaoka

1967

The Demon of Mount Oe poster
6.5

A band of warriors journeys to Mount Oe to rescue abducted women from a demon, overcoming supernatural threats like a giant spider and a diabolical witch along the way.

The Demon of Mount Oe

1960

Ninja, A Band of Assassins poster
6.4

Warlord Oda Nobunaga seeks to unite a fractured Japan. A young man trained in the arts of ninjitsu is manipulated by a ninja master into attempting to assassinate the warlord before he completes his task.

Ninja, A Band of Assassins

1962

Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters poster
6.6

A greedy developer, in league with a corrupt Shrine Magistrate, brutally tries to drive people out of a tenement building and destroy the shrine in back. But he makes the fatal mistake of hosting a 100 Ghost Stories ceremony without the closing cleansing ritual, opening the door for the Yokai Monsters to punish the wicked.

Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters

1968

Shinobi no Mono 4: Siege poster
6.2

[Period covered: 1614-1615] Tokugawa Ieyasu is now the ruler of all Japan. But one last loose thread must be tied up before his domination is complete -- the destruction of the Toyotomi clan, now beseiged in Osaka castle. Ieyasu's ninja are the only ones who can penetrate the fortress, but unfortunately for Ieyasu, Kirigakure Saizo and the other Toyotomi ninja can just as easily get out. As armies of samurai maneuver for battle, the fate of the nation will be decided by a desperate struggle in the dark!

Shinobi no Mono 4: Siege

1964

New Tale of Zatoichi poster
7.0

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.

New Tale of Zatoichi

1963

The Bride from Hades poster
7.4

On the night of the summer Obon festival, Hagiwara Shinzaburo meets a beautiful courtesan named Otsuyu. Not knowing she's a ghost, he becomes infatuated by her.

The Bride from Hades

1968

The Temple of Wild Geese poster
6.5

Satoko is a mistress by trade or fate: when her master, the silkscreen artist of the Kohoan Temple in Kyoto, dies, she is given to the temple's lascivious head priest Kikuchi. She is drawn to a melancholy young acolyte, Jinen, who has observed the profligacy of his cruel master and Satoko's utter dependence on the man. Jinen is both fascinated and disturbed by Satoko's interest in him; he is similarly caught between loathing of Kikuchi and of the dark circumstances of his birth and his own moral weakness. The story unfolds in a dreamlike manner—a flashback inspired by a now-infamous image on a silkscreen in the souvenir shop at the so-called Temple of the Wild Geese.

The Temple of Wild Geese

1962

The Wandering Princess poster
6.5

Pu Zhe, younger brother of the Emperor of Manchukuo, marries Ryuko, daughter of an aristocratic family. To the surprise of all, a deep love between Pu Zhe and Ryuko develops and is put to the test when Japan loses the war.

The Wandering Princess

1960

Buddha poster
10.0

An Indian prince leaves his world of comfort and riches behind to wander and meditate for six years in search of spiritual enlightenment. Siddartha (Cojoin Hong) turns his back on the old religion when people are starving needlessly and holy rituals include human sacrifices. During his meditations, he is tempted by erotic dancing women, demons, and the evil machinations of his criminal cousin. Devastate to attain the spiritual perfection and become the Buddha. He travels to convert followers by his kindness and wisdom, gaining a multitude of believers when he stops an elephant from crushing a local priest. Buddha of course goes on to become one of the great religious leaders of the world.

Buddha

1961

Young Boss: Invitation to Fight poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Young Boss: Invitation to Fight

1966

The Tale of Zatoichi Continues poster
7.1

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.

The Tale of Zatoichi Continues

1962

Shinobi No Mono 5: Return of Mist Saizo poster
6.5

[Period covered: 1616] On May 8th, 1615 the summer campaign of Osaka has reached the climax. This film takes place immediately following 'Ninja 4: Mist Saizo, Last of The Ninja'. Staying one step ahead of the Shogun’s forces, “Mist” Saizo tries to save the Sanada Clan, and avenge the death of his lord by assassinating the first Tokugawa Shogun. Following the first four films in this remarkable series, more previously unknown Ninja skills are shown to the world for the first time. The action heats up as Saizo single-handedly attacks the Shogun’s Palace!

Shinobi No Mono 5: Return of Mist Saizo

1964

Destiny's Son poster
6.8

In Edo-period Japan, Shingo is born the son of an assassin who was executed for murdering her lord’s concubine. Decades later, his adoptive family is massacred for keeping the secret. Armed with an unbeatable swordfighting technique, Shingo embarks on the path of the masterless samurai in search of vengeance and a path beyond his own ignominious origins.

