39-42 Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza, By a Man's Face Shall You Know Him, Eighteen Years in Prison & I, the Executioner

[Cash Flagg]

He implied another great under-appreciated Japanese director would be explored instead.

Naruse or Shimizu, I’m sure! (Yeah, right…it’ll just be more yakuza and kung-ku programmers, whoever the director is.)

[therewillbeblus]

Of the four they've released so far, this was my least favorite.

That's validating. Is there a film of his (either here or unreleased) that might be a better entry point?

[Grand Wazoo]

I, The Executioner is my fave of the lot, also featuring illuminating extras that helped me further appreciate Kato and his style.

[Glowingwabbit]

I found the misogyny in I, The Executioner too much, but I did appreciate the style. Not one I'd ever return to though. I haven't gotten around to any of his other films yet, but would recommend the little Tom Mes book.

[rapta]

He implied another great under-appreciated Japanese director would be explored instead.

Naruse or Shimizu, I’m sure! (Yeah, right…it’ll just be more yakuza and kung-ku programmers, whoever the director is.)

I think we've got better luck with Naruse over at BFI, who at least are getting what they can from Toho (fingers crossed we get at least one more Naruse from that avenue). Radiance tried to get Lightning from Kadokawa last year but the materials weren't good enough for a Blu-ray release.

Shimizu might be a better suggestion, as a lot of his output is with Shochiku, but then again some directors' work from that studio is off limits to Radiance apparently (Shinoda and Nomura are two that have been addressed, for example), and that could also be the case for Shimizu (or indeed Kobayashi, Mizoguchi, Kinoshita, Gosha, Oshima etc).

[zedz]

I think Fran actually said in an interview that there weren't any more Kato titles planned for 2025 (slight shame, as I was hoping he'd get The Ondekoza from his Shochiku deal). He implied another great under-appreciated Japanese director would be explored instead.

(Fingers crossed for Susumu Hani.)

[rapta]

I think Fran actually said in an interview that there weren't any more Kato titles planned for 2025 (slight shame, as I was hoping he'd get The Ondekoza from his Shochiku deal). He implied another great under-appreciated Japanese director would be explored instead.

(Fingers crossed for Susumu Hani.)

I think Fran logged Nanami: The Inferno of First Love once upon a time, so one day you may be in luck...