Eiji Okuda Movies
- 2009
Japanese anime guru Kazuaki Kiriya ascended to prominence with his sprawling fantasy Casshern (2004), a tale that coupled post-apocalyptic visions with early 21st century design, and shared the success of the manga and anime from which Kiriya and his colleagues adapted it. Kiriya waited five years before emerging with this follow-up, produced by J-horror godfather Takashige Ichise (The Grudge). Described by more than one source in the press as a Japanese equivalent of Robin Hood, it unfurls in the late 16th century. The year is 1582, and the most miserly warlord in Japan, Oda Nobunaga, promptly falls prey to an assassin's blade and is succeeded by his own right-hand-man, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (voiced by Eiji Okuda). Unfortunately, all is far from well on the sociological front: a huge chasm exists between rich and poor, and evening things out is super-thief Goemon (voice of Yosuke Eguchi), who spends his day redistributing wealth to the lower economic classes. Fate takes an intriguing turn when Goemon acquires a small, ornate, handcrafted box of foreign design that he swipes from a merchant and hands to a homeless kid (voice of Arashi Fukasawa). Also after the box is the bugyo (or administrator) of Hideyoshi, who sends a vicious ninja (Kirigakure Saizo) out to take care of Goemon and retrieve the item; Goemon recovers it first, however, while saving the young homeless boy from a bellicose swordsman (voice of Tetsuji Tamayama). In no time at all, Goemon finds himself being pursued by everyone under the sun including Mitsunari, re-encounters a lost love from his past, Cha Cha (voice of Ryoko Hirosue) and realizes that the box will play an integral role in the nation's future. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yosuke Eguchi, Eiji Okuda, (more)
- 2006
A retired school principal estranged from his grown daughter and still grieving the recent death of his alcoholic wife finds new meaning in life by protecting a young girl whose careless mother leaves her open to the repulsively salacious advances of her abusive lover in director Eiji Okuda's tender road movie. His wife gone and his daughter still bitter about his poor parenting skills, recent retiree Matsutaro Yasuda (Ken Ogata) retreats to a crumbling apartment building in the Japanese countryside. Upon witnessing the neglect with which his new, loose living neighbor Mayumi (Saki Takaoka) treats her five year-old daughter Sachi (Hana Sugiura), Matsutaro determines to protect the innocent child at all costs. When Mayumi's violent boyfriend Koji (Tomokazu Ohashi) attempts to have his way with the frightened girl one night, stealthy Matsutaro knocks the pervert unconscious and spirits the young girl away to safety. Later, as aimless Japanese boy Wataru (Shota Matsuda) joins the pair on their curious journey, seasoned Detective Iwai (Eiji Okuda) vows to reunite mother and daughter even if it means bending the rules of standard police procedure. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ken Ogata, Hana Sugiura, (more)
- 2003
Jin (Koji Yakusho of Shall We Dance?), a straight-laced but unfocused cop, works in the robbery division. A widower for two years, Jin does his best to be there for his young daughter, Misaki (Rio Sugano), while remaining dedicated to his work. One day, Misaki is in the park and a kindly older man (Akira Emoto) fixes her bike. Jin inadvertently stumbles upon a clue in a recent robbery, and makes an arrest. The older man turns out to be the legendary burglar, Nekota. Over several days of questioning, Jin and "Neko" have a few discussions about Jin's personal life and about their respective jobs. Neko eventually confesses, telling Jin, "I'll make your name for you." Jin gets a promotion, although it turns out that Neko is suffering from piles, and apparently confessed to get free medical care. Once cured, Neko is taken on a lengthy investigation of his crimes and grows closer to Jin, teaching him the ways of a skilled burglar. With Neko's mentoring, Jin begins to excel in his work. After Neko goes to prison, Jin develops a romantic relationship with Makiko (Yui Natsukawa), the kind young woman who runs his daughter's daycare center. But when they get too intimate, Misaki reacts badly, refusing to eat for several days. Jin reluctantly breaks off the relationship. Years later, Neko is released from prison and stops by to let Jin know that he is not retiring from his life of crime. Jin soon learns that his old mentor is committing robberies again, and concealing a secret. The Hunter and the Hunted was shown at the 2004 New York Asian American International Film Festival and marks the feature debut of director Izuru Narushima. It was scripted by Yoshiko Kaomatsu and Satoshi Fukushima, based on a story by Satoshi Iizuka. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Koji Yakusho, Akira Emoto, (more)
Set in the world of the Japanese Adult Video (AV) industry, Bastoni -- The Stick Handlers has the distinction of being one of the only films to address the inhabitants of the porn industry with dignity and humanity. The film tells the story of Yamaguchi (Shunsuke Matsuoka), a celebrated AV actor who is married to Natsuo (Yuka Kojima), another AV actor who is taking early retirement from the business to give birth to the couple's first child. Their contentment is compromised by the appearance of Miyuki (Amiko Kanetani), Yamaguchi's ex-girlfriend. Miyuki ended their relationship after learning of Yamaguchi's career in the AV industry, but she subsequently became determined to make her ex-boyfriend understand the pitfalls of his workplace. Deciding the best way to do this is to enter the AV industry herself, Miyuki befriends Natsuo, and regrets and recriminations ensue. The insight shown in Bastoni -- The Stick Handlers was undoubtedly the result of director Kazuhiko Nakamura's own earlier career as an assistant director in Japan's porn industry. The film had its world premiere at the 2002 Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shunsuke Matsuoka, Yuka Kojima, (more)
