jimniexperience Reviews

Beastars (2019– )

Simp Anime

[7/10 · 1 February 2020]

I don't use this word lightly but this is the actual definition of a Simp show . A Wolf is attracted to a bunny rabbit , and they are deemed incompatible due to their carnivore vs herbivore nature . The bunny happens to be the school's pass-around sextoy and is in love with Louis the Deer, the school's running Beastar and one of few redeemable qualities of the show.

There's a mercenary panda who's a psychotherapist in the town's black market . The Wolf fights with his Lion classmate and the Leo Group, Louis moments heading the theatrical group, and of course Louie$ final stand.

The Wolf rejects his carnivore nature , which only hinders him in the long run as he's unable to truly express himself . He hides his fangs and fakes his losses , and is extremely socially awkward and the bunny rabbit (whom he happens to attack 1st ep) and is unable to decide whether he actually loves her , or just wants to eat her .

Meanwhile the bunny rejects all his advances , he gets multiple chances to sleep with the bunny but turns her down . Follows her around unable to confess his love while she sleeps around .. this was a tough one to finish . luckily , they had me at 12 eps :)

There was also a She-Wolf choosing hard on He-Wolf , while competing for Head Beastar against Louie$ , but you guess who He-Wolf chooses ..

Watch it to your own discretion

p.s. there's also psuedo-intellectual stuff about carnivores and herbivores living as one , but devours in the city got the herbies shook , and the carnies buy their meat off the black market to avoid slaughtering herbies .

Banana Fish (2018)

Fresh anime storytelling from the 1980s crime genre wave

[9/10 · 17 February 2019]

Manga was written in the 1980s , so this anime has an old-school crime novel/"The Warriors" feel to it .

The mysterious "Banana fish" is terrorizing the streets of New York, many people are dying to protect its identity. Its caught the attention of a young charismatic gang leader Ash , who's older brother's dying words were aswell "Banana fish".

The mystery surrounding Banana Fish leads Ash into his dark past of sex trafficking, prison stint, cross-country trip to visit his dad and Chinatown L.A., and a secret lab under a hospital .. He encounters many enemies and friends along his path: the military conspiracy behind "Banana fish", his assassin mentor, an ex-CIA officer with fetishes, the Chinese Bosses Sing and Lung, and sworn enemy Arthur

First half of anime was terrific, storytelling and fast pacing at its finest . The second half of season slows the pacing , focusing more on the "bromance" between Ash and Eiji

9/10

Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

Quick Lipped Film Noir of Newspaper Politics

[8/10 · 13 June 2018]

Quick wits and fast lips . A film noir taking place inside the corrupt world of newspaper politics.

Sidney Falco is a beat journalist for the tycoon J.J., whom treats his newspaper business the way gangsters do - very hands on full with dirty threats. Falco is J.J. personal lap-dog , digging up scandalous stories so he's featured on the front page news column.

Falco now in the mix of a very messy love circle involving J.J. little sister and a jazz musician. J.J. wants their relationship broken apart by any means, and employees Falco to resort to numerous tricks to defame him: blackmailing club owners, prostituting cigarette girls for fake column news, and planting drugs for a fake cop bust.

Falco just wants the biggest bone in NYC , but unfortunately he's rubbing all the wrong shoulders during the process. The town knows but he and J.J. are not to be trusted, and their scandals eventually come around to bite him on the arse

Sunset Blvd. (1950)

Hollywood Tale of Insanity

[9/10 · 12 June 2018]

Classic Hollywood Tale of Insanity: A struggling writer is hiding out from insurance collectors when he stumbles upon an abandoned mansion. The mansion belongs to Norma Desmond , an aged Hollywood starlet 0 years out of her prime. She's hold up in the mansion with her housekeeper, who keeps her in a delusional world of fake fan letters and false praise. She sits around and watches movies or herself and host card games with other retired actors.

They hold Joe hostage to complete Norma's script she wants sent to Paramount Studios. Paramount, who's been moved on, bans Norma from the property but her housekeeper (secretly her first husband and director), keeps her in la la land.

