Haruo Tanaka – MRQE

Byaku fujin no yoren

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Lavish Japanese-Chinese coproduction based on an ancient Chinese legend about a man who falls in love with a snake goddess in human form.

Sanjûsangen-dô, tôshiya monogatari

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In A Tale of Archery, young, timid bowmaster Kazuma (Akitake Kôno) seeks to beat the archery record set by Hoshino Kanzaemon, a mysterious figure who, it is rumored, drove the previous champion (Kazumas father) to suicide. Possessed of much raw talent, Kazuma is also very much a coward, holing himself up in an inn run by the kindly Okinu (Kinuyo Tanaka) and generally avoiding confrontation of any sort. Despite his clandestine manner, enough of the locals know of Kazumas purpose and an attempt is made on his life. He is saved by Karatsu Kanbei (Kazuo Hasegawa), a samurai who offers to help Kazuma hone his archery skills, though it soon becomes clear that this apparently selfless stranger has several potentially shady ulterior motives.

Uwasa no onna

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Yukiko’s fiance learns her mother runs a geisha house and ends their engagement. She despises what her mother does until one of her clients shows interest and starts to woo her.

Tokugawa irezumi-shi: Seme jigoku

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Japan nineteenth century. High demand for tattooed geisha generates an entire industry for their “production”. Europeans pay more for tattooed beauties. Against this background, and considering the gorgeous tattooed women develop the history of confrontation between two highly skilled masters of tattoo.

Chikamatsu monogatari

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

In 17th century Kyoto, Osan is married to Ishun, a wealthy miserly scroll-maker. When Osan is falsely accused of having an affair with the best worker, Mohei, the pair flee the city and declare their love for each other. Ishun orders his men to find them, and separate them to avoid public humiliation.

Entotsu no mieru basho

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Goshos most celebrated film both in Japan and the West, Where Chimneys Are Seen is perhaps the most compelling example of his concern for, and insights into, the everyday lives of lower-middle-class people. Based on Rinzo Shiinas novel of the absurd, the film depicts the lives of two couples against the backdrop of Tokyos growing industrialization during the 1950s.

Ikiru

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Kanji Watanabe is a middle-aged man who has worked in the same monotonous bureaucratic position for decades. Learning he has cancer, he starts to look for the meaning of his life.

Ginza keshô

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

A luckless geisha struggles to make a living for herself and her young son.

Nabeshima kaibyou den

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Tanuma Kandayuu is a high class samurai of the house of Nabeshima. He finds a lavish board of Go (a Chinese Board game) at Kinbei’s store. He recommend Kinbei to offer it to his lord. Kinbei hesitates at first, since he knows the board has a mysterious legend surrounding it; it’s believed that for every game played on the board, one death is required.

Muhomatsu no issho

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

The story of Muhmatsu, a rickshaw man who becomes a surrogate father to the child of a recently widowed woman.