Journey to Japan in VHS

Except where noted, all feature films are in Japanese with English subtitles. Documentaries and instructional tapes are in English.

After Life. Caseworkers help the newly deceased navigate their way from life to the afterlife in this gentle film from Japanese writer/director Kore-eda Hirokazu. 1998. 118 min. VH1/AFTE-0008.

Akira. Animator Katsuhiro Otomo's violent sci-fi adventure takes place in post-apocalypse Neo-Tokyo. Dubbed. 1989. 124 min. VH1/AKIR-0002.

Akira Kurosawa's Dreams. These vignettes by the master filmmaker were inspired by childhood memories, ghost stories, Noh theatre and the art of Vincent van Gogh. 1990. 120 min. VH1/AKIR-0001.

The Aroma of Enchantment. Videomaker Chip Lord considers Japan's attitudes toward the U.S. and its fascination with our pop culture of the 1950s. In English. 1992. 55 min. VH6/AROM-0001.

An Actor's Revenge. A female impersonator (Kazuo Hasegawa) in a kabuki troupe vows revenge on the villains who caused his parents' death. A Kon Ichikawa film. 1963. 110 min. VH1/ACTO-0001.

Ambush at Blood Pass (Machibuse). Toshiro Mifune returns as Yojimbo, the scruffy samurai, again tangling with greedy criminals. Hiroshi Inagaki directed. 1970. 118 min. VH1/AMBU-0001.

An Autumn Afternoon. Middle-class widower Chishu Ryu dutifully arranges the marriage of daughter Shima Iwashita in writer/director Yasujiro Ozu's final film. 1962. 115 min. VH1/AUTU-0004.

The Bad Sleep Well. Businessman Toshiro Mifune vows to avenge his father's murder in Akira Kurosawa's variation on Hamlet. With Masayuki Mori and Takashi Shimura. 1960. 152 min. VH1/BADS-0002.

The Ballad of Narayama. Shohei Imamura depicts the harsh realities of life in a primitive village, where the elderly are sent away to die. With Ken Ogata and Sumiko Sakamoto. A remake of Narayama Bushi-ko. 1983. 129 min. VH1/BALL-0002.

Being Two Isn't Easy. The joys and fears of raising a child are seen through the eyes of a young Tokyo couple and their toddler. A film by Kon Ichikawa. 1962. 88 min. VH1/BEIN-0002.

Black Rain. Shohei Imamura reveals the health problems and social prejudice faced by Hiroshima survivors. With Yoshiko Tanaka and Kazuo Kitamura. 1988. 123 min. VH1/BLAC-0005.

Boiling Point. A gas station attendant and a former gangster take up arms against the yakuza in this film from writer, director and star "Beat" Takeshi Kitano. 1990. 98 min. VH1/BOIL-0002.

Branded to Kill (Koroshi No Rakuin). When the Yakuza's No. 3 Killer bungles a job, the No. 1 Killer comes after him. A Seijun Suzuki film. 1967. 91 min. VH1/BRAN-0001.

The Burmese Harp. Kon Ichikawa examines a WWII private's spiritual transformation when he accidentally causes the death of a comrade. With Shoji Yasui and Rentaro Mikuni. 1956. 116 min. VH1/BURM-0001.

Chushingura. Werner Herzog directed this production of Saegusa Shigeaki and Shimada Masahiko's Japanese opera. 1997. 185 min. VH2/CHUS-0001.

Chushingura: The Loyal 47 Samurai. Samurai prepare to avenge their master's forced suicide. Koshiro Matsumoto, Yuzo Kayama, Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura star in Hiroshi Inagaki's remake of The Forty-Seven Ronin. 1962. 207 min. VH1/CHUS-0001.

Cruel Story of Youth. A teenager and her criminal boyfriend perform sexual shake-downs in Nagisa Oshima's drama. 1960. 96 min. VH1/CRUE-0001.

Daimajin. A giant stone statue of a warrior god destroys the usurpers of a decimated valley. Kimiyoshi Yasuda directed. Subtitled. 1966. 90 min. VH1/DAIM-0001.

Dance of Darkness. Edin Velez' video about Butoh, a subversive Japanese dance form, features founders Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno. 1989. 55 min. VH2/DANC-0006.

Destroy All Monsters. Aliens plan to take over the earth by unleashing Godzilla and friends. Ishiro Honda directed. 1968. 88 min. VH1/DEST-0002.

Dodes'ka-den. Tokyo slum dwellers sustain themselves with illusions. Akira Kurosawa's film features Yoshitaka Zushi and Tomoko Yamazaki. 1970. 140 min. VH1/DODE-0001.

Double Suicide. A poor man's love for a geisha leads to tragedy. With Kichiemon Nakamura and Shima Iwashita. Directed by Masahiro Shinoda. 1969. 105 min. VH1/DOUB-0001.

Dream Window: Reflections on the Japanese Garden. John Junkerman visits Japan's most beautiful gardens. Music by Toru Takemitsu. 1992. 57 min. VH7/DREA-0002.