Joe falls in love with a young aspiring writer, which drives Norma more insane Joe is out creeping on her. She puts some bullets in his back and gets ready for her close-up

Once again excellent storywriting from Billy Wilder, and excellent use of lighting and cinematography

The Apartment (1960)

A Time When Cinema was Realistic

[9/10 · 11 June 2018]

Intelligently written and beautifully shot; The Apartment follows a gullible pushover C.C. getting taken advantage of for his apartment which is located in a prime nightlife side of town. He keeps his head down and his mouth shut , fore he seeks promotions with his apartment hustle. Eventually the head boss catches wind of his scheme - and promotes C.C. to the top position , in exchange to use the apartment to screw the woman C.C. secretly loves at his job.

Great framing , all wide shots no close-ups. Excellent use of supporting/background characters (the doc, the neighbors, some lower-level employees, head boss mistress secretary, biker brother-in-law) . Overall great experience of how cinema once was

8.5/10 - It's aged but it aged well

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in the Land of Demons (1973)

Ogami is back at it again. Return of the epic final battle bloodspray

[7/10 · 12 May 2018]

The Kuroda Domain in a desperate position contact Ogami for multiple killings, they send five of their best swordsmen to test Ogami skills and deliver the message: Their Domain Lord has retired and passed power onto his wedlock child (secretly a princess) when he fell in love with his mistress. His real child (the prince) is imprisoned in the castle forgotten by the people.

The Domain Lord confesses his secrets in a letter given to the High Priest. But the High Priest is in cahoots with Retsudo and plans to sell out the Kuroda Clan to the Shogunate for power.

Ogami's hired to kill the High Priest, and the Domain Lord and his wedlock family to save the Kuroda Clan honor.

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril (1972)

Return of the Blood spray and omniscient narration absent from third installment

[7/10 · 11 May 2018]

Beautiful female assassin Oyuki abandons the Owari Domain, killing any pursuers and slicing off their top-knots. Many families of the fallen soldiers have been ordered to commit seppuku and seek revenge on Oyuki.

Lone Wolf investigates the mysterious woman's whereabouts to her tattoo parlor and her father's circus home. He learns she holds a vendetta against a samurai who violated her inside the Owari house. She chops off top-knots to lure him out of hiding.

Lord Retsudo makes his return when he teams up with Owari to take down Lone Wolf. A Samurai of Lone Wolf's past makes a guest duel appearance aswell - the true victor i their intial duel for Shogunate Executioner.

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades (1972)

Notably less bloodspray and vengeance than the Previous

[7/10 · 11 May 2018]

Notably less bloodspray and vengeance

The Female Boss of a brothel hires Lone Wolf to kill Sawatari , a man whom sold out the Domain to the Shogunate for personal profit and false position as new governor. Along the way he saves an innocent village girl sold into prostitution, and befriends a samurai-turned-mercenary.

Final battle features Ogami vs 50 man army

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx (1972)

Painting Pictures with Blood

[8/10 · 10 May 2018]

Just for the beginning and the ending .. Masterclass Blood Spray .. Elegant, the blood sprays with the wind creating a mist on cam, the blood fusing in the sand

Supposedly one of Quentin T's favorite bloodspray movies --------------------------------------- Lone Wolf and Cub are living up the assassin life and Yagyu monks hunt him everywhere he goes. Yagyu hires Sayaka and her band of female assassin's to kill Ogami, currently employed in her town Akashi.

The Awa Domain hires Ogami to kill a traitor of their underground Indigo business. The traitor escaped to the next Domain over, awaiting the arrival of the Shogunate escorts, BenTenRai, to safely bring him to Edo.

Before Ogami faces the Three Brothers he must first take out Sayaka, her band of assassin's, and Kurokuwa-Yagyu monks. He has his first showdown with the Three Brothers boarding a burning ship where they first discover his identity. As Ogami trails the Three Brothers, Sayaka trails him to avenge her fallen clan. She fails her assassination, but ends of falling for Ogami after she shares a cuddle session with him and his son - naked.

