Description: As Japan gears up for the 1964 Olympic games, the cops start to crack down under pressure from the public and the press, adding a new dimension in the war for power among the yakuza families of Hiroshima. Akira Kobayashi's Takeda tries to keep a lid on things, but hotheaded underlings create chaos, with one boss whacked in neutral territory, and the craven boss, Uchimoto, informing on an assassination attempt by his own minions. While the police round up hundreds of yakuza foot soldiers, Bunta Sugawara's Shozo Hirono plots to finally take out longtime nemesis, boss Yamamori.
Amazon.com: While The Godfather romanticized the American Mafia in the early 1970s, Kinji Fukasaku's five-film series known as The Yakuza Papers: Battles Without Honor & Humanity revolutionized the Japanese yakuza film with unprecedented intensity. A post-World War II epic that broke Japanese box-office records, this complex, utterly authentic cycle of gangster films replaced the popular ninkyo or "chivalry" films of the '60s with jitsuroku, an entirely new breed of gangster film that rose from the ashes of Hiroshima and post-war reconstruction, depicting a meticulously detailed "alternate history" (as Japanese film expert Tom Mes observes in the accompanying booklet) that had been ignored by the "official" factual record. Beginning with 1973's Battles Without Honor and Humanity and continuing through four hugely popular sequels, these are bracingly intricate studies in shifting loyalties and gangland chaos, tracking the yakuza career of Shozu Hirono (played by charismatic star Bunta Suguwara), who rises from lowly soldier status in 1946 to "sworn brotherhood" and respected retirement in 1970. Across this quarter-century of death, power, and betrayal, Fukasaku orchestrates nearly 50 characters in four major cities, all vying for dominance in a familial structure so complex that a helpful flow-chart is provided to follow the shifting balance of power.
Western viewers may struggle with the social context of these films, but as a gangster epic of escalating scope and power, The Yakuza Papers offers a universally energizing DVD experience. Fukasaku (who died in January 2003 while filming his 62nd film, Battle Royale II) was a master of cinematic pulp, and these films represent the pinnacle of his frenetic, deliberately chaotic hand-held camera style, which strongly influenced American urban crime films of the '70s (as French Connection director William Friedkin notes on the feature-packed supplement disc). Rough-edged and thematically rich, the five films presented here--all in pristine digital transfers and brilliantly translated by ace subtitler Linda Hoaglund--combine to form a sprawling milestone of Japanese cinema. Home Vision's packaging and comprehensive supplements pay honorable tribute to Fukasaku's achievement, with bonus features that provide all the necessary background needed to fully appreciate The Yakuza Papers as a raw, ambitious masterpiece that fully deserves its widespread acclaim. --Jeff Shannon
Tough Guy Classic This is a great 5-part series detailing the rise of the Yakuza in post-war Japan, more or less based upon real events. Forget about wide-shots: Director Kinji Fukasaku starts with action and keeps it going through all five chapters with hyper-kinetic camera work that was pretty much the opposite of what Kurosawa and Ozu had done in the past couple of decades. You are not observing it from a distance, you (and the camera lens) are RIGHT in the middle of it.. and it's happening all around you, for all five chapters. All this was done long before today's of better-than-real special effects and CGI.
Along with the untraditional camera work, Fukasaku parts ways with another hallmark of the previous 20-years of Yakuza movies: Forget about chivalrous men in Kimonos. The title of the first film, "Battles without Honor & Humanity" lets you know what to expect. Bunta Sugawara plays Hirono, the protagonist criminal around whom all of the action and gang-politics swirls. He's the closest thing to a 'good guy' in this tale of corruption, shifting loyalties, rapidly depleting codes of 'honor' and the constant elbowing and self-promotion that led to the way things still are today. 'Sounds like your workplace? At least your day doesn't end with a harpoon through your foot!
Around the same time in the mid-1970's, Fukasaku also directed other, similar "Cops'n'Yakuzas" movies that are not part of the "Yakuza Papers" narrative, but nevertheless make great side-stories: "Street Mobster", "Sympathy For The Underdog", "Cops Versus Thugs" (with Sugawara on the other side of the badge), "Yakuza Graveyard". Great flicks.
Fukasaku may have been influenced by what was happening in action flicks coming from Hong Kong and Hollywood, and perhaps by "Blaxploitation": He responds by draining the glory & heroism out of violence & revenge, and presenting it in gruesome, painful detail.
HIGHLY recommended!
The Yakuza: Men Without A Moral Compass Director Kinji Fukasaku's five part film set of "The Yakuza Papers" is an important addition to anyones Asian film library. A little background on Kinji Fukasaku might help those to understand why he chose to portray the yakuza as men without honor or decency. Prior to these films, most viewers were most often given the portrayal of the yakuza as having some sort of honor: A sort of 'Bushido Code' similar to the ways of the ancient Samurai. And there were many films which portrayed the yakuza in such a light. However, Kinji Fukasaku knew better. His portrayal of the yakuza is not the loyal and honorable men that many often viewed. In his nihilistic yakuza film "Graveyard Of Honor" his primary goal was to show the audience what really lay behind the unseen world of these thugs: For he knew them well.
In "Graveyard Of Honor" his primary focus was on the yakuza thug Rikio Ishikawa, who was as much a debased human as the yakuza outfit he belonged to. And being that Kinji Fukasaku was from the same village as Rikio Ishikawa, he must have seen a world few of us are privy to. And this is further evident in his yakuza films, as he does not portray them in an honorable light. Prior to these portrayals, one might see the casual to not so casual Zatoichi episode of Katsu Shintaro's disgust with such men, and many times in a comical light. However, in the "Yakuza Papers" Kinji Fukasaku dispels all myths that the yakuza are or were men of honor. The latest box set is well worth the purchase. I remember buying these one at a time years ago on VHS, and this Box set has done the series justice.
