The Lower Depths (1957)
Residents of a rundown boardinghouse in 19th-century Japan, including a mysterious old man and an aging actor, get drawn into a love triangle that turns violent. When amoral thief Sutekichi breaks off his affair with landlady Osugi to romance her younger sister, Okayo, Osugi extracts her revenge by revealing her infidelity to her jealous husband.
Gemini (1999)
When his mother's untimely death quickly follows his father's, a doctor begins to believe a killer may be targeting him and his amnesiac wife.
Samurai Rebellion (1967)
The mother of a feudal lord's only heir is kidnapped away from her husband by the lord. The husband and his samurai father must decide whether to accept the unjust decision, or risk death to get her back.
Last Days of Edo (1941)
It is a historical drama that follows Katsu Kaishu's efforts to surrender Edo Castle bloodlessly in the first year of the Meiji period.
Sabu and Ichi's Detective Stories (1981)
In Edo, a group of masked samurai stormed a seafood wholesaler, killing the head clerk and robbing the money. They then crossed paths with Ichi, a blind masseur and master swordman. However, upon recognizing his blindness, they decided to leave without confrontation. The next day, a woman known to Ichi and her samurai customer was found murdered at a brothel, leading to the wrongful apprehension of Ichi as the culprit. However, a few days later, when another couple was found murdered in a similar manner, Ichi was released. With his friend, they began their search for the real culprits.
Sabu and Ichi's Detective Stories 2 (1981)
Sabu, a low-ranking samurai, finds himself unable to apprehend the ruthless leader of a violent gang of thieves, which leads to a scolding from his fellow friend and leaves him feeling disheartened. Meanwhile, Ichi, a blind masseur is called upon to provide a massage while passing by the residence of Iwashiroya, a prominent tea wholesaler in Edo. To his surprise, one of Iwashiroya's mistresses, Oshin, reacts unexpectedly upon seeing Ichi's face. Later that night, while returning home drunk, Ichi faces an attack by a ronin, whom he successfully overpowers and kills. Later Ichi accompanied by Sabu, revisits the scene, only to discover that the victim was not a ronin but rather an ordinary townsman. Subsequently, it comes to light that the victim was the sole heir of Iwashiroya. They have fallen into a trap. As rumors circulate that Ichi is the culprit, he is captured and subjected to torture, resulting in him being left critically injured...
Sabu and Ichi's Detective Stories 3 (1982)
In the town of Edo, a series of bizarre incidents occur, where people are kidnapped, have fox masks placed on their faces, and are then thrown out, dragged by white horses. Those who experience this report being suddenly abducted and losing their sight during the ordeal. What's strange is that all the victims are individuals who have come to Edo, struggling to make a living, and aren't even listed in the population registry.Satake, a low-ranking official, suspects that someone with access to the registry in the magistrate's office is behind these crimes. Amidst this, Satake's boss, Saheiji, who had been looking forward to his daughter Midori's wedding, is murdered by men wearing fox masks.
Sabu and Ichi's Detective Stories 4 (1982)
During a gathering of detectives, Satake is the only one not indulging in the hospitality of a wealthy money exchanger. His senior, Yasuke, leaves the gathering and warns Satake they will soon be targeted by a powerful figure. Yasuke is later tortured and killed by an unknown assailant. Satake learns from Yasuke's wife, Osaki, that Sagamiya was targeting him. A female pickpocket, Oyu, reveals Sagamiya's malevolent nature. When Oyu steals from Sagamiya and gives the wallet to Satake, he finds a promissory note for 10,000 ryo borrowed by a young magistrate from Sagamiya. Realizing his colleague, Constable Tanabe Seiichiro, is being manipulated by Sagamiya, Satake faces a dire situation. Midori suspects Satake of having a relationship with Oyu, and Ichi is of no help. Leaving the island for Edo, he is pursued by three ruthless individuals and Sagamiya's sinister bodyguard.
Seppuku: The Sun Goes Down (2024)
Kakizaki Yuji’s period film is not like the jidaigeki films we are used to. While it deals with themes of seppuku, duty, and loyalty to one’s masters and the shogun, we see very little in terms of action. Instead, the film focuses on the inner thoughts and struggles of the protagonist—who is ordered to perform a ritual suicide—his wife, and their entire household, all leading up to the final moment.
The Notorious Bored Samurai (1988)
Mondosuke ventures alone into the land of Nagasaki. There, he encounters young lady named Kinue, the daughter of Nagasaki's former magistrate office constable, Shusuke Kaneko. Monsuke has received information that Shusuke has been captured on charges of embezzlement, prompting him to head to the magistrate's office. However, the arrival of the Chief Inspector, Shigehide Ogiwara , obstructs Monsuke's actions.