Final showdown takes place on the beach in a land of sand - bandits attempt to ambush the Three Brothers escorting the traitor of the clan but failed miserably. Lone Wolf awaits at the top of sand dune - and cuts them all down one by one.

Lady Snowblood 2: Love Song of Vengeance (1974)

Political Sequel with easy to follow story. Vengeance against the Secret Police

[8/10 · 8 May 2018]

In the sequel Snowblood seeks vengeance against the Heads of Secret Police unfairly killing anarchists.

She meets a doctor while on the run from police but her injury gets her captured anyways. The Secret Police stage a prison break in exchange for her investigating Ransui (anarchist) and obtaining a secret document.

Ransui recruits Snowblood on the team once she learns the Secret Police are using a bomb scandal to unjustly round up all anarchist and put them to death. The Police capture Ransui and torture him on Snowblood's whereabouts; Ransui sent her to deliver the documents to his brother, the doctor who saved her earlier.

Ransui gets dumped in the slums where his brother lives, infected with a deadly plague. His wife attempts to get retribution but it costs her her life. Little Bro sends Snowblood to ransom the Secret Police for money and rice. The Police instead trap Snowblood into a bedroom as they ride and set the slums on fire.

Little Bro, now infected with the plague and entire village burnt down, has nothing to lose and he and Snowblood ride out on the Heads of the Secret Police.

Outlaw: Gangster VIP 2 (1968)

More less the same as first

[5/10 · 7 May 2018]

More less the same as first

On way to find his wife Goro saves a young hooker from a gang. The gang recruits Goro as bodyguard. His senpai's wife dies as Goro is away. Wife leaves to get Goro out of yakuza. Hooker falls for Goro while she's sleeping with Ueno brother, whom is out for revenge. His underling falls in love with rival gang woman. His new senpai is also in rival gang. Both become drifters after gang war and marked for dead. Underling gets kidnapped and beaten to death for falling for rival gang's girl. Senpai dies on way to see his family. Goro gets angry and goes on final knifing spree

Outlaw: Gangster VIP (1968)

Pop-art visuals mixed with 100 stabbings

[6/10 · 7 May 2018]

Cast of Tokyo Drifter return for the movie that is believe inspired Kinji Fukasaku's style of filming violence

Goro is fresh out of jail for stabbing rival hitman Sugiyama (whom happens to be his brother). He returns finding his boss Mizuhara dominated by the rival Ueno Clan, now in control of all the money making ventures of Toyko. Goro spends his days of freedom tracking down women of his past, but a hit is on his life after he stabs Ueno underboss in a fight the underboss caused.

The Ueno Clan kidnaps and kills a soldier of Mizuhara and Goro goes on a killing frenzy to right the wrong. As Goro is recovering in the hospital , Ueno launches a surprise attack on Mizuhara in their weaken state. Mizuhara in-debts himself to the Jingu Clan as reinforcements to the escalating Ueno Clan attacks.

As the Mizuhara and Jingu Clans finalize their partnership, the Ueno Clan martyrs the young Takeo , a soldier under Goro. Sugiyama , realized from prison, attempts to persuade Ueno not to pursue Goro, but the conversation gets Sugiyama killed instead. Goro now convinced Ueno is the wicked villain of the west, knife fights his entire army in the finale.

A Colt Is My Passport (1967)

Great concept , but pacing is missing

[6/10 · 6 May 2018]

Beautiful cinematography with a slow-paced story ;; Hitman hired to kill his boss rival gets double-crossed . He and his driver are now on the run and hide out in a hotel by the pier and fall for a woman who longs to escape

Good concept , just slowly paced .

The Sword of Doom (1966)

Masterful storytelling told in High Body Counts

[10/10 · 5 May 2018]

Bloody tale of a Ronin gone mad , entrusting all faith of humanity into an evil sword that he uses to chop down anybody standing in his way.