Drunken Angel. Alcoholic doctor Takashi Shimura tries to save the life of Toshiro Mifune, a gangster suffering from tuberculosis. An early film from writer/director Akira Kurosawa. 1948. 98 min. VH1/DRUN-0002.

Early Summer. An independent young woman resists family pressure to get married. Yasujiro Ozu's film stars Setsuko Hara and Chishu Ryu. 1951. 135 min. VH1/EARL-0002.

The Eel (Unagi). After serving eight years for the brutal murder of his unfaithful wife, Koji Yajusho starts a new life as a barber. A Shohei Imamura film. 1996. 117 min. VH1/EEL*-0001.

Eijanaika. Mayhem erupts as the beginning of the Meiji Restoration. Shigeru Izumiya and Kaori Momoi star in Shohei Imamura's film. 1981. 151 min. VH1/EIJA-0001.

Enjo (Conflagration). Flashbacks reveal why a tormented Japanese monk sets fire to a cherished national shrine. Raizo Ichikawa, Ganjiro Nakamura and Tatsuya Nakadai star in Kon Ichikawa's film. 1958. 98 min. VH1/ENJO-0001.

Equinox Flower. Tokyo businessman Shin Saburi is disappointed when daughter Kinuyo Tanaka gets engaged without consulting him. This was writer/director Yasujiro Ozu's first color film. 1958. 118 min. VH1/EQUI-0002.

Faces of Japan. Tatsuo Ikeda and Dick Briglia's series includes The Fashion Model, Island Doctor, Puppeteer's Apprentice, A Reporter's Story, Woman Soldier, Behind the Camera, Sumo: An American Portrait, An Uncertain Harvest, East of Wall Street, Frontier Fisherman, High-Tech Composer, and Cram School. 1988. 6 hr. VH6/FACE-0001 through -0013.

Fighting Elegy (Kenka Erejii). High school student Hideki Takahashi turns to street fighting. A Seijin Suzuki film. 1966. 86 min. VH1/FIGH-0003.

Fires on the Plain. Discipline breaks down among starving soldiers in the Philippines. Kon Ichikawa's film features Eiji Funakoshi and Mantaro Ushio. 1959. 105 min. VH1/FIRE-0002.

Fireworks (Hana-Bi). Writer/director Takeshi "Beat" Kitano also stars as a hard-boiled cop who confronts his demons on a quest for justice and redemption. 1997. 103 min. VH1/FIRE-0007.

Floating Weeds. An aging actor meets his former lover and his grown illegitimate son. With Ganjiro Nakamura and Machiko Kyo. Directed by Yasujiro Ozu. 1959. 128 min. VH1/FLOA-0001.

The Forty-Seven Ronin. Kenji Mizoguchi's epic about samurai who avenge their slain master features Chojuro Kawarazaki and Kanemon Nakamura. 1942. 225 min. VH1/FORT-0005 and -0006.

The Frugal Gourmet Collection: The Japanese Kitchen. Jeff Smith demonstrates in Tim Ward's video. 1986. 30 min. VH6/FRUG-0006.

The Funeral. A modern show business family holds a traditional Buddhist funeral for the family patriarch. Juzo Itami's comedy stars Nobuko Miyamoto and Tsutomu Yamazaki. 1984. 124 min. VH1/FUNE-0001.

Gamera. A giant, fire-breathing turtle befriends a 10-year-old boy even as he ravages Tokyo. Noriaki Yausa directed this campy monster movie. Dubbed. 1965. 79 min. VH1/GAME-0004.

Gate of Hell. A warrior breaks the samurai code when he falls in love with a married woman. Teinosuke Kinugasa's historical drama, stunningly photographed in color, features Machiko Kyo and Kazuo Hasegawa. 1954. 89 min. VH1/GATE-0001.

A Geisha. Michiyo Kogure decides to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a geisha. A Kenji Mizoguchi film. 1953. 86 min. VH1/GEIS-0001.

Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster. Rodan, Mothra and Godzilla fight space dragon Ghidrah. Ishiro Honda directed. Dubbed. 1966. 85 min. VH1/GHID-0001.

Ghost in the Shell. Mamoru Oshi's sci-fi anime is based on Shirow Masamune's manga comic. 1995. 79 min. Also, 27 minutes of extras. VH1/GHOS-0013.

Godzilla. Atomic tests release a prehistoric giant, which procedes to destroy Tokyo. This is Ishiro Honda's original Japanese-language production, without scenes added for American distribution. Subtitled. 1954. 96 min. VH1/GODZ-0006.

Godzilla, King of the Monsters. The English-dubbed version of Godzilla stars Raymond Burr in additional scenes directed by Terry Morse. 1956. 80 min. VH1/GODZ-0001.

Godzilla 1985. Raymond Burr returns to chronicle the radioactive reptile's rampage. Koji Hashimoto and R.I. Kizer directed. Dubbed. 1985. 91 min. VH1/GODZ-0009.

Godzilla Raids Again. The king of monsters battles the spiny Angorus. Hugo Grimaldi supervised the dubbed version of Motoyoshi Odo's movie. 1955. 78 min. VH1/GODZ-0005.