Destiny's Son

1962

1950s · 31 titles

Ugetsu poster
8.0

In 16th century Japan, peasants Genjuro and Tobei sell their earthenware pots to a group of soldiers in a nearby village, in defiance of a local sage's warning against seeking to profit from warfare. Genjuro's pursuit of both riches and the mysterious Lady Wakasa, as well as Tobei's desire to become a samurai, run the risk of destroying both themselves and their wives, Miyagi and Ohama.

Ugetsu

1953

Tsuki no kagebōshi: Kieyuku nōmen poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Tsuki no kagebōshi: Kieyuku nōmen

1958

Sansho the Bailiff poster
8.1

In 11th-century feudal Japan, following the exile of an idealistic governor, his wife and children are separated by slave traders; the children, Zushio and Anju, are sold into brutal servitude under the cruel bailiff Sansho.

Sansho the Bailiff

1954

Akebono sō no satsujin poster
NR

A body is found poisoned in a room of a luxury apartment late at night and a beautiful mother turns herself in to protect her rebellious daughter.

Akebono sō no satsujin

1957

Wearing a Long-Sleeved Kimono poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Wearing a Long-Sleeved Kimono

1958

Sora tobu wakamusha poster
NR

Kotaro Tenma, the young warrior of justice, infiltrates enemy territory and uses his ninjutsu skills with to defeat the villains.

Sora tobu wakamusha

1957

Miss Oyu poster
7.2

Shinnosuke is introduced to Shizu as a prospective marriage partner, but he falls in love with her widowed sister Oyu. Convention forbids Oyu to marry because she has to raise her son as the head of her husband's family. Oyu convinces Shinnosuke and Shizu to marry so that she can remain close to Shinnosuke.

Miss Oyu

1951

Kieta koban yashiki poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Kieta koban yashiki

1958

Chiyoda Castle in Flames poster
NR

A historical drama that tells the story of a simple girl, Chizuru, who entered the imperial palace as a maid and rose to the top because of her love affair.

Chiyoda Castle in Flames

1959

Odd Obsession poster
6.2

A middle-aged husband of a younger woman finds her youth intimidating to the point that he cannot become aroused. His solution involves the introduction of his daughter's lover to his wife.

Odd Obsession

1959

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Zoku tenshi mo otoshi goro

1956

Tenshi mo otoshi goro poster
NR

Two college girls who work part-time as shrine maidens swap their names with private investigators conducting a marriage background check, throwing their boyfriends into total chaos.

Tenshi mo otoshi goro

1956

Fūraibō ichiban shōbu poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Fūraibō ichiban shōbu

1958

Ninjutsu wakashu: Tenma Kotarō poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Ninjutsu wakashu: Tenma Kotarō

1957

Kijo keizu poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Kijo keizu

1959

Yōkina nakama poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Yōkina nakama

1958

Gate of Hell poster
7.1

Japan, 1159. Moritō, a brave samurai, performs a heroic act by rescuing the lovely Kesa during a violent uprising. Moritō falls in love with her, but becomes distraught when he finds out that she is married.

Gate of Hell

1953

Tenryū no karasu poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Tenryū no karasu

1959

Undercurrent poster
6.2

In Kyoto a young kimono maker with traditional ideas gets involved with a married professor.

Undercurrent

1956

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Okesa karasu

1958

Haha ningyō poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Haha ningyō

1951

The Shadow That Kills the Moon poster
NR

By day, he is a young master whose beauty melts women’s hearts. By night, he is the elusive “White Hood.”

The Shadow That Kills the Moon

1955

Bara no kōdōkan poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Bara no kōdōkan

1956

Taira Clan Saga poster
6.8

Japan, 1137. The Taira family, a samurai clan, becomes involved in the disputes between Emperor Toba and the monks of Mount Hiei.

Taira Clan Saga

1955

Jigoku dani no hanayome poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Jigoku dani no hanayome

1955

Asashio yushio poster
NR

A sweet and melancholy melodrama set against the backdrop of the beautiful Seto Inland Sea, in which a pair of twin sisters, one a young lady of high birth, the other a maid, are manipulated by the threads of fate as they vie for the affection of the same young man.

Asashio yushio

1956

Akōgishi poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Akōgishi

1954

Midori no hate ni te o furu tenshi poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Midori no hate ni te o furu tenshi

1951

New Tale of Genji: Shizuka and Yoshitsune poster
NR

1956 Daiei movie

New Tale of Genji: Shizuka and Yoshitsune

1956

Clothes of Deception poster
7.0

The story of two sisters in post-war Japan. One is a geisha and the other works for the tourist board.

Clothes of Deception

1951

Demon Sword poster
NR

A young swordsman takes on the mysterious, deadly “Demon Sword” wielded by a nihilistic master swordsman who trusts neither human compassion nor a woman’s heart… What is the fate of the undefeated Demon Sword?

Demon Sword

1953

1940s · 11 titles

Series credits