1960s/1970s/1980s Japanese Genre Cinema - From Books and Magazine Articles (NSFW)

[Takuma]

Roman Porno meets Truck Yaro



Yuka Asagiri, Norifumi Suzuki, Asami Ogawa, Bunta Sugawara and Natsuko Yashiro in a behind the scenes still from Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls (堕靡泥の星　美少女狩り) (1979). The original working title was, btw, 堕魔泥の星・美少女コレクシ ョン (Star of David: Beautiful Girl Collection).

There is a funny story about how Suzuki (more or less) made this film because he loved the Nikkatsu studio logo. Studios were identified by their opening logos that played before the film. And Nikkatsu had that classic N and K inside a circle.

Films like Ko Nakahira’s Kurenai no tsubasa (紅の翼) (1958), Buichi Saito’s Back South to Tosa (南国土佐を後にして) and Toshio Masuda’s Red Handkerchief (赤いハンカチ) (1964) were among the many Nikkatsu films Suzuki used to go see as a young man and even when he was an assistant director at Toei Kyoto. And those all started with the classic Nikkatsu logo! “Nikkatsu films were my youth”, Suzuki says.

So, when Suzuki was asked to make a film with a Nikkatsu logo, the answer was an ecstatic yes. Before starting the work on the film, he went to see Nikkatsu’s new double feature Eighteen Years, to the Sea (十八歳、海へ) and Super Gun Lady: Police Branch 82 (ワニ分署). But the classic logo was not there! It turned out Nikkatsu had just changed their logo to a new one. It was a crushing disappointment that left Suzuki dumbfounded.

From Suzuki’s book 下品こそ、この世の花: 映画・堕落論 (2014)

[Jason C]

I'd love to have that Hotwax book.

[Takuma]

How Girl Boss Guerilla (女番長ゲリラ) (1972) found its form

Director Norifumi Suzuki explains in his book Toei guerilla senki (東映ゲリラ戦記) (2013) (p. 75-77) that Girl Boss Guerilla was actually based on a popular pop song. “A young man from Toei’s advertising department came to Kyoto for a business trip and gave me a tape. He said this song was really popular with young people in Tokyo, and should suit director Suzuki’s style”.

It was a song called Red Elegy (赤色エレジー) by singer Morio Agata (あがた森魚). The lyrics were about a man and a woman called Ichiro and Sachiko. Suzuki then played the song to Girl Boss series screenwriter and assistant director Takayuki Minagawa and said “Let’s make a Showa melodrama this time. Miki’s character should be Sachiko and her lover a boxer called Ichiro.”

The film’s concept was finalized between Suzuki, Amao and Minagawa as “motorcycles, sex and action”.

To add to Sugimoto’s charm, Suzuki wanted her to wear a similar jumpsuit as the heroine of the movie The Girl on a Motorcycle (1968).

[Takuma]

A while back I added Kenji Fukuma’s Teruo Ishii book 石井輝男映画魂 (1991) (on the left in the image above... the Hotwax book on the right is unrelated) to my bookshelf. While I haven't had time to start reading it, I can say it's basically Fukushima interviewing Ishii for 250 pages by going through his career film by film, followed by an 80 page filmography (!) and finally a chronological list that not only shows which movie each Ishii film premiered with as a double feature, but also the competing double features released by other studios on the same day! And there’s a lot of amazing stills and photos! I wanted to share a few below.

Ishii filming his debut movie King of the Ring: The World of Glory (リングの王者　栄光の世界) (1957) at Shintoho.


Ken Takakura, Teruo Ishii and Toru Abe making Abashiri Prison: Northern Seacoast Story (網走番外地　北海篇) (1965)


Ken Takakura and Teruo Ishii (front, smoking) filming Abashiri Prison: Duel in the Snow Country (網走番外地　大雪原の対決) (1966).


Teruo Ishii at the sets of Season of Violence (暴走の季節) (1976). I think that’s Koichi Iwaki and Yutaka Nakajima in the back.


Note: there's a new 2012 version of the book that is smaller size and reportedly lacks many of the photos. Go for the original 1991 release (or its further pressings, I've got the 2nd pressing from 1992) with the Takakura / Abashiri Prison 3 cover. It's long OOP but used copies are dirt cheap.

[Jason C]

Yeah, I think so. I like Watanabe, but I don't really see her as (having the charisma of) a leading lady. That being said, I could be wrong because she was versatile to the point of becoming almost unrecognizable. Sometimes it's hard to believe the light-headed bimbo in Violent Panic: The Big Crash, the sweet co-prisoner in Female Prisoner Scorpion, the tragic prostitute in Beast Stable and the wolf girl in Wolfguy were all played by the same actress.

Excellent point. I do remember those characters but didn't put it together that they were the same actress. Watanabe is extremely attractive but Miki was such a badass.

[Takuma]

How Soft-Shell Turtle Geisha (温泉スッポン芸者) (1972) came to be?