Godzilla vs Biollante. The King of Monsters clashes with a giant plant grown from "Godzilla cells." Kazuki Omori directed. Dubbed. 1989. 105 min. VH1/GODZ-0012.

Godzilla vs. Gigan. Jun Fukuda's movie also features King Gidrah and Angilas. Dubbed. 1972. 89 min. VH1/GODZ-0010.

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II. BabyGodzilla and Rodan also star in Takao Okawara's movie. Dubbed. 1993. 108 min. VH1/GODZ-0011.

Godzilla vs. Monster Zero. Visitors from Planet X pit Godzilla and Rodan against Ghidrah, the three-headed dragon. Ishiro Honda directed. Dubbed. 1965. 93 min. VH1/GODZ-0004.

Godzilla vs. Mothra. When Godzilla goes on a rampage, two tiny princesses call on Mothra to save the day. Ishiro Honda directed. Dubbed. 1964. 88 min. VH1/GODZ-0002.

Godzilla Versus the Sea Monster. Jun Fukuda orchestrates the clash between Godzilla, Mothra, and Ebirah, the giant lobster. Dubbed. 1966. 88 min. VH1/GODZ-0003.

Godzilla's Revenge. A little boy draws courage from an imaginary encounter with Godzilla's good-natured son. Ishiro Honda directed. 1971. 70 min. VH1/GODZ-0007.

Gonza the Spearman. When ambitious lancer Gonza (Hiromi Go) agrees to wed his lord's daughter, the brother of his former fiancee plots against him. Masahiro Shinoda directed. 1986. 126 min. VH1/GONZ-0001.

Good Morning (a.k.a. Ohayo). When a father refuses to buy a television set for his sons, the boys take a vow of silence. Yasujiro Ozu directed this gentle comedy. 1959. 93 min. VH1/GOOD-0002.

The Good Wife of Tokyo. Pop singer Kazuo Hohki leaves England, her home of 15 years, to visit her family and friends in Japan. A documentary by Kim Loginotto and Claire Hunt. In English. 1992. 52 min. VH6/GOOD-0001.

Grave of the Fireflies. Animator Isao Takahata depicts two children struggling to survive after WWII. 1988. 88 min. VH1/GRAV-0001.

Great Tales in Asian Art. Perry Miller Adato's tape includes a retelling of The Tale of Genji. 1995. 82 min. VH2/GREA-0010.

Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman. Kenneth G. Crane directed this American version of Ishiro Honda's Jujin Yukotoko. 1957. 63 min. VH1/HALF-0002.

Halving the Bones. Ruth Ozeki Lounsbury, a half-Japanese filmmaker living in New York, has inherited a can of her grandmother's bones, which she must deliver to her estranged mother. 1995. 70 min. VH6/HALV-0001.

Harakiri (a.k.a. Seppuku). A samurai's father-in-law threatens to repeat his son-in-law's ritual suicide. Makaki Kobayashi's film stars Tatsuya Nakadai. 1962. 134 min. VH1/HARA-0001.

Himatsuri (Fire Festival). A lumberjack's opposition to the commercial development of a secluded fishing village leads to a shocking act of violence. Mitsuo Yanagimachi directed. 1985. 120 min. VH1/HIMA-0001.

The Hidden Fortress. A forceful general (Toshiro Mifune) and two greedy peasants try to smuggle a princess (Misa Uehara) and her gold across enemy lines. Akira Kurosawa's adventure film was an inspiration for Star Wars. 1958. 126 min. VH1/HIDD-0001.

High and Low. Akira Kurosawa adapts an Ed McBain book about a businessman (Toshiro Mifune) who must pay the crooks who kidnapped his chauffeur's son. 1962. 143 min. VH1/HIGH-0006.

The Human Condition Part One: No Greater Love. In the first episode of Masaki Kobayashi's World War II epic, Kaji (Tatsuya Nakadai) is sent to administer a mining camp in occupied Manchuria. 1959. 260 min. VH1/HUMA-0001.

The Human Condition Part Two: Road to Eternity. Tortured by the military police and sent to the front, Kaji dreams of returning to his wife (Michiyo Aratama). 1959. 240 min. VH1/HUMA-0002.

The Human Condition Part Three: A Soldier's Prayer. Kaji must kill to stay alive in the brutal aftermath of war. When he surrenders, he is sent to Siberia. 1959. 250 min. VH1/HUMA-0003.

Hunter in the Dark. Crime boss Tatsuya Nakadai runs a secret organization in Hideo Gosha's film. With Keiko Kishi and Ayumi Ishida. 1979. 138 min. VH1/HUNT-0002.

I Live in Fear (Record of a Living Being or Ikimono no Kiroku) by Akira Kurosawa. The threat of nuclear annihilation drives ageing industrialist Toshiro Mifune mad. With Takashi Shimura and Minoru Chiaki. 1955. 103 min. VH1/ILIV-0001.

I Was Born, But... by Yasujiro Ozu. A businessman's son must confront suburban bullies, including his father's boss' son. Hideo Sugawara and Tokkan-kozo star. Silent with English intertitles. 1932. 89 min. VH1/IWAS-0003.

