Nobuo Nakagawa

Nobuo Nakagawa

Nobuo Nakagawa (中川 信夫, Nakagawa Nobuo, April 18, 1905 – June 17, 1984) was a Japanese film director, most famous for the stylized, folk tale-influenced horror films he made in the 1950s and 1960s. Born in Kyoto, Nakagawa was early on influenced by proletarian literature and wrote amateur film reviews for the Kinema Junpō film magazine. He joined Makino Film Productions in 1929 as an assistant director and worked under Masahiro Makino. When that studio went bankrupt in 1932, he switched to Utaemon Ichikawa's production company and made his debut as a director in 1934 with Yumiya Hachiman Ken. He later moved to Toho, where he made comedies starring Enoken and even documentaries during the war. It was at Shintoho after the war that he became known for his cinematic adaptations of Japanese Kaidan, especially his masterful version of Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan in 1959. To Western audiences, his most famous film is Jigoku (1960), which he also co-wrote. The film was released on DVD by the Criterion Collection in 2006. He also filmed many Kaidan for television. His last film was 1982's Kaidan: Ikiteiru Koheiji.

  • Title: Nobuo Nakagawa
  • Popularity: 3.477
  • Known For: Directing
  • Birthday: 1905-04-18
  • Place of Birth: Kyōto, Kyōto Prefecture, Japan
  • Homepage:
  • Also Known As: Nakagawa Nobuo, 노부오 나카가와, 나카가와 노부오
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Nobuo Nakagawa Movies

  • 1969
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    Quick-draw Okatsu

    Quick-draw Okatsu

    5.7 1969 HD

    This film focuses on Okatsu; the adopted daughter of a master swordsman. She is a master with a sword herself and her talents far overshadow that of...

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  • 1960
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    Jigoku

    Jigoku

    6.4 1960 HD

    A group of sinners involved in interconnected tales of murder, revenge, deceit and adultery all meet at the Gates of Hell.

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  • 1969
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    Okatsu the Fugitive

    Okatsu the Fugitive

    6.1 1969 HD

    Okatsu the Fugitive is the third film in the "Ohyaku/Okatsu" series. Okatsu; a "tomboy" who is good with a sword. Her father has found her a man to...

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  • 1959
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    The Ghost of Yotsuya

    The Ghost of Yotsuya

    6.6 1959 HD

    This horror tale relates the consequences of a Japanese legend which tells of a man who has to betray his wife in order to achieve power.

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  • 1958
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    Black Cat Mansion

    Black Cat Mansion

    6.6 1958 HD

    The descendant of the servant of a cruel and vicious samurai returns to the town where she was born, only to find that a cat who is possessed by the...

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  • 1968
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    Snake Woman's Curse

    Snake Woman's Curse

    6.1 1968 HD

    An old man dies of heartbreak when a cruel landlord is about to repossess his land. The old man haunts the landlord from the grave. Since the man...

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  • 1957
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    The Ghost of Kasane

    The Ghost of Kasane

    6.7 1957 HD

    A blind masseur visits a samurai to request the return of a loan. The samurai kills him in anger, then has his servant dump the body in the Kasane...

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  • 1982
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    The Living Koheiji

    The Living Koheiji

    6.5 1982 HD

    The actor Koheiji is terribly in love with the wife of his best friend, the playwright Takuro; to get her, he would even kill Takuro.

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  • 1982
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    The Living Koheiji

    The Living Koheiji

    6.5 1982 HD

    The actor Koheiji is terribly in love with the wife of his best friend, the playwright Takuro; to get her, he would even kill Takuro.

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  • 1938
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    Itahachi shima

    Itahachi shima

    1 1938 HD

    Japanese movie

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  • 1938
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    Itahachi shima

    Itahachi shima

    1 1938 HD

    Japanese movie

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  • 1958
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    A Wicked Woman

    A Wicked Woman

    6.5 1958 HD

    In 1870's Tokyo, Den steals to support the daughter of her first marriage and her consumptive second husband. She falls in love with a young...

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  • 1959
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    The Lady Vampire

    The Lady Vampire

    4.9 1959 HD

    Tamio takes Itsuko to an art gallery and the two find one painting is a nude portrait of Itsuko's mother, who disappeared twenty years ago when she...

