Masahiro Makino

Directing

Masahiro Makino

Born — Died

1908-02-29 — 1993-10-29

Place of birth

Kyoto, Japan

Known for

Directing

Credits

45 titles

Masahiro Makino (マキノ 雅弘, Makino Masahiro, February 29, 1908 - October 29, 1993) was a Japanese film director. He directed more than 260 films, primarily in the chanbara and yakuza genres. His real name was Masatada (正唯), but he took the stage name Masahiro, the kanji for which he changed multiple times (including 雅広, 正博, and 雅裕). Masahiro Makino was born in Kyoto, the eldest son of the film director and producer Shōzō Makino, who is often called the father of Japanese cinema. As a youth he acted in over 100 films before debuting as a film director in 1926 at age 18. His critically acclaimed nihilistic jidaigeki such as Roningai (1928) made him one of the top Japanese film directors, but hi…

Known for

Kanbei's Bargain Sale poster
7.0

Wandering swordsman Kanbei, parading through town with a sign that reads "Seeking fights, selling my life cheap." One day, he receives a request from the star of the daughter's kabuki, Nakamura Tsurukichi. However, unable to bear seeing a face reminiscent of his first love, he disappears as soon as the task is completed. But later, Tsurukichi returns to ask Kanbei for help once again...

Kanbei's Bargain Sale

1958

The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang poster
6.8

The Ni Family is the most well know and respected group of firefighters in the Kanto region. When their leader dies and the successor disappears, Tsuruji, a beautiful yet tough geisha, becomes the boss. But will she be able to confront a yakuza gang trying to take over the area?

The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang

1972

New Prison Walls of Abashiri poster
6.5

Former soldier, Suehiro Katsuji, fights violent gangs and powerful Chinese merchants during the post-war period in Japan.

New Prison Walls of Abashiri

1968

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Tengu daoshi

1944

Whirlwind Magistrate poster
6.0

One of the most popular history-based characters is back when Magistrate Saemonojo Toyama no Kinsan investigates the tragic shipwreck of the 'Sadomaru' near Cape Kasumigaseki. The ship carrying gold bars from Sado Island to Edo for the shogunate disappeared into the ocean on a day with clear skies and no wind. While it is conveniently blamed on a surprise tornado or whirlwind, the Sado Magistrate asks his lifelong friend Magistrate Toyama to get to the root of the mystery in order to save his reputation and avoid a life of shame.

Whirlwind Magistrate

1959

The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry poster
7.5

Third part of Nihon Kyokakuden series is set in Kanto in 1924. Ken Takakura playing a ship's mate befriending fish shop owners harassed by yakuza.

The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry

1965

Film credits

Behind the camera

Kanbei's Bargain Sale poster
7.0

Wandering swordsman Kanbei, parading through town with a sign that reads "Seeking fights, selling my life cheap." One day, he receives a request from the star of the daughter's kabuki, Nakamura Tsurukichi. However, unable to bear seeing a face reminiscent of his first love, he disappears as soon as the task is completed. But later, Tsurukichi returns to ask Kanbei for help once again...

Kanbei's Bargain Sale

1958

The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang poster
6.8

The Ni Family is the most well know and respected group of firefighters in the Kanto region. When their leader dies and the successor disappears, Tsuruji, a beautiful yet tough geisha, becomes the boss. But will she be able to confront a yakuza gang trying to take over the area?

The Kanto Scarlet Cherry Gang

1972

New Prison Walls of Abashiri poster
6.5

Former soldier, Suehiro Katsuji, fights violent gangs and powerful Chinese merchants during the post-war period in Japan.

New Prison Walls of Abashiri

1968

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Tengu daoshi

1944

Whirlwind Magistrate poster
6.0

One of the most popular history-based characters is back when Magistrate Saemonojo Toyama no Kinsan investigates the tragic shipwreck of the 'Sadomaru' near Cape Kasumigaseki. The ship carrying gold bars from Sado Island to Edo for the shogunate disappeared into the ocean on a day with clear skies and no wind. While it is conveniently blamed on a surprise tornado or whirlwind, the Sado Magistrate asks his lifelong friend Magistrate Toyama to get to the root of the mystery in order to save his reputation and avoid a life of shame.

Whirlwind Magistrate

1959

The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry poster
7.5

Third part of Nihon Kyokakuden series is set in Kanto in 1924. Ken Takakura playing a ship's mate befriending fish shop owners harassed by yakuza.

