A Girl Missing / Yokogao (2019)
Drama
A home-care nurse's relationship with the family she has spent years working for is threatened when her nephew is arrested for kidnapping their daughter.
Starring: Mariko Tsutsui, Mikako Ichikawa, Sôsuke Ikematsu, Ren Sudo, Miyu Ogawa, Mitsuru Fukikoshi
Director: Kôji Fukada
The Twilight Samurai / Tasogare Seibei (2002)
Drama | Romance
Set in the late nineteenth century, Seibei Iguchi is a low-ranking samurai whose wife has died of tuberculosis. With two daughters, Kayano and Ito, and an elderly mother to support, he and his family must survive in austerity. The moment that his daily work as a clerk, in one of the clans' warehouses is over, he hurries home, refusing to drink or eat with fellow samurai. Behind his back, his fellow samurai teasing him for his actions. The divorce of his childhood friend Tomoe leads him into a confrontation with her violent ex-husband, a high-ranking samurai. When word of Seibei's easy victory using only a wooden sword begins to circulate, his reputation for sword-fighting prowess begins to change his colleagues assessment of him.
Starring: Hiroyuki Sanada, Rie Miyazawa, Nenji Kobayashi, Ren Ôsugi, Mitsuru Fukikoshi
Director: Yôji Yamada
The Letter / Tegami (2006)
Drama
Naoki works at a recycling plant on the outskirts of Tokyo, trying to avoid interacting with people to avoid the reputation of his brother who accidentally killed a man and went to prison. He's moved countless times, forgotten his dreams, even the lost the love of his life, all because of his brother. The only thing that saved hopeless Naoki was the woman looking on from the side, Yumiko. Feeling the first happiness in years, he decides to throw off the chains of his brother who continues to send him letters from prison!
Starring: Takayuki Yamada, Erika Sawajiri, Tetsuji Tamayama, Kazue Fukiishi, Hiroyuki Onoue, Mitsuru Fukikoshi
Director: Jirô Shôno
Lesson of the Evil / Aku no kyôten (2012)
Thriller
Seiji Hasumi loved by his students and respected by his peers. However, his outward charm masks his true nature. In reality, Hasumi is a psychopath who is unable to feel empathy for other human beings. Specifically, he has a severe antisocial personality disorder. Because of his mental condition, Hasumi chooses to deal with problems like bullying and overbearing "monster parents" the easy way-by systematically murdering his students.
Starring: Takayuki Yamada, Hideaki Itô, Takehiro Hira, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Shota Sometani
Director: Takashi Miike
Battle Under Orion / Manatsu no Orion (2009)
Action | War
The final days of World War II – the ocean southeast of Okinawa. The Japanese last hope is entrusted on i-77, the last of the deployed submarines to strike at the U.S. Navy's fuel-supply lines. Takayuki Kuramoto (Hiroshi Tamaki), Commander of the i-77 is up against Mike Stewart, the captain of the R.S. destroyer Percival who has the finest record in the U.S. Navy. As the i-77 and U.S. destroyer Percival begin a mutual hunt, the two captains bring all their knowledge and power to bear as, with lessening supplies of torpedoes and depth charges, they battle. Kuramoto, the lives of his young crew members in his charge, is forced by the difficulties of battle into a serious decision. With Midsummer Orion, a piece of music sheet, in his breast pocket, he sets out on a final battle that will mean life or death. August, 1945: The fuse is lit on a final battle to the limits of mind and body.
Starring: Yoshikuni Dôchin, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Mutsutoshi Furuhata, Yûta Hiraoka, Fumio Itô
Director: Tetsuo Shinohara
Himizu (2012)
Crime | Drama
Sumida and his schoolmate Keiko are 14 year old school kids living a dystopian existence where each of their parents' hopes and encourages them to die. Set in tsunami-hit areas of Japan about May 2011, which is used as a backdrop, the story follows roughly that of the manga of the same name wherein Sumida fights frequently with his father, is abandoned by his mother and tends to reject friendly advances of others. Eventually, he kills his father and then, assuming his life is ruined, attempts to improve society by killing "bad" people. Although not immediately obvious, what instead happens is that he attacks psychotic and violent characters, while he instead learns from Keiko and the Yakuza and people who befriended him that he himself has become "sick", eventually breaking free of the cycle of violence, but without a complete resolution of the issues raised during the movie before its end.
Starring: Shôta Sometani, Fumi Nikaidô, Tetsu Watanabe, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Megumi Kagurazaka, Ken Mitsuishi, Makiko Watanabe
Director: Sion Sono
IMDb Info
Cold Fish / Tsumetai nettaigyo (2010)
Crime | Drama | Thriller
When Syamoto's teenage daughter is caught stealing, a generous middle-aged man helps resolve the situation. The man and his wife offer to have Syamoto's troublesome daughter work at their fish store. Syamoto soon discovers the horrific truth of the seemingly perfect couple.
Starring: Makoto Ashikawa, Denden, Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Megumi Kagurazaka, Hikari Kajiwara
Director: Shion Sono
