Japan’s cinematic historyis long and storied, with a variety of genres being highly influential, including the sprawling genre ofyakuza movies. Not only did some of the best Japanese directors of all time make yakuza films, but some of thebest Japanese actorswere also featured in a number of them, showing just how prevalent the genre is in Japan. At face value, yakuza movies deal with the lives of yakuza members and how they approach the world, but the rather broad definition allows for a varied approach to making films in the genre.
Truly emerging in the 1950s, with some coming before, the yakuza genre largely based itself around post-war Japan, interested in showing how the changing political landscape could also affect organized crime in the country. With the yakuza having a strict code of honor, exploring how tradition can change rather quickly and testing what was previously thought of before, the genre was a no-brainer to explore in depth, leading to some of the best Japanese films of all time.
Ichi the Killer
Cast
Directed by Takashi Miike, Ichi the Killer follows sadomasochistic yakuza enforcer Kakihara, who searches for his missing boss and encounters Ichi, a repressed and psychotic killer. As tensions rise, Kakihara becomes fascinated with Ichi’s potential to deliver unprecedented levels of pain and violence.
Takashi Miike is one of the most polarizing directors in Japanese cinema, creating a plethora of disturbing films that revel in their gratuitous violence, with a significant amount of his early filmography revolving around the yakuza to some degree. One of his most enduring films is the horror-tinged, yakuza-focusedIchi the Killer, which has received its fair share of controversy both in Japan and abroad. Despite that,it helped catapult Miike into the spotlightfollowing his earlier horror film,Audition.
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What makesIchi the Killerso great is how it embraces the ultra-violent world of the yakuza, depicting the toxic world of the Japanese criminal underworld, which leaves a bloody wake wherever it goes. Tadanobu Asano (Shōgun) is admirable inIchi the Killeras Kakihara, a yakuza enforcer, alongside Nao Omori as the titular character, who is delightfully sadistic and chilling throughout the entire film.
Under the Open Skyis a very different film from the typical yakuza fare that has been popular in Japan for decades, and for two major reasons. First, the movie revolves around a lifelong yakuza member who was released from prison after serving 13 years for murder, and struggles to adapt to life outside that system. Second,few yakuza movies have a female director at the helm, but Miwa Nishikawa embraces the job with her incredible talent.
He takes an already well-written character and creates magic, infusing Mikami with so much depth and nuance.
Koji Yakusho as Masao Mikami is the obvious standout inUnder the Open Sky,as the entire story revolves around him. He takes an already well-written character and creates magic, infusing Mikami with so much depth and nuance, as a yakuza member trying to come to terms with the life he led and where he can go next with his newfound freedom. It’s a remarkable, tender film that doesn’t feel the need to adhere to the typical trappings of the yakuza genre.
Seijun Suzuki has a long history of working within the yakuza genre, andYouth of the Beastis one of the best films in his filmography. Released in 1963,Youth of the Beastfeatures Joe Shishido, a tough guy with a secret agenda who gets caught up with the yakuza after being recruited by one of the bosses.It’s a classic story within the genre and Seijun Suzuki executes it to perfection, making it an enduring entry into one of Japan’s most enduring genres.
Upon its release,Youth of the Beastwasn’t actually that well received, barely making a splash among some of the biggest films of the decade. Still, the movie gained a following over the years and remains a staple of the yakuza genre as well as Seijun Suzuki’s films. Not only is there a lot to chew on narratively withYouth of the Beast, but it’s an incredibly stylish movie as well.
Sonatine
Sonatine, directed by Takeshi Kitano, follows Murakawa, an aging Tokyo yakuza sent to Okinawa to mediate a gang war. Discovering the conflict’s insignificance, he and his men are ambushed. The survivors retreat to a beach hideout, awaiting further instructions amidst growing uncertainty.
Several yakuza from Tokyo are sent to Osaka to help end a gang war inSonatine, including the aging Aniki Murakwa played by the always amazing Takeshi Kitano. He pulls double duties in the film as well, as Kitano is also one of the best “modern” directors in the Japanese film industry, directing a number of films over the years, includingSonatine. The deadpan humor and moments of incredible violence are present inSonatine, which is a staple of Takeshi Kitano’s films.
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What helps set apartSonatinewith the majority of yakuza fare is how low-key the film actually is, as Kitano is willing to let the narrative hang back to explore the various members of the gang as they retreat to a beach house once the violence from the gang war begins to escalate. In doing this, characters are allowed a chance to shine, each revealing a hidden depth that was not previously known.
Released in 1971,The Wolvesis directed by Hideo Gosha and set in the immediate aftermath of World War II, exploring that transitionary period and how it affected the yakuza at the time. The story revolves around a yakuza member named Seiji, who learns that his gang disbanded while he was locked up in prison. Not only must he come to terms with that, but he also attempts to confront the shaky morality prevalent in the yakuza world.
What makesThe Wolvessuch an impactful film is the way Hideo Gosha explores the post-war setting, ascharacters must come to terms with the changing times and the decaying traditions that they have partaken infor years. A lot of films set in post-war Japan explore similar concepts, butThe Wolvesdoes it on an incredibly impressive level.
Sympathy for the Underdog
Sympathy for the Underdog, directed by Kinji Fukasaku, follows a yakuza gang led by a resilient leader, forced out of Yokohama by a larger Tokyo syndicate. They retreat to Okinawa, where they plan to reestablish their criminal enterprise amidst violent challenges.