The Domain: Kanto Legends of Chivalry

1965

The Domain: Duel at Thunder Gate poster
9.0

The life of entertainers in Asakusa’s pleasure quarters. An exciting yakuza story with superb action.

The Domain: Duel at Thunder Gate

1966

My Six Favorite Men — Speedy Men poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

My Six Favorite Men — Speedy Men

1954

Rogue poster
7.0

Coal miner Isamu Oba is forced to quit his village and leave his mother and siblings behind. Mining buddy Ichiro accompanies him to Tokyo, and the pair enjoy several "fish-out-of-water" sequences before finding employment at a boxing gym with trainer Sawada and his spunky sister Tomoko. The boys also find part time night jobs as roving minstrels in the club district courtesy of benevolent gang boss Asakawa. Of course, they run afoul of boss Karasawa's cruel gang. Karasawa also has it in for Asakawa, and this indirectly throws a spanner into the works as far as Isamu's burgeoning success as a kickboxer. When Asakawa's HQ is burned to the ground by Karasawa's men, Asakawa tries to kill Karasawa - which, of course, leads to his own gruesome death. Isamu goes on the rampage with his sword, wiping out Karasawa and men.

Rogue

1968

The Domain: Flower and Dragon poster
10.0

No synopsis available yet.

The Domain: Flower and Dragon

1969

Bad Reputation: Showdown of the Best poster
8.0

No synopsis available yet.

Bad Reputation: Showdown of the Best

1969

Bad Reputation: Showdown of the Best poster
8.0

No synopsis available yet.

Bad Reputation: Showdown of the Best

1969

The Kingdom of Jirocho 3 poster
10.0

The third part of the story about feudal boss Jirocho and his underlings.

The Kingdom of Jirocho 3

1964

The Kingdom of Jirocho 3 poster
10.0

The third part of the story about feudal boss Jirocho and his underlings.

The Kingdom of Jirocho 3

1964

The Kingdom of Jirocho 4 poster
8.0

The continuing adventures of the Jirocho gang.

The Kingdom of Jirocho 4

1965

The Kingdom of Jirocho 4 poster
8.0

The continuing adventures of the Jirocho gang.

The Kingdom of Jirocho 4

1965

Utsukushiki taka poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Utsukushiki taka

1954

The Domain poster
6.5

The feud between two rival delivery companies, Kibamasa and Okiyama, heats up as the head of Kibamasa falls ill.

The Domain

1964

The Kingdom of Jirocho 1 poster
6.5

The tale of real-life Yakuza boss Shimizu Jirocho is told from his earliest beginnings as a gambler on the road as he forms his gang and sets out on the path to fame and fortune. One of the smartest and strongest of all the gang bosses, he went on to survive the end of the samurai era and become a successful businessman. But first, he must survive against all odds in order to build his reputation and develop his strength. Powerful portrayals of the group are led by the great Tsuruta Koji with help from the likes of Matsukata Hiroki.

The Kingdom of Jirocho 1

1963

The Kingdom of Jirocho 1 poster
6.5

The tale of real-life Yakuza boss Shimizu Jirocho is told from his earliest beginnings as a gambler on the road as he forms his gang and sets out on the path to fame and fortune. One of the smartest and strongest of all the gang bosses, he went on to survive the end of the samurai era and become a successful businessman. But first, he must survive against all odds in order to build his reputation and develop his strength. Powerful portrayals of the group are led by the great Tsuruta Koji with help from the likes of Matsukata Hiroki.

The Kingdom of Jirocho 1

1963

The Kingdom of Jirocho 2 poster
8.0

Jirocho and his henchmen befriend Ishimatsu, a wanderer in Mishima.

The Kingdom of Jirocho 2

1963

The Kingdom of Jirocho 2 poster
8.0

Jirocho and his henchmen befriend Ishimatsu, a wanderer in Mishima.

The Kingdom of Jirocho 2

1963

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 4 poster
7.5

Fierce war breaks out when Shujiro’s rival clan attempts to sabotage his lucrative construction business.

Contemporary Tales of Chivalry 4

1967

Jirocho’s Days of Youth: Boss of the Tokai Region poster
7.0

His skill and courage were the best in Japan! The life story of Jirocho, a man who protected people on the Tokaido Road. The fearless Kinnosuke Nakamura enthusiastically plays the young Jirocho from Shimizu in this chivalrous story.