The Idiot. Writer/director Akira Kurosawa transposes Dostoyevsi's tale of madness and jealousy to post-war Japan. Toshiro Mifune, Masayuki Mori, Sestuko Hara and Yoshiko Kuga star. 1951. 166 min. VH1/IDIO-0002.

Ikiru. Lonely civil servant Takashi Shimura seeks meaning for his final days in Akira Kurosawa's heart-breaking classic. 1952. 143 min. VH1/IKIR-0001.

The Inland Sea. A travel memoir by Japan scholar Donald Richie and filmmaker Lucille Carra. In English. 1991. 57 min. VH7/INLA-0001.

Japanese Cooking. Rocky Aoki demonstrates in Pierre de Lespinois' tape. 1985. 90 min. VH4/JAPA-0001.

Kagemusha (The Shadow Warrior). Thief Tatsuya Nakadai must impersonate a deceased warlord in Akira Kurosawa's epic. 1980. 160 min. VH1/KAGE-0001.

King Kong vs. Godzilla. The two monsters clash in a movie from directors Ishiro Honda and Thomas Montgomery. Dubbed. 1963. 91 min. VH1/KING-0014.

Kodo: Heartbeat Drummers of Japan. Jacques Holender films the group Kodo, whose name means "heartbeat." 1983. 58 min. VH2/KODO-0001.

Kurosawa. Adam Low's salute to Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa features narration by Sam Shepard; Paul Scofield reads from the master's writings. 2000. 115 min. VH2/KURO-0001.

Kwaidan. Masaki Kobayashi films four of Lafcadio Hearn's tales of the supernatural: Black Hair, The Woman of the Snow, Hoichi the Earless, and In a Cup of Tea. 1964. 164 min. VH1/KWAI-0001.

Lady Snowblood. A priest trains an orphaned girl in the martial arts so that, as Lady Snowblood, she may seek revenge on her parents' murderers. 1973. 97 min. VH1/LADY-0020.

Late Chrysanthemums. Mikio Naruse looks at the life of a geisha-turned-moneylender (Haruko Sugimura). 1954. 101 min. VH1/LATE-0001.

Late Spring. Widowed professor Chishu Ryu encourages daughter Setsuko Hara to marry in Yasujiro Ozu's film. 1949. 108 min. VH1/LATE-0002.

Learn Japanese for Business. A tape from Central Park Media. 1986. 60 min. VH4/LEAR-0031.

Learning Japanese (a.k.a. Basic Japanese by Video). A MasterVision instructional tape. 1987. 90 min. VH4/LEAR-0030 or -0033.

The Life of Oharu. Samurai's daughter Kinuyo Tanaka disgraces her family when she falls in love with servant Toshiro Mifune. Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. 1952. 136 min. VH1/LIFE-0009.

Lone Wolf and Cub. Tomisaburo Wakayama stars as the shogun's former executioner, who now wanders the countryside with his young son in tow. The series includes Kenji Misumi's Sword of Vengeance (1972 - 83 min., VH1/LONE-0007), Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972 - 81 min. - VH1/LONE-0008) and Baby Cart to Hades (1972 - 89 min. - VH1/LONE-0009), Buiichi Saito's Baby Cart in Peril (1972 - 81 min. - VH1/LONE-0010), Misumi's Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (1973 - 89 min. - VH1/LONE-0011), and Yoshiyuki Kuroda's White Heaven in Hell (1974 - 83 min. - VH1/LONE-0012).Letterboxed. Subtitled.

The Lower Depths. Akira Kurosawa's staging of Maxim Gorky's play about a landlord, his wife, her sister, and a thief stars Toshiro Mifune and Isuzu Yamada. 1957. 125 min. VH1/LOWE-0001.

Mabarosi. Haunted by the death of her grandmother and the suicide of her husband, a young widow (Makiko Esumi) finds new love at her second husband's seaside home. A film by Hirokazu Kore-eda. 1995. 110 min. VH1/MABA-0001.

Madadayo. In his final film, writer/director Akira Kurosawa traces the last two decades in the life of Hyakken Uchida (Tatsuo Matsumura), a beloved writer and teacher. 1992. 134 min. VH1/MADA-0008.

Meaning of the Interval. This comparison of traditional culture and modern Japan is included on the compilation, Video Essays by Edin Velez. In English. 1987. 19 min. VH2/VIDE-0001.

The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail. Suho Nishina's warriors disguise themselves as monks and attempt to cross the border in Akira Kurosawa's film. 1945. 60 min. VH1/MENW-0001.

Metropolis. A ruler's son plans to destroy his father's sympathetic robot in this futuristic anime from filmmaker Rintaro. 2001. 109 min. VH1/METR-0004.

Minbo, or the Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion. Director Juzo Itami directs Nobuko Miyamoto in this comic tale of a courageous attorney standing up to blackmailing mobsters. 1994. 123 min. VH1/MINB-0001.

Mother. A laundress struggles to rebuild her life after World War II. With Kinuyo Tanaka and Kyoko Kagawa. Directed by Mikio Naruse. 1952. 98 min. VH1/MOTH-0001.