As he treks his path of merciless slayings he gathers allies, enemies, and vengeful spirits along the way: a pair of pilgrims and a compassionate thief, the fornicated wife from a slain husband and a brother seeking revenge, group of masterless samurai strongarming Shogunate officials, and the rival master swordsman whom only swings his sword for justice and honor - contradictory to the main character's beliefs.

Typical villainous movie . Simple plot filled with tension and evil deeds, excellent choreographed sword fights. Supreme body count for the era of Japanese Golden Cinema. Original in the killer samurai genre.

Samurai Rebellion (1967)

Masterclass Samurai film about the hypocrisies of the Samurai Honor System

[10/10 · 2 May 2018]

Another superb collaboration between Kobayashi and Hashimoto (other being Harakiri) , attacking the samurai tradition, the contradictions behind the meaning of "honor", and hypocrisy of justice to high ranking feudal lords and stewards surrounding them.

This movie takes place 1725 , during the Peace Era of Tokugawa after the disbandment of samurai clans. Samurai now resort to surveying the quiet landscape and testing their latest swords on straw dummies. Of course , the feudal lords also have a fetish for young women, and snatch them from villagers as they please .

Ichi, one of the lord's finest mistress, and also the only to bear his child, has been banned from the empire for attacking the lord and his newest mistress (too proud to take the seat of unglory). The only reason Ichi put up with the abuse in the first place is she believed she'd be the last to pleasure the lord and protect all the little girls still growing in the village.

She's been ordered to marry Isaburo Sasahara son, Yogoro. Isaburo was also forced to marry his wife, and wishes his son not to travel his path. He at first resist the lord's commands, but the son complies. Isaburo grows fond of his son's decision, fore the two fall in love with each other , much to the head-wife Suga spite. Isaburo retires from the clan, and makes Yogoro the new head master of the family (all according to a plan).

Two years past and the lord orders Ichi to return back to the empire, and they son she beared passes away. Of course Yogoro resists, with Isaburo supporting his decision, vowing for bloodshed if he must part with his wife. Suga calls forth a Sasahara family gathering to sway Yogoro, but he only puts a target on his back for his "disobedience". Suga schemes a plan to get the youngest son Bunzo to trick Ichi on a chamberlain summoning. Upon summon, the council threatens if Ichi returns home to her husband, both he and the father will be ordered to commit seppuku.

Ichi reluctantly returns to the empire. Enraged for the scheming of officials, Yogoro and Isaburo blackmail the officials to return Ichi at once or they'll take their case to the Supreme Shogunate Court of Edo (a scheme conjured up by Tatewaki, Isaburo's elder swordsman). Expecting the lord to retaliate, they spend the rest of their days in exile preparing for battle.

After many failed attempts to reconciliate the tension, Steward Takahashi decides it'll be wise to show at the Sasahara family's home using Ichi as bait. If her and Yogoro disengage their wedding vows and divorce, and lord will let them live. Ichi, refusing to be a pawn in the lord's trickery, kills herself with one of the steward's bodyguard spear. All out war breaks loose, resulting in Yogoro, the steward, and 20 henchmen death.

Isaburo, now a wanted man, takes his granddaugther and escapes to Edo. But first he must past his old sparring pal Tatewaki, the guard of the border. A long awaited duel to see who's the best ensues, and Isaburo wins ,, but the lord's army has caught up to the chase. A shootout happens in the high grass, resulting in Isaburo's death and another case of injustice quietly swept under the rug

Female Prisoner Scorpion: Jailhouse 41 (1972)

Prisoner Scorpion: Django Edition

[8/10 · 1 May 2018]

The Western of the series; Scorpion breaks out of a prison van with six other girls and they're all on the run from newly promoted Inspector Goda. Their adventure takes them through wooded forests, cursed witches, stakeout cabins in mountains, rapists by the rapids, bus jacking, police shootouts, and a second breakout

Less boobage, more humiliation, dumber cops, less violence, more anime, still sexy, still bloody, still art-house

Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972)

Before Lady Snowblood , there was Lady Scorpion

[9/10 · 30 April 2018]

Arthouse experimental movie with themes of sadistic prison tortures, eroticism, revenge on ex-lovers and inmates, and major boobage

Matsu (#701) is in jail for attempted murder after her cop boyfriend feeds her to the yakuza to get raped so he can bust them and get a promotion. While in jail, she receives abuse both from the prison guards and a five female inmate gang. She puts up with the abuse for one sole purpose - revenge.

