#Yoshitaro Nomura

[sacredwhores]

Yoshitaro Nomura - Zero Focus (1961)

[fuckyeahmeikokaji]

Meiko Kaji (梶芽衣子) in the trailer for Bad Sorts (わるいやつら), 1980, directed by Yoshitaro Nomura (野村芳太郎).

I posted the trailer here: https://youtu.be/FYRzmS_LdHo

[dare-g]

Zero Focus (1961)

[shihlun]

Yoshitaro Nomura

- Zero Focus

1961

[cro-iba]

it's christmas eve, so like always, it's time for me to get into the spirit with a japanese legal thriller where a plucky lawyer must defend a client that everyone believes did the murder, who seems to have no interest in defending themselves, with significant events occurring on christmas! that's right, it's suspicion (1982) (dir. yoshitaro nomura)

[smither-scenes]

Discover the dark allure of Japanese cinema with the BFI's top 10 film noirs

From post-war shadows to moral complexity, these classics redefine noir through a uniquely Japanese lens. A must-watch for cinephiles! 🎥✨

10 Great Japanese Film Noirs: A Journey Through Shadows

The allure of Japanese noir is a masterful blend of postwar realism, cultural complexity, and an unmistakable flair for visual storytelling. From shadow-drenched crime dramas to existential sagas, Japanese filmmakers redefined the noir genre with their unique sensibilities. Here's a deep dive into ten standout films that showcase the rich texture of Japanese noir:

Stray Dog (1949) Akira Kurosawa’s early masterpiece, a gripping tale of a rookie detective searching for his stolen gun, immerses viewers in postwar Tokyo's searing summer streets.

I Am Waiting (1957) A poignant tale of broken dreams and crime, this Koreyoshi Kurahara classic explores the fragile hopes of a boxer and a cabaret singer trapped by their pasts.

Rusty Knife (1958) Directed by Toshio Masuda, this crime drama reveals the underbelly of postwar Japan, where corruption and violence thrive in a world struggling to rebuild.

Intimidation (1960) A taut 65-minute gem that lays bare class divides and moral corruption, directed by Koreyoshi Kurahara.

Zero Focus (1961) Yoshitaro Nomura crafts a Hitchcockian noir, unraveling a haunting mystery of lost identity and post-occupation secrets.

Pale Flower (1964) Masahiro Shinoda’s enigmatic noir follows a yakuza and a femme fatale in a moody dance of existential despair.

Cruel Gun Story (1964) Takumi Furukawa’s heist thriller, starring the iconic Jo Shishido, blends meticulous plotting with the chaos of betrayal.

A Fugitive from the Past (1965) Tomu Uchida’s epic crime saga explores guilt and redemption in the shadow of Japan’s postwar moral landscape.

A Colt Is My Passport (1967) This stylish Takashi Nomura film channels spaghetti western vibes into a sharp-edged tale of hitmen and honor.

Branded to Kill (1967) Seijun Suzuki’s avant-garde noir is an unforgettable, surreal journey into the fragmented psyche of a hitman.

Dive into these classics to experience the unique lens of Japanese noir, where crime, culture, and existentialism intersect.

[criteriondiary]

Stakeout　野村芳太郎　「張込み」

Directed by Yoshitaro Nomura • 1958 • Japan Starring Minoru Oki, Seiji Miyaguchi, Hideko Takamine

主題　

刑事である主人公が、犯人の恋人を張込み、犯人を捕まえる物語

目のズームアップ

１、発端、状況設定

駅から始まる。長い列車の旅、佐賀に着く。張込みが始まる。残された時間は、６日。年上の夫との平凡そうな生活を送る高峰秀子。主人公が、少しづづ、感情移入というか同情、そして疑問を抱きはじめる。

２、葛藤、事件

祭りの日。傘を直すおじいさんが、女の家を訪れる。主人公が東京に戻る前日、高峰秀子が外出、それを追う刑事。彼らを寂れた温泉宿のそばで見つける。女は、沖縄に逃げる男についていく決意をする。

３、解決

宿で逮捕される男。それを知理、慟哭する高峰。

駅のホーム。主人公が、恋人に電報��結婚）をうつ。

「この女は、数時間の命を燃やしたに過ぎなかった。今晩からまたあのケチな夫と先妻の子供たちとの生活に戻らなければならない。そして明日からは、あんな情熱が潜んでいようとは思えない平凡な姿でミシンを踏んでいるだろう。」

[transgender-mothman]

3 8 10 for the movie meme!

3. a foreign language film:

Oh boy oh boy oh boy how do I even remotely try to narrow this down. World cinema is my bread and butter, about equal with horror (which you also asked about!!). So I'm gonna try to pick some thing for these categories that isn't talked about quite as much as others I could recommend. My recommendation for foreign language this round is the Demon (1978) from Japan, directed by Yoshitaro Nomura. It is a rough watch, and I could probably make a case for it being a horror film, but ... regardless, I'm recommending it. It's a movie about a man whose illegitimate children are dumped on him out of the blue by his mistress, and the spiral into amorality that follows as he is confronted with just how hard it is to provide for these kids, particularly when his wife hates them. It's one of those movies I had to sit in quiet to absorb after it was over. TW for child abuse.

8. a film set in a place you always wanted to visit:

M (1931) is set in Berlin, which is a place I've always wanted to visit! It's also a fabulous film that remains one of the most influential, and the last fifteen minutes are TENSE. A serial killer who targets children attempts to evade getting caught in the midst of a manhunt and the outrage and paranoia his crimes have caused---- even among other criminals.

10. a film whose main genre is horror:

The Changeling (1980) is one of my personal favourites and has been since I was little, and imho it's the best haunted house movie ever made. It does a lot with very little--- there's no fancy special effects, no blood or viscera. It is all about heavy mood and ambiance, and some great, subtle, nuanced creepiness. Go in blind if you can, but TW there are a couple of well earned jump scares (albeit surprisingly few considering the genre--- and none are the stereotypical screaming black cat in a cupboard). It's also a Canadian film, and stars the always ornery and fun to watch George C. Scott!

[anamon-book]

八つ墓村 松竹株式会社事業部 原作＝横溝正史、監督＝野村芳太郎、出演＝萩原健一・小川真由美・渥美清・山崎努・山本陽子 ほか

[sacredwhores]

Yoshitaro Nomura - Zero Focus (1961)

[fuckyeahmeikokaji]

Meiko Kaji (梶芽衣子) and Junko Miyashita (宮下順子) in a press photo for Bad Sorts (わるいやつら), 1980, directed by Yoshitaro Nomura (野村芳太郎).

Scanned from the July 1980 issue of Kinema Junpo (キネマ旬報).

[dare-g]

The Demon (1978)

[f1lms4ever]

Suspicion [1982] dir. by Yoshitaro Nomura

[shihlun]

Yoshitaro Nomura

- Zero Focus

1961

[cry-bastion]

Castle of Sand (1974), dir. Yoshitaro Nomura

Is there really such a thing as happiness in this world? I don't think it's ever truly existed. What people are chasing is an illusion.