The first of this five part film epic introduces the viewer to what will be a 30 year long struggle of gang warfare in Japan after the bombing of Hiroshima. These are violent films, and Fukasaku does not spare the viewer as to how, why and where these thugs were able to rise to power after Japan's defeat in WWII. We are witness to betrayals, deceit and the methods of how the yakuza become organized. Everything in the yakuza clans were modeled along business lines--and we witness the so-called yakuza myth being destroyed. These are vicious gangs who will go through anyone, and everyone to get what the feel belongs to them. As for loyalty, forget about it, there is none. Many of those who started out with the yakuza after the war were former soldiers. One of these is the films primary protagonist Shozo Hirono (Bunta Suguwara). Shozo Hirono is a former soldier who is initiated into the gang after an altercation with another yakuza. As Shozo rises through the ranks, we see his character going through the motions of honor and loyalty--even though his superiors are not entirely of the same mode.
These films are available separately, or in this Boxed Version. I would recommend viewers obtain the Boxed version for several reasons. First, it is less expensive, and also, with the Boxed Version there is also an additional 6th DVD. This additional DVD gives numerous interviews about Fukasaku and his films, and in particular his use of violence in his films. Also, there is included a pretty good booklet by Patrick Macias. The five films that make up this epic are: 1."Battles Without Honor & Humanity" 2. "Deadly Fight In Hiroshima" 3. "Proxy War" 4. "Police Tactics" 5. "Final Episode." The transfers in all the films are very good--excellent in fact. Also, I have seen these films available in many video rental stores, so if you are hesitant, then you might want to rent them first. However, I HIGHLY recommend the Boxed set if you go ahead and decide to purchase them. [Stars: 5+]
Quality in Quantity If you like gritty gangster movies, buy this boxed set right now. It is a shame that Fukasaku-san is no longer with us, he had a lot of lessons that he could have taught the people who produce and direct todays gangster-pablum. I have recently recieved these episodes from an online movie rental service, my interest in Fukasaku-san's films being piqued by "Battle Royal", and I was not disappointed.
The films are all brilliantly written and brilliantly directed. When this is paired with the excellent job done by every actor/actress in the series, you are left with an extremely solid series. What more can a film fan ask for?
If you are interested in Japanese film and culture, and as obsessed with organized crime (especially the Yakuza, the smoothest of criminals) as I am, you will love this series. If you can't follow the fast paced storyline or the realistic violence: Stay home! This series is for the hardcore only.
Fans of mass-produced Hollywood/network T.V. garbage need not apply.
Amazing Gem of Japanese Cinema I loved these films. A classic set of Japanese yakuza movies for your own private viewing. It's so complex that it'll make the American Noir films look like Soap Operas. A little more violence than expected, The Yakuza Papers displays a cinematic dynamicity, that few movies had during the 70's. Clear portrayal of Japanese post-war, or should I say post-Nuclear era.A revolutionary masterpiece. Somebody said before that they "look like a Sonny Chiba movie", but it's quite the opposite. They look indeed very original and stylistically influencial.
Hen Pecked Fingers Opening with an image of the atomic bomb reducing Hiroshima to ashes, Fukasaku Kinji's Battles without Honor and Humanity begins a series of five movies depicting the chaotic life of Hirono Shozo a former soldier who is trying to survive in the chaotic world of the black markets in postwar Japan. A pretty even-tempered man, the viewer first witnesses Hirono lash out in violence when a group of American GIs try to rape a woman. Amidst the chaos of the black market with its prostitutes, underground rice kitchens, and violent bars, one of Hirono's friend's head is slashed by a yakuza. A rival yakuza was going to deal with the man, but in his stead Hoshino seeks revenge for his friend. Faced with a drunken, sword wielding yakuza Hirono empties his pistol into the man, and receives a twelve year sentence. However, while in prison, he meets another yakuza named Wakasugi who plans to slice open his stomach in order to get out of jail on bail. Promising to raise Hirono's bail money if he helps him in his plot, Wakasugi introduces Hirono into the world of the yakuza and the two men become blood brothers.
A short time afterward, Hirono is released from prison and meets the head of the Doi family, the clan of the yakuza he went to jail for, and Yamamori the man who will soon be his gang boss. After Yamamori establishes his own gang, Hirono and several other toughs pledge their allegiance to him. However, almost from the beginning there is internal fighting in the ranks. How can a man as straight laced an honorable as Hirono work for a man like Yamamori who continuously plays his men against each other?
During the late 1950s and the early 1960s a style of film called ninkyou eiga, or chivalry films became popular in Japan. For the most part these films portrayed yakuza as chivalrous beings who protected and preserved time honored traditions in Japan and expelled Western influences. Quite often in these films Westerners, Japanese heavily influenced by the West, and individuals of mixed blood were portrayed as villains while the sword wielding yakuza represented the purity of the Japanese spirit. It is not surprising that real yakuza were highly attracted to these films. However, Fukasaku Kinji viewed this portrayal of the yakuza as false and the ninkyou eiga films' portrayal of the yakuza, i.e. Japanese spirit, as being quite close to the wartime mentality. When Hirono draws his pistol and kills the sword-wielding yakuza it is a statement that the world of the yakuza is built on chaos and corruption not pure spirit. A highly recommended film and series for those who enjoy yakuza films and an important series for those who are interested in the evolution of the yakuza film.
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