kihachi okamoto (1923–2005): filmography 1958-1970
the films from his greatest period. okamoto is still a little underrated director but those who know his work do know what i am talking about. i especially appreciate his war films which show the tragicomic absurdity of the whole thing but his contribution to the samurai genre has also fared better than many other directors in japanese film factory production.
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- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsIzumi YukimuraMichiyo TamakiMichiyo AratamaUltra-perky model likes single freedom but feels ryosai kenbo ("good wife, wise mother") pressure, exemplified by her bored-to-tears sister
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsKôji TsurutaAkira TakaradaYumi ShirakawaRyuta and Mineo Komatsu are brothers, both yakuza (gangsters). Mineo, although complicit in crime, even murder, wants out of the gangster life, hoping to become a successful singer instead. Ryuta loves his brother, but Mineo's possible defection presents problems for the gang, and Ryuta realizes he must kill his brother if he wants to survive.
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsMisa UeharaAkira TakaradaKen Uehara
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsMakoto SatôIzumi YukimuraMisa UeharaWhen Sergeant Okubo's brother is murdered at a Japanese outpost in Northern China during the Second World War, Okubo poses as a war correspondent and seeks out his brother's killer. The command is wiped out by Chinese forces and Okubo escapes and joins a tribe of bandits.early okamoto war film, very well worth watching though it is not so grim than his later movies.
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsToshirô MifuneKôji TsurutaYôko TsukasaJapanese police detective Saburo Fujioka is suspected of corruption, demoted, and sent to the city of Kojin. Kojin is the scene of fierce fighting between rival gangs. Fujioka is assigned to investigate the death of the wife of gangster Tetsuo Maruyama of the Kozuka gang, probably at the hands of one of the Oka gang. During a gang gunfight, Maruyama is rescued by Detective Fujioka and the two become friends. But Maruyama insists on avenging his wife's murder, even if it means conflict with his new friend.
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsHideyo AmamotoTatsuyoshi EharaAkihiko HirataIn this patriotic WW II drama, the Japanese army demonstrates its courage and willingness to do anything to win as they endeavor to sneak into Communist China to bring back the flag of a defeated enemy regiment.
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsYûzô KayamaMakoto SatôTatsuya MihashiWhile testing the advance prototype of a revolutionary gas engine, the vehicle is involved in a mysterious accident killing its driver. The police report states that it was an accident, caused by the driver. But driver's younger brother senses foul play.
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsYûzô KayamaJun TazakiYukiko ShimazakiAfter a long stint working in Alaska, Jiro returns to his hometown. He soon learns that his father, the town's mayor, was murdered and, in his absence, the yakuza gangs have seized control of the town. Jiro quickly becomes dangerously obsessed with finding his father's killer.
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsTatsuya MihashiReiko DanJunko Ikeuchi
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsYûzô KayamaYôsuke NatsukiMakoto SatôDuring World War II Captain Seki is assigned to a garrison on the north China frontier. Ignoring the advice of experienced officers, Seki leads a platoon against the Chinese only to have his unit slaughtered and himself taken prisoner. As Seki is the son of the division commander a search for him is organized.
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsYûzô KayamaYuriko HoshiMakoto SatôA lone masterless warrior with some new friends helps ship 300 rifles to a Japanese warlord during the sengoku period.
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsKeiju KobayashiMichiyo AratamaEijirô TônoThis comedy portrays the everyday life of an ordinary salary-man who uses himself as a model to write a novella.underrated comedy but deserves a far better appreciation because it is quite charming and a little bit of a curious oddity in okamoto´s career
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsYûnosuke ItôFubuki KoshijiIchirô NakataniFilmed as a traditional Japanese play, a yakuza boss is released from prison, but finds his gang usurped by a shady politician. With the help of his former cell mate he decides to assassinate the politician with an explosive pen.
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsToshirô MifuneKeiju KobayashiMichiyo AratamaFebruary 17 to March 3, 1860, inside Edo castle. A group of assassins wait by Sakurada Gate to kill the lord of the House of Ii, a powerful man in the Tokugawa government, which has ruled Japan for 300 years. They suspect a traitor in their midst, and their suspicions fall on Niiro, an impoverished ronin who dreams of samurai status, and Kurihara, an aristocratic samurai who befriends Niiro. Niiro longs to identify his father, knowing he is a high-ranking official who will disclose himself only if Niiro achieves samurai status. With American ships in Japan's harbors, cynicism among the assassins, and change in the air, Niiro resolves to reach ends that may prove ephemeral.a must for the samurai fans although it is a little static and stagy
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsToshirô MifuneMakoto SatôReiko DanIn 1945, Japanese Army Sergeant Kosugi and a platoon of young green recruits must retake and defend a fort occupied by the Chinese forces.excellent war movie and with okamoto flavour of very black satire
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsTatsuya NakadaiMichiyo AratamaYûzô KayamaThrough his unconscionable actions against others, a sociopath samurai builds a trail of vendettas that follow him closely.haunting achievement... recommended
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsTatsuya NakadaiReiko DanHideo SunazukaA nerdy young college instructor named Shinji Kikyo returns home one day to find himself the target of a mad assassin.
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsSeiji MiyaguchiRokkô TouraChishû RyûA dramatization of the 24-hour period in which the Japanese government was deadlocked over the decision to accept or reject the Allies' demand for an unconditional surrender following the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.exciting film if you dont take it too seriously
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsTatsuya NakadaiEtsushi TakahashiYuriko HoshiTwo ronin - an ex-samurai and an ex-farmer - get caught up in a local official's complex game of murder and betrayal.another masterpiece to put it simply
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsMinori TeradaNaoko ÔtaniYûnosuke ItôDuring World War II, a Japanese soldier finds himself assigned to a kamikaze mission against a U.S. battleship.one of the best japanese war movies because of its absurd style and unorthodox substance. i think this is one of okamotos best works and gets my high recommendations anytime
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsToshirô MifuneShima IwashitaEtsushi TakahashiImpersonating an Imperial Army officer by wearing a "red lion's mane", a poor servant returns to his village after 10 years of absence to end the village's suffering caused by corrupt officials and businessmen.
- DirectorKihachi OkamotoStarsToshirô MifuneShintarô KatsuAyako WakaoZatoichi tries to unrest the mob rule over a small village all while the gang leader's bodyguard is actually the Yojimbo, secretly taking the gang down from the inside. Will the two heroes realize in time that they are on the same side?