Mothra. When an explorer kidnaps two tiny magic princesses, they call upon Mothra, a giant moth, to rescue them. This sci-fi fantasy was directed by Ishiro Honda. Dubbed. 1961. 91 min. VH1/MOTH-0002.

Music for the Movies: Toru Takemitsu. Meet the man who composed the scores for Woman in the Dunes, Kwaidan, Samurai Rebellion, Double Suicide, Dode'skaden, Ran, and Black Rain. A Charlotte Zwerin film. 1994. 58 min. VH2/MUSI-0004.

Narayama Bushi-ko (Ballad of the Narayama). An old peasant woman prepares to end her life on top of Narayama mountain. Writer/director Keisuke Kinoshita's film was remade as The Ballad of Narayama. 1958. 97 min. VH1/NARA-0001.

No Regrets for Our Youth. A young woman (Setsuko Hara) sidesteps her destiny as a spoiled housewife and seeks independence in Akira Kurosawa's drama. 1946. 110 min. VH1/NORE-0001.

Odd Obsession. An elderly man (Ganjiro Nakamura) tempts his wife (Machiko Kyo) into an affair with a young doctor (Tatsuya Nakadai). Directed by Kon Ichikawa. 1959. 107 min. VH1/ODDO-0001.

Okoge. A naive young woman (Misa Shimizu) discovers her deep-rooted love of gay men in this touching film by Takehiro Nakajima. 1992. 120 min. VH1/OKOG-0001.

One Wonderful Sunday (Subarashiki Nichiyobi). The frustrations of a dehumanizing modern city threaten to prevent an engaged couple (Isao Numasaki and Chieko Nakakita) from attending an eagerly anticipated concert performance of Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony." A film by Akira Kurosawa. 1947. 108 min. VH1/ONEW-0001.

Onibaba. An old woman's attempts to come between her widowed daughter-in-law and a lustful scoundrel lead to horror. Kaneto Shindo's eerie film stars Nobuko Otowa, Jitsuko Yoshimura and Kei Sato. 1964. 104 min. VH1/ONIB-0001.

Orochi: The Eight-Headed Dragon. A man must use his magical amulet to become the champion of the gods. Takao Okawara directed. Dubbed. 1994. 103 min. VH1/OROC-0001.

Picture Bride. Kayo Hatta's film about a Japanese mail-order bride living in Hawaii stars Youki Kudoh, Akira Takayama and Toshiro Mifune. 1995. 95 min. VH1/PICT-0002.

Princess Mononoke. A young warrior becomes entangled in a battle between a clan of humans and the animal gods of the forest. Hayao Miyazaki's anime features the voices of Gillian Anderson, Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Billy Bob Thornton, and Keith David. [1999]. 134 min. VH1/PRIN-0007.

Princess Yang Kwei Fei. Chinese emperor Masayuki Mori takes country girl Machiko Kiyo as his concubine in Kenji Michoguchi's colorful movie. 1955. 91 min. VH1/PRIN-0008.

Ran. Tatsuya Nakadai stars as an aging warlord betrayed by his sons in Akira Kurosawa's interpretation of King Lear. With Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu and Peter. 1985. 160 min. VH1/RAN*-0001 is full-screen and VH1/RAN*-0002 is letterboxed.

Rashomon. The participants in a brutal rape and murder each present their own version of the events. Akira Kurosawa's classic stars Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori, and Takashi Shimura. 1951. 88 min. VH1/RASH-0001.

The Record of a Tenement Gentleman. An abandoned boy picks a grumpy, middle-aged widow as his unlikely surrogate mother. Choko Iida and Hohi Aoki star in Yasujiro Ozu's gentle comedy. 1947. 72 min. VH1/RECO-0001.

Red Beard. Compassionate country doctor Toshiro Mifune trains arrogant intern Yuzo Kayama in Akira Kurosawa's film. 1965. 179 min. VH1/REDB-0002.

Red Lion (Akage). Peasant Gonzo (Toshiro Mifune) enlists in the Imperial Restoration Force in Kihachi Okamoto's samurai-era comedy. 1969. 116 min. VH1/REDL-0001.

The Return of Daimajin (Daimajin Ikaru). The giant stone statue returns to protect child warriors. Issei Mori's sequel to Daimajin is followed by Wrath of Daimajin. 1966. 90 min. VH1/RETU-0013.

Rhapsody in August. Grandmother Sachiko Murase remembers the bombing of Nagasaki. Akira Kurosawa's film co-stars Richard Gere. 1991. 98 min. VH1/RHAP-0001.

Rikyu. A Buddist priest (Rentaro Mikuni) perfects the art of the tea ceremony but offends his powerful mentor (Tsutomu Yamazaki). Directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara. 1991. 116 min. VH1/RIKY-0001.

Rodan. Two gigantic pterodactyls menace the world in this colorful production from Ishiro Honda, creator of Godzilla. Dubbed. 1956. 73 min. VH1/RODA-0001.

Samurai. Hiroshi Inagaki's colorful trilogy stars Toshiro Mifune as a farmer-turned-soldier torn between love for a woman, the teachings of a Buddhist priest, and an oath to slay his enemy. Samurai I is known as Musashi Miyamoto; Samura II is also known as Duel at Ichijoji Temple; Samurai III is also known as Duel at Ganryu Island. 1952-1956. 5 hrs. VH1/SAMU-0001 through -0003.

