Akira Morishige Movies
A ninja walks away from his life as a warrior only to find he must embrace it again late in life in this action drama based on a popular manga by Sampei Shirato. As a young man, Kamui (Kenichi Matsuyama) was strong, agile and had the talent to become a great ninja fighter. However, as he learned the way of the warrior, he encountered too many ninjas who used their abilities for vicious or self-serving reasons, and in disgust he walked away from his training, spending fourteen years as a recluse wandering in the mountains. When Kamui makes his way to the seashore, he meets Hanbei (Kaoru Kobayashi), a fisherman who shares the former ninja's sense of honor and propriety. Though Hanbei's wife Oshika (Koyuki) is wary of the stranger, the fisherman and Kamui become fast friends, but Kamui doesn't enjoy the peace of the seaside for very long. A band of ninjas turned pirates invade Hanbei's village, and Kamui must reacquaint himself with his warrior training to defend his friend and new neighbors from the violent horde; Kamui also must protect Hanbei's daughter (Suzuka Ohgo), with whom he's fallen in love. Directed by Yoichi Sai, Kamui Gaiden (aka Kamui) received its North American premiere at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 2006
Suffering from manic depression and looking to start life anew in a small suburban community, a manic depressive thirty-something finds solace in the company of her recently-divorced cousin in director Ryuichi Hiroki's intimate psychological drama. Yuko (Shinobu Terashima) has walked away from her life and her job in a desperate bid to seek happiness outside of her comfort zone. Though her friendships with various men including a depressive yakuza and a former classmate suffering from erectile dysfunction does provide some relief from her mental malaise, Yuko soon begins to suspect that she may be slipping into another deep depression. When Yuko's cousin Shoichi shows up on her doorstep having just suffered through a nasty divorce, Shoichi's willingness to assume the role of caretaker to his ailing cousin inspires both parties to take emotional stock of their lives. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Shinobu Terashima, Etsushi Toyokawa, (more)
- 2006
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This vicious, visceral Japanese horror film is based on Kazuo Umezu's popular manga. In this film, a young boy named Sou has a unique gift: he can see other people's sins. He has a vision of a girl being brutally attacked, but he isn't safe from her killer. Sou begins to bleed profusely, and it is up to his sister to find the murderer before he does more damage to Sou and his young victims. ~ Kimber Myers, Rovi
Internationally acclaimed Japanese film director Ryuichi Hiroki (I Am an S&M Writer, Tokyo Trash Baby) takes the helm for this cathartic road movie concerning the transformative journey of an emotionally-unstable writer and adapted from the novel by Mari Akasaka. Rei (Shinobu Terashima) is a freelance writer whose inner demons have driven her to self-medicate. It's during one of her late-night beer-runs to a local urban mini-mart that Rei makes the acquaintance of handsome young trucker Okabe (Nao Omori) - who has taken a momentary pit stop to fill up his tank and grab some snacks. After the two form a friendly bond in the late night hours where anything seems possible, Rei climbs into Okabe's rig for an impromptu road trip that will lead her to find out more about herself than she would ever learn while sitting home and drinking alone. As the dawn draws near on the edge of the horizon, what at first appeared to be a one-night stand gradually transforms into a momentous meeting of chance. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Shinobu Terashima, Nao Omori, (more)
- 1989
American parents would be glad if their children's desire to join rock and roll bands could have the kind of outcome the boys in So What opt for. Even though they really enjoy their band, these boys are so concerned about their schoolwork that they have a difficult time allotting any time to practice. In addition, their peers have a difficult time allotting any time to listen to them - they are equally worried about their schoolwork. When they finally arrange one public concert at school, they have the power cut before they can play even one song. Oddly, this doesn't dishearten them. They were looking for an honorable way to excuse letting their beloved music slide into the background. Except for one fellow, who bravely heads off to an unknown future, all the rest are happy to buckle down to their studies. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- 1989
This Japanese film is completely unrelated to Louis Malle's 1960 film Zazie Dans le Metro. In this story, Zazie (Yoshito Nakamura) is a young man who lives in Tokyo, and is attempting to find his center. His technique for this is to record everything he thinks, and to videotape himself and watch the results. At some point he reconnects with his fellow band members, but is unable to relate to them successfully, due to the force of his preoccupation with discovering his own identity. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- 1988
- R
A young New York City rock singer decides to try her hand at fame in Japan so makes the journey. Upon her arrival she meets a Japanese musician who needs an American girl to front his band. Fortunately, she joins up, and the band makes it big while she and the musician engage in a comedic romance. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Carrie Hamilton, Yutaka Tadokoro, (more)
- 1986
Absurdist comedy characterizes this amusing and entertaining film from Naoto Yamakawa. All the protagonists move about in a Tokyo Bar that has an entire wall taken up with a black-and-white reproduction of a photo of Monument Valley. The action starts as Billy the Kid, in full living color, walks out of the photo and gets a job as a waiter. Along with him on the working staff are a samurai straight out of the history books, a G.I. from World War II, and several other anachronistic characters. Among the patrons are a bike rider named Bluce Springsteen, Hurry Carahan (a cop who is a gangster once in awhile), and other types who may be gangsters in disguise. The plot (as such) revolves around keeping away the brutal mobsters and thugs who dominate the city streets outside of the bar, making the tavern safe for its easily recognized facsimiles of well-known characters. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Hiroshi Mikami, Kimie Shingyoji, (more)
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