Memoir of Japanese Assassinations
This anthology film consists of nine incidents in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when assassins changed the course of Japanese history.
Taira Clan Saga
Japan, 1137. The Taira family, a samurai clan, becomes involved in the disputes between Emperor Toba and the monks of Mount Hiei.
The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga
Japan, 1954. A legend emerges from the ashes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, devastated by atomic bombs in 1945. The creature's name is Godzilla. The film that tells its story is the first of kaiju eiga, the giant monster movies.
Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director
A documentary film that delves into the life and cinematic career of one of Japan's most prolific directors: Ishiro Honda. The film will spotlight Honda's filmography from both a historical and personal perspective, exploring his contributions to the Japanese film industry and his firsthand experiences of war, from which he barely survived. It will also delve into his profound feelings regarding the atomic bomb, a subject that became an obsession for him and was frequently reflected in his films. The documentary will analyze Honda's body of work through interviews with individuals who had the privilege of collaborating with him, as well as experts on Honda's films from both Japan and the Western world. Furthermore, the film will uncover Honda's friendship and professional relationship with director Akira Kurosawa.
Uji Has Many Stories
The protagonist visits Uji and tours the town, which has been shaped by the accumulation of history and culture from various eras, including the Heian period.
Pledge To Peace
Lieutenant Keiu Matsuo lost his life in a midget submarine attack at Sydney Harbor during the night of May 31 and June 1, 1942. This short animation film pays homage to Keiu Matsuo and his mother Matsue.
Bloody History of Soldiers
A historical film that portrays the fervent and violent actions of young Army and Navy officers, such as the February 26 and May 15 incidents, in a semi-documentary style.
Zukkoke Sannin-gumi: Zukkoke Jikuu Bouken
Three reporters from the school paper get transported back to the Edo period.
All Lines
This was a news film with elements of reenactment. From December 1927 to 1932, 2,000 bus and train drivers were fired, provoking a strike. This film was edited out of footage shot from that strike over a long period.
Shinto: Nature, Gods, and Man in Japan
A documentary tracing the development of Shinto to the present day. Explores ancient ritual sites that are still used today, as well as major shrines and great works of Shinto religious art.
Moto Is Missing
Featurette about the demise, during the early 1940s, of the once-popular Mr. Moto B-films series that starred Peter Lorre.
Okinawa
A satirical comment on the 1972 reversion of Okinawa to Japan.
The Last Breath of War
From empire to ashes-Japan's rise, war, and reckoning. A gripping journey through ambition, conflict, and the cost of a nation's destiny.