Samurai Assassin. A penniless ronin (Toshiro Mifune) hopes that taking part in an assassination conspiracy will earn him a position in one of the great samurai houses. Kihachi Okamoto directed. 1964. 122 min. VH1/SAMU-0005.

Samurai Banners. Deceitful chamberlain Toshiro Mifune learns the meaning of honor in Hiroshi Inagaki's movie. 1969. 166 min. VH1/SAMU-0006.

Samurai Rebellion. Retired warrior (Toshiro Mifune) takes a stand against the overlord who has kidnapped his daughter-in-law. Masaki Kobayashi directed. 1967. 121 min. VH1/SAMU-0004.

Sanjuro. In Akira Kurosawa's sequel to Yojimbo, scruffy samurai Toshiro Mifune helps nine bumbling young noblemen to expose corruption in their clan. With Tatsuya Nakadai and Takashi Shimura. 1962. 96 min. VH1/SANJ-0001.

Sanshiro Sugata. In Akira Kurosawa's first film, novice Susumu Fujita learns judo from master Denjiro Okochi, then battles jujitsu master Takashi Shimura. 1943. 82 min. VH1/SANS-0002.

Sansho the Bailiff. When a governor is exiled, his wife is sold into prostitution and his children are sent to a slave camp. With Kinuyo Tanaka, Yoshiaki Hanayagi and Eitaro Shindo. Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. 1954. 132 min. VH1/SANS-0001.

Scandal (Shubun) by Akira Kurosawa. Toshiro Mifune stars as a sensitive young painter dragged through the mud by an entertainment magazine after an innocent encounter with a pop singer. 1950. 104 min. VH1/SCAN-0003.

The Secret Life of Geisha. Susan Sarandon narrates Clibe Maltby's documentary about Japan's geisha, from their origins four hundred years ago to their lives today. 1999. 94 min. VH3/SECR-0006.

The Seven Samurai. Farmers hire seven warriors to protect them from bandits in Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece, remade as the western The Magnificent Seven. With Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura and Yoshio Inaba. 1954. 141 min. VH1/SEVE-0002.

Shall We Dance? Married workaholic Koji Yakusho gets a new lease on life when he signs up for ballroom dancing lessons. Director Masayuki Suo also scripted this romantic comedy. 1995. 119 min. VH1/SHAL-0002.

The Silk Road. A kidnapped warrior rescues a captured princess in Junya Sato's lavish adventure film. With Toshiyuki Nishida and Koichi Sato. 1988. 99 min. VH1/SILK-0003.

Sisters of the Gion. Kenji Mizoguchi contrasts the lives of two sisters (Yoko Umemura, Isuzu Yamada), both of them geishas. 1936. 66 min. VH1/SIST-0003.

Snow Country. An artist from Tokyo (Ryo Ikebe) and a country geisha (Keiko Kishi) fall in love at a mountain resort in Shiro Toyoda's film. 1957. 134 min. VH1/SNOW-0001.

Sonatine. Writer/director "Beat" Takeshi Kitano also stars as a mobster who goes to Okinawa on a "peacekeeping" mission, even though he suspects that his boss plans to rub him out. 1993. 94 min. VH1/SONA-0002.

The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum. A mediocre kabuki actor is redeemed by the love of his wife, a maid who will sacrifice all for her husband's art. A Kenji Mizoguchi film. 1938. 142 min. VH1/STOR-0013.

Stray Dog. In war-ravaged Tokyo, police detective Toshiro Mifune tracks down the man who stole his gun. Akira Kurosawa's film also stars Takashi Shimura. 1949. 122 min. VH1/STRA-0003.

Street of Shame. Kenji Mizoguchi's final film examines the dreams and problems of prostitutes living in a Tokyo brothel. 1956. 88 min. VH1/STRE-0004.

Struggle and Success: The African American Experience in Japan. Reggie Life speaks with black expatriates who choose to live in Japan. In English. 1993. 86 min. VH6/STRU-0001.

The Sun's Burial. In Osaka's biggest slum, teenage gangs and prostitutes vie for control of an illegal blood-selling business. Director Nagisa Oshima also co-scripted. 1960. 87 min. VH1/SUNS-0003.

Sushi for Professional Chefs. A Chef-san production. 1992. 47 min. VH4/SUSH-0001.

Sword of Doom. Bloodthirsty samurai Tatsuya Nakadai clashes with fencing master Toshiro Mifune and battles the ghosts of the men he has slain. Kihachi Okamoto directed. 1967. 120 min. VH1/SWOR-0001.

Tampopo. Truck driver Tsutomu Yamazaki helps cook Nobuko Miyamoto create the perfect noodle dish. Juzo Itami's bawdy comedy explores the links between food and sex. 1986. 114 min. VH1/TAMP-0001.

A Taxing Woman. Tireless tax investigator Nobuko Miyamoto pursues master tax cheat Tsutomu Yamazaki in Juzo Itami's comedy. 1987. 126 min. VH1/TAXI-0002.