Yakuza Graveyard (1976)

Cop/Yakuza movie with themes of romance, brotherhood, and allegiance

[7/10 · 30 April 2018]

Violent cop Kuroiwa is on an investigation on the rising tension between the Yamashiro and Nishida clans. After a couple run-ins with the local Nishida gangsters he begins to make his alliances. He discovers a secret police force posing as loan agents whom are watchdogs for the Yamashiro clan.

He falls in love with Keiko, a mistress within the Nishida clan, and after proving his toughness in a 1-vs-20 man fight he becomes cool with the underboss Iwaki and swears brotherhood. His relations with the Nishida clan gets him expelled from the force (whom are secretly in Yamashiro's pockets), and the cops blackmail Nishida to sell out Iwaki and ally with Yamashiro.

The secret task force kidnaps Kuroiwa and injects him with truth serum so he'll squeal on Iwaki whereabouts. When Kuroiwa snaps into reality he shoots up the cop station

Harakiri (1962)

"Samurai Honor is nothing more than a Fascade"

[9/10 · 25 April 2018]

Social criticism on the samurai culture during the Tokugawa Government of the 1600s , when the Shogunate were disbanding samurai clans and many were left wandering in poverty. The beginning of the merchant era , during a time of peace , and samurai were no longer necessary for society.

This film questions samurai traditions and the integrity behind them: the rise of lawlessness among wandering samurai (taking advantage of dojo's kindness during peace era), not having a proper sword for seppuku, allowing or not a day or two for reconciliation with one's loved ones before seppuku, biting off one's tongue, the rise pf merchants impoverishing the people, the importance of top-knots, and the meaning of God in Shogun armor.

This movie takes stab at all samurai practice with a moral compass between right and wrong. Not matter what social faction we belong to , in the end we are all human which transgresses all

Lady Snowblood (1973)

Stylized Bloody Masterpiece

[10/10 · 24 April 2018]

Masterclass in the Art of Bloody Violence - but violence with a purpose . Direction within the violence , and excellent direction in the story as a whole.

Based on the Lady Snowblood manga by Kazuo Koike; a child is born an asura, born for the sole purpose of avenging her family's murder and humiliation by four bandits. Born to a mother serving a life sentence on murder, and cared by a strict priest honing her assassin skills, she has all the tool needed to carry out her mission - a long bloody tale that drags police, a news reporter, brothels, and rivals , blood sprayiage everywhere all in the name of her mother's honor and redemption.

The movie that inspired Kill Bill, Rurouni Kenshin, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, Red Dead Redemption, among countless others . Instantaneous classic

New Battles Without Honor and Humanity (1974)

Yakuza Papers Pt. 6 - Fukasaku's Disappointment

[6/10 · 22 April 2018]

Miyoshi, gangster recently released on parole, finds himself caught in the middle of his boss and partner-in-crime fight for family power. He plays neutral for as long as he can before Aoki thirst of power drags him in the conflict

New screenwriters on this project , not apart of first five . They failed to capture Fukasaku's vision , and ultimately led to getting fired and replaced for the subsequent films.

The Boss's Head (1975)

Yakuza Papers Pt. 7 - Kuroda, the Wandering Yakuza

[8/10 · 22 April 2018]

The return of Kinji Fukasaku's envisioned gangster franchise. Kôji Takada is taking the screenwriting reigns - and brought the old-school calculated violence mixed with a love for lower society women. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wanderer Shuji Kuroda leaks information to Tetsu, a Owada member, about a hit on Boss Kyoei. After Tetsu gets high and unable to perform, Kuroda does the hit and gets 7 years behind bars. He's promised 5 million upon his return. He saves inmate Shimura from getting raped and Shimura becomes Kuroda's new henchman.

