Yoshiko Kawada

The Dawning Sky

A melodrama about an orphan and her mother who are separated and lose contact, but are later reunited.

The Loyal 47 Ronin

This 1932 adaptation is the earliest sound version of the ever-popular and much-filmed Chushingura story of the loyal 47 retainers who avenged their feudal lord after he was obliged to commit hara-kiri due to the machinations of a villainous courtier. As the first sound version of the classic narrative, the film was something of an event, and employed a stellar cast, who give a roster of memorable performances. Director Teinosuke Kinugasa was primarily a specialist in jidai-geki (period films), such as the internationally celebrated Gate of Hell (Jigokumon, 1953), and although he is now most famous as the maker of the avant-garde silent films A Page of Madness (Kurutta ichipeji, 1926) and Crossroads (Jujiro, 1928), Chushingura is in fact more typical of his output than those experimental works. The film ranked third in that year’s Kinema Junpo critics’ poll, and Joseph Anderson and Donald Richie noted that 'not only the sound but the quick cutting was admired by many critics.

The Lamb

Film can be viewed on the National Film Archive of Japan YouTube channel under the title "【全篇】『小羊』1923年｜「はじまりの日本劇映画 映画 meets 新派・新劇・新国劇」より." In English, that would roughly translate to: "[Full length] "The Lamb" 1923 | From "The Beginnings of Japanese Feature Film: Film meets Shinpa, Shingeki, and Shinkokugeki"."

Kurama Tengu: Acrobat in a lion mask

Two child performers lose their money, but are saved by the masked avenger Kurama Tengu. When the children return the favor in foiling an attempt on the hero's life, they find themselves in need of protection once again...

Slope of the Ringing Bell Hill: The Third Volume

The adventures of a demobilised soldier and a group of war orphans under his care on Ringing Bell Hill. Third installment of a wartime film trilogy.

The Glory of the Shōwa Era

Japanese silent film from 1928.

Shima no onna