Jirocho’s Days of Youth: Boss of the Tokai Region

1960

Jirocho’s Days of Youth: Boss of the Tokai Region poster
7.0

His skill and courage were the best in Japan! The life story of Jirocho, a man who protected people on the Tokaido Road. The fearless Kinnosuke Nakamura enthusiastically plays the young Jirocho from Shimizu in this chivalrous story.

Jirocho’s Days of Youth: Boss of the Tokai Region

1960

The Traveling Ruffian poster
6.0

Adventures of Mori no Ishimatsu, a famous member of Jirocho gang. Ishimatsu is strong in righteousness weak to mercy, who falls in love at first sight to a woman just as fiery as he is. Great all-star cast brings to life the story of a true yakuza.

The Traveling Ruffian

1958

The Traveling Ruffian poster
6.0

Adventures of Mori no Ishimatsu, a famous member of Jirocho gang. Ishimatsu is strong in righteousness weak to mercy, who falls in love at first sight to a woman just as fiery as he is. Great all-star cast brings to life the story of a true yakuza.

The Traveling Ruffian

1958

Saheiji’s Casebooks: The Purple Hood poster
NR

The purple hood reveals the embezzlement of public money by officials. A remake of Masahiro Makino's 1923 film.

Saheiji’s Casebooks: The Purple Hood

1949

Sinking the Unsinkable poster
NR

Japanese Warmovie

Sinking the Unsinkable

1944

Kin Toyama-san's Detective Story: Man in the Shadows poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Kin Toyama-san's Detective Story: Man in the Shadows

1956

Japan's Most Chivalrous poster
10.0

No synopsis available yet.

Japan's Most Chivalrous

1966

Les Miserables II: Banner of Love and Freedom poster
7.0

No synopsis available yet.

Les Miserables II: Banner of Love and Freedom

1950

Histories of the Chivalrous poster
8.0

A Kansai gang is up to conquer the whole country under the mask of a patriotic group. However after an assassination their henchmen will struggle to avenge the death of their master.

Histories of the Chivalrous

1968

The Domain: Kanda Festival Showdown poster
9.0

The Domain: Kanda Festival Showdown

The Domain: Kanda Festival Showdown

1966

Temple of Revenge poster
NR

Revenge breeds revenge. Ikuta Denpachiro, the martial arts instructor of the Honda family in Koriyama, lost a fight to the young samurai Enjo Sozaemon in a martial arts tournament and as a result lost his position and was expelled from home. Wanting to avenge the mockery of himself, he treacherously kills Sozaemon and goes on the run. After long wanderings, Denpachiro, it would seem, finds a peaceful life and love in the face of a devoted and courageous Okatsu, but the brothers of the murdered man are already on his trail, wanting to avenge the death of Sozaemon. The film is based on a story by Itaro Yamagami.

Temple of Revenge

1957

Gambler Tales of Hasshu: A Man's Pledge poster
7.0

This is one of the many films based on the legend of Chuji Kunisada, a wandering gambler and a defender of the weak in the Edo period. In other words, he was the Japanese Robin Hood. In this film Kunisada (Chiezo Kataoka) arrives to a small town terrorized by an evil gang. He insists that he is not Kunisada, as the word is Kunisada has been executed, but of course the audience know better. Sonny Chiba plays an unusual supporting role as a helpless young man unable to defend himself from the gangsters. He does, however, get to play taiko drums and dance with Junko Fuji (who makes her film debut here). Chiba's father, an old judge who helps Kunisada, is played by Takashi Shimura. The film hardly anything exceptional, but it's a pretty decent jidai geki / yakuza drama.

Gambler Tales of Hasshu: A Man's Pledge

1963

The Domain: Severed Relations poster
10.0

The Domain: Severed Relations

The Domain: Severed Relations

1968

Last of the Wild Ones poster
8.0

A legendary gangster raises himself out of a small town and gathers followers on his rise to power.

Last of the Wild Ones

1954

Victory Song poster
5.7

An anthology of thirteen patriotic stories about Japanese citizens contributing to the war effort.

Victory Song

1945

Victory Song poster
5.7

An anthology of thirteen patriotic stories about Japanese citizens contributing to the war effort.

Victory Song

1945