When he gets out he discovers Tetsu drugged out and kicked out of the Owada clan. He threatens to take Tetsu's bar by force but Tetsu devises a way to get Kuroda his money. They kidnap Boss Owada and his mistress and threaten to bury them alive and Owada coughs up the money. He sends Captain Aihara to pay Kuroda , but Aihara has other plans.

He gives Kuroda a bunch of heroin and tells him to sell it in Akamatsu's territory. Akamatsu is at odds with Aihara (who is having affair with his barhostess) and sends flunkies to rob Kuroda. Kuroda's henchman kills Akamatsu at the expense of his own life, and now the Owada clan is under police surveillance.

Boss Owada informs the clan he is taking in Kuroda, fore he is a wanderer who has assisted their climb in power. This puts Aihara in an uneasy spot, who was hoping to either blackmail or get Kuroda killed during his affair with Akamatsu. After the Boss overhears Aihara talking about seccession before he considers retiring, Owada makes a drastic decision of appointing Izeki (the longest standing member) as the new Chairman and Kuroda as his trusted enforcer. These recent changes foils Aihara's scheme of taking over the family.

Meanwhile Tetsu has a withdrawal episode and storms into the club attacking members of Owada. Kuroda and Aihara rivalry thickens as Kuroda dances with Aihara's mistress on the night of their ceremony. Aihara uses the opportunity of Tetsu's crazed attack to blackmail him into killing both Kuroda and Boss Owada to save his own life. Tetsu lets Kuroda live, but kills Boss Owada , sending the clan down a path of leadership uncertainty.

At Owada's funeral, Aihara's supporters bully Izeki into dropping rank and appointing Aihara as the new Chairman. Kuroda decides to kill Aihara to fulfill Boss Owada's dying wishes. Izeki sends his henchmen to kill Kuroda but he escapes disappearing without a trace.

Aihara starts his path to visit all the Yakuza Families of Japan, and Kuroda devises a plan to ambush him along the way. After a few botched attempts Kuroda finally gets his wish after staging a police arrest to get Aihara and gang to drop their guard. Aihara and gang celebrate the good news in the club. Shimura sneaks past security and kills Aihara and his gang kills Shimura. As everyone in the Owada family surround Aihara hospital bed they get a call from Kuroda, congratulating Izeki for becoming the new Chairman of the Owada clan. The movie ends with the yakuza tradition crowning Izeki new Chairman, and Kuroda is back in attendance.

Final Episode (1974)

Yakuza Papers Final Chapter - New Blood , Same Crimes

[8/10 · 22 April 2018]

The final installment of the Yakuza Papers Saga .. About cleaning up the yakuza lifestyle in the ever changing times , but old habits die hard and gangsters will always be gangsters ----------------------------------------------------- The movie begins 20 years since the first chapter , 1966. Shozo is still serving his 7 year sentence , and Takeda has revamped the old Yamamori clan into the political body Tensei Coalition, with the vow to drop their yakuza customs and become legit and straight businessmen.

An altercation between Matsumura (youth commander), and Shozo's old clan leads the Tensei discussing how to manage the younger generation of hotheads. Meanwhile Boss Ichioka , whom shared prison time with Shozo, wants to war with Takeda and the Tensei Coalition as vengeance. After killing Tensei's trusted financial supervisor it puts Tensei in an uneasy position fore they must maintain a clean outstanding image but always must rule underworld with an iron fist. Ichioka crashes the funeral and starts a rift between Matsumura, the calm head in clan, and Otomo, the hothead old-school yakuza. The result leads to Otomo and his flunkies breaking off Tensei and starting their own party.

Due to the resurgance of violence, the police take the opportunity to investigate and find guns stashed in the compound. They arrest Takeda, but first he must choose the new Chairman to take his position. Matsumura, the director under Takeda, is prime to be the new Chairman of the Tensei Coalition due to his calm head and good morals, while Otomo wants to revive the old yakuza ways of discipline and violence. Matsumura wins the vote but makes an enemy out of Otomo.

