Hidetaka Yoshioka Movies
- 2005
Set in a digitally recreated postwar Tokyo (in 1958), Takashi Yamazaki's Always -- Sunset on Third Street tells the story of a few people who live and work in a rundown neighborhood, and their impact on one another's lives. Mutsuko (Maki Horikita) arrives from the country, awed by the size of Tokyo, and eager to take on her new position working for the president of an automobile company. She's disappointed when she learns the "automobile company" is a small garage run by the struggling but industrious Suzuki (Shin'ichi Tsutsumi of One Missed Call), and he's upset when he learns that the auto mechanic he thought he was hiring is actually a bicycle repairwoman. Soon enough, Mutsuko settles in with Suzuki, his wife (Hiroko Yakushimaru of Princess Raccoon), and their impish little boy, Ippei (Kazuki Koshimizu). Across the street, Chagawa (Hidetaka Yoshioka of The Hidden Blade) runs the candy store, but he's also a frustrated novelist who earns a little money by writing boys' adventure stories. He has a crush on the local pub owner, Hiromi (Koyuki of The Last Samurai), and she uses that to her advantage when she's saddled with Junnosuke (Kenta Suga of Godzilla: Final Wars), the abandoned son of an acquaintance. One night, she convinces the drunk, smitten Chagawa to take the boy in, promising to visit occasionally. She does, and soon the unlikely trio begins to resemble a family themselves. Always -- Sunset on Third Street is based on a popular manga, and was a hit in Japan, winning a number of awards. The film had its North American premiere at the Subway Cinema's 2006 New York Asian Film Festival with director Yamazaki in attendance. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hidetaka Yoshioka, Shinichi Tsutsumi, (more)
Two teenagers fall for the same boy with unexpected consequences in this popular comedy drama from Japan. Hana (Anne Suzuki) and Arisu (Yu Aoi) are a pair of 15-year-old girls who have been best friends for years. Arisu, the more outgoing of the two, has developed a crush on a boy and they begin dating. So that Hana won't feel left out, Arisu fixes her up with Masa (Tomohiro Kaku), one of her boyfriend's pals. However, after a few months, the bloom is off the rose for Arisu and her beau, while things are going swimmingly for Hana and Masa. Making matters worse for Arisu is the fact she's become quite infatuated with Masa, and one day while she's following him home from school, she sees him accidentally walk into a wall. Masa is knocked cold for a moment, and when he awakes, he sees Arisu, who attempts to convince him that she's actually his girlfriend...something he doesn't recall thanks to a mild dose of amnesia brought on by the accident, according to Arisu. Written and directed by Shunji Iwai, who created the international success All About Lily Chou-Chou, Hana to Arisu began as a series of candy commercials and became so popular as an expanded series of short subjects available online that Iwai adapted them into a feature. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
The Hidden Blade concerns Yaichiro, a warrior who must leave his family in the care of two other samurai after he answers a request for his services in another town. Muenezo and Samon do their best to protect the family when they come under attack during Yaichiro's absence. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Masatoshi Nagase, Takako Matsu, (more)
- 2002
Akira Kurosawa's assistant director Takashi Koizumi directs the low-key drama Letter From the Mountain, based on the novel by Keishi Nagi. Highly specialized doctor Michiko (Kanako Higuchi) finds herself seized with panic attacks. She and her partner, Takao (Akira Terao), decide to leave behind their stressful lives in Tokyo for a simpler life in the small farming village of Shinshu. After meeting several sick people in the community, Michiko sets up a medical center and gradually heals herself in the process. However, many of the townspeople refuse medical treatment, preferring to let nature take its course. The conclusion involves an annual celebration suggesting the couple's acceptance in the community. Letter From the Mountain was shown at the 2002 Mill Valley Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Akira Terao, Kanako Higuchi, (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)
- 1999