Kei Kumai's Umi Wa Miteita (The Sea Watches) has a script written by the late Japanese master Akira Kurosawa. O-Shin (Nagiko Tohno) is a geisha. One day a samurai named Fusanosuke (Hidetaka Yoshioka) appears in her town on the run after having killed a man. She assists him by cutting his hair. The two fall in love, despite the protestations from O-Shin's friend Kikuno (Misa Shimizu). Eventually Fusanosuke leaves, only to return one day and reveal that he is engaged. The second half of the film involves O-Shin again falling in love with a samurai, this one named Ryosuke (Masatoshi Nagase). The Sea Watches was screened at the San Sebastian Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Misa Shimizu, Nagiko Tohno, (more)
- 2001
Noted character actor Eiji Okuda makes his directorial debut with this Lolita-esque romantic drama adapted from a book by Mikihiko Renjyo. Tomokawa (Okuda) is a tough guy turned bored cop who spends much of his time sating lonely housewives and looking after retarded teen Sukemasa. One day while hanging out at a bar, he is approached by a 15-year-old enjo kosai named Yoko, offering a round of illicit sex in exchange for cash. Though he demurs, their paths cross again and soon a relationship of sorts forms. Yoko, it turns out, is Sukemasa's sister; and both are the children of his old flame Yukie (Marie Natsuki), a grasping, self-centered woman. Moreover, Yoko's grandfather is responsible for the massive tattoo sprawling across Tomokawa's back. Tomokawa soon takes both teens under his wing, protecting them from their heartless mother, and their lecherous stepfather. Soon, Yoko gets a similarly massive tattoo illustrating her bond with her policeman savior. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eiji Okuda, Mayu Ozawa, (more)
- 1998
Few films made in Japan have created such international outrage as Shunya Ito's Pride -- an affectionate biopic on that country's most notorious prime minister, Hideki Tojo, who was hanged in 1948 during the Tokyo trials for war crimes. Funded by renown ultra right-wing investors, this film struck many in China and Korea -- two countries on the receiving end of much of Japanese war crimes -- as close to a deliberate provocation, especially since Japan has yet to officially come clean about such wartime atrocities as the Rape of Nanking or the murderous Unit 731. Instead of the incarnation of evil that U.S. propaganda portrayed him as, Tojo, played by Masahiko Tsugawa, is presented as being a brilliant leader, a passionate nationalist, and a loving family man. His goal was not the subjection of Asia under a Japanese empire, but to cast off the yolk of Western colonialism. American prosecutor Joseph Keenan (Scott Wilson) is seen as shrill, ignorant, and scheming, while Indian judge Radhabinod Pal as the sole dissenting jurist is the film's only non-Japanese hero. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Masahiko Tsugawa, Ayumi Ishida, (more)
Rokuro Mochizuki's A Yakuza In Love tells the tale of a brutal gangster who discovers a softer side when he falls for a demure waitress. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eiji Okuda, Yuna Natsuo, (more)
- 1995
Based on a book by noted novelist Shusaku Endo, this film concerns three lost souls looking for meaning and redemption: Mitsuko Naruse (Kumiko Akiyoshi) is a recent divorcee still wracked with a guilty conscious; Isobe (Hisashi Igawa) is a white-collar worker morning the death of his wife to cancer; and elderly Kiguchi (Yoichi Numata) is still plagued by memories of the War. All three find themselves on the tour bus headed towards Benares, an Indian holy site on the banks of the Ganges River. As the film progresses, the trio are less tourists than pilgrims looking for relief of private demons and spiritual rebirth. Kiguchi tries to understand why he survived in the Burmese jungles while his mates all died. Fulfilling a promise given to his dead wife, Isobe is looking for his wife's reborn soul. Mitsuko looks for Otsu (Eiji Okuda), a Catholic monk and her former lover. This film, which was directed by Kei Kumai, also features performance by screen legend Toshiro Mifune. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Jean and Colette are teen-aged sisters living in Toronto who jointly conceive a passionate interest in their new neighbor, a handsome, piano-playing Japanese man named Takahasi. They are a bit too young to engage in sexual acts with him, but as soon as they are able, they tentatively cooperate in wooing him, and the threesome shares at least one night together in bed. Later, as feuding adults, the girls consider their first passion and eventually work out a way to be reconciled with one another. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Macha Grenon
- 1990
Veteran director Kei Kumai spins this tale about Toyoichi Otomo (Eiji Okuda) who suffers from psychological and spiritual troubles after a horrific industrial accident. He lives with his elderly mother (Kyoko Kagawa) and wife (Mieko Harada) near Mt. Aso in rural Kyushu. He seeks solace in a small religious group run by Buddhist nun Chishu-bo (Keiko Kishi) who claims to be the 68th descendant of famed 11th century poet Izumi Shikibu. The members of her sect regard her as a living saint. Yet instead of balming his soul, she riles his libido by playing a sexual cat-and-mouse game with the fragile Toyoichi. When she does bed him, it leads to a miracle healing -- followed by a terrible calamity. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eiji Okuda, Keiko Kishi, (more)
- 1980
In this melodrama, a young Japanese student juggles two different lovers with the usual consequences. She is actually in love with one of them, an odd, eccentric journalist, but for various reasons she does not break off the relationship with her other lover, a less than likeable student. In addition to these evolving liaisons, a few other men come into the picture, none of whom are great advertisements for men in general or for fidelity. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kaori Momoi, Eiji Okuda, (more)