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  • 1956
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    The Ceiling at Utsunomiya

    The Ceiling at Utsunomiya

    5.8 1956 HD

    Ryutaro is a spy employed by the shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, who is the target of assassination attempts that aim to hand power over to his younger...

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  • 1940
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    Enoken's Bow-Wow General

    Enoken's Bow-Wow General

    1 1940 HD

    Enoken no wanwan taishô AKA Wanwan Taisho AKA Bowwow General directed by Nobuo Nakagawa

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  • 1951
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    Conduct Report on Matashiro: The Devil Princess and Winter Rain

    Conduct Report on Matashiro: The Devil Princess and Winter Rain

    1 1951 HD

    Jidai-geki by Nobuo Nakagawa. Most likely a star vehicle for Kanjuro Arashi

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  • 1951
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    Conduct Report on Matashiro: The Devil Princess and Winter Rain

    Conduct Report on Matashiro: The Devil Princess and Winter Rain

    1 1951 HD

    Jidai-geki by Nobuo Nakagawa. Most likely a star vehicle for Kanjuro Arashi

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  • 1958
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    Ghost in the Regiment

    Ghost in the Regiment

    1 1958 HD

    Desiring another officer’s new wife, a military police lieutenant fabricates evidence of treason that consigns the innocent man to torture and...

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  • 1952
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    Casebooks of Detective Umon: The Incident of the Fawn-Pattern Cloth

    Casebooks of Detective Umon: The Incident of the Fawn-Pattern Cloth

    1 1952 HD

    Period film about the legendary detective Umon

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  • 1952
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    Love's Zephir Along the Tokaido

    Love's Zephir Along the Tokaido

    1 1952 HD

    A movie directed by Nobuo Nakagawa

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  • 1952
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    Today is Payday

    Today is Payday

    1 1952 HD

    Office worker comedy by Nobuo Nakagawa

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  • 1952
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    Sunset Over Mount Fuji

    Sunset Over Mount Fuji

    1 1952 HD

    Jidai-geki starring Kanjuro Arashi

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  • 1953
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    An Edoite Judge

    An Edoite Judge

    1 1953 HD

    Period film about a feudal era judge living in Edo

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  • 1962
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    Kanashimi wa itsumo haha ni

    Kanashimi wa itsumo haha ni

    1 1962 HD

    The last film produced by Shintoho.

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  • 1939
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    Rivals

    Rivals

    1 1939 HD

    Two hyper-competitive salarymen let their workplace rivalry spill over into their private lives, as both men try to one-up each other on a luxurious...

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  • 1961
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    Kaachan

    Kaachan

    1 1961 HD

    Home drama about tin craftsmen and their families in downtown Tokyo. Though poor, they do not lose their cheerfulness or give in to oppression.

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  • 1957
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    Hibari ga oka no taiketsu

    Hibari ga oka no taiketsu

    1 1957 HD

    Kyôko Yashiro's film debut for Shintoho.

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  • 1961
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    Samurai Hawk

    Samurai Hawk

    5.2 1961 HD

    1716, Yoshimune becomes the 8th Shogun as high Shogunate officials are attacked. While the government tries to keep these incidents under wraps, they...

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  • 1951
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    右門捕物帖 片眼狼

    右門捕物帖 片眼狼

    1 1951 HD

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  • 1971
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    Mysterious Thirteen Nights Volume 1

    Mysterious Thirteen Nights Volume 1

    1 1971 HD

    This is the first volume of a ghost story TV series presented by Nobuo Nakagawa, Saburo Endo and Teruo Ishii. Contains films 1 to 4 in the...

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  • 1971
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    Mysterious Thirteen Nights Volume 2

    Mysterious Thirteen Nights Volume 2

    1 1971 HD

    This is the second volume of a ghost story TV series presented by Nobuo Nakagawa, Saburo Endo and Teruo Ishii. Contains films 5 to 8 in the...

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  • 1963
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    This Is Japan

    This Is Japan

    1 1963 HD

    Japanese "mondo" film.

