Author Archives: kevingilvear

Hausu, 1977 Nobuhiko Obayashi might not be one of the most readily recognised names outside of Japan; his films have rarely enjoyed international fame past festival screenings, but he’s a man who early on in his career helped to define … Continue reading →

Hana to Arisu, 2004 Over the past few years director Shunji Iwai has attained quite a following, amidst several of his short stories and four feature length films (discounting the recent Kon Ichikawa Story). Following on from Love Letter, Swallowtail … Continue reading →

Waisetsu steeji nando mo tsukkonde, 2005 It’s a bit of shame that Daisuke Goto hasn’t gone on to greater mainstream success. For the past twenty years he’s been dabbling in and out of the pink film scene; he briefly interrupted … Continue reading →

Ashura-jo no Hitomi, 2005 Kabuki isn’t something that you simply put up on the big screen; it just isn’t done. It’s a format in which entertainment is derived from specifically nuanced and eccentric performances. Everything in its delivery, from men … Continue reading →

Dorei, 2007 By day Rina Wakayama (Rinako Hirasawa) does what most normal folk do: sit in an office and shuffle papers. By night she lets go of her inhibitions and ‘entertains’ pervy men as a dominatrix, whilst finding time to … Continue reading →

Panda Kopanda, 1972 After working as a key animator on Toei features such as Prince of the Sun (Taiyō no Ōji Horusu no Daibōken, 1968), Puss ’n Boots (Nagagutsu o Haita Neko, 1969) and Animal Treasure Island (Dōbutsu Takarajima, 1971), as … Continue reading →

Topazu, 1992 Taking its title from author Ryu Murakami’s 1988 short story collection entitled ‘Topaz’, which focuses on the observations of young prostitutes working in the S&M trade, Topaz – of which Murakami also directs – explores a cruel and … Continue reading →

Rimeinzu: Utsukushiki Yusha- tachi, 1990 It’s ironic that the very film which commemorated the 20th anniversary of Shinichi “Sonny” Chiba’s JAC (Japan Action Club) stunt team was the same one that financially ruined the man and forced him to sell up. … Continue reading →

Sukeban deka: Kôdo nêmu = Asamiya Saki, 2006 Sukeban Deka – roughly translated from slang as “Delinquent Girl Detective” – is based on yet another popular manga series, this time taking its cue from Shinji Wada’s 1976-1982 run, as featured … Continue reading →

Oppai Chanbara, 2008 Take three hot AV Idols, throw them in period attire and have them flash their boobies in the heat of battle, and you pretty much have the recipe for Chanbara Striptease, from the producers of zombie bore-fest … Continue reading →