Sympathy for the Underdogis simply remarkable and a testament to how good of a director Kinji Fukasaku is, especially when it comes to the yakuza genre. This 1971 Japanese classic explores an older yakuza boss who attempts to rebuild his organization after serving 10 years in prison. The loyalty on display from the members of the gang is one of the trademarks that make yakuza films so appealing to watch, emphasizing the honor these characters feel despite being criminals.
It’s a remarkable film that moves at a rapid pace, showing how much command Kinji Fukasaku has over his craft.
Like a lot of the best yakuza movies,Sympathy for the Underdogis concerned with the inevitability of changeand what that means for those gangs that have operated under a certain code for most of their existence. It’s a remarkable film that moves at a rapid pace, showing how much command Kinji Fukasaku has over his craft, as the narrative at the center never gets lost in the action around it.
Graveyard of Honor
Graveyard of Honor is a 2002 film directed by Takashi Miike. Set in the Japanese underworld, it follows a barkeeper who ascends within the Yakuza after saving a boss’s life. His fearless nature quickly leads to turmoil within the criminal organization.
Takashi Miike is such an important Japanese director, and films likeIchi the KillerandGraveyard of Honorhighlight why he has a place in yakuza film history. His gleeful disposition to violence in his films is actually beneficial to his approach to the yakuza genre, and it is what helpsGraveyard of Honor,whichis a remake of Kinji Fukasaku’s film of the same name, distinguish itself from the original movie. Miike expands upon the original in interesting ways, keeping it feeling fresh despite treading familiar ground.
Takashi Miike is one of Japan’s most prolific filmmakers, having over 100 credits to his name since his debut in 1991.
With thisGraveyard of Honoressentially 40 minutes longer than the original, there is a lot of room for Miike to tell an even more complex story, diving into who Rikuo Ishimatsu is even more than what the original was able to do with its protagonist. Despite working heavily in the horror genre,Graveyard of Honorcould be considered one of the best Takashi Miike films ever.
Violent Cop
Violent Cop, released in 1989, stars Takeshi Kitano as Azuma, a detective who disregards ethical boundaries during his investigation into a colleague’s entanglement with the Yakuza and drug trafficking. The film marks Kitano’s directorial debut, blending crime drama with intense action.
Violent Copis another incredible entry in Takeshi Kitano’s impressive filmography, and a staple of the yakuza genre in Japan. In fact,the film served as the directorial debut for Kitanoafter Kinji Fukasaku had to step down due to scheduling conflicts. What was going to be just an acting part in a legendary director’s new movie, became the start of a storied career of his own behind the camera, with Kitano eventually being recognized as one of the best directors in Japanese history.
The 1991 film,A Scene at the Sea, is a must-watch in Kitano’s filmography, with a much different narrative than what he is typically associated with.
Not only isViolent Copan important moment in the Japanese film industry, but it is also very good, with Takeshi Kitano delivering another knockout performance as a police detective who is not afraid to get his hands dirty in the fight against the yakuza. In just one film, Kitano proved that not only was he a great actor, but he was a great director too.
Tokyo Drifter
Tokyo Drifter is a 1966 film directed by Seijun Suzuki. It follows Tetsuya “Phoenix Tetsu” Hondo, a loyal yakuza operative, pursued by a deadly assassin named Tatsuzo “Viper” after refusing a rival’s offer. As he evades this relentless threat, Tetsu navigates concerns about betrayal from within his former gang.
Tokyo Drifteris another yakuza film directed by Seijun Suzuki and is arguably the best film of his career, as Suzuki effortlessly blends surrealism and violence to make a truly unique movie experience.The movie is visually striking, as it is one of the most beautiful looking yakuza films ever made, as Seijun Suzuki really embraces the pop art aesthetic that is present throughout. Alongside the visual language of the film, the soundtrack toTokyo Drifteris to die for.
Tokyo Driftertells the story of a yakuza enforcer who is looking forward to a life outside of organized crime following his gang disbanding. When his old rivals attempt to assassinate him, Tetsuya Hondo is forced into becoming a drifter. It’s a fairly normal narrative for a yakuza film, but it is told with such visual flair that it becomes one of the best in the genre.
Drunken Angel
Drunken Angel, directed by Akira Kurosawa, follows the story of Doctor Sanada, who treats gangster Matsunaga for gunshot wounds and discovers his tuberculosis. As the doctor attempts to convince Matsunaga to undergo treatment, they form an uneasy bond, complicated by the return of Matsunaga’s former boss, Okada, from prison.
Arguably the greatest Japanese director of all time, as well as one of the greatest directors in the world,Akira Kurosawa is largely known for his highly influential workin the samurai genre. Still, Kurosawa didn’t just work within one genre, as he made a number of incredible films over his career, including one of the greatest yakuza movies of all time,Drunken Angel,which came out in 1948.
Akira Kurosawa and Toshirō Mifune made 16 films together.
What makesDrunken Angelstand out is it is one of the earliest crime movies that could be considered a yakuza film, once again exploring the yakuza in post-war Japan. Like most amazing Akira Kurosawa films,Drunken Angelstars longtime collaborator, Toshirō Mifune, the greatest Japanese actor of all time. His performance in the film is nothing short of incredible, showing just how great the duo was throughout their careers.
