Hironobu Nomura Movies
Calimari Wrestler director Minoru Kawasaki takes his absurdist brand of comedy from the wrestling ring to the boardroom with this tale of an oversized koala bear that seems poised for success in the world of big business. Mr. Tamura is a eucalyptus-munching marsupial recently hired in as a junior executive at the Tokyo pickle factory. Though Mr. Tamura's bold proposal to merge with a South Korean kim-chee company is applauded by the higher-ups at the company, scandal soon erupts when the blackout-prone businessbear's human girlfriend is found dead and authorities single him out as the prime suspect. It seems that years ago Mr. Kamura's ex-wife disappeared under mysterious circumstances shortly after the couple divorced, and now in order to uncover the truth behind this gruesome crime the quick-thinking executive must embark on a frantic quest to uncover the conspiracy he suspects was orchestrated to bring about his downfall. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hironobu Nomura, Arther Kuroda, (more)
- 1990
- PG13
Japan's answer to Don Simpson -- a flamboyant and brash producer drawn to make flamboyant and brash films -- Haruki Kadokawa takes a turn at the director's chair with this sprawling historical epic featuring a massive budget: a record-breaking five billion yen, and thousands of extras comprising most of the student population from the University of Calgary. Set during the Warring States era (1482-1558), the film opens on the real-life rivalry between feuding warlords Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. The latter (Takaaki Enoki) begins the film as Nagao Kagetora, the younger brother of the lord of Echigo Province. Encouraged by court retainer Usami Tadayuki (Tsunehiko Watase), he challenges his inept brother for the reigns of power and kills him in an ensuing duel. Soon after becoming lord of the province, he faces a new threat with Takeda Harunobu (Masahiko Tsugawa), lord of the neighboring Kai province. Both have grand dreams of uniting their war-torn land and ruling from the imperial capital of Kyoto. Ultimately, this clash of egos, personalities, and ambitions leads to the cataclysmic 1561 battle of Kawanakajima. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Takaaki Enoki, Masahiko Tsugawa, (more)
- 1986
- R
A young jazz musician's desire to advance in his career runs afoul of organized crime in this thriller from Haruki Kadokawa. After a saxophonist starts playing at a particular nightspot, a thug from the Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) adopts him as a special friend for no greater reason than he plays one of his favorite songs well. As the dangerous life of the gangster intertwines with that of the musician, it brings harm to the musician's girlfriend, who is raped. This changes the young saxophonist's attitude about his patron, but his Yakuza "friend" is still too embroiled in his own problems to worry about anything else. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Takeshi Kaga, Hironobu Nomura, (more)
- 1984
In this run-of-the-mill romantic drama, Shibuki Ogasawara (Hiroko Yakushimaru) is a young kindergarten teacher who develops a passion for the divorced father of one of her students, only to discover that a travelling magician has a stronger attraction for her, an appeal that is definitely not illusory. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hironobu Nomura