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  • 1960
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    Death Row Woman

    Death Row Woman

    1 1960 HD

    Arrested for the murder of her wealthy businessman father, convicted on false evidence and sentenced to death, Kyoko is determined to prove her...

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  • 1955
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    Chutaro of Banba

    Chutaro of Banba

    5 1955 HD

    Based on the play ”Mabuta no haha” by famed author Shin Hasegawa, this is the first major starring role for Tomisaburo Wakayama. This...

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  • 1956
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    The Vampire Moth

    The Vampire Moth

    4 1956 HD

    The story of a professional nude model stalked by a bizarre, unknown man wearing a hideous mask.

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  • 1950
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    Amakara chindōchū

    Amakara chindōchū

    1 1950 HD

    Kotaro Shimoyama, once a government official, loses his job and separates from his wife, Sachie. He now resides with his daughter, Haruko. By chance,...

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  • 1959
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    The Shadow Avenger

    The Shadow Avenger

    10 1959 HD

    For the poor, Edo is Hell on Earth, starving under the rule of Tanuma Okitsugi, corrupt councilor to the shogun. But the courageous vagabond called...

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  • 1949
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    Late Night Confession

    Late Night Confession

    1 1949 HD

    Japanese mystery thriller.

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  • 1958
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    Kyōen Kobanzame

    Kyōen Kobanzame

    1 1958 HD

    Japanese film, originally released in two parts.

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  • 1962
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    The Phantom Goblin

    The Phantom Goblin

    1 1962 HD

    An injured Edo official is rescued by a vassal whose appearance is exactly like himself, and swears to sweep out the criminals from the town on his...

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  • 1949
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    The Adventures of Tobisuke

    The Adventures of Tobisuke

    1 1949 HD

    Tobisuke, puppeteer in Kyôtô, saves O-fuku's life. Wounded in the head, it can now count to three. O-fuku invited him to meet her mother...

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  • 1949
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    Rinchi

    Rinchi

    1 1949 HD

    Japanese noir.

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  • 1961
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    The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku

    The Man Who Challenged 8,000,000-Koku

    1 1961 HD

    A story of an orphan boy who wanted the love of parents so badly, another orphan sincerely pitied him to the point he gives his secret birthright as...

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  • 1969
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    さくら盃 義兄弟

    さくら盃 義兄弟

    1 1969 HD

    Second movie in the Sakura Code series.

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  • 1941
    imgMovies

    The Poppy

    The Poppy

    1 1941 HD

    1941 Toho adaptation of Natsume's novel.

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  • 1955
    imgMovies

    Stray Sheep

    Stray Sheep

    1 1955 HD

    1955 Toho adaptation of Natsume's novel.

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  • 1968
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    Snake Woman's Curse

    Snake Woman's Curse

    6.1 1968 HD

    An old man dies of heartbreak when a cruel landlord is about to repossess his land. The old man haunts the landlord from the grave. Since the man...

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  • 1971
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    Mysterious Thirteen Nights: Chapter 1 - Ghost Story at the Kagamigaike

    Mysterious Thirteen Nights: Chapter 1 - Ghost Story at the Kagamigaike

    1 1971 HD

    First film of "Mysterious Thirteen Nights" series.

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  • 1971
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    Mysterious Thirteen Nights: Chapter 4 - The Yokai Blood-stained Comb

    Mysterious Thirteen Nights: Chapter 4 - The Yokai Blood-stained Comb

    1 1971 HD

    Fourth film of "Mysterious Thirteen Nights" series.

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  • 1971
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    Mysterious Thirteen Nights: Chapter Special - Ghost Story of Tragic Love: Dance of the Folding Fan

    Mysterious Thirteen Nights: Chapter Special - Ghost Story of Tragic Love: Dance of the Folding Fan

    1 1971 HD

    This special chapter of "Mysterious Thirteen Nights" series was never turned into a videogram, but was broadcast on television.

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  • 1939
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    Enoken's Mori no Ishimatsu

    Enoken's Mori no Ishimatsu

    1 1939 HD

    A typically modern take on the well-known Naniwabushi character (and real life 19th-century gangster) Mori no Ishimatsu, whose proverbial stupidity...

