Acting
Zenichiro Kito
Acting credits
NRPre-war jidaigeki film from 1936, produced by Uzumasa Hassei Eiga studios
Yasubei Horibe
1936
5.0The story is based on the serial novel by Tsunoda Kikuo.
The Seven Changes of a Paper Crane (Part 1)
1941
NRKinshiro takes over the family, but he thinks he is going to replace the son of his stepmother but runs into trouble when he befriends the yakuza.
Edo Spring
1936
5.0This film attempts to reconstruct the tension of the Battle of Shanghai through an episode in an understated way, introducting its story in a documentary mode. In the film story, Japan's marine regiment protects Japanese residents and Chinese refugees-women and young children-from rampant street fighting, Shanhai Rikusentai unsparingly uses its first eight minutes for an official-mannered self-justification of the war. From the viewpoint of explaining Japan's military operation,the narration refers to the city s spatial division in sync with maps on screen.
Shanghai Landing Party
1939
6.5No synopsis available yet.
The Man Who Disappeared Yesterday
1941
NRNo synopsis available yet.
The Sculpture of Master Choji
1943
7.0This epic depicts the battle between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen. The focus of the story is the struggle by the unit leader in charge of the main supply wagons and the supply troops to transport materiel to the Uesugi army. To this are added episodes involving an itinerant woman.
The Battle of Kawanakajima
1941
7.4A man gets rid of a cheap pot without knowing it contains a map to a treasure. As word spreads, many join in hunting it.
Tange Sazen and the Pot Worth a Million Ryo
1935
NRA newly hired daily newspaper writer covering the society beat receives an assignment to cover Tokyo at night by walking and observing it. He gets into the right frame of mind by dressing the part as a vagrant with not a penny to his name. He gets into trouble ending up at the police station slammer overnight. He has no material to write about and, with his assignment unfulfilled, faces a cross editor.
The Age of Beginnings
1947
NRA narrative rakugo film depicting the struggles of people desperately living under wartime conditions
Tatakau Otoko
1940
NRWar-time jidaigeki by Eisuke Takizawa.
Kantaro of Ina
1943
7.0After learning that he has accidentally killed a man in a fight, Unokichi must look after the man's pregnant widow.
Life Is like a Somersault
1946
5.9Young, timid bowmaster Kazuma seeks to beat the archery record set by Hoshino Kanzaemon, a mysterious figure who, it is rumoured, drove the previous champion—Kazuma’s father—to suicide. Possessed of much raw talent, Kazuma is very much a coward, holing up in an inn and generally avoiding confrontation. Despite his best attempts to remain clandestine, the locals know of Kazuma’s purpose and an attempt is made on his life. He's saved by Karatsu Kanbei, a samurai who offers to help Kazuma hone his archery skills, though it becomes clear that this apparently selfless stranger has potentially shady ulterior motives.
A Tale of Archery at the Sanjusangendo
1945
The sequel to the 1935 film Great Bodhisattva Pass
Great Bodhisattva Pass 2
1936
NRSet in Qingdao, China, a Japanese company locates an office there and begins work and cooperation with a local Chinese company for business. Many Japanese engineers also move to China, with their families, for the company in order to construct a canal. There are young Chinese resisting the Japanese in this area.
Green Earth
1942
7.0The Way of Drama unfolds in the world of kabuki in Osaka, but also addresses the politics of popular culture and the rivalry between theatrical styles like those used by amateur actors to dramatise contemporary events.
The Way of Drama
1944
8.0Another adaptation of Tange Sazen.
Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki
1939
Japanese film.
Nangoku taiheiki
1937
NRThis film is a film adaptation of one of Shinkokugeki's popular plays, known for its famous line, "Tonight is the last night of Mount Akagi...", starring Sawada Shojiro, the original performer of the title role, and directed by Makino Shozo, the "father of Japanese cinema". It was shot in just four days, including location shooting, in between Shinkokugeki's hectic schedule. Although it is an abbreviated version, it contains almost all of the highlights from Yukitomo Rifu's original play, and conveys the charm of Sawa Masaru, a rare and popular actor, to this day.
Kunisada Chūji
—
6.0The story is based on the serial novel by Tsunoda Kikuo.
The Seven Changes of a Paper Crane (Part 2)
1941
8.0Jidaigeki from 1940
Flowers Blooming In the Storm
1940
NRPrewar jidaigeki starring Denjiro Okochi
Kuriyama Daizen
1936
7.0No synopsis available yet.
A Man's Flower Road of Triumph
1941
10.0Wartime propaganda filmed by the Japanese in occupied China, Shirley Yamaguchi portrays an orphan rescued from the streets by a kindly Japanese merchant marine officer. Part spy thriller and part Shanghai travelogue, it was part of a popular series known as "Chinese Continental Friendship" made by the occupying Japanese in China.
China Night
1940