A Taxing Woman Returns. Inspector Nobuko Miyamoto returns to expose a corrupt religious order. Juzo Itami's sequel also stars Rentaro Mikuno and Chishu Ryu. 1989. 127 min. VH1/TAXI-0003.

Tetsuo: The Iron Man. People transform into a mutating metal sex machines in Shinya Tsukamoto's cyberpunk shocker. Also, Greg Nickson's Drum Struck. 1992. 92 min. VH1/TETS-0001.

Throne of Blood. Toshiro Mifune stars as a warrior driven by lust for power. Akira Kurosawa's ferocious version of Macbeth also stars Isuzu Yamada and Takashi Shimura. 1957. 108 min. VH1/THRO-0002.

Tokyo Drifter (Tokyo Nagaremono). A handsome gangster (Tetsuya Watari) is hunted by rival mobsters and his own bosses in this Seijun Suzuki film. 1963. 83 min. VH1/TOKY-0001.

Tokyo Olympiad. Kon Ichikawa documents the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. 1965. 170 min. VH8/TOKY-0001.

Tokyo Story. An elderly couple travel to Tokyo to visit their grown-up children. Yasujiro Ozu's heart-breaking tale stars Chishu Ryu and Chiyeko Higashiyama. 1953. 139 min. VH1/TOKY-0002.

Tokyo-Ga. German filmmaker Wim Wenders' visit to Japan includes a meditation on director Yasujiro Ozu. 1985. 92 min. VH7/TOKY-0001.

Tora! Tora! Tora! Richard Fleischer, Toshio Musuda and Kinji Fukusaku recreate the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. 1970. 144 min. VH1/TORA-0001.

Ugetsu. Two peasants try to make their fortunes in the spoils of war. Kenji Mizoguchi's 16th century ghost story features Machiko Kyo and Masayuki Mori. 1953. 96 min. VH1/UGET-0001.

Uminchu: The Old Man and the East China Sea. John Junkerman profiles 82-year-old marlin fisherman Itokazu Shigeru. 1990. 101 min. VH6/UMIN-0001.

Utamaro and His Five Women. Woodblock printmaker Utamaro (Minosuke Bando) dedicates his life to portraying beautiful women in Kenji Mizoguchi's fanciful biography. 1946. 89 min. VH1/UTAM-0001.

Vengeance Is Mine (Fukushu Suru Wa Ware Ni Ari). Shohei Imamura chronicles the 78-day crime spree of a charming serial killer (Ken Ogata). 1979. 143 min. VH1/VENG-0001.

Video Visits: Japan. A travel tape by Maureen Zrike. 1986. 30 min. VH7/VIDE-0027.

Village of Dreams (Eno Nakano Bokuno Mura). Identical twin brothers, now successful artists, recall the summer of 1948, when they were eight years old and their village was a place of wonder. A film by Yoichi Higashi. 1996. 112 min. VH1/VILL-0002.

The Visas That Saved Lives. Japan's Consul-General in Lithuania sacrifices his own career to write visas which saved thousands of Jews from deportation and extermination. Katsumi Ohyama directed this docudrama. 1992. 115 min. VH1/VISA-0001.

The Wolves. Hideo Gosha reveals the violent world of the Yakuza, a criminal class with strict moral codes. With Tatsuya Nakadai and Noboru Ando. 1971. 131 min. VH1/WOLV-0001.

Woman in the Dunes. A woman (Kyoko Kishida) holds an entomologist (Eiji Okada) prisoner in a sand pit in Hiroshi Teshigahara's haunting allegory. 1964. 123 min. VH1/WOMA-0006.

Wrath of Daimajin (Daimajin Ikaru). When a warlord destroys the giant stone statue of his enemy's god, the statue comes to life to wreak revenge. Kenji Misumi directed this sequel to Return of Daimajin. 1966. 79 min. VH1/WRAT-0001.

Yojimbo. Wily samurai Toshiro Mifune hires himself out to both sides of two warring clans. Akira Kurosawa's film was remade as the western, A Fistful of Dollars. 1961. 110 min. VH1/YOJI-0001.

Yo-Yo Ma: Inspired by Bach: 5: Struggle for Hope. Kabuki star Tamasaburo Bando collaborates with cellist Yo-Yo Ma on a performance of Bach's fifth "Suite for Unaccompanied Cello." Niv Fichman directed. 1995. 54 min. VH2/YOYO-0005.

Zatoichi: The Life & Opinion of Masseur Ichi. Meet Zatoichi (Shintaro Katsu), a blind masseur who is also a master swordsman. In the first Zatoichi movie, directed by Kenji Misumi, our hero is caught between two rival gangs. 1962. 96 min. VH1/ZATO-0001.

Zatoichi: Masseur Ichi Enters Again. Zatoichi falls in love with a woman whose brother is involved in an extortion plot. Tokuzo Tanaka directed. 1963. 91 min. VH1/ZATO-0002.

Zatoichi: Masseur Ichi, the Fugitive. The blind swordsman learns that there is a bounty on his head. Tokuzo Tanaka directed. 1963. 86 min. VH1/ZATO-0003.

