The Yakuza Movie Book: A Guide to Japanese Gangster Films [Paperback]

Mark Schilling (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2003

Japanese gangster films, with their stoic yet explosively violent heroes, have influenced everyone from Eastwood to Jarmusch. The Yakuza Movie Book is the first book to look at this genre in detail. It features more than 100 film critiques and "top 10" recommendations plus profiles and interviews of famous actors and directors like Kinji Fukasaku, Takashi Miike, Takeshi -Kitano, Sho Aikawa and Bunta Sugawara. With dozens of stills and striking movie posters, this is a book any film lover will savor as a viewer’s guide and definitive reference.

Mark Schilling lives in Tokyo and has been reviewing Japanese films for the Japan Times since 1989. He is author of Contemporary Japanese Film and Encyclopedia of Japanese Pop Culture.

"It's an excellent starting point for those intrigued by the backdrop of Kill Bill." -- Empire

"Schilling... has produced a remarkable work on an enduring guilty pleasure, the first of its kind in English." -- Library Journal

"Schilling is in total command of his field...the first Westerner willing and able to perform this useful service to world movie studies, and the sense of complete immersion in a genre will appeal to all film lovers." -- The Daily Yomiuri

"This is prerequisite reading for any and all fans of Asian cinema." -- Asian Cult Cinema

 

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Yakuza films, with their "endless variations on the theme of revenge," have influenced American directors from Francis Ford Coppola to Quentin Tarantino. These Japanese gangster genre pics are a "great guilty pleasure," says Japan Times film reviewer Schilling, and though they had their "Golden Age" in the 1960s and 1970s, they're now enjoying renewed popularity in the West. Schilling has compiled profiles of and interviews with directors and actors, along with 100 reviews of yakuza movies, to present what the publisher calls the first book in English devoted entirely to this genre. Schilling charts yakuza's development, explains the origin of Japanese gangs, the various styles and qualities of the films, and the ways in which fans-in Japan and elsewhere-have responded to these movies. Each film review lists the director and cast members and offers a plot summary and Schilling's own critique; 60 black-and-white photos complement the text. It's a comprehensive package, sure to be of value to fans of yakuza and other gangster movies.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Through yakuza movies we can see Japanese society at its most fundamental level. This is an important and valuable book." --Tadao Sato, film critic and author of "Currents in Japanese Cinema" -- Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Stone Bridge Press (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880656760
• ISBN-13: 978-1880656761
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #695,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Superb! A Must For Any Japanese Cinema Fan, September 21, 2003

By 

James Maruyama "jtmaruyama" (Honolulu, HI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Yakuza Movie Book: A Guide to Japanese Gangster Films (Paperback)

A follow up to his previous work "Japanese Contemporary Movies", Mark Schilling has yet again come up with the most definitive cinema book devoted to Japanese cinema, this time focusing on the Yakuza and Japanese gangster film genre. This book not only gives a grand overview of the development of the Yakuza films over the years but also has numerous director and actor biographies and reviews to almost 123 films. Everything is covered from Seijun Suzuki's "Koroshi No Rakuin" (AKA Branded To Kill), to Kitano "Beat" Takeshi's "Sonatine" to Miike Takashi's "Koroshiya No Ichi" (AKA Ichi The Killer). Even films that are unknown outside of Japan such as "Abashiri Bangaichi" and "Yaju No Seishun" are reviewed. Unlike similar works where it is plainly obvious that the author knows next to little Japanese or has not even seen the films being reviewed, Schilling's background, experience, and command of the Japanese language is very much in evidence and appreciated. This is a must for any cinema fan and is essential reading for those interested in Japanese cinema. My only gripe is that Schilling does not reference any of Toei's similar "Sukeban" (Female Juvenile Boss) movies. It would have been interesting to hear his impressions on movies such as "Zubeko Bancho", "Sukeban Blues" and "Zero Ka No Onna: Akai No"(Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cultist Rejoice over quinessential Yakuza movie book!!!, December 30, 2003

By 

Dino Cruz (Manila,Philippines) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Yakuza Movie Book: A Guide to Japanese Gangster Films (Paperback)

The book is a cultist dream and the info's on the genre is just terrific.However,I was dismayed that there was no review of the mind-blowing "Branded to Kill"by Seijun Suzuki.It's a film that challenged the conventional(thus having unfortunate circumstances for director's Suzuki's career)and haunting film-noir at it's best.I'm also disapointed that there was no interview from my personal favorite actor,Takekura Ken who embodies the genre at it's finest.But aside from this minor oversights,the book is a fast read and detailed at the same time.I am amazed on the author's knowledge of the genre and it was written with both affection and fascination on the subject.A dream book for cultist like me and one that will be read and browsed for many years to come."Domo arigato,Mark-san".

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A guide to finding films on video and DVD, May 11, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Yakuza Movie Book: A Guide to Japanese Gangster Films (Paperback)

A resident of Japan and a teacher of Japanese film at Tokyo International University, Mark Schilling has also been reviewing films for the "Japan Times" since 1989. He brings that special expertise to bear in The Yakuza Movie Book: A Guide To Japanese Gangster Films. Filled with director profiles and interviews, actor profiles and interviews, 123 film reviews, and black-and-white photographs, The Yakuza Movie Book is an absolute "must-have" for anyone enthusiastically interested in Japan's underworld as depicted on the cinema screen. A guide to finding films on video and DVD as well as a bibliography and glossary round out this excellent and literate guide written by a connoisseur, for connoisseurs.