Otomo sends some hitmen to eliminate Matsumura but the plan backfires. In spite of this Matsumura invites Otomo back into the family and Ichioka takes the opportunity of the rift to join forces with Otomo in taking down the Tensei Coalition. Matsumura buys Hayakawa and Makihara support (now a boss in Kure) to stregthen his team.

Upon hearing of the Makihara/Matsumura team-up, Ichioka takes the liberty to trash Tensei shops in Otomo's name. Matsumura gets Ichioka rubbed off, and Otomo gets arrested as he's going after Matsumura for revenge. With his competitors out the way, Matsumura decides to make Tensei Coalition his own and has all members swear to his name under oath.

Its now 1970, the year both Takeda and Shozo get out of prison. Matsumura steps down from Chairman position, which creates rifts within the loyalty of the Tensei. Shozo's release has revitalized his men, as they terrorize Makihara's gang in Kure. Some of Shozo's goons assassinate Makihara, sealing Shozo's power over Kure as a whole.

Makihara's assassination leads Takeda to retire, fore he knows his generation is outdated and the younger guns are on the rise. He attempts to talk Shozo into retirement to calm the unrest of Hiroshima but Shozo thinks otherwise. Matsumura makes a surprise visit to Shozo to present his retirement case , and the two agree to both Shozo's retirement and the joining of his Akashi clans with the Tensei Coalition on one condition: Matsumura cleans up Tensei from the inside to make it safe for outsiders.

It's now the day of Matsumura's formal installation as the new Chairman. On the way to his ceremony he gets ambushed by former members of the Hayakawa and Otomo clans. He survives the attack and defies his enemies by still attending his ceremony half-dead. Shozo, impressed by the young man's resilience, announces his retirement and the union of his and Tensei's families. After the ceremony, Takeda offers Shozo a drink but Shozo refuses, knowing this is only a minor peaceful victory in a long history of violent struggles. Later that year, after a random yakuza shooting, Shozo officially retires, as he looks back on his 25 year history serving as a boss in the Yakuza System

Police Tactics (1974)

Yakuza Papers Pt. 4 - The Hiroshima Feud

[7/10 · 21 April 2018]

Battlelines have been set between Shozo, Akashi, and Uchimoto clans versus Yamamori, Takeda, Hayakawa and Shinwa clans . With the 1963 Olympics right around the way, the Police presence of Japan is at an all time high. They make a vow to the general public to put a stop to all Yakuza crime by any means -------------------------------------------------------------------- The War is declared when Hayakawa bombs Uchimoto Hiroshima base. Fukuda, Uchimoto's underboss, makes it his personal duty to kill Hayakawa. Makihara starts attacking Shozo's troops in Kure while Shozo is in Hiroshima for Yamamori. Shozo is looking for reinforcements to strengthen lines; while Uchimoto is still beefing with Shozo he brings in the Kawada clan to "assist", and Akashi gets Shozo in touch with Okajima and the Gisei Group, Gambling Businessman of Hiroshima. Okajima prefers to stay neutral for he has ties to Yamamori, but Shozo convinces him otherwise.

While Shozo is away in Hiroshima, his underboss gets killed in Kure. Shozo is ready for war but Okubo (on Yamamori's side) convinces him to lay low and rebuild in Kure. Takeda deals with Yamamori's cheapness as the police close in on their black market affairs. He devises a plan to squeeze out everybody close to Shozo one by one.

After two clients of Uchimoto gets killed in freak altercation, the public outcry's for increased police presence. The media gets involved and the police start creating task forces to crack down on all yakuza violence. When Uchimoto leaves town, his clan and Hayakawa start warring again. The result leads to two of Uchimoto underbosses deaths and police arrests on all sides and surveillance of all bosses.

During all the uproar in Hiroshima, the Akashi and Shinwa clans of Kobe are making truces. Shozo, fearing he'll miss his chance to kill Yamamori, designs a plan to stage a memorial service for their fallen underboss and raid the Yamamori compound at night. But Yamamori catches wind of their plan, and blackmails Uchimoto to sell Shozo out. Yamamori then calls the cops on Shozo for violation of parole and he gets 7 years in jail.

