Kenichi Endo Movies

A handful of journalists scramble when a big story literally crashes into their territory in this drama inspired by a true story. On August 12, 1985, Japan's Gunma Prefecture became the focus of the international news media when Japan Airlines Flight 123 went out of control and hit Mount Takamagahara with over five hundred passengers on board, making it the deadliest single-plane aviation accident in history. Yuuki Kazumasa (Shinichi Tsutsumi) is the reporter from the North Kanto Times who is assigned to cover the accident, and over the next few days, he and his partners at the paper struggle to stay on top of story and offer the definitive coverage of the crash of Flight 123 as print and broadcast outfits from all over the world arrive in Gunma to get the facts. Two people on his staff who aren't always helpful are Yuuki's editor (Kenichi Endo), a taskmaster who wants copy to be lean and precise, and the paper's publisher (Tsutomu Yamazaki), an elderly man often more interested in his dogs that his own newspaper. Kuraimazu Hai (aka Climber's High) received its North American premiere at the 2009 New York Asian Film Festival. Incidentally, the title Climber's High comes from a story Yuuki shares in the film, in which he compares his work to scaling a mountain. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Cult Japanese director Takashi Miike draws inspiration from the popular Playstation 2 title Yakuza for this unhinged tale of underworld violence in Tokyo starring Goro Kishitani and Kazuki Kitamura. It's summertime in Tokyo, and as the temperature rises, two undercover cops stake out a high-profile bank robbery while complaining about the air conditioning. When the masked gunmen make their way into the vault only to find that the Tojo gang's ten-million-yen deposit has mysteriously vanished, an already complicated situation gradually starts to spiral out of control. Meanwhile, in another part of town, psychotic yakuza Goro Majima (Kishitani) strikes out on his own to pay a visit to rival gang leader Kazuma Kiryu (Kitamura) and track down the missing mother of adorable youngster Haruka (Natsuo). It seems that Haruka's mother has some valuable information, and Majima is determined to find her at any cost. Now, as Majima makes his way through the neon-lit streets of Tokyo, Satoru (Shun Shioya) and his girlfriend, Yui (Saeko), embark on a bold robbery spree, and South Korean hitman Park (Yoo Gong) prepares to locate and terminate the thieves who absconded with the Toho gang's money. Later, after Majima and Kiryu engage in a series of fights all across the city, a confrontation at the top of Tokyo's Millennium Tower finds the true criminal mastermind finally stepping out of the shadows. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Two men imprisoned for seperate murders find their fates mortally intertwined in cult director Takashi Miike's homoerotic meditation on the societal flaws of modern-day Japan. Jun (Ryuhei Matsuda) is an effiminate gay bar employee who, after being sexually assaulted by a customer, brutally murdered his attacker in a fit of rage. Shiro (Masanobu Ando) is a brutish, heavily-tattooed thug whose combative nature has resulted in too many run-ins with the law to count. When both men are imprisoned for murder, Shiro's undeniable charisma and intensity draws Jun like a moth to the flame. As the two men learn from behind bars to open up and accept one and other for who they really are, a warm bond begins to grow that finds each man confiding his innermost secrets with the other and Shiro taking an almost paternal interest in his fragile young friend. When a confrontation erupts in the common area of the prison and one inmate strangles another to death, the guards are shocked to find Jun sitting on Shiro's lifeless body. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

The effects of schizophrenia reverberate through three generations of educated Indian women when a woman is diagnosed with the psychotic disorder and those around her, including her westernized daughter, struggle to maintain normal lives. As Azumi 2 gets underway, remaining assassins Azumi and Nagara set out in pursuit of their final target - the notorious Masayuki Sanada. But Sanada is fully prepared for the confrontation; he's hired the dreaded Koga Ninja Clan to dispense with Azumi, and they won't stop until their mission has been completed. The Koga Ninja Clan aren't the only foes that Azumi has to worry about either, because Kiyomasa's failed retainer Kanbei is out for blood as well. With enemies closing in from all sides, things are beginning to look decidedly grim for the assassin forced to choose between love and duty. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

For his fifth or so release of 2002, phenomenally prolific filmmaker Takashi Miike directs this gangster epic. The film opens with the godfather (Yuya Uchida) of the Sanada-gumi being targeted for a hit. The hired gun, however, finds the old goat less than willing to die. Of course, the murder infuriates the clan's second-in-command Kunisada (Riki Takeuchi) who viewed the slain crime boss as in own flesh and blood. He, along with his henchman Shimatani (Kenichi Endo), discover that the guy who ordered the hit was Otaki (Renji Ishibashi), the head of a rival gang. Kunisada's bloody act of revenge precipitates a bloody gang war that turns downtown Shinjuku into a veritable war zone. Kuzuya Nakayama and Sonny Chiba also appear. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

In spite of its title, this film bares no direct relation to Takashi Miike's rip-roarin' Dead or Alive, which is not surprising since ended with world going up in flames in the last installment. This film opens with Mizuki (Sho Aikawa), who is hired by an eccentric magic enthusiast (Tsukamoto Shinya) to off a yakuza crime lord, only to have his target wasted by a rival mobster Shuichi (Riki Takeuchi). It turns out that the two are long-lost childhood friends who grew up in an orphanage in a remote island in the Inland sea. After the crime, they find themselves drawn back to their childhood haunt. There they reconnect with another friend, Kohei (Kenichi Endo), who ended up not a hired gun, but a modest fisherman who also runs the orphanage. After giving a hilarious performance for a room full of kids, Mizuki and Shuichi decide to leave the island and to work together as hitmen. This time, however, they're killing to make a difference -- figuring that with each scumbag they ice they can save ten children when they donate their proceeds to charity. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi