Japanese cult TV show thread

China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Thailand, etc
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: Japanese cult TV show thread

Post by HungFist »

How do you make an AKB48 suban show (???) sound good?

Simple. You slap Miki Asakura's 1984 Holding Out For a Hero cover on top it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psGVyztw080

Majisuka gakuen (マジスカ学園). Ran 12 episodes last year. Stars Atsuko Maeda, who, despite being an AKB48 member, is actually capable of delivering an acting performance.

Image
- http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/majisuka/index.html

To be honest, I'm a little bit intrigued despite the show's real theme song being crap, all the clips I've seen being crap, and the show most certainly being crap...

Holding Out For a Hero was originally used on the mid-80 TV show School Wars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnA42X497ZM

(yeah, I know, I banned all new crap from this thread, but this one I slip in with the Asakura connection)
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: Japanese cult TV show thread

Post by HungFist »

Yasuaki Kurata's action show Fight! Dragon (闘え!ドラゴン) will be re-released on R2J on 2011/10/28
- HD Remaster
- 625 min / 4 discs
- 18,900 yen.
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=801897
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: Japanese cult TV show thread

Post by HungFist »

Cop-action-stunt show Seibu keisatsu (西部警察) (1979-1984) coming to dvd. The series starred Tetsuya Watari, Yujiro Ishihara and Hiroshi Tachi, and was helmed by directors such as Yasuharu Hasebe, Tooru Murakawa and Yukihiro Sawada.
wiki wrote:Plot

The series portrays the Western Police Headquarters Criminal Investigation Division's Detective Chief Daimon, played by Tetsuya Watari (渡哲也 Watari Tetsuya?) and his subordinates, dubbed the Daimon Force (大門軍団 Daimon Gundan?), and their superior, Section Chief Kogure, played by Ishihara Yūjirō (石原 裕次郎 Yūjirō Ishihara?), as they fight against heinous criminals.

With its flashy, over-the-top explosion scenes, car stunts, this series gained a reputation as a macho drama. It is representative of the police & detective dramas of the 1980's.

Series

TV Series Seibu Keisatsu (10/14/1979 - 4/18/1982)
TV Series Seibu Keisatsu Part-II (5/30/1982 - 3/20/1983)
TV Series Seibu Keisatsu Part-III (4/3/1983 - 10/22/1984)
TV Special Seibu Keisatsu Special (10/31/2004)
OP for series 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGzE2ZgL57o
OP for series 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeARQ8BmM-A
OP for series 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nxFv4ySHDU

Image Image Image

Image Image Image

Series 1 - Selection 1 (6 Discs, 1152 min) (2012/02/15)
Series 1 - Selection 2 (6 Discs, 1152 min) (2012/05/16)

Image Image

Hoping series 2 & 3 will follow...
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: Japanese cult TV show thread

Post by HungFist »

More Seibu keisatsu. If I understood correctly, the second series will be released in its entirety, while the 1st and 3rd series will be best episodes compilations.

Seibu Keisatsu: Series 1 - Selection 3
- 6 Discs, 1056 min
- 2012/07/18
- Pony Canyon

Seibu Keisatsu: Series 2 - Part 1
- 5 Discs, EP 1-20, 880 min
- 2012/10/17
- Pony Canyon

Seibu Keisatsu: Series 2 - Part 2
- 5 Discs, EP 21-40, 880 min
- 2012/10/17
- Pony Canyon

Seibu Keisatsu: Series 3 - Selection 1
- 6 Discs, 1056 min
- 2012/11/21
- Pony Canyon

Seibu Keisatsu: Series 4 - Selection 2
- 6 Discs, 1056 min
- 2012/11/21
- Pony Canyon

Image Image
- http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/936 ... /25150075/

And if that wasn't enough Hiroshi Tachi for you...

Gorilla: The Tokyo Metropolitan Police 8th Investigation Unit (ゴリラ・警視庁捜査第8班) (1989-1990)
- Selection Box
- 5 Discs, 880 min
- 2012/09/05
- Pony Canyon
- OP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltWX-mIftsM

Image Image
- http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/wildhip23since ... 27807.html

代表取締役刑事 (Daihyou torishimariyaku deka) (1990-1991)
- Selection Box
- 5 Discs, 880 min
- 2012/10/03
- Pony Canyon
- OP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3vLz774RPM

Image Image

Tadaima zekkocho! (ただいま絶好調!) (1985)
- Selection Box
- 4 Discs, 704 min
- 2012/08/01
- Pony Canyon

Image
perfectpawn
Jackie Chan's Little Toe
Posts: 4
Joined: 06 Mar 2012, 21:44

Re: Japanese cult TV show thread

Post by perfectpawn »

I've got a "Japanese cult TV show" question that's been bugging me. Back in '94 or '95 I got a catalog from New York-based Far East Flix, who specialized in Asian cinema. (They're still in business, it appears.) Their catalogs were great in the pre-web world...back then I had a hell of a time finding info about Hong Kong or Japanese movies. Anyway, in this particular catalog there was a Japanese tv show listed, and in the description of it Far East Flix mentioned that one episode had been banned from TV in Japan due to violence. I cannot recall the title of this series, so I'm hoping someone out there might know what I'm talking about it. I seem to recall that it was a '70s show...and I think the plot of the episode had something to do with a wristwatch. Sonny Chiba's "Key Hunter" comes to mind, but I don't think it was that. Also, it was not Kamen Rider Amazon. Does anyone know what it might have been? I could always just email Far East Flix, but given how long ago it was, they probably wouldn't even remember.
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: Japanese cult TV show thread

Post by HungFist »

Gakuryu (Sogo) Ishii And Yu Irie Among Directors For ULTRA Q Revival
http://twitchfilm.com/news/2012/06/sogo ... evival.php
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: Japanese cult TV show thread

Post by HungFist »

Gozonji onna nezumi kozou (ご存知!女ねずみ小僧) (1977), starring Mayumi Ogawa, Rentaro Mikuni, will be released on R2J 2013/06/26. 8 Disc set with all 31 episodes. Directors included Eiichi Kudo and many others.
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=879863

Opening and Ending here:
http://video.excite.co.jp/player/?id=3749ce037bb8522c

Theme song & stills
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRBMziewavo

Image

Also coming is the 1970 TV show version of Yukinojo henge (An Actor's Revenge). The directors include Hideo Gosha, Kinji Fukasaku, and a few others. 13 episodes. Release date 2013/06/26
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=879866
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: Japanese cult TV show thread

Post by HungFist »

My favorite movie theater Laputa Asagaya (in Tokyo) had both Sukeban Deka movies screening on 35mm in December in the late show. I only had a the change to catch Kazama Sisters, but what a pleasure it was. As usual, the walls of the cosy small theater were decorated with Sukeban Deka posters and articles, the post card shelf was full of Yoko Minamino, Yui Asaka, Yuma Nakamura and Yuka Onishi cards, and the Sukeban Deka soundtracks were played in the lobby and in the screening room between screenings.

Image

Ad on the street
Image

Stuff on the walls
Image

Image

Image
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: Japanese cult TV show thread

Post by HungFist »

Well, this is a bit unexpected. The Yasuaki Kurata TV show Fight! Dragon (1974) is coming out on BD in Japan.

Vol. 1
- episodes 1-13 (312 min)
- 4:3 1080i High Definition/MPEG‐4 AVC/BD50G/
- 2015/03/27
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=947245

Vol. 2
- episodes 14-26 (312 min)
- 4:3 1080i High Definition/MPEG‐4 AVC/BD50G/
- 2015/05/29
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=947246

What's a bit less impressive is that both volumes are 1 disc releases, meaning there's 5 hours of footage on one disc. I don't know if that's enough to ensure ideal quality, but I do know that's not the way you justify a 12 000 yen price tag (per disc).

Image
sortof
Jackie Chan's Little Toe
Posts: 8
Joined: 21 Mar 2016, 05:46

Re: Japanese cult TV show thread

Post by sortof »

Is the this right place to ask about Saru no Gundan? Looking for the show or the movies to watch or buy. Always been curious about it from stills.
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: Japanese cult TV show thread

Post by HungFist »

sortof wrote:Is the this right place to ask about Saru no Gundan? Looking for the show or the movies to watch or buy. Always been curious about it from stills.
Yep, this is the right place.

I'm not familiar with Saru no Gundan, but a quick look reveals that the series has been released on dvd twice. There is an old, OOP box setfrom 2004 and Toei's more recent 2014 set. No subs on these of course.

I'm not aware of any movies...

edit:

"In 1987, television producer Sandy Frank edited together several episodes of the series, including the first and last episodes, into a movie called Time of the Apes. Syndicated to broadcast and cable outlets, this compilation film was also released on home video in mid-1988."
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saru_No_Gundan

I suppose this would never have been released in Japan.
sortof
Jackie Chan's Little Toe
Posts: 8
Joined: 21 Mar 2016, 05:46

Re: Japanese cult TV show thread

Post by sortof »

Thank you, maybe someone will find a line on ones that have subtitles.
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: Japanese cult TV show thread

Post by HungFist »

Playgirl: EP 203 “Girl Boss vs. Playgirl” (Feb. 19, 1973)

I think most people here are aware of Toei’s classic sexy action drama Playgirl (1969-1974), and particularly episode 203 “Girl Boss vs. Playgirl” (女番長対プレイガール), which guest stars Miki Sugimoto as a sukeban leader. Toei released a best-of DVD selection about 15 years ago, but this episode was unfortunately not included. Thankfully it aired on Toei Channel.

The episode begins with a delinquent girl gunned down while running for her life (topless, I may add). The playgirls, a group of butt-kicking ladies specializing in spy missions, then go undercover as delinquent girls to catch the male crooks responsible. Enter Miki Sugimoto and Yukie Kagawa as two rival girl bosses, and lone wolf Shingo Yamashiro who’s got his own hidden objectives.

There’s some good fun to be had with this episode, which is both embracing and poking fun of the girl boss genre, something that much of the regular cast (e.g. Yumiko Katayama, Yayoi Watanabe, Junko Miyazono) were more than familiar with. That being said, this episode is not really any holy grail of girl boss entertainment, just a fun, low-key, addition to the genre.

I shall refrain from writing too much about the series, since I’ve only seen a few dozen episodes. Basically, the series follows the standard Japanese detective show formula ala Key Hunter with the cast taking turns starring in different episodes, only all female and with an added brief nudity. The show ran 287 episodes on TV Tokyo at 21:00 every Monday night. The start was pretty tame, but a brief topless nudity was already seen in EP 6 which aired May 12, 1969 (I’ve not seen episodes 2, 3 or 5 to compare) and such scenes would become a regular treat as the show went on.

The heroines all held positions as Secret International Insurance Inspectors (as opposed to Secret Int. Police like Key Hunter) though the (lethal) insurance scam inspections soon became secondary and the girls were getting involved in outlandish yakuza plots and even kaidan ghost stories (many episodes were directed by Nobuo Kanagawa) on their own.

The series had quite a few cast changes over the years, but always retained major star power, especially if you were a Pinky Violence or Toei genre cinema fan. Mako Midori (EP 1-26) and Bunjaku Han (EP 6-63) were part of the original cast, Reiko Oshida joined for EP 51-85, Yumiko Katayama from EP 75, Yayoi Watanabe from EP 162, Junko Miyazono for EP 171-259 and Yuriko Hishimi from 217. Tamaki Sawa played the leader throughout the series’ run. Tatsuo Umemiya did the episode preview narration for the first 26 episodes, after that the girls would take turns doing the (often awesome!) narration.

The guest list included Miki Sugimoto, Tetsuro Tamba, Joe Shishido, Yukie Kagawa and lots of other Toei regulars like Toru Yuri, Toru Abe, Yoko Mihara and Teruo Yoshida. Maki Carrousel and Peter appeared several times too, often together! I might also mention that while Reiko Ike did not appear in the original show, she did a guest appearance in the follow-up series Playgirl Q (1974-1976) in EP 14.

One more thing must be mentioned: the awesome, outrageous episode titles! 全裸の美女は朝狙え! (“Aim at the All-Nude Beauty in the Morning”), 女は裸になって強くなる, (“Women Get Strong Naked”) and 女子高校生・番長殺人事件 (“High School Girl Boss Murder Case”) are just a few examples.

Image

Miki Sugimoto and Shingo Yamashiro
Image

Yumiko Katayama
Image

Image

Yukie Kagawa
Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: Japanese cult TV show thread

Post by HungFist »

Looks like Toei has finally got their act together since Sukeban Deka starts on TV on Toei Channel next month and it's a new HD master.

Image

Image

This comes a few years after a plain embarrassing Sukeban Deka Compilation BD that featured selected episodes from all three shows, taken from old interlaced SD masters. I wonder if anyone bought that considering all three shows were readily available on DVD in their entirety.
Post Reply