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  • 1939
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    Enoken's Yaji and Kita

    Enoken's Yaji and Kita

    1 1939 HD

    Enoken's anachronistic take on the beloved (and already very funny) Edo-period novel "Shank's Mare," aka Tōkaidōchū Hizakurige, in which Yaji and...

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  • 1940
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    Enoken Enters the Ring

    Enoken Enters the Ring

    1 1940 HD

    Enoken trains to be a great sumo wrestler.

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  • 1962
    imgMovies

    Hatamoto taikutsu otoko: nazo no sango yashiki

    Hatamoto taikutsu otoko: nazo no sango yashiki

    1 1962 HD

    1962 Japanese movie

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  • 1953
    imgMovies

    Shishun no izumi

    Shishun no izumi

    1 1953 HD

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  • 1962
    imgMovies

    The Warrior from Kishu

    The Warrior from Kishu

    1 1962 HD

    This is a story of a young heir to a powerful house, sent away to be raised by his nanny, so the young lord Genrokuro grew up bitter about his...

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  • 1962
    imgMovies

    The Warrior from Kishu

    The Warrior from Kishu

    1 1962 HD

    This is a story of a young heir to a powerful house, sent away to be raised by his nanny, so the young lord Genrokuro grew up bitter about his...

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  • 1962
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    Showdown at Lightning Pass

    Showdown at Lightning Pass

    1 1962 HD

    A story about a spear master’s spiritual and martial discipline.

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  • 1962
    imgMovies

    Showdown at Lightning Pass

    Showdown at Lightning Pass

    1 1962 HD

    A story about a spear master’s spiritual and martial discipline.

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  • 1970
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    Nihon Meisaku Kaidan Gekijō: Kaidan Ōoku (Hi) Akazu no Ma

    Nihon Meisaku Kaidan Gekijō: Kaidan Ōoku (Hi) Akazu no Ma

    1 1970 HD

    In the final days of the Edo shogunate, a government commander enters Edo Castle to inspect the Ōoku. Ignoring warnings, he steps into a forbidden...

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  • 1939
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    Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki

    Shinpen Tange Sazen: Sekigan no maki

    1 1939 HD

    Another adaptation of Tange Sazen.

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  • 1951
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    旗本退屈男 唐人街の鬼

    旗本退屈男 唐人街の鬼

    1 1951 HD

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  • 1960
    imgMovies

    Jigoku

    Jigoku

    6.4 1960 HD

    A group of sinners involved in interconnected tales of murder, revenge, deceit and adultery all meet at the Gates of Hell.

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  • 1953
    imgMovies

    Kisan Detective Story: The Mysterious Doll-Maker

    Kisan Detective Story: The Mysterious Doll-Maker

    1 1953 HD

    1953 jidaigeki directed by Nobuo Nakagawa of Jigoku and Ghost of Yotsuya fame.

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  • 1951
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    Farewell to the Highland Station

    Farewell to the Highland Station

    1 1951 HD

    A young botanical researcher moves to the highlands to collect plants for research, and falls in love with a nurse there.

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  • 1956
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    Casebooks of Dandy Sashichi: 6 Famous Beauties

    Casebooks of Dandy Sashichi: 6 Famous Beauties

    1 1956 HD

    Famed detective Dandy Sashichi tries to solve who's behind the serial murders of six beautiful women under the aegis of local showman Ibaragiya. The...

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  • 1978
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    Sea of Wonders

    Sea of Wonders

    1 1978 HD

    A photographer is lost in a storm and washes up on an isolated island, where he meets a vampire woman and falls in love with her.

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  • 1970
    imgS1 E51

    7.8 1970 HD

    Ultraman Leo is an Ultra foreign to the Land of Light, instead hailing from the fallen Planet L77 of the Leo constellation, where he and his brother...

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  • 1970
    imgS1 E22

    1 1970 HD

    Playgirl is a Japanese television action/drama series which ran from 1969 to 1976 over a total of 276 episodes. It was conceived in the Spy-Fi genre.

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  • 1970
    imgS1 E1

    1 1970 HD

    «Japanese Masterpiece Ghost Story Theatre» - is a 13-episode series based on classic Japanese ghost stories.

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