The Notorious Bored Samurai 2 (1988)
The Satsuma clan conspires with key figures in the shogunate to overthrow the government. However, the head inspector, Naito Yamashiro no Kami, cannot find the sworn statement of rebellion and takes responsibility by ending his own life. This deeply affects Mondonosuke Saotome, who was close to Yamashiro no Kami and who is known for his restless nature. Seeking an audience with Shogun Tsunayoshi to request a view of the sworn statement, Mondonosuke Saotome is granted permission to go to Satsuma. He sets off on this journey accompanied by Sasao Kinai and Yamashiro no Kami's sister, Shizue . However, on the way, they are attacked by a group of mountain monks. Mondonosuke Saotome manages to repel the monks in a brawl but becomes separated from Kinai and Shizue. Afterward, he encounters a mysterious woman named Oren, and with her guidance, he finally arrives in Satsuma.
The Notorious Bored Samurai 3 (1989)
One night, Sawatari Shusui saves a geisha named Osode from a ninja attack. Osode's mother is said to be carrying the child of the shogun, Tsunayoshi, and has hidden herself on Hachijo Island. Shusui heads to Hachijo to verify the truth. Meanwhile, Shusui had heard from Tsunayoshi that he was planning to appoint the Kofu Chancellor, Tokugawa Tsunatoyo, as the next shogun, but Sumi's father, Makino Bizen no Kami, whose daughter was pregnant with Tsunayoshi's child, was planning to have his daughter's child ascend to the shogunate and seize real power. Amidst all this, Shusui, along with Osode and his servant, Sasao Yoshinari , sets foot on Hachijo Island and meets Tsunayoshi's son, Kotaro, who was born to Osode's mother. But then a group of ninjas attacks.
The Notorious Bored Samurai 4 (1990)
A marriage proposal from the Kishu family is presented to Kikuji, but her brother, Sawatari Shusui, declines it. Around the same time, the lord of the Kishu family dies under suspicious circumstances. Determined to resolve the turmoil within the Kishu domain, Shusui embarks on a journey. The proposed suitor for Kikuji is Shin'nosuke, a young samurai who recently saved Shusui from an attack but left without receiving thanks. Shin'nosuke, heir to the Kishu domain, has headed back to Kishu. However, Iwakura Guntayu, the Edo elder of the Kishu domain, is plotting to install his concubine's child as the new lord and seeks Shin'nosuke's life. Accompanied by Kikuji and his servant, Sasao Yoshinari, Shusui hastens to Kishu to confront the brewing crisis.
The Notorious Bored Samurai 5 (1990)
Sawatari Shusui saved Princess Hiroko of the Konoe family, who was about to be married to Tokugawa Tsunatoyo. However, Hiroko, a tomboy, disappears. As someone is after Hiroko's life, Shusui pursues her whereabouts... Meanwhile, Sasao Yoshinari and Shusui's sister, Kikuji, who were following Shusui, meet a young man and Kikuji is captivated by him, but they do not realize that he is Hiroko in disguise as a young man. Shusui is set to search for Hiroko with her attendant Orui, but that night they are attacked by a group of ninjas at their inn.
The Notorious Bored Samurai 6 (1991)
Sawatari Shusui was told about 7,000 ryo of buried gold by Osuke, who claimed to be a princess of the Fujiwara family. Shusui speculates that powerful people in the Date family and the shogunate are planning to overthrow the shogunate using buried gold and gets excited about a major national crisis. He gets separated from Osuke due to interference but with the help of his sister Kikuji and others he tracks down Osuke's whereabouts. He then realizes that Osuke is not from the Fujiwara family but is actually the daughter of Edo elder Itakura Shōken who has been confined under the pretext of an epidemic disease. Having promised to help Osuke, Shusui goes up to Edo Castle and advises shogun Tsunayoshi not to visit Nikkō Tōshō-gū Shrine which has been restored by Date family because "evil spirits are attached". However, Tsunayoshi is furious and orders him to stay under house arrest.
The Notorious Bored Samurai 7 (1992)
The great merchant of Kaga Daitokuya , had taken control of the domain with his wealth and by holding onto the weakness of Lord Maeda Tsunanori , and was planning to rule over Japan as well. In order to free the lord from evil spirits and monsters, Sawatari Shusui heads towards Kaga Hyakumangoku. On his way, Shusui helps a girl named Oyumi who was about to be bullied by a ronin. Oyumi claims to be the daughter of Daitokuya, but she is actually the daughter of Lord Maeda Tsunanori's concubine. Daitokuya, who had taken control of power by raising Oyumi on behalf of Tsunanori who could not make it public because of his legal wife, was secretly storing weapons and ammunition and was pressuring Tsunanori to sign a letter of rebellion.
The Notorious Bored Samurai 8 (1993)
The two ronin that Sawatari Mondonosuke saved were secret envoys from Ryukyu. They could not stand the tyranny of the Satsuma clan and were trying to appeal to the shogunate. But they were captured by someone afterwards. Mondonosuke’s boredom bug started to stir… Mondonosuke rescued the two who were imprisoned in the mansion of the chief elder, Okubo Iga-no-kami , as well as a senior official, Mamoru, and his niece, Reika , who had also escaped from Ryukyu. The Satsuma clan hired Wakura Juro to assassinate Mondonosuke through his daughter O-Ran, who is a spy …