Zatoichi: Masseur Ichi and a Chest of Gold. Zatoichi and his friend Boss Chuji are accused of robbing a gold shipment. Kazuo Ikehiro directed. 1964. 83 min. VH1/ZATO-0004.

Zatoichi: Masseur Ichi on the Road. Rival gangs woo the swordsman to join in their upcoming battle. Kimiyoshi Yasuda directed. 1964. 85 min. VH1/ZATO-0005.

Zatoichi: Zatoichi's Flashing Sword. Zatoichi sides with Boss Bunkichi Tsumugi, whose ferry business is being wrested from him. Kazuo Ikehiro directed. 1964. 82 min. VH1/ZATO-0006.

Zatoichi: The Adventures of a Blind Man. The swordsman comes to the aid of a young woman whose father has been executed by a corrupt magistrate. Kimiyoshi Yasuda directed. 1965. 86 min. VH1/ZATO-0007.

Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman's Revenge. Zatoichi must rescue the daughter of his slain mentor. Akira Inouye directed. 1965. 84 min. VH1/ZATO-0008.

Zatoichi: Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo. A corrupt village leader hires the Yojimbo (the great Toshiro Mifune) to rub out Zatoichi. Kihachi Okamoto directed. 1965. 116 min. VH1/ZATO-0009.

Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman's Vengeance. A dying man's last request sends Zatoichi to the corrupt town of Ichinomiya. Tokuzo Tanaka directed. 1966. 83 min. VH1/ZATO-0010.

Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman's Cane Sword. When a swordsmith warns Zatoichi (Shintaro Katsu) that his sword will soon break, the blind swordsman swears off killing. Kimiyoshi Yasuda directed. 1967. 93 min. VH1/ZATO-0014.

Zatoichi: Zatoichi Challenged. A dying woman asks the blind swordsman to take care of her son. Kenji Misumi directed. 1967. 87 min. VH1/ZATO-0011.

Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman & the Fugitives. Zatoichi encounters a mob of ruffians. Kimiyoshi Yasuda directed. 1968. 82 min. VH1/ZATO-0012.

Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman Samaritan. Zatoichi steps in to rescue a prostitute from a parasitic gangster. Kenji Misumi directed. 1968. 84 min. VH1/ZATO-0013.

Books About Japanese Cinema

Joseph L. Anderson and Donald Richie's The Japanese Film: Art and Industry (791.43 A)

Dudley Andrew & Carole Cavanaugh's Sansho Dayu (791.4372 A)

Audie Bock's Japanese Film Directors (791.43023 B and R 791.43023 B)

Ian Breakwell's An Actor's Revenge (791.4372 B)

Noel Burch's To the Distant Observer: Form and Meaning in Japanese Cinema (791.4309 B)

David Desser's Ozu's Tokyo Story (791.4372 O)

Patricia Erens' Akira Kurosawa: A Guide to References and Resources (R791.43 E)

Stuart Galbraith IV's The Emperor and the Wolf: The Lives and Films of Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune (791.4302 G) and Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo!: The Incredible World of Japanese Fantasy Films (791.4361 G)

James Goodwin's Perspectives on Akira Kurosawa (791.4302 Kurosawa)

Peter Grilli's Film in Japan: A Comprehensive Annotated Catalogue of Documentary and Theatrical Films on Japan in the United States (R 016.79143 G)

Kyoko Hirano's Mr. Smith Goes to Tokyo: Japanese Cinema Under the American Occupation, 1945-1952 (791.4309 H)

David Kalat's A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series (791.4365 K)

Akira Kurosawa's Something Like an Autobiography (791.4302 Kurosawa) and his screenplays for Rashomon (791.437 K) and The Seven Samurai (791.437 K)

J.D. Lees and Marc Cerasini's The Official Godzilla Compendium (791.43 L)

Antonia Levy's Samurai from Outer Space: Understanding Japanese Animation (791.433 L)

Keiko I. McDonald's Cinema East: A Critical Study of Major Japanese Films (791.43095 M), Mizoguchi (791.4302 Mizoguchi M) and Ugetsu: Kenji Mizoguchi, Director (791.4372 U)

Joan Mellen's The Seven Samurai (791.4372 M), Voices from the Japanese Cinema (791.43023 M) and The Waves at Genji's Door: Japan Through Its Cinema (791.4309 M)

Arthur Nolletti, Jr. and David Desser's Reframing Japanese Cinema: Authorship, Genre, History (791.4309 R)

Stephen Prince's The Warrior's Camera: The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa (791.4302 Kurosawa P)

Donald Richie's The Films of Akira Kurosawa (791.4302 Kurosawa R), Focus on Rashomon (791.4372 F), The Japanese Movie (791.43095R), Ozu: His Life and Films (791.4302 Ozu R) and Rashomon: Akira Kurosawa, Director (791.4372 R)

Tadao Sato's Currents in Japanese Cinema (791.43095 S)

Alain Silver's The Samurai Film (791.435 S)

Judy Stone's Eye on the World: Conversations with International Filmmakers (including Shohei Immamura, Juzo Itami and Akira Kurosawa) (791.4302 S)

list compiled by Jonathan Guildroy

November 2002