With Shozo out the picture, Makihara restarts the war in Kure. Okajima attempts to get Kawada to join the fight but he refuses. Takeda places a tail on Okajima to keep him safe, but when Yamamori catches wind he sends hitmen out to kill Okajima. Takeda pulls out the frontline, and since Uchimoto is tapdancing around his men decide to go out and bomb Yamamori club and office on their own.

Yamamori puts his underbosses under fire when he places more faith in the police to keep him safe than them. Some of Uchimoto's men go out to kill Yamamori but Uchimoto snitches to stop the assassination. Upset at their boss betrayal, the men set out on the streets again and start a gun battle with Hayakawa's men. Fed up with the violence, the police arrest Uchimoto, Eda, and Yamamori on gang activities.

With the absence of Yamamori, Akashi teams with Gisei to takeover Hiroshima, and only Takeda stands opposing them. After failed attempts to reconcile the violence, Takeda starts bombing Akashi bases. Akashi, thinking Shinwa is behind the bombings, starts attacking both Takeda and Shinwa's clans and all hell breaks loose. Kawada puts a hit out on Gisei Captain to take them down and seize control of West Hiroshima.

With the arise of infighting, the Akashi clan decides to make a truce with Shinwa clan and return to Kobe. Shozo is left to serve a 7 year sentence while Uchimoto, Eda, and Yamamori get light sentences. The War of Hiroshima has come to a close , with no real victor .

Proxy War (1973)

Yakuza Papers Pt. 3 - Fight for Muraoka Inheritence

[6/10 · 21 April 2018]

This film sets the stage and battle lines for the Battle for Hiroshima

Film follows the various proxy wars within the Yakuza system: the battle for Muraoka successor (Uchimoto vs Yamamori), the battle of Japan (Akashi clan vs Shinwa Group), Hamazaki clan vs Komori clan, and Yamamori vs Shozo for loyalty of Underbosses -------------------------------------------------------- Muraoka is on his death bed and the question arises who will be his next successor. Underboss Uchimoto is the best candidate, but his indecisiveness on clan decision's put the other bosses at unease. The three Muraoka Underbosses (Matsunaga, Eda, Takeda) decide to reach out to Mr. Yamamori to combine clans and revive the Muraoka clan.

Shozo is against the plan, but is currently re-indebted to Yamamori after he makes himself Shozo's guarantor to stay out of police trouble. To save his own neck, Shozo connects Uchimoto with the Akashi clan under blood oaths. Akashi is currently fighting for #1 gang in Japan along with the Shinwa Group, and the latest battle has taken stage in Hiroshima. Both clans are choosing battle lines among the gangs of Hiroshima for control of the West.

When Yamamori takes control of Muraoka clan, Uchimoto books it for the Akashi clan. Yamamori wants to go to war with Uchimoto for his alliance with Komori, a rival to their sworn brothers Hamazaki, but the Underbosses of Muraoka are against it. Yamamori then persuades the Underboss of Uchimoto, Hayakawa, to betray his boss and join his sides. Due to Yamamori's harassment towards Uchimoto, the Akashi clan steps in to mediate.

Yamamori convinces Takeda to help eliminate Shozo, and by joining forces with the Shinwa Group they'll take down Akashi and control Japan. After a failed attempt on Shozo's life, his henchmen take it upon themselves to kill Makihara. Meanwhile, Shozo makes a deal with Akashi to get rid of Yamamori in Hiroshima. He devises a plan with Elder Okubo to pull Yamamori out but the plan backfires once they both forge a Letter of Resignation for Shozo.

It ends with the Three Underbosses split between alliances, Akashi siding with Shozo, Hayakawa siding with Yamamori, and the Shinwa Group shooting up the Akashi Hiroshima Branch to kick off the Battle for Hiroshima. When some Yamamori thugs shoot up Shozo's henchmen funeral and drive over his tombstone, things get personal