Shortly before his death in 1998, Akira Kurosawa completed a screenplay entitled Ame Agaru, based on a short story by Shugoro Yamamoto. Kurosawa passed on before he could bring this story to the screen, but one of his assistants, Takashi Koizumi, has directed a film adapted from the script, following as closely as possible the style of the master. Ihei Misawa (Akira Terao) is a ronin, a samurai without a master, whose skills with a sword make him a valuable employee but whose brutal honesty and lack of social graces prevent him from staying with one master for too long. One night, Ihei impulsively offers to buy food and drink for the guests at a hotel; he doesn't have the money to pay, and to raise cash he concocts a scheme to take on anyone brave enough to fight him for a prize. Ihei's fighting skills impress Lord Shigeaki (Shiro Mifune), who offers him a position as fencing master in his court. Ihei gratefully accepts, but when Shigeaki challenges him to a fight, Ihei beats the Lord decisively. Ihea is certain that he's managed to throw another opportunity away when a band of mercenaries attacks him, and his skills as a swordsman are put to the ultimate test. This traditionally styled samurai story harkens back to Kurosawa's best-known works, and features Shiro Mifune, the son of Toshiro Mifune, one of Kurosawa's favorite actors, in a key role. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Akira Terao, Yoshiko Miyazaki, (more)
- 1999
Japanese '60s icon Ken Takakura stars in this beautifully photographed film about an aging railroad conductor. Sato Otomatsu (Takakura) devoted his life to making the trains run promptly in the formerly prosperous mining town of Horomai. When his colleague informs him that the unprofitable line is being closed, he reminiscences on how his workaholic ways robbed him of his personal life. Because of work, he missed the deaths of his wife and only daughter. When an enigmatic high school girl with a passion for railroads pays him a visit, his life changes in unanticipated ways. Takakura received a Best Actor award at the 1999 Montreal Film Festival for this film. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ken Takakura, Nenji Kobayashi, (more)
- 1993
Shu-chan (Masahiro Motoki) has plenty of charm, drive and energy. He comes up a little short in the kindness and discretion department, though. As long as his band "The Shoeless Four" is his sole concern, things seem to go well enough, even though they are not exceptionally talented. However, when Inaba (Hidetaka Yoshioka), a young railroad worker, blusters his way into the band on the basis of sheer talent, it soon becomes clear that with him onboard, the band might actually go places. Shu-chan soon decides to put away his own ambitions for stardom to concentrate on managing what is now Inaba's band, but can't manage to treat anyone (including his girlfriend, who Inaba has his eyes on) decently. Before long, he has lost more than his chance for stardom. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Masahiro Motoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, (more)
Master filmmaker Akira Kurosawa follows up on his phantasmorgic Dreams with this delicate tale about war and memory. The film centers on Kane (Sachiko Murase) a grandmother who lives on her traditional farm in the hills near Nagasaki. Her husband and a number of siblings died in the 1945 atomic bombing of the city and memories of that event are never far from her mind. She learns that her elder brother, who went to Hawaii to seek his fortune in pineapples, is on his deathbed and would very much like to see his sister one last time. Her half-American nephew Clark (played by none other than Richard Gere) is venturing to Nagasaki to escort her to Hawaii. Though the prospect of meeting a real live American excites Kane's four grandchildren who are staying with her for the summer and who often sport American college T-shirts, Kane remains ambivalent both about the prospects of going to the States, and about the dark memories Clark's presence dredges up. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Gere, Sachiko Murase, (more)
- 1980
Most viewers will recognize the tear-jerking techniques used in this transparent, sometimes understated melodrama, but they may succumb anyway. Director Yoji Yamada is masterful at wringing poignancy and pathos out of this transparent script and he has a good team of actors. Kosaku (Ken Takakura) shows up looking for work one day at a remote farmhouse run by a mother (Chieko Baisho) and her son (Hidetaka Yoshioka). The two live alone and need help so they accept his offer, even though it is obvious he is on the run from someone or something in his past. As time goes by the little boy becomes close to Kosaku, and his mother generously insists that the adopted farmhand eat with them at the table. As the warmth of their relationship grows, it is clear that Kosaku's past is going to catch up with him when least expected. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ken Takakura, Chieko Baisho, (more)