Director Norifumi Suzuki recalls in his book Toei guerilla senki (東映ゲリラ戦記) (2013) (p. 65) that Miki Sugimoto’s debut as leading lady in Tokugawa Sex Ban: Lustful Lord (徳川セックス禁止令　色情大名) was a success, but Toei execs were not entirely sold on her yet. The plan was to make a new Girl Boss movie next. However, after completing the work on Tokugawa Sex Ban, Suzuki, producer Amao and a Toei dude called Watanabe went for dinner. In this small restaurant they were served such delicious soft-shelled turtle, that they decided to postpone the Girl Boss film and make a movie called Soft-Shell Turtle Geisha (Hot Springs Geisha 5) instead. The film was complete and in theatres a couple of months later.

LOL!

On a more serious note, Suzuki notes that this kind of overnight changes in plans were necessary in commercial cinema back then, when a filmmaker needed to know what is in right now. “Rough and ready” and “swift decisions” were the key to his way of guerrilla filmmaking, he says.

[Takuma]

Good choice using Miki :)

Yeah, I think so. I like Watanabe, but I don't really see her as (having the charisma of) a leading lady. That being said, I could be wrong because she was versatile to the point of becoming almost unrecognizable. Sometimes it's hard to believe the light-headed bimbo in Violent Panic: The Big Crash, the sweet co-prisoner in Female Prisoner Scorpion, the tragic prostitute in Beast Stable and the wolf girl in Wolfguy were all played by the same actress.


- https://fuckyeahmeikokaji.tumblr.com/image/133214920338

[Jason C]

Good choice using Miki :)

[Takuma]

Reiko Ike Quits Toei: The Aftermath

Director Suzuki explains in his book Toei guerilla senki (東映ゲリラ戦記) (2013) (p. 58-60) what happened after Reiko Ike suddenly quit Toei in spring 1972, which left their next movie Tokugawa Sex Ban: Lustful Lord (徳川セックス禁æ¢ä»¤ã€€è‰²æƒ…大名) without a star. The following story took places in late March, 1972. Tokugawa Sex Ban was set to open at the end of April. I've abbreviated / omitted parts in the translation because the full story goes on for several pages. For background, please see my older 'Reiko Ike quits / Humphrey Bogart stood in silence' post.

“Reiko Ike did not have a contract with Toei. We only had a verbal agreement with her parents, and she had been under “producer Amao's custody”, so she was free to leave. We were informed by her record company that it was not only her own, but especially her parents' wish that she would not appear nude anymore.”

“But who should replace Ike in Tokugawa Sex Ban? There was no time to scout a new actress. We got together with producer Amao and screenwriter Kakefuda and narrowed it down to two candidates: Yayoi Watanabe and Miki Sugimoto. “

“I was pretty much decided on Watanabe. She could act and she had a bright personality and a beautiful smile. I had always thought I'd use her for a big role some day. She was a small, typical Japanese girl with transistor glamour - such a word existed back then - [note: 1959 buzzword referring to a woman with a small body build] and would make a great contrast with the tall Sandra Julien. Watanabe was sweet, unlike the dark delinquent girl like Sugimoto.”

“Then I asked Kakefuda, who had sat silently all this time, what he thought?”.

“”I really want to see Sugimoto in the role” Kakefuda said. Kakefuda continued “I'm ok with either one, but favouring safe over a sense of adventure? That's unlike you, director Suzuki…””

“”That's right, director Suzuki without an adventurous spirit has no charm…” producer Amao added.”

“… and the stream just kept flowing towards Sugimoto.”

““Let's show some professional spirit and get this film done” producer Amao said. “Let's promote Miki to a new leading lady. Runaway Ike will be surprised, too! “”



[Watanabe still via Fuck Yeah! Meiko Kaji! https://fuckyeahmeikokaji.tumblr.com.../185684532421]

[Jason C]

Good Stuff. Much appreciated Takuma.

[Takuma]

Director Suzuki recalls the casting of Girl Boss Blues: Queen Bee's Counterattack (女番長ブルース 牝蜂の逆襲) (1971) in his book Toei guerilla senki (東映ゲリラ戦記) (2013) (p.29). My translation may not be entirely accurate.

“I could see why producer Amao cast Yukie Kagawa as Reiko's rival in the film. In a way, Reiko was what Kagawa had been 4 years earlier. Kagawa had debuted in the Teruo Ishii gang. Then now came Ike, a complete amateur who had become a leading actress overnight at the age of 16. We wanted to create a rivalry between this ecstatic newcomer and an older actress who knew the world wasn't such a sweet place after all.”

“Ike had the kind of vanity and self-love that it was obvious she wouldn't let go of her leading actress status once she had obtained it. But she would feel nervous because of Kagawa being there. That tension lasted till the end of the filming.”

[Richardrli]

But that just seems a dumb thing to do? Why create all this unnecessary discrepancy and confusion? And is this just the tip of the iceberg, how many other actors have a false date of birth recorded for whatever reason?

[Takuma]

All the sources I've read says Reiko Ike's date of birth is 25th May 1953, but here it says 25th June??

25th June, 1954 actually.

1953 is used in English language sources and a few Japanese mainstream sites, like Wikipedia. But Japanese film books, liner notes and even men's magazines dating back to the early 70s suggest 1954. And of course Suzuki himself has written about in in his book.

[Richardrli]

All the sources I've read says Reiko Ike's date of birth is 25th May 1953, but here it says 25th June??

[Takuma]

Happy (real) birthday, Reiko Ike!


Still from Hot Springs Earthworm Geisha (温泉みみず芸者) (1971).