Direction: Kei Kumai

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Komaki Kurihara · Yôko Takahashi · Kinuyo Tanaka · Ken Tanaka

Synopsis Sandakan 8 (1974) delves into the poignant narrative of an elderly woman who recounts her harrowing journey as a "karayukisan." These were young Japanese women who were dispatched to Southeast Asia to settle their family's debts by engaging in prostitution....

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Misa Shimizu · Nagiko Tono · Masatoshi Nagase · Hidetaka Yoshioka

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Kumiko Akiyoshi · Eiji Okuda · Hisashi Igawa · Kyôko Kagawa

Synopsis Deep River (1995) follows the journey of three Japanese travelers who find themselves in India, each with a unique quest. Miss Naruse seeks out Otsu, a Catholic priest who was her lover a decade ago, now residing in Benares where...

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Jûkichi Uno · Izumi Ashikawa · Hideaki Nitani · Mizuho Suzuki

Synopsis A Chain of Islands (1965) kicks off with a grim discovery: the body of a U.S. Army sergeant washes ashore, setting in motion a chain of surprising and unpredictable occurrences.

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Ryoko Nakano · Kichiemon Nakamura · Takashi Shimura · Toshirô Mifune

Synopsis Love and Faith of Ogin (1978) is a historical drama set in 16th-century feudal Japan, centering around Sen Rikyu, a revered tea master who serves as an advisor to the powerful warlord Hideyoshi. The narrative unfolds with Rikyu's daughter, the...

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Eiji Okuda · Ken Watanabe · Takahiro Tamura · Kyôko Kishida

Synopsis Umi to dokuyaku (The Sea and Poison) (1986) delves into the grim reality of World War II, where American airmen who were shot down find themselves subjected to gruesome medical experiments conducted by Japanese surgeons. The film explores the dark...

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Mizuho Suzuki · Hiroko Kino · Mugihito · Sen Hara

Synopsis Apart from Life (1970) follows the story of a Japanese soldier who, at the onset of World War II, engages in a romantic relationship with a Korean woman. Their liaison results in the birth of a child, which brings about...

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Eiji Okuda · Toshirô Mifune · Kinnosuke Nakamura · Go Kato

Synopsis Sen no Rikyu: Honkakubo's Student Writings (Death of a Tea Master) (1989) delves into the aftermath of the enigmatic demise of the renowned tea master Sen no Rikyu, as his devoted pupil Honkakubo embarks on a quest to unravel the...

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Rentarô Mikuni · Hisashi Igawa · Satoko Iwasaki · Taketoshi Naitô

Synopsis Hikarigoke (Luminous Moss, Shiny Moss) (1992) unfolds on the frigid, snow-kissed island of Hokkaido, Japan, where a renowned author is guided through a series of caves by the local school principal. These caves are notable for their bioluminescent moss, which...

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Go Kato · Komaki Kurihara · Yasushi Nagata · Kinzo Shin

Synopsis The Long Darkness (1972) delves into the intricate dynamics between two disenchanted young individuals. The film is visually striking, utilizing a monochrome palette to capture the grimy, decaying lumberyards of Tokyo and the harsh, unforgiving snowscapes of the northern regions....

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Tatsuya Nakadai · Keiko Takahashi · Shin Saburi · Kinya Kitaoji

Synopsis Rise, Fair Sun (1973) follows the journey of a dedicated farmer and his resilient community in a picturesque Japanese village. The narrative unfolds as they stand against a formidable challenge: the transformation of their pristine, untouched region into a bustling...

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Tatsuya Nakadai · Ichirô Nakatani · Yôko Asaji · Takashi Ebata

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Katsuo Nakamura · Masaaki Daimon · Mitsuo Hamada · Daigo Kusano

Synopsis Ocean to Cross (1980) unfolds during Japan's Tenpyou era, chronicling the journey of four young monks dispatched to China. Their mission is to delve into the teachings of Buddhism and escort a revered high priest back to their homeland. The...

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Kiichi Nakai · Akira Terao · Naomi Hosokawa · Nagiko Tono

Synopsis Darkness in the Light (2001) follows the unsettling journey of a middle-aged salaryman who leads an ordinary life with his family in the tranquil city of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture. One fateful summer morning in 1994, his world is abruptly shattered...

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Toshirô Mifune · Yujiro Ishihara · Osamu Takizawa · Takashi Shimura

Synopsis The Sands of Kurobe (1968) follows the story of Kitagawa, an engineer tasked with the monumental challenge of constructing a colossal tunnel through the treacherous Japan Alps. This tunnel is crucial for transporting equipment needed to build the immense Kurobe...

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Eiji Okuda · Keiko Kishi · Kyôko Kagawa · Mieko Harada

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Kinzo Shin · Yumi Takano · Keiko Yanagawa · Mizuho Suzuki

Synopsis Teigin jiken: Shikeishû (1964) follows the story of an ordinary middle-aged salaryman residing in the peaceful city of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture. His life takes a dramatic turn one summer morning in 1994 when he is unexpectedly implicated as the main...

Direction Kei Kumai

Cast Miki Sakai · Atsuro Watabe · Jô Shishido · Masumi Okada

Synopsis To Love (1997) follows the unexpected encounter of two young individuals who, despite their fleeting meeting, find themselves deeply in love. However, their newfound happiness is abruptly shattered when the woman is diagnosed with leprosy and is forced to leave...